Wigwam (Bob Dylan song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Wigwam

| cover = Bob Dylan Wigwam Single.jpg

| caption = European picture sleeve

| type = single

| artist = Bob Dylan

| album = Self Portrait

| B-side = Copper Kettle

| released = {{Start date|1970}}

| recorded = March 1970

| genre = Country rock

| length = *{{Duration|m=3|s=06}} (album version)

3:28 (single version){{harvnb|Bob Dylan – Wigwam (GfK Dutch Charts)}}

| label = Columbia

| writer = Bob Dylan

| producer = Bob Johnston

| prev_title = Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You

| prev_year = 1969

| next_title = If Not for You

| next_year = 1970

| misc = {{Audio sample

|type=single

|file = Wigwam (Bob Dylan song).ogg}}

}}

"Wigwam" is a song by Bob Dylan that was released on his 1970 album Self Portrait. It was a hit single that reached the Top 10 in several countries worldwide. The song's basic track, including "la-la" vocals, was recorded in early March 1970 in New York City. Later that month, producer Bob Johnston had brass instrument overdubs added to the track; these were recorded in Nashville, Tennessee at a session without Dylan present.

Critical appraisal of "Wigwam" has been mostly positive, and reviewers have called it a highlight of Self Portrait. Several artists have covered the composition, including Drafi Deutscher, whose version of it was a Top 20 hit in Germany.

Recording

"Wigwam" was recorded during the sessions for Bob Dylan's Self Portrait album, and produced by Bob Johnston.{{harvnb|Heylin|1995|pp=77–79}} The basic track was put on tape on March 4, 1970,{{harvnb|Marcus|2013|p=52}} at Columbia Studio A in New York City,{{harvnb|Björner|1996}} and was labelled "New Song 1" on the recording sheet. The musicians on the basic track were Dylan, vocals and guitar; David Bromberg, guitar; Al Kooper, piano. On April 20, 2013, this early version of "Wigwam" was released as a single for Record Store Day,{{harvnb|WIGWAM single to be released for Record Store Day}} and on August 27 of the same year, it appeared on The Bootleg Series Vol. 10 – Another Self Portrait (1969–1971).{{harvnb|Another Self Portrait 1969-1971: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 10: Overview}}

On March 17, 1970, at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, instrumental overdubs were recorded for "Wigwam" and several other songs. Dylan was not present for the overdubs, and they were overseen by Johnston.{{harvnb|Heylin|1995|p=82}}

In the song, Dylan sings "la-la" vocals, accompanied by horns,{{harvnb|Egan|2011|p=175}} in an arrangement that has been called "mariachi-like",{{harvnb|Rogovoy|2009|pp=131–132}} and "Tex-Mex".{{harvnb|Top 60 Pop Spotlight|p=80}} The feeling of the song has also been described as "campfire music"{{harvnb|Marcus|2010|p=24}} and as having a "hazy glow".{{harvnb|Phares}}

Release

"Wigwam" was released on Self Portrait on June 8, 1970,{{harvnb|Erlewine: Self Portrait Review}} and as a single in June or July.{{harvnb|Hinton|2006|pp=412, 418}}{{harvnb|Portrait Single From LP Hot For Columbia|1970|p=3}} The single's B-side is "Copper Kettle". The single was a Top 10 hit in Belgium,{{harvnb|Bob Dylan – Wigwam (Belgian Charts)}} Denmark (in 1972),{{harvnb|Hits of the World (1972-03-18)|p=56}} France,{{harvnb|Hits of the World (1970-11-28)|p=68}} Malaysia,{{harvnb|Hits of the World (1970-11-07)|p=61}} the Netherlands, Singapore,{{harvnb|Hits of the World (1970-10-17)|p=66}} and Switzerland,{{harvnb|Bob Dylan – Wigwam (Hitparade.ch)}} and was a Top 40 hit in Canada{{harvnb|Top Singles - Volume 14, No. 1, August 22, 1970}} and Germany.{{harvnb|Single – Bob Dylan, Wigwam}} In the US, the song reached No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100,{{harvnb|Self Portrait: Billboard Singles}} and No. 13 on the Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening chart.{{harvnb|Top 40 Easy Listening|p=58}}

Years later, in the early 2000s, "Wigwam" appeared on the "Limited Tour Edition" of The Essential Bob Dylan.{{harvnb|Bob Dylan – The Essential (Album)}}{{harvnb|Erlewine: The Essential Bob Dylan Review}} The song was also included on the soundtrack to the film The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), as well as on the compilations One Hit Wonders and Hard to Find Classics (2003),{{harvnb|One Hit Wonders & Hard to Find Classics: Overview}} Radio 2 - De Topcollectie '70 Vol. 2 (2010),{{harvnb|Radio 2 - De Topcollectie '70 Vol. 2}} Top 40 Hitarchief - 1970 (2011),{{harvnb|Top 40 Hitarchief - 1970}} and Remember the 70s Vol. 5.{{harvnb|Remember the 70s Vol. 5}}

Reception

Reactions to the song have been generally positive. A review in Billboard magazine describes the track as "winning". Biographer Rober Shelton includes "Wigwam" among the "quality" songs on Self Portrait, describing it as "hard to forget";{{harvnb|Shelton|1986|p=419}} Michael Gray similarly rates it as one of the "best tracks" on the album.{{harvnb|Gray|1981|p=13}} Greil Marcus is likewise positive about the track, calling it "a great job of arranging". PopMatters reviewer Tom Useted calls the song "more than worthy",{{harvnb|Useted|2008}} while NME writer Paul Stokes qualifies it as "melodious" and as demonstrating Dylan's "versatility and impact".{{harvnb|Stokes|2011}} In a review of The Royal Tenenbaums soundtrack, critic Heather Phares writes that the "hazy glow" of the song "add[s] to the album's strangely timeless but emotionally direct atmosphere." Critic Sean Egan writes that "Dylan la-las against a big brass arrangement in a not disagreeable way—but is 'not disagreeable' supposed to be what a Dylan track amounts to?"

On a more negative note, writer Seth Rogovoy describes "Wigwam" as a "bizarre, wordless vocal tune," although Rogovoy claims that this is merely a description of the song and not a negative judgment at all Critic Anthony Varesi considers the instrumentation on "Wigwam" to be an example of "horns misplaced", and "evidence of flaws" in Bob Johnston's production choices on Self Portrait.{{harvnb|Varesi|2002|p=99}} Pitchfork writer Rob Mitchum characterizes the song as "moaning along with the brass section" and "rather unpleasant".{{harvnb|Mitchum|2002}}

Covers

Artists who have covered "Wigwam" include the New Christy Minstrels,{{harvnb|Special Merit Picks|p=65}} Sounds Orchestral,{{harvnb|Sounds Orchestral – Wigwam}} and the French orchestra leaders Raymond Lefèvre{{harvnb|Raymond Lefèvre – Wigwam}} and Caravelli.{{harvnb|Bennett|2006|p=160}} Drafi Deutscher released a version with German lyrics, entitled "Weil ich dich liebe" ("Because I Love You"), that was a Top 20 hit in Germany in 1970.{{harvnb|Drafi Deutscher – Weil ich dich liebe}} Saragossa Band{{harvnb|WIGWAM single by Saragossa Band}} have covered this song as well.

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
\|Chart (1970) !\|Peak position
scope=row\|Belgium Single Charts \| style="text-align:center;"\|9
scope=row\|Canadian RPM Singles Chart \| style="text-align:center;"\|17
scope=row\|Dutch Single Top 100 \| style="text-align:center;"\|3
scope=row\|German Singles Charts \| style="text-align:center;"\|33
scope=row\|Malaysia Top 10 \| style="text-align:center;"\|8
scope=row\|Swiss Music Charts \| style="text-align:center;"\|9
scope=row\|US Billboard Hot 100 \| style="text-align:center;"\|41
scope=row\|US Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening \| style="text-align:center;"\|13

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|Chart (1970)

!|Peak
position

scope=row|Belgium Single Charts

| style="text-align:center;"|9

scope=row|Canadian RPM Singles Chart

| style="text-align:center;"|17

scope=row|Dutch Single Top 100

| style="text-align:center;"|3

scope=row|German Singles Charts

| style="text-align:center;"|33

scope=row|Malaysia Top 10

| style="text-align:center;"|8

scope=row|Swiss Music Charts

| style="text-align:center;"|9

scope=row|US Billboard Hot 100

| style="text-align:center;"|41

scope=row|US Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening

| style="text-align:center;"|13

Notes

References

{{Cite web| url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/another-self-portrait-1969-1971-the-bootleg-series-vol-10-mw0002562009 |title=Another Self Portrait 1969-1971: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 10: Overview|work=Allmusic|access-date=August 28, 2013|ref={{SfnRef|Another Self Portrait 1969-1971: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 10: Overview}}}}
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{{Cite web|first=Olof|last=Björner| author-link=Olof Björner|url=http://www.bjorner.com/DSN01790%201970.htm#DSN01795|title=Still on the Road: Studio B Columbia Recording Studios New York City, New York 4 March 1970|work=Bjorner.com|date=March 15, 1996|access-date=September 7, 2012}}
{{Cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bob+Dylan&titel=The+Essential&cat=a|title=Bob Dylan – The Essential (Album) |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts |language=nl|access-date=September 6, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Bob Dylan – The Essential (Album)}}}}
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{{Cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bob+Dylan&titel=Wigwam&cat=s|title=Bob Dylan – Wigwam |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts |language=nl|access-date=July 30, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Bob Dylan – Wigwam (GfK Dutch Charts)}}}}
{{Cite web|url=http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bob+Dylan&titel=Wigwam&cat=s|title=Bob Dylan – Wigwam |publisher=Hiparade.ch|access-date=August 4, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Bob Dylan – Wigwam (Hitparade.ch)}}}}
{{Cite web|url=http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Drafi+Deutscher&titel=Weil+ich+dich+liebe&cat=s|title=Drafi Deutscher – Weil Ich Dich Liebe|publisher=Hiparade.ch|access-date=September 5, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Drafi Deutscher – Weil ich dich liebe}}}}
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{{Cite web|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/self-portrait-mw0000205352|title=Self Portrait: Review|work=Allmusic|access-date=July 23, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Erlewine: Self Portrait Review}}}}
{{Cite book|first=Michael|last=Gray|title=The Art of Bob Dylan: Song & Dance Man|year=1981|publisher=Hamylin|isbn=9780600342243}}
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{{Cite book|first=Brian|last=Hinton|title=Bob Dylan Complete Discography| publisher=Universe|year=2006|isbn=9780789314949}}
{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iikEAAAAMBAJ&q=Billboard+Hits+of+the+World+Wigwam+1970&pg=RA1-PA66 |title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|date=October 17, 1970|access-date=September 16, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Hits of the World (1970-10-17)}}}}
{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pSkEAAAAMBAJ&q=Bob+Dylan+Wigwam&pg=RA1-PA61|title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|date=November 7, 1970|access-date=September 6, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Hits of the World (1970-11-07)}}}}
{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tSkEAAAAMBAJ&q=Billboard+Hits+of+the+World+Wigwam+1970&pg=PT38 |title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|date=November 28, 1970|access-date=September 16, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Hits of the World (1970-11-28)}}}}
{{Cite magazine| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=jCgEAAAAMBAJ&q=Billboard+%22Hits+of+the+World%22+%22Bob+Dylan%22+Wigwam&pg=PA56|title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|date=March 18, 1972|access-date=September 6, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Hits of the World (1972-03-18)}}}}
{{cite AV media notes|first=Greil, with Michael Simmons|last=Marcus|title=The Bootleg Series Vol. 10 – Another Self Portrait (1969–1971)|location=New York|type=CD booklet|year=2013}}
{{Cite book|first=Greil|last=Marcus|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Lz1buU5hxp4C&q=Greil+Marcus+Wigwam+campfire+music&pg=PA24 |title=Self Portrait No. 25|work=Bob Dylan: Writings 1968–2010|publisher=Public Affairs, New York|year=2010|isbn=9781586489199|access-date=August 12, 2012}}
{{Cite web|first=Rob|last=Mitchum| url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7872-the-royal-tenenbaums-ost/|title= The Royal Tenenbaums Sdtk| publisher=Pitchfork|date=January 29, 2002|access-date=September 14, 2012}}
{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/one-hit-wonders-hard-to-find-classics-mr0001785784| title=One Hit Wonders & Hard to Find Classics: Overview|work=Allmusic|access-date=September 14, 2012 |ref={{SfnRef|One Hit Wonders & Hard to Find Classics: Overview}}}}
{{Cite web|first=Heather| last=Phares|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-royal-tenenbaums-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000210903|title=The Royal Tenenbaums Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Review|work=Allmusic|access-date=September 6, 2012}}
{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cCkEAAAAMBAJ&q=Billboard+Dylan+Wigwam&pg=PA3|title='Portrait' Single From LP Hot For Columbia|magazine=Billboard|date=April 17, 1970|access-date=September 7, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Portrait Single From LP Hot For Columbia|1970}}}}
{{Cite web| url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?titel=Radio+2+%2D+De+Topcollectie+%2770+vol%2E+2&cat=a |title=Radio 2 - De Topcollectie '70 Vol. 2| publisher=GfK Dutch Charts| language=nl| access-date=September 14, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Radio 2 - De Topcollectie '70 Vol. 2}}}}
{{Cite web|url=http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Raymond+Lef%E8vre&titel=Wigwam&cat=s|title=Raymond Lefèvre – Wigwam |publisher=Hiparade.ch|access-date=September 5, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Raymond Lefèvre – Wigwam}}}}
{{Cite web| url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?titel=Remember+The+70%27s+Vol%2E+5&cat=a |title=Remember the 70s Vol. 5| publisher=GfK Dutch Charts| language=nl |access-date=September 14, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Remember the 70s Vol. 5}}}}
{{Cite book|first=Seth |last=Rogovoy|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=IdbgeObYgIkC&q=Wigwam+Bob+Dylan&pg=PA132 |title=Bob Dylan: Prophet, Mystic, Poet| publisher=Simon & Schuster| year=2009|isbn=9781416559832| access-date=August 12, 2012}}
{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/self-portrait-mw0000205352/awards|title=Self Portrait: Billboard Singles|work=Allmusic|access-date=August 4, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Self Portrait: Billboard Singles}}}}
{{Cite book|first=Robert|last=Shelton|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h4TWwveR3zsC&q=Robert+Shelton+Wigwam+are+hard+to+forget&pg=PA419|title=No Direction Home: The Life and Music of Bob Dylan|publisher=Da Copa Press|year=1986|edition=2003|access-date=September 5, 2012|isbn=0-306-81287-8}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/song.asp?artist=Bob+Dylan&title=Wigwam&country=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204082350/http://www.officialcharts.de/song.asp?artist=Bob+Dylan&title=Wigwam&country=de|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2015| title= Single – Bob Dylan, Wigwam|publisher= Charts.de| language=de| access-date=August 4, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Single – Bob Dylan, Wigwam}}}}
{{Cite web|url=http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Sounds+Orchestral&titel=Wigwam&cat=s|title=Sounds Orchestral – Wigwam |publisher=Hiparade.ch|access-date=September 5, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Sounds Orchestral – Wigwam}}}}
{{Cite magazine|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=oCkEAAAAMBAJ&q=Bob+Dylan+Wigwam&pg=PA65 | title= Special Merit Picks|magazine= Billboard|date=December 5, 1970 |access-date=August 12, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Special Merit Picks}}}}
{{Cite web|first=Paul|last=Stokes| url=https://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=140&title=album_aaamp_e_bob_dylan_self_portrait&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1| title= Album A&E – Bob Dylan, 'Self Portrait' |work=NME| date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=September 14, 2012}}
{{Cite magazine| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vSkEAAAAMBAJ&q=Billboard+Easy+Listening+Top+40+5+Sep+1970+Wigwam&pg=PA58 |title=Top 40 Easy Listening |magazine=Billboard|date=September 5, 1970|access-date=August 19, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Top 40 Easy Listening}}}}
{{Cite web| url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?titel=Top+40+Hitarchief+%2D+1970&cat=a |title=Top 40 Hitarchief - 1970| publisher=GfK Dutch Charts| language=nl| access-date=September 14, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Top 40 Hitarchief - 1970}}}}
{{Cite web| url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.3666&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3| title=Top Singles - Volume 14, No. 1, August 22, 1970| work=RPM| date=August 21, 1971| access-date=July 30, 2012| ref={{SfnRef|Top Singles - Volume 14, No. 1, August 22, 1970}}| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330221327/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.3666&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3| archive-date=March 30, 2014| url-status=dead}}
{{Cite magazine|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=bykEAAAAMBAJ&q=Billboard+Wigwam+Two+winning+sides&pg=PA80 |title= Top 60 Pop Spotlight| magazine=Billboard|date=July 11, 1970|access-date=August 19, 2012|ref={{SfnRef|Top 60 Pop Spotlight}}}}
{{Cite web|first=Tom|last=Useted |url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/the-icons/|title=Detours - The Strangest Albums From the Biggest Artists – Part One: The Icons |work=PopMatters| date= July 28, 2008| access-date=September 15, 2012}}
{{Cite book|first=Anthony|last=Varesi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5M4EkqYcyJUC&q=Anthony+Varesi+Wigwam&pg=PA99 |title=The Bob Dylan Albums: A Critical Study|publisher=Guernica Editions|year=2002|isbn=9781550711394|access-date=July 3, 2012}}
{{Cite web|url=http://www.bobdylan.com/ca/news/wigwam-single-be-released-record-store-day|title=WIGWAM single to be released for Record Store Day|work=Bobdylan.com|access-date=April 27, 2013|ref={{SfnRef|WIGWAM single to be released for Record Store Day}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806210331/http://www.bobdylan.com/ca/news/wigwam-single-be-released-record-store-day|archive-date=August 6, 2013|url-status=dead}}
{{Cite web|url=http://www.tvadmusic.co.uk/2014/12/clash-of-clans-flight-of-the-barbarian/|title=Flight of the Barbarian|work=Clash of Clans TV advert, background music|date=December 27, 2014|access-date=December 27, 2014}}

Category:Bob Dylan songs

Category:Songs written by Bob Dylan

Category:1970 songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Bob Johnston

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:1970 singles

Category:2013 singles