Patti Smith Reviews Bob Dylan's New Album

Well I was sitting on my window sill, watching the sky shifting, when a messenger arrived with
a copy of the new Bob Dylan album.  I gave old Glenn Gould a rest and put Modern Times in my player. To this day, it still feels funny sliding a CD in place instead of setting a record on the turntable. It was always exciting, that first moment, when the needle connected with the vinyl groove. The first CD I ever heard was an experimental one, a long time ago, with Rainy Day Women on it. I just shook my head and said "nope. it will never take off. nobody will give up playing records." Nostradamus I am not.
In any event, there are two handsome portraits of Bob in the packaging. I like the song called Ain't Talkin'.  Like walking alongside Bob hearing him thinking. It was nice to get a special copy brought to my door.  It kind of made up for all those bus rides in the mid-sixties, through Camden into Philadelphia, to stand for hours in line just to buy a copy of Highway 61 and Blonde on Blonde. It was always worth it though. I was never disappointed. (Photo: Smith at Lollapalooza, 2006)

Modern Times aside, I am just writing to say I have been working more on the website and will be making some changes in the next week. I had been kind of negligent for a while as I did a lot
of traveling and have had a lot on my mind.  But I promise to be more active.  I am adding another version of Qana on the site. Just a live late night practice tape. I mispronounced it when I did it myself but it was the only version I had and I thought the sentiments were more important than the pronunciation. I have a penchant for  mispronouncing, so sorry about that.

So I hope you will check the site out. I will try to put new stuff up every day or two. It's a good communication base. Hope to see you there. Well I've got to go clean out the refrigerator. A good idea is  to put an open new box of Arm and Hammer baking soda on one of the shelves. It cuts odors. Not that I'm implying anything.  all good wishes, Patti Smith

You can catch Bob Dylan in concert on Saturday, Sept. 2 at Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame.
Patti Smith's new book, "Just Kids: From Brooklyn to the Chelsea Hotel" will be available in stores October 1.