Should I give Bob Dylan a chance?

[HurricaneJesus]

My whole life I've written the guy off. Couldn't really dig his voice. I think I'm ready now. Where do I start?

[bluesjunior]

Start at the beginning with "Bob Dylan" but be warned you will spend a long time catching up, a lifetime maybe lol.

Seriously though "Blonde on Blonde," "Highway 61 Revisited," "Blood on the Tracks," "Desire," are all essential listening and I would recommend them as a good place to begin. The thing to do with Dylan is have the lyric sheet to hand as you listen. He can sing ok when he wants to. My personal belief is that he gets some kind of kick out of making it hard on the listener.

[dharmafool]

You could "cheat" a little and watch Scorcese's No Direction Home biopic on Bob and go from there. Don't Look Back, the D.A. Pennebaker feature on Bob's 1965 U.K. tour is essential viewing.

[DrSax]

You could "cheat" a little and watch Scorcese's No Direction Home biopic on Bob and go from there. Don't Look Back, the D.A. Pennebaker feature on Bob's 1965 U.K. tour is essential viewing.

Not a bad idea. Gives you an idea of what he's about. As far as albums, soooo many, from so many periods.

I think he's got the perfect voice. He ain't singing opera....

[TommyMambo]

Should I give Bob Dylan a chance?

Only if you want to observe the twentieth century's most prolific songwriter, and shear greatness!

[geetarboy]

I would pick up Freewheeling, Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde On Blonde and Blood On the Tracks in any order.

[Priestunes]

meet him in the morning, 56th and Wabasha...

[Rock Johnson]

No.

[aram]

freewheelin is one of my favorites. just guitar harmonica, and that lovely voice.

the key is the lyrics.

I wasn't into lyrics at all before i started listening to bob dylan.

he's more of a "grand poet" than a singer/songwriter.

[joemesser]

Maybe try his most recent release, "Modern Times" and go back from there? "Time Out Of Mind" is also an excellent, relatively recent CD. I think he has gained so much sophistication over the years. He is such a master of his craft.

I've been listening to "New Morning" lately (I think it's from the at home with the kids era), and it's a sweet disc.

[frankencat]

Your contemporary music vocabulary will not be complete without Bob. If you want to look at it that way. Or you can just listen to Highway 61 and go from there ;)

[Catoogie]

He can sing ok

Bob Dylan is one of the greatest singers ever. You may not like the tone of his instrument but as a singer he is amazing. His phrasing is unmatched and his ability to convey complex human emotions is up there with Hank Williams and George Jones.

[dukeh62]

meet him in the morning, 56th and Wabasha...


Hey...I just started doing that tune this week!!!

As for his lyrics...his web site has the lyrics to all of his tunes...a great resource!

[Groovey Records]

won't make a differnce to him if you do or if you don't

and I can't say if you will or if you won't

but you've got nothing you have to live up to

[skillet]

I used to be in the same boat, I couldn't stand his voice. I got into him at random, just downloading songs here and there to check them out, I don't even remember what prompted me to do so, probably one of his songs in a movie I liked. I gave the music a real chance this time and found I liked it. I decided to learn more, so it was time to put some money into it and I found out which albums had some of my favorite downloaded songs on them and bought those; I think it was Blonde on Blonde initially. I enjoyed it, but I didn't become a huge fan overnight.

Next I bought Blood on the Tracks. That was the last bit of prodding I needed as that album grabbed me by the throat (or heart strings I guess) and has never let go. I'd heard most of the songs before here and there but had never -listened- to any of them. I can still recall to this day years later the first night I listened to Shelter From the Storm and how I sat with my mouth wide open staring at my CD player in the dark and hanging on every word.

After that I punched myself in the face and dove backwards onto my coffee table for having been so stupid as to ignore this man for all those years.

[Nick67]

Never too late to get some "Bob" in your life!! As mentioned previously, good places to start are Blonde on Blonde,Blood on the tracks,Highway 61,and Freewheeling. If you are in a country mood the Nashville Skyline album is great. Oh Mercy is a good effort as well. One of my old bands had the great fortune of opening for Bob Dylan for a couple of dates back in 1992.Nothing compares to seeing Bob from 12 feet away from the side of the stage. A real master at work and his band was fantastic.

[?&!]

I hated his voice for most of my adult life. I always respected his songwriting, but only when I heard other artists covering his music. I had been telling my Uncle (who is a noted engineer/producer) that I couldn't stand Dylan since I was a teenager. He would reply with things like, "You're too smart not to get Dylan. Listen harder.", or "Someday you are going to feel like an idiot for feeling that way". Boy, was he ever dead on. I saw the video for "Tangled Up in Blue" one evening, and it hit me like a brick in the face. I'd seen it 100 times before, but for some reason, I understood it this time. I have no explanation. I called my Uncle immediately to tell him what happened, and he got a good laugh out of it (he loves being right). Two days later, FedEx showed up at my house with a package from him containing all of Dylan's essential recordings, I haven't stopped listening since.

[crzyfngers]

he'll only hurt you and leave you again.

[Tom Gross]

I would definitely start with the old stuff. It is good to understand what Hendrix, Springsteen & everybody else saw in him. Also to understand the Folk music (in the true sense of it) tradition he came from, where vocal quality & song complexity are more about how close to the bone you get rather than how "good" you are. Like Johnny Cash and others, "Three chords & the Truth".

I would also approach it with a certain attitude, not "do I like it", but "Can I get it" - what is it that so many others who I dig & respect see in this music? I haven't gotten it before. This is a good attitude for a LOT of music many of us have missed.
So with Dylan, when something is odd or annoying, try to dig where he is coming from, why do others dig it. Why is his voice so bad but he's not embarasses? Why does he have that line in there that seems like it's just because it rhymes? Why does he have too many words all crammed in a line? Why is he blowing so hard into that harp?

[Garygtr]

Start with some of the classic stuff mentioned, but my favorite Dylan record is Time Out of Mind by far. It has this beautiful atmospheric feel (Daniel Lanois production) and off the cuff quality that is just endearing, IMO.

[Tom Gross]

Also his book, Chronicles (http://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-One-Bob-Dylan/dp/0743244583/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220023556&sr=1-1), I found to be amazing.
I was never a huge fan, but this book is really cool and an eye opener. A lot of impressions of him early in Greenwhich village, and then later not wanting to be a big star or "voice of his generation", but trying to be left alone and raise his kids in peace.

[Catoogie]

I came to appreciate Dylan rather late in life, only after playing with a singer-songwriter who was rabid in his love for him.

The album that got me was 'Oh Mercy' and the song was "Most of the Time". And I can pinpoint the exact line in the song that sold me.

The last verse, the last three lines. His phrasing on the very last line in the song told me everything I need to know about how great Bob Dylan is.

I don't compromise and I don't pretend
I don't even care if I ever see her again........................Most of the time

[Jon Silberman]

It is good to understand what Hendrix, Springsteen & everybody else saw in him.
Great post, Tom, though I'm kinda pissed you left out the Grateful Dead. ;)

Thought I'd add to all the other helpful posts that in my view Dylan is underrated as a guitarist. Some of the simple major and minor chords he plays on his songs are unusual and fascinating inversions you'd never otherwise encounter. I've heard it said that whoever he learned guitar from originally must have been very old or very sequestered because it's just not done like that today.

[Nick67]

Great post, Tom, though I'm kinda pissed you left out the Grateful Dead. ;)

Thought I'd add to all the other helpful posts that in my view Dylan is underrated as a guitarist. Some of the simple major and minor chords he plays on his songs are unusual and fascinating inversions you'd never otherwise encounter. I've heard it said that whoever he learned guitar from originally must have been very old or very sequestered because it's just not done like that today.

Very True!! His chord work is mind blowing. Bob's right hand is also quite amazing. Thanks for sharing the tid bit about where he may have learned to play. I have never heard that but it makes perfect sense.

[chrisr777]

A good place to start would be Before the Flood, the live album he did with the Band. It has selections from different parts of his career up to that point as well as some great performances of the Band's songs. Always been one of my favorites.

[drive-south]

If you want to hear Dylan's early influence, check out Ramblin' Jack Elliot. His first appearance at Newport was like a Ramblin Jack tribute.

I bought the Bob Dylan songbook that has over 350 original songs. Like the Encyclopedia Brittanica for musicians.

drive-south

[HHB]

I never got Bob til my 19 yr old son turned me onto him, that boy is old school LOL

[P90Nut]

No...I can't see how anything that you hear could change your mind.

[fenderball]

Blood on the tracks...amazing record...live with it for a week...the writing and performance is awesome...

I love that album

my whole life i've written the guy off. Couldn't really dig his voice. I think i'm ready now. Where do i start?

[mc2]

Get Time out of Mind and Oh Mercy. Those are my faves. Be patient, and he'll apply songs to your life that will freak you out.

[Bulldog]

Of all his albums, my favorites are: Oh Mercy and Bringing It All Back Home.

In my mind Bringing it Back Home is the most accesible of his records.

[angus99]

PBS ran some great footage earlier this year from successive Newport festivals, including the one that caused all the fuss when he plugged in. Might be in some of the collections already mentioned or on Utube--I really love that stuff.

I saw him with The Band in Atlanta in the mid '70s--one of my all-time, al-time musical moments.

For great covers, the 30th anniv. tribute to Bob was wonderful--all except for the ccouple of songs he croaked out. I don't know if he was sick, didn't give a damn or was trying to make a statement, but I generally skip over those cuts.

angus

[Joe Robinson]

A couple of avenues worth exploring. Listen to the man himself on XM's Theme Time Radio. Bob Dylan spins some interesting tunes. A great sense of humor. I nearly crashed the car when he outlined the difference between the river Styx and that band with Tommy Shaw in it.

Learn to play and sing "Like a Rolling Stone", if you have not already. "Things have Changed" is another great one. To me it is about the turn of phrase perfectly matched with fantastic chord changes.

There's nothing wrong with not liking his voice, but there is something very wrong with dismissing the whole of the artistry there. So I say, learn the songs.

[franksguitar]

Dylan may not have been a good singer but sure knew how to pen some great tunes. Covered by Byrds, Hendrix Clapton and others

[russ]

I think this a great song, with a great interpretation by E.C.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nVDA0v43Rk

It's from the 30th anniversary show. I say he's got the fire!

[Brett Valentine]

Dylan may not have been a good singer but sure knew how to pen some great tunes. Covered by Byrds, Hendrix Clapton and others

That's what finally got me into Dylan. Hendrix doing "Like A Rolling Stone" is pretty amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGy_7qTvjDs&fmt=18

[JSeth]

It's really hard to not post some smart-ass, sarcastic reply...

Yes! Check him out; if you like acoustic folk based stuff, start at the beginning and proceed...
If electric stuff is more your style, start with "Bringing it All Back Home", "Highway 61 Revisited" (this is the LP that my Dad bought for me, then commented that he would NEVER buy me another record!!!) and "Blonde on Blonde"...

If none of this "blows your skirt up", then just bag it 'cause you ain't gonna get it, ever!

Enjoy one of the most amazing poet/songwriters who have ever lived...

[SHM]

should i give bob dylan a chance?

only if you want to observe the twentieth century's most prolific songwriter, and shear greatness!

+ 1000000

[SixStringAxis]

Its hard to pick an album, it depends on what you want to hear. On the top the only thing thats ever consistant is the singer/songwriter style, besides that every album is very different. His best albums cant really be compared to anything which is probably why there the hardest to get.

Dont be scared to keep listening if you dont get it the first time. Like someone said LISTEN HARDER! Most of them I would listen to all the way through.

I could go on all day but I love Dylan so much I would hate to spoil it for anyone.

[duaneallen]

Wow!No.

[greggorypeccary]

A couple of avenues worth exploring. Listen to the man himself on XM's Theme Time Radio. Bob Dylan spins some interesting tunes. A great sense of humor. I nearly crashed the car when he outlined the difference between the river Styx and that band with Tommy Shaw in it.


The Theme Time Radio Hour is essential listening here, every Sunday morning, coffee with Bob.

Another way to experience Bob is live shows. Virtually every show since '88 has been recorded "from the field" and most sound surprisingly good. IMO he was really on fire in the late 90's - early '00's

[Tricks]

Man, you need educatin' : )
I would suggest you begin with "Masterpiece" a 3 cd set which will provide you with a good cross section right up until the mid seventies, then decide for yourself where you'd like to start - "Blood On The Tracks" and/or "Desire" might provide you with a comfortable door through which to enter.
FYI, "Dylan is a great songwriter but can't sing too good and isn't really a great musician" is the biggest cliche and fallacy around - people have been saying that as far back as the sixties, these people are usually the type that have about 10 records/cds in their entire collection.
Dylan has an unusual voice, but he's a GREAT singer - if you don't believe me, pick a handful of his songs and learn to sing 'em, and if you don't believe he's a great musician, pick a handful of his songs and learn to play 'em. As Tom Waits once said - "Dylan's like a planet to be discovered, and to the aspiring songwriter he's as essential as a hammer and nail is to a carpenter". And he oughta know.
Enjoy the journey.

[playon]

Heck -- start with his best album in decades, 2001 "Love and Theft". Very accessible musically with killer songs and guitar playing.

[cdickey]

Freewheelin has great acoustic guitar playing besides great lyrics and Bob's distinctive voice. I spent lots of time learning the finger picking twang of Don't Think Twice (capo on 3rd fret), Girl from the North Country and lots of stuff. Lots of Woody Guthrie style flatpicking with bass lines.

A cool record is the 30 anniversay concert where lots of very famous musicians performed Dylan songs.

Oh yeah, Blonde on Blonde. And don't miss Desolation Row on Highway 61 with Mike Bloomfield on lead guitar.

Great songs on the Travelin Wilburys like Tweeter and the Monkey Man.

[hangten]

also - check out "world gone wrong"

an amazing record - dylan sitting in a chair playing guitar and singing.

I challenge you to play it like he does. you will realize how deep his vocal AND guitar phrasing are.

seriously - the guitar work seems simple till you try to figure out what he's doing.

go for it - you will definitely learn something!

[cram]

a casual fans' observations -
buckets of rain has always been my favorite tune.
blood on the tracks has always been around in my cd collection and it gets thrown in my mixes to this day. No filler seems to be on that one imo.

I recently got my hands on the gas light tapes or sessions (not sure what it's called) but it's not something I'd spend all day listenning to, but man there are some cool songs on there if you take them one by one.

the way his voice has gotten smokey later in life is not my favorite sound. I haven't been drawn to anything he's done, but nothing he's ever done has been un listennable.

There's a performance in england early on that gets a lot of attention. apparently the suits in the audience were giving him crap and he had a subtle smack back at them and went into like a rolling stone.

if you're a history buff of music, that was a pretty cool moment back in the day.

I turn to his music from time to time. I think I can understand why someone wouldn't readily enter into his music - his history precedes himself sometimes. there's been much made of his eccentric behavior and mannerisms in comedy skits, but the guy could bring it and he did for years.

[stratlad]

I don't know his earliest stuff as well but key classics in my mind are:

o The album with Like a Rolling Stone (reinvented rock n' roll with that)
o Blood on the Tracks
o Infidels
o Modern Times

These span his career and leave many things out, but you can go back to get them later. Some other very underrated Bob albums IMO are:

o John Wesley Harding
o Planet Waves
o Nashville Skyline

Avoid "Self-Portrait". New Morning is good but you may need to get into Bob more before that.

Blonde on Blonde is a classic for him
His live one with the Band is great too

Cheers

[rockon1]

My whole life I've written the guy off. Couldn't really dig his voice. I think I'm ready now. Where do I start?


Absolutely. The man is truely an amazing imagist poet. Set to his music its amazing stuff to me. "Desolation Row" still captures my imagination a 100 plays later.
Essential listening has probably been mentioned in this thread but I'll say Bringing it all Back Home ,Highway 61 and Blonde on Blonde are definately on that list. Bob

[Charles#5]

Infidels and Slow Train Coming are my favorite Dylan albums. Great songs, great guitar playing too.

[Cary Chilton]

Jimi had the utmost respect for him....

[buddatron]

Sometimes I need a gateway song to get in to a particular band, or style of music.
What kind of music do you listen to?

Without knowing anything about you, I would suggest this Bob Dylan.

"Oh Mercy" One of the best if not THE best album he ever made imho.:AOK

Or I would cherry pick certain songs, Obviously "Knocking on Heavens Door".

Listen to "The Times They Are A Changin".

[wstsidela]

I'm seeing him on Thursday. I have front row seats :D

Blonde on Blonde, Highway 61 Revisited, Blood on the Tracks, Infidels... that's all you need. Enjoy!

[Dylan61]

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=dq3PpH1pxEI

[Dylan61]

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=F2hhvvGKsGk&feature=related

[TREV FLINT]

I can't believe "Nashville skyline" hasn't been mentioned very much. Great album with great players. Also I really one of his latest works " Modern Times".

Happy listening.

[MartinC]

I have a pitifully small Dylan collection. "Bringing it all back home" is enough of his early stuff for me.

AND THEN, I happened to listen to "Love and Theft" in a music store one day ... it was sitting there on the headphones for a free trial. That was several years ago and since then, this album has remained in my top 10 ... and I never tire of listening to it. Frankly it's nothing like his early stuff, except that it has the off-the-wall lyrical content. The musicianship throughout is just marvellous ... and there's zero melancoly content. It probably doesn't represent Dylan's body of work too closely, but it is a fantastic album.

[DrSax]

Bob's my fave all time singer, bar none. He's an amazing singer. He's also one of my favorite guitar players (back in the day, he doesn't play much now). Oh, and he's only the greatest songwriter America has ever produced.

I'm a bit of a fan.

[bilbal]

Considering he's one of the best known icons in Rock and Roll history, I would say giving him a chance might be a good idea. He's also influenced many bands and performers that you may be currently listening to.

I always find it funny when I hear a tune and learned it was originally penned by Dylan. The Grateful Dead did tons of Dylan material, as well did many bands throughout the years. Grab any of the Greatest Hits volumes, Best Of volumes, or Essential and you'll be diggin him in no time.

[jackm]

Pick one song you like,there has to be at least one,and investigate from there.If you can't figure it out just listen to the magnificent musicians he choses to use.
eventually you will see what Bob Dylan really is all about.

[Ken Ho]

Well , this is an intersting thread. I used to listen to tons of Dylan when I was 16, but not for some years now, for no particular reaosn.
I was going to emntion Blood on teh Tracks, but about 1000 peeps beat me to it, for good reason. I was going to single out Shelter from the Storm, but someone wiht exceedingly good taste beat me to it. I was going to suggest Masterpieces, but again, too late.
As for great musician, check out Masters of War, about ten verses and just one chord all the way through, with spine-chilling lyrics and a message that is timeless and as relevant as ever. Try writing a song like that. Damn it's good. Pearl Jam has a great cover on the Benroya Hall album too, just for good measure.
So, yes, I'm going to renew my Dylan collection. All my old tapes bit the dust, and I never did get around to buying CD's of those great albums.

[Dylan61]

Why not getting the new Bootlegseries?! he's live on his best.

[Rama]

Strangely enough...I'd go with Love and Theft...fairly recent. I have a feeling that might snag ya.

[pickaguitar]

I really liked the live at gaslight!

[HurricaneJesus]

I got Blonde on Blonde and have been giving it a few spins in the past few weeks. I dig it but damn, that harp could poke someone's eye out, no?

[rollyfoster]

i really like new morning a lot

rolling thunder review with the band is good, too

[RanaldoNecro]

Should I give Bob Dylan a chance?

Yes, Go buy Bootleg Series 4 right Now and listen to like a Rolling Stone...

[paraedolia]

My whole life I've written the guy off. Couldn't really dig his voice. I think I'm ready now. Where do I start?Good thread. I'm taking notes.
I do this periodically with the Beatles too, to see if I can ever get it...
Can you guys mark in the acoustic vs. electric records in those recommendations?

[stevieboy]

It's very subjective of course, and no one can really say what will grab you specifically, but I'm with those who think that Blood on the Tracks would be a good place to start. To me it's kind of in the center of his career, not necessarily on a time line, but in terms of where he came from and then went to. I think you could go backwards or forwards pretty well after that one, maybe to me it's the culmination of what he had done up to then and the springboard for what he has done since. It really features Dylan the storyteller (though he always has been that), followed up by Desire in that respect.

[RanaldoNecro]

Buy that Dylan retrospective that came out last year with the red cover...

Obviously you want to get a taster first...Then move on...

I suggest Time Out Of Mind, Greatest Hits and the Best of Bob Dylan
Best of Bob Dylan 2 is also a good buffet of songs...

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Bob-Dylan/dp/B00006J4R1

[jzucker]

Sure. Give Wes Montgomery, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton a chance too.

[The Golden Boy]

I never "got" Dylan either.

*shrug*

[PedalFreak]

One of the greatest songwriters/poets of this century...actually thats ever lived.

[madvek]

also - check out "world gone wrong"

an amazing record - dylan sitting in a chair playing guitar and singing.

I challenge you to play it like he does. you will realize how deep his vocal AND guitar phrasing are.

seriously - the guitar work seems simple till you try to figure out what he's doing.

go for it - you will definitely learn something!

+1 on World Gone Wrong. Bob digs up some REALLY obscure and wild blues tunes on that one.

+1000 Blood on the Tracks

Honestly, I've always thought that people who shut him off because of his voice just were incapable of appreciating a great artist when they heard one. (Figured they would rather listen to Celine Dion or someone of that ilk)

Bob Dylan is easily the finest lyricist of our generation. I've always thought that any song's author usually gets the story across better than most that follow. Sure, there are LOTS of exceptions, but... You really are missing out on a treasure if you don't "get" Dylan.

Some more to check out:
Visions of Johanna
http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=6i6NOfD48Gk&feature=related
Boots of Spanish Leather
http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=HFLfm9XOzEQ
It's All over now, Baby Blue
http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=E06SoECIp1U
Eventually, try to listen to a couple of his monster songs (Blowin' in the Wind, Tambourine Man) with fresh ears and you will be amazed at the images he can conjure up.

Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free,
Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands,
With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves,
Let me forget about today until tomorrow.

[davya]

No one can match the images he can paint in a song with his words...maybe a song or two but not hundreds and hundreds of songs.

One of the most powerful live musical experiences ever for me came from the last tour he did with The Band in the '70s. It was a solo performance of The Wedding Song. Just him and the guitar...his voice was just amazing!! The hairs on the back of my neck were actually standing up!! I still get chills just thinking about it.....wow...

[skydog]

My whole life I've written the guy off. Couldn't really dig his voice. I think I'm ready now. Where do I start?

Ask him out for coffee or a drink and see if you hit it off.

[Scott Auld]

Tangled Up in Blue still kills me.