Bob Dylan has unveiled a new track from his album of songs associated with Frank Sinatra, Shadows in the Night. Stay With Me, written by Carolyn Leigh and Jerome Moross, was originally recorded by Sinatra in December 1963, and was released as a single in January 1964.
Shadows in the Night, which is released on Columbia on 2 February, is Dylan’s 36th studio album. “It was a real privilege to make this album,” Dylan said, in December 2014. “I’ve wanted to do something like this for a long time, but was never brave enough to approach 30-piece complicated arrangements and refine them down for a five-piece band.”
Stay With Me was the first – and only, so far – song from the album that Dylan has performed live. It became the set-closer in the final months of his 2014 tour, following Blowin’ in the Wind in the encore.
Dylanologists are currently excited not just by the new album, but by a series of anniversaries – the past fortnight has seen the 50th anniversary of Subterranean Homesick Blues being recorded, and the 40th of the release of Blood on the Tracks – and by the news that Dylan is making a new video. A casting call leaked earlier this month for the clip, to be directed by Nash Edgerton. The casting call asked for: “[DANCER] Female, 40+, full figured. Burlesque dancer, will need to dance in audition. Think timeless a la Lana Turner or Ava Gardner. [SKETCHY GUY] 50s, rough trade, pock marked face, etc. [FAT GUY] 45+, all around huge. [BARTENDER] Male, 30s+, looking for characters.”
