Sam Sussman’s mother Fran had a year-long love affair with Dylan when he was working on Blood on the Tracks – she’s mentioned in Tangled Up In Blue – and they met again in 1990. What she told him about that relationship is mapped out in the book he’s just written, Boy From the North Country, along with the firm belief that he’s Dylan’s son. Imagine how that must feel. This extraordinary conversation takes a number of turns and these are among them …

… Norman Raeben’s art class where Dylan was trying break his creative block and met the 20-year old Fran Sussman

… details of their 12-month affair and how it ended: “he gave me love songs but not love”

… the verses of Tangled Up In Blue that relate to Fran and the philosophy, art and poetry woven into his songs at the time

… Dylan’s other women in 1974

… being told by a teacher that he looked like Dylan and how he’s played up that connection ever since

… how it feels to think you might have numerous Dylan siblings - and how many there might be(!)

… the kind of people Sam meets in his book-signing queues

... and why his mother wouldn’t confirm who his father was.

Order copies of Boy From The North Country here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/boy-from-the-north-country/sam-sussman/9781804711286

Help us to keep The Longest Conversation In Rock going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

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Tom Bailey’s been based in New Zealand for the last 30 years, making records, DJing and avoiding British winters. He tours the UK in 2026 playing the Thompson Twins’ greatest hits and looks back here from Auckland at the first shows he ever saw and played, all this high in the mix …

... dance music and the British Invasion of America

… the inspiring delights of Some Kind Of Mushroom, his local record shop in Chesterfield

… seeing Blodwyn Pig, Edgar Broughton and Principal Edwards Magic Theatre when he was 15

… “bass players go to bed last”

… when his folk-rock band the Witching Hour supported Mick Farren & the Deviants - and promptly split up

… living in Clapham squats with members of the Pop Group and the Slits

… the Thompson Twins - from “the young angry white-boy funk” to the MTV trio with a policy statement

.. their manifesto and division of labour – “Tom Bailey music, Alannah Currie lyrics, Joe Leeway the live show”

… Live Aid with Madonna when the David Letterman house band became the Thompson Twins

… “a miraculous palette of sound”: how affordable technology changed his life

… and the extravagant talent of his all-female band.

Tickets for Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey & Blancmange 2026 Tour here: https://www.alttickets.com/thompson-twins-tom-bailey-tickets

Help us to keep The Longest Conversation In Rock going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

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The raw ingredients of this week’s news gently diced, simmered and served as a nutritious broth. And flavoured with the following …

… why Lily Allen’s divorce album doubled the value of her house

… how can you play real living people as fundamentally bad after Steve Coogan’s ‘Lost King’ court case?

… the cowbell on Honky Tonk Women, the guiro on Gimme Shelter, the tambourine on classic Motown: Richard Pite gives a percussion demo

… Kraftwerk, 10cc, Coolio, George McCrae – more records that sound unique

… music used in movies to say ‘we’re flying East!’

… You Have Selected Regicide, Kill Wealthy Dowager: Morrissey song or line from the Simpsons?

… Woodbines, potted herrings, Paris buns: things we expect to find in Van Morrison’s soon-to-open childhood home

... why it’s worth hearing Mishima by Philip Glass and John the Revelator by Son House

… the time Jack Ashford was flown across America just to add a tambourine

… people who found they had a famous father

… and Mick ‘Two Pairs of Maracas’ Jagger and what Eno predicted about I Feel Love.

Help us to keep The Longest Conversation In Rock going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.