Bob Dylan and A.J. Weberman collection, 1967-1998.
Collection Number: 8812
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Bob Dylan and A.J. Weberman collection, 1967-1998.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
8812
Abstract:
A.J. Weberman (1945- ) is an American writer, political activist, gadfly, and self
described "underground cat and garbologist" who invented the terms "garbology" and
"Dylanology." The Bob Dylan and A.J. Weberman collection (1967-1998) contains magazines,
flyers, correspondence, and ephemera from the career of A.J. Weberman and his interest
in American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.
Creator:
Quanitities:
0.3 cubic feet.
The Bob Dylan and A.J. Weberman collection (1967-1998) contains magazines, flyers,
correspondence, and ephemera from the career of A.J. Weberman and his interest in
American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, including his first edition bootlegs of "Tarantula"
and the first and only vinyl press of the "Weberman Tapes" (vinyl record titled "Bob
Dylan vs. A.J. Weberman" containing a phone interview between the two).
A.J. Weberman (1945- ) is an American writer, political activist, gadfly, and self
described "underground cat and garbologist" who invented the terms "garbology" and
"Dylanology." Weberman became obssesed with Bob Dylan in the late 1960s, when he attempted
to decode the Nobel Prize winning musician's lyrics with a crude "hemeneutical" approach
he termed "Dylanology." He printed and distributed the first bootleg of Bob Dylan's
experimental novel "Tarantula". When Bob Dylan stoped writing political music, Weberman
formed the Dylan Liberation Front (DLF) in order to free Bob Dylan from himself. Weberman
appeard in the national spotlight when he started going through Bob Dylan's trash
in order to find clues to his lyrics.
"Tarantula" by Bob Dylan (1971) - first mass-market edition of Bob Dylan's experimental
novel with original dust jacket;
"My Life in Garbology" by A.J. Weberman [signed] (1980);
"Dylan to English Dictionary" by A.J. Weberman (2005);
"RightWing Bob: What The Liberal Media Doesn't Want You To Know About Bob Dylan" by
A.J. Weberman [signed] (2009)
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Bob Dylan and A.J. Weberman collection, #8812. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections,
Cornell University Library.
Names:
Dylan, Bob, 1941-
Dylan, Bob, 1941- -- Criticism and interpretation.
Dylan, Bob, 1941- -- Interviews.
Dylan, Bob, 1941- -- Tarantula.
Weberman, Alan J.
Subjects:
Music
Popular music -- United States.
Books -- Pirated editions
CONTAINER LIST
|
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Tarantula [true first edition]
|
1967 |
|
Scope and Contents
The true first edition of Bob Dylan's experimental novel "Tarantula," copied directly
from the galley proofs, and distributed by A.J. Weberman in a small edition in 1967.
Includes introduction by A.J. Weberman, "A Dylanological Introduction to Tarantula."
Housed in stamped folder.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Tarantula [true first edition, Ralph Gleason association copy]
|
1967 |
|
Scope and Contents
Copy of the true first edition of Bob Dylan's experimental novel "Tarantula," copied
directly from the galley proofs. Housed in a manila folder labeled in the hand of
music critic Ralph Gleason.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Tarantula [first trade bootleg]
|
1969 |
|
Scope and Contents
The first bootleg of "Tarantula" to be avaliable, traded and sold after its appearance
at The Isle of Wright festival in 1969.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 4 |
Tarantula: A Fragmentary Novel [early bootleg]
|
1970 |
|
Scope and Contents
An early bootleg edition of "Tarantula," printed and distributed by Bootlegger Press,
a small publisher in the UK.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 5 |
A.J. Weberman: Dylanologist
|
1998 |
|
Scope and Contents
Booklet on the life and times of A.J. Weberman, compiled by the "Webermanoligist"
John Roberts. Introduced by journalist Claudia Dreifus in an essay called "The Alan
J. Weberman Story - In Which It Is Proven Once Again That You Do Not Need A Weatherman
To Know Which Way The Wind Blows."
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 6 |
Roping Off the Madman's Corner
|
1998 |
|
Scope and Contents
Collection of Bob Dylan's lyrics from notable tracks from the 1960s and 1970s, with
adjacent illustriations from Isis magazine artist Lucas Wellington and commentaries
by A.J. Weberman.
|
|||
| Sound recording 34057 | sr-34057 |
Bob Dylan vs. A.J. Weberman
|
1977 |
|
Scope and Contents
Vinyl record in sleeve with offset pamphlet. The first and only vinyl press of A.J.
Weberman's telephone interview of Bob Dylan recorded in 1971. Includes a pamphlet
that contains an introduction to the recording and an interview with A.J. Weberman,
"A Beginner's Course in Dylanology."
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 7-8 |
Bob Dylan Vs. A.J. Weberman Collection
|
1971 |
|
Scope and Contents
An excerpted edition of issue no. 46 of "Vibrations - The Eastcoast Mag of Popmyths
and Popreality," featuring a transcript of Weberman's conversation with and interview
of Bob Dylan, and an Associated Press wirephoto of Weberman.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 9 |
The Art of Garbage Analysis
|
1971-11 |
|
Scope and Contents
Issue of Esquire magazine featuring an article by A.J. Weberman, "The Art of Garbage
Analysis." The article features pictures of Bob Dylan's trash.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 10 |
The Only Living Dylanologist
|
1969 |
|
Scope and Contents
Issue no. 19 of Oz Magazine featuring an interview with A.J. Weberman, "The Only Living
Dylanologist."
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 11 |
ISIS Dylan News Issue 74
|
1997-08 |
|
Scope and Contents
Issue 74 of ISIS - Dylan News, the longest running Bob Dylan magazine, carrying "A
Short History of A.J. Weberman, The Worlds Greatest Dylanologist."
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 12 |
Free Bob Dylan [reprint]
|
Undated |
|
Scope and Contents
A later reprint of the "Free Bob Dylan" pinback badge produced by the Dylan Liberation
Front.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 13 |
"Ballad of A.J. Weberman"
|
1970s |
|
Scope and Contents
Flyer promoting a screening of the "Ballad of A.J. Weberman," a videotape by John
Reilly and Rudi Stern.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 14 |
Combat McCartneyism!
|
1971 |
|
Scope and Contents
Flyer issues by A.J. Weberman's Dylan Liberation Front (DLF) promoting a protest "funeral"
in front of Paul McCartney's New York City residence.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 15 |
Free Bob Dylan?
|
1973 |
|
Scope and Contents
Flyer promoting a demonstration held by the Rock Fans Rights Committee outside Bob
Dylan's California residence.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 16 |
Dylanology
|
1970 |
|
Scope and Contents
Flyer promoting A.J. Weberman's weekly Dylanology class at the Alternate University
in New York.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 17 |
Dylan Gets At Least 25c On Every Record Sold
|
1971 |
|
Scope and Contents
Flyer issued by the Dylan Liberation Front (DLF) raising awareness of Bob Dylan's
"bourgeois tendencies." The flyer was handed out at a screening of the "Ballad of
A.J. Weberman."
|
|||
| Manuscript Box 93 |
Born, Busy, College, Dying: View From The Bottom, Vol 2., No. 1
|
1970-08 | |
|
Scope and Contents
A.J. Weberman's review of Bob Dylan's 1970 record "Self Portrait," as published in
View From the Botton (Vol. 2 No. 1), an underground newspaper from New Haven, CT.
Only the three sheets of the newspaper relating to the Weberman review are included
in this original edition, stapled alongside a cutting of the cover page.
|
|||
| Manuscript Box 93 |
East Village Other
|
1971 | |
|
Scope and Contents
Cartoon image of Dylan and Weberman on the cover.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 18 |
A.J. Weberman and Ralph Gleason correspondence
|
1969 |
|
Scope and Contents
Four letters and one postcard written and sent by A.J. Weberman to music critic Ralph
Gleason.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 19 |
A.J. Weberman manuscripts
|
1971 |
|
Scope and Contents
Collection of manuscripts written by A.J. Weberman as xeroxed and mimeographed by
Weberman in his correspondence with Ralph Gleason. Includes Dylan Liberation Front
press release "You Don't Need A Weberman To Know That Dylan Blows," and four manuscripts
of Weberman's music criticism.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 20 |
A.J. Weberman magazine clippings and xeroxes
|
1970 |
|
Scope and Contents
Collection of five of A.J. Weberman's articles and two of his clippings, published
in the East Vilalge Other magazine and the International Times Magazine from the UK.
Aside from one clipping from the original newsprint, all items were xeroxed by Weberman
in correspondence with Ralph Gleason.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 21 |
Bob Dylan Has Agreed To Sing "Happy Birthday" Especially For You
|
1998 |
|
Scope and Contents
Bob Dylan birthday card from Isis illustrator Lucas Wellington.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 22-24 |
Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid: MGM Editor's Portfolio
|
1973 |
|
Scope and Contents
Editor's Portfolio for "Patt Garrett and Billy the Kid," a revisionist Western film
that starred Bob Dylan as a supporting character. Includes thirteen images from the
production and various entries on the production, its history, and its cast.
|
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