Bob Dylan released Blonde on Blonde in 1966. It was one of the first double albums in rock history. Two singles came from Blonde on Blonde: “Rainy Dad Women #12 & 35” and “I Want You.” Most of the songs on the albums were recorded in Nashville. Two of my favorite Bob Dylan songs are on Blonde on Blande: “Visions of Johanna” and “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands.” Blonde on Blonde completes a trilogy of albums from 1965 and 1966: Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, and Blonde On Blonde. Dylan’s later albums wouldn’t have the energy and vibe of these three classics. What is your favorite Bob Dylan song? GRADE: A
VINYL RECORD TRACK LIST:
Side one
No. Title Length
1. “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” 4:36
2. “Pledging My Time” 3:50
3. “Visions of Johanna” 7:33
4. “One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)” 4:54
Side two
No. Title Length
1. “I Want You” 3:07
2. “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again” 7:05
3. “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat” 3:58
4. “Just Like a Woman” 4:52
Side three
No. Title Length
1. “Most Likely You Go Your Way and I’ll Go Mine” 3:30
2. “Temporary Like Achilles” 5:02
3. “Absolutely Sweet Marie” 4:57
4. “4th Time Around” 4:35
5. “Obviously 5 Believers” 3:35
Side four
No. Title Length
1. “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” 11:23
One of my favorite records of all time. Favorite song? Hard to narrow it down to one. That can change owing to what I’ve played recently. Probably go with Like a Rolling Stone ,or Positively 4th Street. Of his later songs-Not Dark Yet.
Steve, you chose some great Dylan songs!
Without much thinking – of course:
Desolation Row!
In the early 60s itwas difficult for us – no radio station would play Dylan and we ddidn’t have too much money as students …
For a long time I didn’t even possess a record player – went to friends with my tape recorder and copied what they had !
And when I got some money to spend I bought a battery operated tape recorder and built a charger so I could use it in my little FIAT 500.
Wolf, I saw (and Heard) Bob Dylan sing DESOLATION ROW at my first rock concert in 1965. Incredible experience!
I know I’m predictable but “Just Like A Woman” would be my first choice. However, “Lay Lady Lay” (and other songs on Nashville Skyline come in a close second).
/As the cognoscenti are aware, Bob is one of Deb’s myriad secret husbands.
Deb, you have an impressive harem of husbands! But, I like John best!
Good one, though I would go with the earlier two albums overall. Hard (or impossible) to pick one song. As a matter of fact, we were listening to “Rainy Day Women” yesterday. (A few years ago, we saw Jimmy Buffett cover it in a concert.) I like Like a Rolling Stone and A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall and Blowin’ in the Wind and a bunch from that era the best.
Jeff, HIGHWAY 61 was the first Dylan album I bought so that holds a special affection for me. I was just glad BLANDE ON BLONDE fit into BLONDE WEEK.
I also saw Dylan on that 1965 tour in a fairly ratty venue called the Municipal Auditorium in Atlanta. The venue was primarily known for wrestling!, and it was demolished many years ago. During this period Dylan’s concerts were divided between an acoustic first half and an electric second half. So, so hard to pick a favorite Dylan song. The obvious choice would be “Like a Rolling Stone” since that, and the Rolling Stones “Gimme Shelter”, are my choices for the two greatest rock songs ever recorded. But “greatest” is not necessarily the same as “favorite”, and I’m going to go with “Positively 4th Street”, a song that never even appeared on a studio album, making its first appearance on “Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits”.
Michael, I saw Dylan in 1965 at the Kleinhans Music Hall (acoustically “perfect”). Like your concert in Atlanta, Dylan did an acoustic set in the first half and an electric set in the second half. When Dylan and The Hawks started playing their electric instruments, boos rang out. Someone had a cow bell and was making a lot of clatter with it. Dylan had hired the local chapter of Hell’s Angels for “security” and they quickly quelled the dissenters and the cow bell ringer.
Love this album! Great choice, George!
Scott, I played BLONDE ON BLONDE until I wore the grooves out! Then I bought another copy. I have a couple CD versions around here someplace.
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again
Like A Rolling Stone
All Along the Watchtower
Lay Lady Lay
Rick, I’m a big fan of the Jimi Hendrix version of ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER.
Lay Lady Lay, Not sure if these are the titles or just lyrics, but Hwy 61 and Everybody must get stoned. There’s one other but the name escapes me. I do enjoy most of the others mentioned, but the above have special meaning to me
Just Like a Woman or All Along the Watchtower, depending on my mood!
Bob, good choices! I listen to ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER about once a month.
Maggie, like you I prefer the songs Bob Dylan wrote and sang in the Sixties.
Me too!
My wife is not as big a fan as me – probably because she doesn’t speak English, the texts are foreign for her, probably never been translated into Hungarian.
But when I drive alone I like to listen to Dylan’s Highway 61 etc and also Leonard Cohen, Kris Kristofferson and Glen Campbell etc – that’s one of my weaknesses …
Sometimes I need to go to Germany alone, that gives me around nine hours of relaxed music …
PS:
I’ve surely written about that already – her eternal favourite is Eric Clapton …
“The Times They Are a-Changin'”
Steve, you picked an oldie but a goodie with THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’!
Your local native Willie Nile has just done an album of Dylan songs. Little Stevens Underground Garage has picked his Blowin in the Wind as song of the week.
Steve, BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND put Dylan on the map. Willie Nile is just the latest artist to do an album of Bob Dylan covers. Joan Baez, The Byrds, and even The Hollies did whole albums of Dylan songs.