Category: Music

50 years since the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Gordon Lightfoot wrote a song about it.

Fifty years ago today, Nov. 10, 1975, the freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald, laden with 26,000 tons of iron ore, sank in an unseasonably early storm on Lake Superior (Gitche Gumee, in Chippewa). All 29 men on board were lost. Two weeks later, Gordon Lightfoot read a Newsweek article about the disaster

— M🍁tthew Hay Br🏈wn (@matthewhaybrown.bsky.social) 2025-11-10T14:46:27.984Z

Here is the Newsweek magazine article that led to the song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," marked up to show key passages that Lightfoot borrowed. Short thread at quoted post. Thanks to @bikeguy.bsky.social for reminding me about this. #EdmundFitzgerald50

— Chris Steller (@chrissteller.bsky.social) 2025-11-09T18:59:38.697Z

Highway 61 Revisited was released 60 years ago – 8/30/65

I don’t think it’s the greatest album ever but it’s up there. Of Dylan’s albums, I prefer Blonde On Blonde. I don’t think the songs are better but I prefer the subtle Nashville musician backing to the pound it out New York backing on Highway 61.

60 Years of 'Highway 61'–Still the Greatest Album Ever–Listen to Entire Album via Hot Dylan Alternate Takes open.substack.com/pub/gregmitc…

— Greg Mitchell (@gregmitch.bsky.social) 2025-08-30T13:35:57.602Z

Revisiting Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited. Wrote some words for GRAMMY.com on this masterpiece. http://www.grammy.com/news/bob-dyl…

— David McPherson (@davidmcphersonca.bsky.social) 2025-08-30T15:55:15.207Z

The official Bob Dylan site

Two DVDs about Gram Parsons

I recently watched Gram Parsons: Fallen Angel (2004) an outstanding documentary about the late musician. It’s very balanced, showing both points of view about the controversy over his body after his death. It has extensive interviews with musicians who worked with him including Chris Hillman and Parsons’ friend Keith Richards, There are many interviews with his family members who don’t gloss over the problems he and his relatives experienced. There is a fine bonus on the DVD where the director recounts how the film was made over a long period of time.

Also on DVD (which I have but haven’t watched yet) is a film of a tribute concert to Parsons from 2004.

Both films are on YouTube – see the links below.

Flaco Jimenez RIP

I am not familiar with Jimenez’s recordings but he did a great job on records by Ry Cooder and Dwight Yoakam.

Farewell to Flaco Jimenez, a true giant id Texas music.www.ksat.com/news/local/2…

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine (@sterlewine.bsky.social) 2025-08-01T13:04:17.004Z

Flaco Jiménez, a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and accordion virtuoso who was widely regarded as the king of Tex-Mex music, recording material with acts like Dwight Yoakam, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, has died. He was 86.

— The New York Times (@nytimes.com) 2025-08-02T03:30:05.138477Z