Ramblin' Man

Last evening I had the enormous pleasure of attending a gig by Ramblin’ Jack Elliot – a legend of the folk movement, companion to Woody Guthrie, and early influence on Bob Dylan. The final three numbers in the set were worth the ticket alone, and much more besides: Tim Hardin’s ‘If I Were a Carpenter’ was simply the best version I’ve ever heard; his picking on ‘Freight Train’ was extraordinary; and the finale of ‘Don’t Think Twice’ almost made me reconsider my confirmed view that no one can sing Dylan better than Dylan. Well, Jack almost does. Oh – and his stagecraft, his stories, histories…If you get the chance then go see him.