Let's Talk Dylan......

Over the years Bob Dylan has always been a close second to The Beatles in my musical taste.But now (shock,horror) I feel he has replaced them as my favourite artist.He is the only singer to make me excited about music and so many of his songs sound fresh to me today as they did when I first heard them.
Take Desolation Row for example.I know the lyrics inside out but still get a buzz when I hear the opening acoustic guitar part as if to wonder what is coming up.
He has performed his songs in many styles - Folk,Rock,Country,Blues,Jazz,Pop and has released classic album after album.
His voice is often the subject of great debate but I love the world weiry drawl and I am probably in the minority when I say his voice has improved with age.Just listen to Mississippi or Tryin' to Get To heaven to see what I mean.

I created this topic as I hope it can be used for all opinions on Dylan - good and bad.

My favourite albums of his are :

1. Bringing It All Back Home
2. Highway 61 Revisted
3. Freewhellin'
4. Blond on Blonde
5. Blood on the Tracks

Saying that I can find gems on each and every album.

A hidden gem for example is Silvio from Oh Mercy.Dylan does pop!

I look forward to reading all your Dylan views!

The Boys are still my #1 but Dylan is a close second. I'm trying to buy all his albums (I'm on my way to pick up Self Portrait in a few) So I only have his 60's albums so far but my faves are:

1.Highway 61 Revisited
2Bringing It All Back Home
3.Blonde On Blonde
4.John Wesley Harding
5. Another Side Of..

I'll probably be able to find some gems on "Self Portrait", which is usually considered his worst, but I'll see for myself.I usually do find something good anyway. He never dissapoints. Thats why hes a Favorite and a Legend. Now on to the 70's!

I love Bob Dylan, too. My favourite album is Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde On Blonde - I could listen to these all day long and never have enough! And I have very soft spot for "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry".

I like especially his older albums, because I love his voice he used to have at the time. He always fascinated me, Bob. His entire personality is unique, as well as his songs.

Btw, cool topic, beatlemad!

I used to be really into him years ago, mostly in my teens. I thought a lot of his stuff was really cutting and could relate to his perspective on a lot of things. But nowadays I'm not as into him. And I don't know why. John's music was also something I was seriously into in my teens, but I'm still into it. I think I just got tired of how some of the stuff is so drawn out with Dylan. Not a bad thing, but just not my thing anymore. Plus his music (in the musical sense) was never the central thrill for me ever. He's incredible in his way and I have nearly everything he has ever put his voice on. But I'm never pulling out those albums as much anymore for some reason.

I'd say my favorite albums of his are probably "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde On Blonde."

I still like The Beatles more, but I've been discovering his music and lyrics lately and I've been mesmerized. The guy is a genious. The thing that happens to me the most is: "I feel exactly the same, but for some reason he can express it much better". Fantastic. As far as album, for now my order would be:

1. Blood On The Tracks
2. Bringing It All Back Home
3. Highway 61 Revisited
4. Blonde On Blonde
5. Time Out Of Mind

And songs... well, lately I've been in a "Desolation Row" mood, but there's always "Mississippi" or "Standing In The Doorway" to provide a fine contrast.

I am a Dylan fanatic, too. He is second only to the Beatles in my book. I'm so obsessed with Blonde on Blonde that I own the album in 4 different formats (btw, the mono Sundazed LP is amazing!). I've been immersed in Chronicles One lately, as well as Robert Shelton's book from '85 or '86 called No Direction Home. I've been listening to the Official Bootleg Series vol.1 incessantly.

Starting in March, Dylan will be touring with Merle Haggard. Can't wait to see him again! The highlight of the last concert I saw this past fall was "Every Grain of Sand." I almost died right then and there. All the frat guys and pseudohippies had no idea of the magic happening at that very moment--I felt like I was the only one where I was standing that actually knew that magnificient song. I wanted everyone to shut up, stop dancing, and just listen for a minute!

I was reading this thread and "A Hard Day's Night" came on the radio- I swear it's the truth!

I'm a Dylan fan, too:)

I'm listening to Dignity right now.A great example of how Bob could still knock out a great storytelling song some 30 years after what many believe to be his peak.
Did he ever find Dignity...I hope not!

i have said this before but ill say it again
i have seen A LOT of concerts and the best concert i have ever seen was Bob right here in missoula 3/22/00

i have seen many celebrities and its no big deal they are jsut people to me but, Bob had me "starstruck" i literally could not beleive my eyes and ears .It was surreal I was telling my self"That is Bob Dylan and hes singing "dont think twice its alright" live and its coming out of his mouth strait to my ears !" and i had tears roll down my cheaks as he sang "Blowing in the wind" and i was not the only one he blew us all away no pun intended! and im very lucky to have a excellent sounding CD of the show I should burn it for you Chris.Anyway long live Bob a true master poet

YOU HAVE A CD OF THE CONCERT!!!!!!
I'LL PAY YOU GODDAMMIT! GIVE ME A COPY OF THAT CD!

My opinion probably isn't very popular around these parts. I can't stand the guy. Sure, he has good lyrics but I hate his voice and I can't detect anything resembling a melody in 95% of his songs.

It's weird because I like Beck, who has been compared to Bob Dylan. But Dylan himself, I don't like his music at all.

Though he was a good friend of George's so I like him for that.

Thats OK.As I said in the first post good and bad opinions are fine here.I don't care if people completely slate him here.
I just wanted a dedicated topic so I can rant about my love of his music!
Takes all sorts...

I like Dylan and I have a few of his CDs but I'm hardly leaping around in fits of ecstasy when I hear his music.

"Visions of Johanna" is such evocative surrealist poetry, conjuring images of desire for the unattainable. The artist's constant search for truth and beauty in its perfect form--so much longing in that piece...I could listen to it forever and still find something new.

"These visions of Johanna are all that remain."

I love, love, love Bob's early work. I'm see him in concert three times, twice here in my little podunk town. If my pops didn't have the Beatles or Buddy Holly in the player, then it was Bob all the way. His music invokes great memories for me- like the only concert my father and I had the joy of sharing together.

All those 60s albums were great and the comps he did with George were fanfreakintastic.

Desolation Row has to be one of my top three all time favorite songs.

I think Bob has written some great tunes, very profound and poetic, but I would rather listen to his tunes recorded by other artists, I just find no melody in Bob's voice at all... not to my ears anyway

[ QUOTE ]
beatlelover45223 Posted:
I think Bob has written some great tunes, very profound and poetic, but I would rather listen to his tunes recorded by other artists, I just find no melody in Bob's voice at all... not to my ears anyway

[/ QUOTE ]

Just a suggestion:
Don't listen to his voice, listen to the passion, listen to the songs.

Just think if he had released this as an album...

Carribean Wind
Abandoned Love
Tell Me
Foot of Pride
Angelina
Silvio
Brownsville Girl
Lord Protect My Child
Blind Willie McTell
Dignity
Series of Dreams

..(you can put the songs in the order you want) and then NOT have released Knocked Out Loaded & Down In The Groove. I think his reputation might not have gotten so low in the late 80's. Of course I realize that the last 2 were Oh Mercy outtakes, and you can't touch that album. Might rank in the top 10 of his career.

I'm listening to Gotta Serve Somebody over and over right now.It's a song I have criminally ignored for a while now.Great everyday people type lyrics with a great gospel backing.A highlight from Slow Training Coming.You may call me Archie,You may call me Ray ooooooh

I like Dylan, not a huge fan but I like his songs well enough. I had Nashville Skyline and Blood On The Tracks on cd and those are great albums.