Jewels and Binoculars: The Bob Dylan Appreciation Thread

[The Chairman]

I can't believe there has not been a thread on this already (or at least I haven't seen it.)

This is the thread for all things involving Bob Dylan - stories, concert reviews, Best-of lists, his impact on music, etc. Dylan is bar none the most important and influential American songwriter of the last 50 years or so.

In trying to keep this positive, I strongly discourage anyone that disregards Dylan solely on the grounds that he 'can't sing' or something along those lines from entering this thread, as it adds little to the discussion. This is a thread for those who appreciate Bob Dylan's legacy and his influence on popular music.

 

[The Chairman]

To get things rolling, I've just recently become a harcore Bobcat. I was always aware of him, his music and his influence, and I knew all the stories about being a Judas and briefly becoming a Born Again Christian, but I never delved too deeply into his catalog until the past three months.

I now have all of the albums from his first one through Christmas in the Heart (which I love). My favorites, in order, are:

1. Blood on the Tracks
2. Time Out of Mind
3. Bringing it all Back Home
4. Blonde on Blonde
5. Highway 61 Revisited
6. Desire
7. Oh Mercy
8. Love and Theft
9. New Morning
10. Modern Times

My favorite songs are:

1. Love Minus Zero / No Limit
2. Idiot Wind
3. Changing of the Guards
4. Subterranean Homesick Blues
5. Shooting Star
6. Jokerman
7. Like a Rolling Stone
8. Simple Twist of Fate
9. It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding
10. When the Deal Goes Down

I intend to see him when he comes to my area.

 

[TinkTonks]

What are your thoughts on the live album he did with The Band, 'Before the Flood'? That, actually, was the beginning for me...I have been a Dylan fan ever since. Not so much of The Band, though I take moods for them. I thought he did a killer version of That's Alright Ma...

 

[The Chairman]

What are your thoughts on the live album he did with The Band, 'Before the Flood'? That, actually, was the beginning for me...I have been a Dylan fan ever since. Not so much of The Band, though I take moods for them. I thought he did a killer version of That's Alright Ma...

I LOVE Before the Flood. Along with Bootleg Series Vols. 4 & 5, it's my favorite Dylan live album. I love Dylan's voice from those years (1969-78). It completely shatters the notion he can't sing. My favorite version of "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" is on that album.

 

[Welsh]

Love a bit of Dylan, one of the most influential songwriters of all time, if no THE.

 

[thorandsurfer]

Here's former Rolling Stones guitarist, Mick Taylor doing justice to a rare Bob Dylan tune, BLIND WILLIE MC TELL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTG-QKgdGE4

 

[david icke]

Re 'Before the Flood', after hearing the live version of 'Like a Rolling Stone' from that used in Matrin Scorsese's 'Life Lessons'(the short film from the 'New York Stories' trilogy movie), my mate bought the album and I used to hear that all the time, i mean, all the time, so that is pretty ingrained in me, reminds me of old, good times, and i wish i had a copy of it, it is an awesome version, and maybe even better than the original studio. actually, i think it is better than the studio version, that live version is just absolutely soaring.
If you have not seen it used in the Scorsese movie, you should check it out, Nick Nolte as a mad obsessive fine art painter, tanking out a painting while listening to it blasting out a ghettoblaster in his studio.

I am not a Dylan obsessive or expert, but i have had a few albums of his in my time, Blonde on blonde(love the thread title btw, Visions of Johanna is amazing, and it's been years since i last heard it), The 3disc Biograph set(which i bought for 'Percy's song' that i loved when i heard Joan Baex singing it on the documentary), Highway 61 revisited, Blood on the tracks, Street Legal(i was pleased to see CotG in your top ten so high, amzing song, i did not get into it at first, but that same friend used to play it all the time, and then i ended up buying the album for myself, i think that is a very under-rated album).

edit: someone gave me copies of the Basement tapes, but i keep forgetting i have them and have never got into them as a result. I should give them a listen to now i have remembered.

 

[Mr.Webs]

I have a love-hate relationship with Dylan. Some songs are groundbreaking and inspired, classics that will be around longer than me or you. Then he has these insipid, rambling pieces that go nowhere and are just ridiculous. Now, I love some surreal imagery in a song, but some of his just don't do it for me.

But, all in all, he is a maverick and I highly respect him for everything he's done for songwriting and music. The song that turned me onto him was the quiet melody and beauty of She Belongs To Me off of the brilliant Bringing It All Back Home.

 

[TinkTonks]

I LOVE Before the Flood. Along with Bootleg Series Vols. 4 & 5, it's my favorite Dylan live album. I love Dylan's voice from those years (1969-78). It completely shatters the notion he can't sing. My favorite version of "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" is on that album.

I completely agree...Dylan was at his best around that era. If I had tried to jump in at any other time of his career, I don't know if I would have been such a fan. But I always love live performances over studio. Live is what distinguishes the real singers from the imitators.

 

[Motown Marvel]

bringing it all back home is one of the greatest albums ever. outlaw blues is such a jam! 'isis' off of desire is one of my favorite dylan songs though. especially this performance: