Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan. I love Bob, me. ‘Blonde on Blonde’ and ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ from his ‘60s output are worthy of repeated visits. OK, that voice puts a lot of people off, but the melodies and words make it worth the effort. ‘Blood on the Tracks’ is the masterpiece, the one I’d take to the island.
They say that when men hit 33, they have their ‘Christ phase’. That’s the age Jesus died. Men question what it’s all about and attempt to do something meaningful, worthwhile, mature. Bob was 33, divorced, the Sixties well and truly over, Vietnam still dragging on, Watergate crushing any remaining illusion that America was land of the free, home of the brave. So, Bob comes up with his greatest set of ‘story’ songs. Songs of love, loss, growing old. Great lyrics and some of his best ever tunes.
‘Tangled Up in Blue’ kicks it off. This song alone makes it all worthwhile. ‘Simple Twist of Fate’ slows it down with gentle strum and light touch. ‘You’re a Big Girl’ with gorgeous picking and yearning vocal. ‘Idiot Wind’ with swirling organ and maliciously funny put-down lyrics. ‘You’re Gonna Make me Lonesome When you Go’, slow bass and jangly guitar with happy-sad tune. ‘Meet me in the Morning’ lurching bluesily with weary picking and high hat. ‘If You See Her, Say Hello’, acoustic guitars and heartbreak. ‘Shelter from the Storm’ should be played at every wedding on the planet, by law. ‘Buckets of Rain’ ends the album with gorgeous guitar and bubbling bass sending us off with a smile on our faces.
An album for grown-ups, of all ages.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan. I love Bob, me. ‘Blonde on Blonde’ and ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ from his ‘60s output are worthy of repeated visits. OK, that voice puts a lot of people off, but the melodies and words make it worth the effort. ‘Blood on the Tracks’ is the masterpiece, the one I’d take to the island.
They say that when men hit 33, they have their ‘Christ phase’. That’s the age Jesus died. Men question what it’s all about and attempt to do something meaningful, worthwhile, mature. Bob was 33, divorced, the Sixties well and truly over, Vietnam still dragging on, Watergate crushing any remaining illusion that America was land of the free, home of the brave. So, Bob comes up with his greatest set of ‘story’ songs. Songs of love, loss, growing old. Great lyrics and some of his best ever tunes.
‘Tangled Up in Blue’ kicks it off. This song alone makes it all worthwhile. ‘Simple Twist of Fate’ slows it down with gentle strum and light touch. ‘You’re a Big Girl’ with gorgeous picking and yearning vocal. ‘Idiot Wind’ with swirling organ and maliciously funny put-down lyrics. ‘You’re Gonna Make me Lonesome When you Go’, slow bass and jangly guitar with happy-sad tune. ‘Meet me in the Morning’ lurching bluesily with weary picking and high hat. ‘If You See Her, Say Hello’, acoustic guitars and heartbreak. ‘Shelter from the Storm’ should be played at every wedding on the planet, by law. ‘Buckets of Rain’ ends the album with gorgeous guitar and bubbling bass sending us off with a smile on our faces.
An album for grown-ups, of all ages.