The first thing I realized when I started reading Bob Dylan’s new book, The Philosophy of Modern Song, is that Dylan knows a lot about music. Dylan analyzes 66 songs and reveals how and why they work. In addition to dissecting the songs, Dylan provides background information on the artist, the composer, and influences–sometimes from classical music–that impacted the music.
And, Dylan being Dylan, you’ll find surprising connections like a profile of science fiction and mystery writer Leigh Brackett as part of the Chapter 56 on Santana’s “Black Magic Woman.” Dylan proves he’s well read, too.
If you’re a Bob Dylan fan, you’ll want to own this book. If you’re interested in music, you’ll want to check out The Philosophy of Modern Song to learn about how a song is constructed, how it works, and how it should be sung. Dylan also includes some music history and cunning literary references like “there is assuredly nothing dearer to a man than wisdom, and though age takes away all else, it undoubtedly brings us that”–words of Cicero (p. 268). So, yes, there are surprises on almost every page of this book.
Do you remember these 66 songs? Are any of them your favorites? GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
“Detroit City”
(Bobby Bare– 1963)
“Pump It Up”
(Elvis Costello & the Attractions — 1978)
“Without a Song”
(Perry Como — 1951)
“Take Me From This Garden of Evil”
(Jimmy Wages — 1956)
“There Stands the Glass”
(Webb Pierce — 1953)
“Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me”
(Billy Joe Shaver — 1973)
“Tutti Frutti”
(Little Richard — 1955)
“Money Honey”
(Elvis Presley — 1956)
“My Generation”
(The Who — 1965)
“Jesse James”
(Harry McClintock — 1928)
“Poor Little Fool”
(Ricky Nelson — 1958)
“Pancho and Lefty”
(Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard — 1983)
“The Pretender”
(Jackson Browne — 1976)
“Mack the Knife”
(Bobby Darin — 1959)
“The Whiffenpoof Song”
(Bing Crosby — 1947)
“You Don’t Know Me”
(Eddy Arnold — 1956 )
“Ball of Confusion”
(The Temptations — 1970)
“Poison Love”
(Johnnie & Jack — 1950)
“Beyond the Sea”
(Bobby Darin — 1958)
“On the Road Again”
(Willie Nelson — 1980)
“If You Don’t Know Me by Now”
(Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes — 1972)
“The Little White Cloud That Cried”
(Johnnie Ray — 1951)
“El Paso”
(Marty Robbins — 1959)
“Nelly Was a Lady”
(Alvin Youngblood Hart — 2004 )
“Cheaper to Keep Her”
(Johnnie Taylor — 1973)
“I Got a Woman”
(Ray Charles — 1954)
“CIA Man”
(The Fugs — 1967)
“On The Street Where You Live”
From “My Fair Lady” (Vic Damone — 1956)
“Truckin’”
(The Grateful Dead — 1970)
“Ruby, Are You Mad?”
(The Osborne Brothers — 1956)
“Old Violin”
(Johnny Paycheck — 1986)
“Volare”
(Domenico Modugno — 1958)
“London Calling”
(The Clash — 1979)
“Your Cheatin’ Heart”
(Hank Williams — 1953)
“Blue Bayou”
(Roy Orbison — 1963)
“Midnight Rider”
(The Allman Brothers Band — 1970)
“Blue Suede Shoes”
(Carl Perkins — 1956)
“My Prayer”
(The Platters — 1956)
“Dirty Life and Times”
(Warren Zevon — 2003)
“Doesn’t Hurt Anymore”
(John Trudell — 2001)
“Key to the Highway”
(Little Walter — 1958)
“Everybody Cryin’ Mercy”
(Mose Allison — 1968)
“War”
(Edwin Starr — 1970)
“Big River”
(Johnny Cash — 1957)
“Feel So Good”
(Sonny Burgess — 1957 )
“Blue Moon”
(Elvis Presley — 1964)
“Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves”
(Cher — 1971)
“Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy”
(Uncle Dave Macon — 1924)
“It’s All in the Game”
(Tommy Edwards — 1958)
“A Certain Girl”
(Ernie K-Doe — 1961)
“I’ve Always Been Crazy”
(Waylon Jennings — 1978)
“Witchy Woman”
(Eagles — 1972)
“Big Boss Man”
(Jimmy Reed — 1960)
“Long Tall Sally”
(Little Richard — 1956)
“Old and Only in the Way”
(Charlie Poole — 1928)
“Black Magic Woman”
(Santana — 1970)
“By the Time I Get to Phoenix”
(Glen Campbell — 1967)
“Come On-a My House”
(Rosemary Clooney — 1951)
“Don’t Take Your Guns to Town”
(Johnny Cash — 1958)
“Come Rain or Come Shine”
(Ray Charles — 1956)
“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”
(Nina Simone — 1964)
“Strangers in the Night”
(Frank Sinatra — 1966)
“Viva Las Vegas”
(Elvis Presley — 1964)
“Saturday Night at the Movies”
(The Drifters. — 1964)
“Waist Deep in the Big Muddy”
(Pete Seeger — 1967)
“Where or When”
(Dion and the Belmonts — 1959)
There are a lot of songs here that I like-Blue Bayou, London Calling, My Generation, War. I must admit my hatred for Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves. I have a reserve in for this at the library. Looks great.
Steve, THE PHILOSOPHY OF MODERN SONG tells you a lot about Bob Dylan’s musical tastes and his concept of what songs should do.
Some favorites, though the closest to a Great Favorite would be “Key to the Highway”, ripped off by the Stones among others. “Big River” and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” among the least shabby as well. I see Dylan still has some problems with women.
Todd, I noticed the lack of women artists, too.
And a tendency among the songs to be about stereotypical Romantic (vs. romantic) versions of women. Often negging.
Todd, I agree with you. Romantic versions of women can be bothersome.
This from the author of “Just Like a Woman” is not even a little surprising.
Todd, at least Dylan is consistent.
A number of these songs are familiar to me—not all of them though. I’m interested in Dylan’s take on them, so onto the TBR this one goes!
Deb, Dylan writes about the songs and the artists and music in general. THE PHILOSOPHY OF MODERN SONG is a masterclass on song-writing. You will love it!
Somehow I never associated bob Dylan with “The Whiffenpoof Song” but revelations like that are why I visit this page every day.
Dan, there are plenty of revelations in THE PHILOSOPHY OF MODERN SONG. Dylan is just full of surprises!
I’d be interested in what he has to say about “The Little White Cloud That Cried.”
Jerry, you would be interested in all the details Dylan supplies about “The Little White Cloud That Cried” and all the other songs.
As he’s a pro composer of no little influence, I will grant it does have some interest.
Todd, winning a Nobel Prize gives a guy some latitude.
Since I lost track while counting I’ll guess I’m familiar with at least half and like most of those. Love “Blue Bayou” and the two by Little Richard, a huge favorite of mine, as is Hank Williams. Really hate “Truckin'” and pretty much everything else by the Dead. Looks like I’m going to have to buy this. I’m tired of waiting for the library.
Michael, the list price is $45 but I saw a copy in BJ’s Warehouse for $29.99.
What an interestingly eclectic group of songs. I will look for it too.
Patti, eclectic group of songs is putting it mildly! I think Dylan was having fun making some of those choices!
Yes, indeed, quite the eclectic list. You know I hate Bing Crosby. I’d say I know more than 2/3 of them. Favorites? Tutti Frutti. You Don’t Know Me Your Cheatin’ Heart. Blue Bayou. Dirty Life and Times. It’s ALl in the Game. Long Tall Sally. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.
AHA! Another Little Richard fan.
Absolutely. I read a biography of him back in the ’80s. What a character.
Jeff, Dylan’s analysis of those songs are very revealing.
A really interesting selection of songs, several of my all time favourites.
And now of course I have to tell my personal experience (maybe I’ve described it before, sorry then) re Tutti Frutti.
In the late 80s together with around 40 IT experts from all over the world I was invited to Japan by a well known computer company to visit their production facilities all around Japan and be informed on their latest developments and plans.
One fascinating week!
One evening we arrived in a historic Spa city hotel (forgot the name) where we told we could/should go everywhere in the hotel with the kimonos they loaned us (had to look around for a size XXL to fit me …). After dinner our Japanese hosts asked us to come with them to a bar on the other side of the street – in our kimonos!
When we arrived there we were told that this was a karaoke place and every group was expected to perform one song!
First a very nice US lady performed Strangers in the Night – accompanied by our Japanese hosts who really enjoyed this.
Then the other German guys in my group looked at me – could you do something?
Now I really am no vocal performer but it had to be …
I looked at the song list that was on tape and saw among other titles which were much too difficult for me – Tutti Frutti!
So I went up to the stage in my white kimono and started:
Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom boom, Tutti frutti, oh rootie ..
And people enjoyed it!
Wolf, you, Michael, and Jeff love “Tutti Frutti”! I would not have guessed that!
Great story, Wolf!
I’ve mentioned before how I knew I would love the movie AMERICAN HOT WAX. It opens with Alan Freed (Tim McIntire) walking into the studio to do his radio show. He sees a pile of 45s on the desk with a note from the program director saying “Do NOT Play These Records!” He shuffles through them, puts one on the turntable and says, “I’m Alan Freed and this is rock & roll” and “Tutti Frutti” blasts out from the soundtrack.
A lot of good songs here and it sounds like a very interesting book.
Tracy, Bob Dylan loves music and in shows in each of these 66 essays on these songs.
Found this in my news but don’t know how it made it. A very critical and negative essay on Dylan and this book!
https://unherd.com/2022/11/bob-dylan-has-no-philosophy/
Though I haven’t read it yet to the end …
Wolf, Dylan has a lot of detractors. At the time Dylan won the Nobel Prize, my friends in the English Department were outraged!
Not a Dylan fan, but I think I will try to track this down at the library. I do know most of the songs and have 45s of seven or eight on the Rockola jukebox in my basement.
Kent, trust me: you will learn a lot about this music that you didn’t know! Dylan supplies facts and analysis.
https://pitchfork.com/news/bob-dylans-publisher-admits-600-books-had-replica-autographs/