Jersey Shore singer-songwriter Pat Guadagno’s latest album, “1964,” is a tribute to the year that spawned such classics as Bob Dylan’s “Boots of Spanish Leather,” Pat’s cover of which is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
For 25 years, Pat Guadagno has gathered fellow Jersey Shore troubadours to honor Bob Dylan on his birthday.
With his new album, “1964,” Pat takes that tribute even further honoring one of the most pivotal years in music history with three Dylan songs, three Beatles tunes, and several other folk, folk-rock, and British Invasion nuggets. The 15-song collection includes a cover of Dylan’s “Boots of Spanish Leather,” the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Boots of Spanish Leather” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Jan. 27 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin or MixCloud.
Pat’s “Boots” features a duet with fellow Jersey Shore singer-songwriter Mary McCrink, plus fine fiddle accompaniment by Yuri Turchin.
“1964” also features Dylan’s “Tomorrow Is a Long Time” and “Chimes of Freedom,” as well Eric Anderdon’s “The Violets of Dawn,” The Beach Boys’ “Warmth of the Sun,” Tom Paxton’s “The Last Thing on My Mind,” Gerry and the Pacemakers’ "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying,” The Dave Clark Five’s “Because,” the Dusty Springfield hit “I Only Want to Be with You,” “On the Street Where You Live” from the Oscar-winning musical “My Fair Lady,” The Beatles’ “And I Love Her,” “‘Til There Was You,” and “She Lives You,” Gilbert Bécaud’s “Let It Be Me,” covered that year by the duo Betty Everett & Jerry Butler, and the traditional “House of the Rising Sun,” made famous then by The Animals and covered two years before on Dylan’s self-titled debut album.
“It’s a collection of songs to celebrate the year I stopped wetting the bed, Cassius Clay became ‘The Greatest,’ The Beatles were on Ed Sullivan, and the musical renaissance began,” Pat said.
It’s no surprise that Pat concentrated on Dylan material having produced a birthday hullabaloo in tribute to the rock bard in each of the past four decades. The 25th annual BobFest will be on the seminal singer-songwriter’s 82nd trip around the sun on May 25 at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank. Special guests will be announced soon.
In the meantime, Pat will trek next month to Key West for several engagements, then tour throughout Florida. Once back home, he’ll play March 10 at Val’s, Rumson; March 11 and April 7 and 14, McCanns at the Meadow, Wall; March 25 and 31 and April 15, Klee’s Bar, Seaside; March 26, April 23, and May 21, Murphy’s Suds ‘n Sawdust, Rumson; and Mondays at Jamian’s, Red Bank, starting March 13.
For more about Pat, visit https://patguadagno.com.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at makinwaves64@yahoo.com.