Godlike Bob Dylan

[kalowski]

In opposition to the madness that is people putting his Bobness in the "can't stand 'em" thread, I have to stand up for the greatest singer-songwriter of all time. He is the greatest, I think.
You know that bit in The Beatles' anthology when Lennon goes up in the helicopter with the Maharishi, "I asked [John] later, 'Why were you so keen to get up with the Maharishi?'" said McCartney. "'To tell you the truth,' he said, 'I thought he might slip me in the Answer.' "
Actually, the one person who really has the answer to the meaning of life is Bob Dylan.

I like (almost) everything and certainty like something from every phase of his career.

[pigamus]

I'm fine with people who can't stand his voice, but saying his lyrics are shit? Pfffft.

I think some people just hear Blowin' in the Wind and that's it. Which is mental.

[Ferris]

It boggles my mind that people don't like his output, there is something new and interesting from every phase. I even liked Christmas in the Heart.

I am a Dylan obsessive though.

Best record of the '70s (other than Blood on the Tracks obviously)? I'm a big fan of New Morning but open to other opinions.

[Lungpuddle]

Best record of the '70s (other than Blood on the Tracks obviously)? I'm a big fan of New Morning but open to other opinions.

Street Legal for me, it's not perfect but Changing of the Guards, Tales of Yankee Power and Where Are You Tonight? redeem the worst of it, which is Is Your Love In Vain? I like Desire but it's the opposite problem, with Joey and Sara destroying it. Hurricane needs about forty more rewrites and a different subject too.

[kalowski]

It boggles my mind that people don't like his output, there is something new and interesting from every phase. I even liked Christmas in the Heart.

I am a Dylan obsessive though.

Best record of the '70s (other than Blood on the Tracks obviously)? I'm a big fan of New Morning but open to other opinions.

Possibly Desire. If I can include the Rolling Thunder Review tapes I'd have that, though.
I like New Morning, but I've never got on with If Not For You. Sign on the Window, however, is one of his greatest tracks.

[Old Nehamkin]

he's obviously great and everyone who's like "ooh he's not great" is just a big loser

[sutin]

Another vote for Bob here. Was brought up on his music and consider him a real genius.

[Ferris]

Street Legal for me, it's not perfect but Changing of the Guards, Tales of Yankee Power and Where Are You Tonight? redeem the worst of it, which is Is Your Love In Vain? I like Desire but it's the opposite problem, with Joey and Sara destroying it. Hurricane needs about forty more rewrites and a different subject too.

First half of Street Legal is dead good, less sure about the other half. Desire is a great shout though, wall to wall bangers.

[Lungpuddle]

First half of Street Legal is dead good, less sure about the other half.

We better talk this over.

[Lisa Jesusandmarychain]

Godawful Bob Dylan, more like!!!!!!!

[Pearly-Dewdrops Drops]

Since this is a comedy forum, an under-appreciated fact is that he is literally the only genuinely funny music legend in history. (The Beatles thought they were funny but weren't. A song like "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" is actually funny.)

Peaked in 1965 though.

[LynnBenfield69]

People are welcome not to be big fans - I'm a casual fan, at best - but anyone who claims he is not some kind of god is edgelording, surely.

[pigamus]

I mean if you love Joni and Laughing Len, fine, so do I. But to say Dylan is shit in comparison, that's absurd.

[Old Nehamkin]

People are welcome not to be big fans

no they're not

[Nice Relaxing Poo]

I'm no worshipper but Blood on the Tracks and Desire are splendid albums.

[Psmith]

Phew! Some sanity has returned to the forum.

[kalowski]

Peaked in 1965 though.

1997: Time Out of Mind
2002: Love and Death
2006: Modern Times
2020: Rough and Rowdy Ways


All fantastic.

[Lungpuddle]

1997: Time Out of Mind
2002: Love and Death
2006: Modern Times
2020: Rough and Rowdy Ways


All fantastic.

My copy of Love and Death has a very noticeable typo. I agree, these are all fantastic.

[shagatha crustie]

I've always liked how you can ask yourself 'how does it feel?' at any period in your life and the meaning of the question changes with the times but always forces a meaningful response out of you.

[Brundle-Fly]

I only really dig Manfred Mann's and Tom 'Lofty' Watt's Dylan cover versions because like I said in the other thread, it's that 'voice'. I really admire him though but from afar.  It's the evangelical fandom that puts me off which makes me a total hypocrite as a big Beatles fan.

The only album I might be interested in investigating is 'Self Portrait' (1970)  because most Dylan heads hate it. Not just to be deliberately contrarian but because I'm vaguely intrigued by why it is held in such disregard.  I'll get around to that one day.

[Pearly-Dewdrops Drops]

1997: Time Out of Mind
2002: Love and Death
2006: Modern Times
2020: Rough and Rowdy Ways


All fantastic.

Agree to disagree slightly about his newest album, but anyway I was not implying that the rest of his career was not great. His peak = in less than 24 months between 1964-65 he released four of the best albums of all time. Every single album he released in the 1960s in a 10/10 album. A creative peak during which he was firing on all cylinders as an unparalleled cultural force.

His 60s output is what makes him one of the greatest of all time in my opinion. Even the 70s albums that many people inexplicably seem to like more these days do not hold a candle to that initial phase of his career.

[kalowski]

My copy of Love and Death has a very noticeable typo. I agree, these are all fantastic.

Ha. Mine too. I've recently been having a conversation with a mate about 70s Woody Allen films.

[Custard]

He's easily one of the finest songwriters evaaahhh

The recent stuff (anything after the 70's) isn't really for me, but those first two decades are incredible

I like that he never, ever stops touring too. He doesn't need the money, clearly, but does it cos that's what he does

And as I mentioned in the other thread, he was a joy in The Traveling Wilburys too

[kalowski]

Agree to disagree slightly about his newest album, but anyway I was not implying that the rest of his career was not great. His peak = in less than 24 months between 1964-65 he released four of the best albums of all time. Every single album he released in the 1960s in a 10/10 album. A creative peak during which he was firing on all cylinders as an unparalleled cultural force.

This, my friend, is fair enough. The film Don't Look Back shows him at the very peak of this period.

[Lungpuddle]

Has anyone here seen him live? I don't know if he's a notoriously awful performer, but every time anyone I know sees him they come away disappointed and feeeel he's taken the piss.

[pigamus]

Twice. The first time was really good, the second was so awful I walked out before the end.

[Cuellar]

Saw him several times in the early/mid 2000s. Once in Shepherds' Bush and I bumped into Stephen Merchant in the lav.

[shagatha crustie]

It's a timeworn observation I suppose, but that last verse of Mr Tambourine Man is unmatched, mesmerising, impossible. There are things going on in there which i couldn't even unpick or explain what they make me think/feel, but somehow are delivered conversationally, colloquially even.

[kalowski]

Lights flicker from the opposite loft
In this room the heat pipes just cough
The country music station plays soft
But there's nothing, really nothing to turn off
Just Louise and her lover so entwined
And these visions of Johanna that conquer my mind

[Ferris]

It's a timeworn observation I suppose, but that last verse of Mr Tambourine Man is unmatched, mesmerising, impossible. There are things going on in there which i couldn't even unpick or explain what they make me think/feel, but somehow are delivered conversationally, colloquially even.

There's an extended harmonica break on No Direction Home (?) at the end of Mr Tambourine Man that is just magnificent. Really, really the very best thing of music there is.