Board 8 > Bob Dylan -- ranking songs and albums.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Bob Dylan:
Baby, Let Me Follow You Down
Pretty Peggy-O
Song To Woody
You're No Good
Talkin' New York
Gospel Plow
Man of Constant Sorrow (Soggy Bottom Boys > BD)
Freight Train Blues
House Of The Risin' Sun (Animals > BD)
Highway 51
See That My Grave Is Clean
Fixin' To Die
In My Time Of Dyin' (Led Zeppelin > BD)

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan:
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Blowin' In The Wind
Masters Of War
Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance
I Shall Be Free
Oxford Town
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
Talkin' World War III Blues
Down The Highway
Bob Dylan's Blues
Bob Dylan's Dream
Corrina, Corrina
Girl From The North Country (BD > Simon and Garfunkel)

The Times They Are A-Changin':
The Times They Are A-Changin'
When The Ship Comes In
Only A Pawn In Their Game
With God On Our Side
One Too Many Mornings
The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
North Country Blues
Restless Farewell
Ballad of Hollis Brown
Boots Of Spanish Leather

Another Side Of Bob Dylan:
I Don't Believe You
All I Really Want To Do
It Ain't Me Babe
Spanish Harlem Incident
I Shall Be Free No 10
Motorpsycho Nightmare
My Back Pages
To Ramona
Chimes Of Freedom
Ballad In Plain D
Black Crow Blues

Bringing It All Back Home:
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Mr. Tambourine Man
Maggie's Farm
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Bob Dylan's 115th Dream
It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
Gates Of Eden
She Belongs To Me
On The Road Again
Outlaw Blues
Love Minus Zero/No Limit
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Quick impressions after five albums from the 1960s:

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Another Side Of Bob Dylan
Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
The Times They Are A-Changin'

I feel like this album will lead to something of a more polished and orchestrated direction for Bob. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue is a strong finale to an otherwise still enjoyable album. The middle's probably the weakest of what it offers, but it doesn't stop me from wanting to hear more from the legend.

Speaking of legend: Highway 61 Revisited is supposed to be Bob's legendary album, right? This makes for an interesting album to lead up to it!
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And if my thought-dreams could be seen, they'd probably put my head in a guillotine!

Highway 61 is generally considered Dylan's massive album, yes. It also featured my second favourite Dylan song!
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HaRRicH posted...

Speaking of electric guitars, I heard Bob Dylan was the original punk rocker because he upset some concert when he went electric once upon a time. Do I have my details right? What happened?

yeah, a concertgoer shouted "judas!" and bob responded: "i don't believe you... you're a liar!" not everyone appreciated the folk -> rock transition!

and no, the band isn't on this album yet.
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forgot to mention that i love the cover version of the byrds of my back pages.

hate to be one of those "dylan covers are way better than the originals" people, but it's true in this case!
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also

HaRRicH posted...

I was wondering who that cutie was!

ballad in plain d is about bob's failed relationship with her, for the record.
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I'll have to check out the Byrds song and relisten to Ballad In Plain D.
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yeah, the byrds also covered mr. tambourine man - that's probably the more famous one. their cover of my back pages is very different from bob's version - i'm sure a lot of people prefer the original but i'm just a sucker for multi-layered vocal harmonies, and i like the ones in that cover quite a bit.
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Highway 61 Revisited

Starting off strong with the all-time greatest song ever, Like A Rolling Stone...according to Rolling Stone anyway. I just can't trust that opinion though, not from a magazine named after the song -- sorry! It's still an outstanding song though -- the uplifting sound with the themes of compromise and humility makes this work just right. Interesting to see this is when the organ gets introduced with him (pretty sure that sound in the chorus is an organ anyway).

I'm also noticing a trend of talking about carnies this album. Clowns in Like A Rolling Stone, sword-swallowers in Ballad Of A Thin Man, Tom Thumb gets the blues dedicated to him in his song...way to make sure nobody's left out, Bob!

Tombstone Blues has an interesting structure with that three-line chorus. Bob messing with the song structures I better know today is a fun trend with this guy's music.

Ballad Of A Thin Man has a nice eery vibe to it. It's borderline...menacing? Horrifying? Not sure what the best description is here, but it's striking.

Highway 61 Revisited's eponymous track introduces what any great musician needs in their wheelhouse: the cartoony whistle!

Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues starts off in a way that reminds me of Lynard Skynard's Sweet Home Alabama.

Desolution Row is fine, but it didn't need to be over eleven minutes long! Yeesh!


Highway 61 Revisited:
Like A Rolling Stone
Ballad Of A Thin Man
Queen Jane Approximately
Tombstone Blues
Highway 61 Revisited
Desolation Road
From A Buick 6
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
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Quick impressions after six albums from the 1960s:

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Another Side Of Bob Dylan
Bringing It All Back Home
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
The Times They Are A-Changin'

Another fine album. It's like The Times They Are A-Changin' in that its opening track eclipses the rest of the album, but it keeps my attention this time so it's still a good album to be remembered for.
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If I can't update tomorrow, I probably can't until Monday.
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interesting ranking so far. another side that high and highway 61 that low are pretty uncommon opinions!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqmt4hMr82g

This is my favourite cover of Ballad of a Thin Man, and it's one of my favourite Dylan songs either way.


HaRRicH posted...

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Another Side Of Bob Dylan
Bringing It All Back Home
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
The Times They Are A-Changin'

...There ought to be a law against you coming around. You should be made to wear earphones!
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That's a great cover!

These middle four albums are pretty close together. The Times They Are A-Changin' is a different tier from the rest, and The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan might be a tier above...kinda on the border. The middle four are all close with their own pros and cons.
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This tweet will be relevant at some point...

https://twitter.com/daveswebsite/status/860998827494572032
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That hot take will surely come true at some point...especially if I've not hit any of his stinkers yet, as I suspect.
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personally i'm not a fan of the first four albums because it's just bob and the guitar (and the harmonica), and i don't think he's a particularly good guitarist, like i said. i realize that nobody listens to dylan for the amazing guitar playing and it's more about the lyrics but i'd rather just read the lyrics than listen to the albums, really. but yeah, the REAL trash hasn't come up yet.
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Blonde On Blonde

Oh man, what a way to kick off an album. I gotta imagine many bar-crowds sang along with Rainy Day Women NOS 12 & 35 back in the day. It's loud, it's messy, it introduces a new instrument (tuba or some sort of horn), and Bob's trying not to laugh through all his stoned-references. I'm noticing Bob's not afraid to confuse me with his song titles though...the trend began a little while back, but I never would have thought this would be the title just by listening.

Pledging My Time has some pretty traditional blues-sounds going on. Bob's got the blues in spades though, even when its his folksy version of blues much of the time.

I Want You's got a peppy little piano diddy going on. Gives it a nice little charm.

Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again has an interesting set-up that bulids toward its chorus for a few seconds. Neat pattern!

Just Like A Woman has that heart-breaking line at the end of its chorus. After explaining all the ways she's just like a woman: "She breaks just like a little girl." Ouch.

"Brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat" is quite a visual...!



Blonde On Blonde:
Rainy Day Women NOS 12 & 35
Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
Pledging My Time
One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)
Visions Of Johanna
Just Like A Woman
Absolutely Sweet Marie
4th Time Around
Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
I Want You
Obviously 5 Believers
Temporary Like Achilles
Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands
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man, blonde on blonde must be the album with the most "bob dylan songs everyone likes but i don't care for." don't like rainy day women at all, for instance.

good album overall, though!
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Wait, what songs are supposed to be people's favorites? The album's got its moments, but this is somewhere near the bottom of the albums for me.
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rainy day women, just like a woman and i want you are all popular songs (and songs i don't like much). i want you is probably the bob dylan song i've heard the most often on the radio (not sure if it's as popular in the US, though).
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and whoa, blonde on blonde somewhere near the bottom?! this topic gets more and more controversial!
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Yeah, Blonde on Blonde is considered one of Dylan's best but I don't really care for it. Love Just Like A Woman though.
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RyoCaliente posted...

Yeah, Blonde on Blonde is considered one of Dylan's best but I don't really care for it. Love Just Like A Woman though.

IMO It's got some really really quality stuff on it, then some entirely forgettable stuff on it.

HaRRicH posted...

Highway 61 Revisited:
Like A Rolling Stone
Ballad Of A Thin Man
Queen Jane Approximately
Tombstone Blues
Highway 61 Revisited
Desolation Road
From A Buick 6
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry

Desolation Row is by far my least favorite of this album, and It Takes A Lot To Laugh is very possibly my favorite. I really like every song except Desolation Row. Excellent album, sad to see you didn't think it's quite that good.
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Quick impressions after seven albums from the 1960s:

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Another Side Of Bob Dylan
Bringing It All Back Home
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
Blonde On Blonde
The Times They Are A-Changin'

Rainy Day Women NOS 12 & 35 is the stand-out song here -- so much fun! The rest of the album bounces back and forth in quality though. There were times when it reminded me of the Beatles' White Album in its inconsistency and largest number of tracks on an album yet. His picture on the album cover makes me laugh too...not sure if it's because of his hair, scarf, or serious face with that combination.
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you got some real up and down albums coming up
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Exciting!

So this week is gonna be real hard to get an update. I got family in town later this week and I have access to an Xbone for a limited time in the meanwhile, so my attention's kinda taken. Not giving up though!
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Bump.
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Still gonna be a few days until I begin again. I've listened to the next three albums once, but I won't be doing write-ups until likely after the weekend.
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Upsy.
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Daisy.
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Probably Monday!
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Huzzah!
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John Wesley Harding

John Wesley Harding the eponymous song opens the album, and it's not great. I couldn't tell if this was a song dedicated to someone real or not. The drums are interesting enough though, and at least the rest of the album improves!

A new thing I'm also noticing with Bob's instruments here is his new harmonica technique. The change he's doing this album is how he's holding one note while then alternating another note at the same time. One hole is constant while he's using the side of his mouth to tap another note, or perhaps he's tongue-blocking (plugging a hole with his tongue while another note plays) John Wesley Harding, I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine, maybe a little in All Along The Watchtower...near to notice.

All Along The Watchtower's such a good song...when done by Jimi Hendrix. This is also good though! The electric guitar is a better fit here than the harmonica, however.

The Ballad Of Frankie Lee And Judas Priest has a simple uplifting guitar beat with a spoken story and morals that sounds like a children's song. Unusual to hear from the guy who made Masters Of War, but okay.

"And if you don't underestimate me, I won't underestimate you." Neat little line from Dear Landlord.



John Wesley Harding:
All Along The Watchtower (Jimi Hendrix > BD)
As I Went Out One Morning
I Pity The Poor Immigrant
Drifter's Escape
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
The Wicked Messenger
I Am A Lonesome Hobo
Dear Landlord
I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine
The Ballad Of Frankie Lee And Judas Priest
Down Along The Cove
John Wesley Harding
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Up.
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John Wesley Harding is a good album, but aside from All Along the Watchtower there's not much special on there.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4FaMsdwOWI

Everyone has heard Jimi but Dave Matthews does an exceptional cover as well imho
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Should have an update tomorrow.
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Quick impressions after eight albums from the 1960s:

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Another Side Of Bob Dylan
Bringing It All Back Home
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
Blonde On Blonde
John Wesley Harding
The Times They Are A-Changin'

All Along The Watchtower is cool, but every other album has a better song too. The rest of the JWS isn't so much bad as it just simply blurs together. It's nice to notice the new harmonica technique though, and I'm happy to know a better album is next.....
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ProfitProphet posted...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4FaMsdwOWI

Everyone has heard Jimi but Dave Matthews does an exceptional cover as well imho

I don't always care for DMB, but that was pretty hype.
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Hopefully updating on Nashville Skyline tonight.
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Nashville Skyline

Given that Bob's referencing the capital of my state in the album's title, I really hoped this was good...and it is! It's not without its mysteries though.

For example, the first song have several mysteries. Doesn't Bob already have a song based on this title? Who's this singing anyway? Wait...why does Bob sound like this now?! Why did he change his style? Think it's just a change of microphone quality? Nah...? And Johnny Cash dropping in, too? Man! I think this is the first cameo Bob's had, not sure though.

Nashville Skyline Rag is lovely. If I needed a montage of me driving across the country, this would be a fitting soundtrack to the video. The piano near the end makes me smile. First instrumental of Bob's career!

After playing Catherine, hearing Bob sing about Peggy Day and Peggy Night makes me just want to warn him of the dangers ahead. Watch out Bob!

I don't think I ever knew how Lay Lady Lay sounded, but I've heard of it over the years. It was one of my dad's go-to songs when he's thinking about Bob's music. It has a sound that's nice, simple, loving, and sultry. Neat style!



Nashville Skyline:
Nashville Skyline Rag
Lay Lady Lay
Peggy Day
One More Night
Girl From The North Country
To Be Alone With You
I Threw It All Away
Tonight I'll Be Staying Home With You
Country Pie
Tell Me That It Isn't True
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Nashville Skyline is very un-Bob because he changes his singing style, but I think it's a nice addition to his discography.
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i'm not a big country fan so this side of bob i don't care much for.

lay lady lay is great, though. a justly famous song.
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I'm not a big country music fan either, though I like some older cuts. Modern country is often just modern music with a twang and an even more forced feeling. People like Johnny Cash though, goddamn that is good music and I'm glad to see him be the cameo on this album.
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Up.
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Quick impressions after nine albums from the 1960s:

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Another Side Of Bob Dylan
Bringing It All Back Home
Nashville Skyline
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
Blonde On Blonde
John Wesley Harding
The Times They Are A-Changin'

Don't think there's a bad song here! There are a few albums that have some of my favorite songs and still-solid support around them, plus I like the way Bob sang before this more than he does for Nashville Skyline...but regardless, this is my vote for his most flawless album yet. This older sense of country music with Bob's sensibilities for style allow for a unique album compared to the rest of his work released so far.
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Next update's probably Wednesday.
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Nashville Skyline sounds different because Dylan had quit smoking around when he recorded it
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Ooh, interesting personal update on Bob. I assume you mean he stays quit too? I'm happy for him, but also I can imagine how that might lead to the occasional bad album ahead...!
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