I love how everywhere I go for the past 10 years, these classics from the 60s and 70 are heard in any place music is being played because it’s still better than anything ever recorded in any era. My late best friend and I always agreed that our generation had the best music and I still believe it.
@@mikehenson819 In 2016 my son took me on an 8 day trip to Scotland and to my surprise this is what their radio stations play. My son said mom you even have your music. It was great. Always smiling 😊
I can go months without listening to Dylan, but each time I find my way back, it hits me hard. It’s not just the lyrics. It’s the phrasing, and the music is so diverse. No words
@@timmoore8773 Maybe you can go forever without listening to Dylan himself, but there is no way you don't listen to his songs. I cannot think of any songwriter whose songs have been covered by more artists and bands than Bob Dylan. According to Alexa, 2,000 artists have covered his songs. Wikipedia says 1500. Whichever, it's still a lot!
To me the sixties were a time of great surprises in music. I'm 75 so I was the perfect age to be surprised and inspired by pop music. However in the last few years pop music is not very surprising at all. That's what the sixties was so good to me.
You nailed it. His voice is ABSOLUTELY perfect for what he sings, and I love your uncontained frustration with all those critics picking such petty nits!! LONG LIVE LYRICS 👊🏼
In the summer of 1966 I bought Highway Sixty-One Revisited without even knowing much about Dylan's move over to electric. I was a 22 year old architecture student and the rock scene was very peripheral to my world. I was living in an old house apartment in Terre Haute. Thewell ito evening temperatures were in the 90s for weeks. The humidity hung at near 99 % the whole time. And I'd gone to Kmat to buy a fan. But I just got the record.. I lay in that bed and started up the record on my tiny battery driven Singer portable. My record collection was mostly Bach, Beethoven and other classics, But the cover made me buy it. Now hearing these sounds something sounded like I was listening to music for the first time. Then it happened. Lying there in a hot pool of my own sweat more less miserable. But something thrilling was going on. I sensed a change in the air. For me anyway.. He began You Know There's Something Happening. And then he got to "Do you Mr. Jones.". And it was other worldly. This guy is speaking to me.?! That's my name. Ken Jones. Bob Dylan hooked me in that moment. He sure as hell got my attention anyway. And he's had it more than anybody else ever since. Thanks for your show. tatkhj
I’m a huge Dylan fan. Since I was 10. I preferred him over the Beatles. I’m 70 now. Saw him 3 times. He’s an awesome artist! ❤ Thank you. I got ridiculed for my preference over the Beatles but as a kid I just knew there was more substance in Dylan songs. Yes the feeling is genuine in his voice and so honest.
You're 75? LOL...NO! I'M 75!!! (b. 07-04-'49) ;-) ...And I've been a musician/singer since before I was tall enuff to reach the "On" knob on my Mother's Sylvania 4 speed mono phonograph. (now THAT was a sentence!).... g.l. Peace. ☮
I still remember where I was the first time this came on the radio. I was driving in my mom's '61 Bel-Air and almost ran off the road. I knew all of his prior work, especially Times They Are a Changing, but Bob Dylan singing rock and roll was like a paradigm shift. Hearing him blowing that harmonica to a rock beat instead of a strumming acoustic guitar blew the lid off my brain. There was nothing like the 60's. Thanks for the great tribute to this groundbreaking song!
@@Waterfalls2016 "Bob Dylan did attend the Nobel Prize ceremony to receive his award. Initially, he was not sure if he would attend the event, but in the end, he did travel to Stockholm to accept the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016."
@@KentonJoseph Well darn I followed the story for awhile. They were having a hard time getting Dylan to accept. After the award ceremony I saw 3-4 articles talking about him not going. I was really bummed also. I knew Dylan before The Beatles I think. Hey, thanks for letting me know.
‘Never Say Goodbye’ (off Planet Waves) always, always gets me so emotional &.. elated ! Don’t know why - the beautiful heartbreaking lyrics, the soaring music, the rough sketchy throwaway quality of it.. (it always sounds kind’ve unfinished. & I don’t know if he’s ever played it live?). When I mention it, even many Dylan fans say they’ve never heard of it..
When I was 19, I was living in a run down, dirty apartment with no heat in the winter, and a roommate who I was assigned to work with who was a super-sized jerk. Every day was an exercise in misery. I was on my own, with no way home, a complete unknown, like a rolling stone. This song captures the lowest point in my life perfectly.
@@peterermish3017 I got really determined not to fail. I went to school and graduated in accounting and worked really hard as a CPA and later corporate controller. I live in a nice house next to a golf course and my wife spends all of my money. I’m still just as broke, but have heat in the winter and my wife lives in luxury!
Just a crazy thought…if I crash and lose it all, the song will be about my wife!! To be fair, she is a great mom, keeps the house clean and orderly, cooks top notch food, and is in A+ shape. She will land on her feet.
I’m 60. Dylan was a huge part of my youth, and helped me get through a lot of painful things in my early years. He is a master of poetry and interpretation.
yeh same pretty much the same age dylan records we pretty much grew up with love em or hate em kinda like the smiths 80s was driving what difference does it make came on local radio i watched some of the american series doc. a few months ago was pretty good overall
I'm 60 as well as you, and I've always appreciated Bob Dylan's work. I listened to his music for countless hours on end. I still do. His lyrics are as a voice, which talk to you. The tunes that sticks out most to me are: "Positively 4th Street", "Stuck Inside of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again", Sad Eyed Lady of The Lowlands", "Lay, Lady Lay", "Knocking On Heavens Door", "Love Minus Zero, No Limit". However, I do love other songs of his, but those still resonate with me....
I have to add this thought, considering that back in the day, yes most songs were 2 or 3 minutes long on radio. But, all of you know that when you hear a great song: you just want it to go on forever! That's why we hit replay! We just want it to go on and on and never stop! This is one of those songs! Thank you, Bob for being that 'lightning rod' that captures the human soul.
@@stormymunday9836 Did you check out the live 75 "bootleg" record. They have the entire thing on TH-cam. A rock version of "Hard Rain", (also on a different video on TH-cam) that will knock your socks off and the best version of Tambourine Man I have ever heard.
I bought this as a 45 single with all the money I had at the age of 13, I was so blown away. The music, yes, but the lyrics and the voice caught my early teenage angst and screamed. I am 71 now, and by the way, a university teacher and a multi-published poet. At 13, I knew perfection of emotion when I experienced it.
For me, as a kid, Dylan was all about attitude. Expressed in a way I'd never heard. His words rang out with a truth, a sincerity and a soulful penetration. I began to question everything. Thanks Bob Dylan.
To have lived and breathed that era (I am a young 75 now) words can't express how "Like a Rolling Stone" still triggers emotional feelings of that whole decade. I'm born and raised in (old) San Francisco which was the epicenter of so much during that time. Reflecting on the intricacies of the song, now, again at this stage, it feels even more priceless. Thank you Bob for being you.
So many words to remember in most Dylan songs but "when you ain't got nothin' you got nothin' to lose" is so powerful. My love and respect for Bob Dylan can never be equalled.
@@purplelove392 When he brings up his dad, it brings MY DAD back to me (my dad passed in 1999 and he was MY music “teacher”). So when he does bring up dad, I start to remember all the music convos I HAD with my dad. He may be 6 years YOUNGER than me, but I still think we’ve had almost the same life experiences.
@@DanieVargas I hear ya. My dad wasn't really into music as much as classic movies, but he honored my love of music. He gave me albums for every occasion and sometimes just because and he let me control the radio as we traversed the country on our family road trips.
For years I thought Jimi Hendrix wrote “All Along the Watchtower” but it was written by Bob Dylan. Dylan may not have a velvet voice but he’s a hell of a songwriter.
Hendrix's cover inspired a term I like to call "Watchtowering" where a cover song is not only so good that it becomes the cover artist's song, but is so superior that it completely overshadows the original. For example when anybody thinks about All Along the Watchtower, it's Hendrix's version people think of, not Dylan's and this was BOB DYLAN we're talking about, Jimi accomplished something extraordinary.
The Jimi Hendrix version of All Along the Watchtower. This what happens when the greatest song writers work meets the greatest guitar playing. Thank you both, Bob and Jimi
This Hendrix album was one of the very first LPs I bought at age 14 in the mid 60’s, solely based on the album cover. I soon bought a Dylan album based on Watchtower.
My husband and I didn't have a " song" we had an ARTIST. Thank you for the best episode ❤️. Dylan is a Nobel Laureate. He is a master craftsman. In my opinion, no one sings his songs better.
You're right. I heard Alison Krause cover one of his songs. Now this woman has the voice of an angel but after listening, I thought, dang, Dylan's version is SO much better. It's his conviction, not his vocal tone.
You know, Adam, half the fun of this show is seeing which vinyls are going to make it into the rack behind you each day. Always a nice selection for sure, but my favorite is when there's one I don't recognize and I have to try and figure it out. My fun little Prof of Rock mini-game, lol. Keep up the great work!
😎👍 I remember hearing this on the car radio when I was a kid. My mom hated “that guys voice”, but she wouldn’t change the channel because of the hypnotic lyrics. This is such a good song.
Finally some Dylan! Used to think he was on the level of The Beatles then I discovered his music from the 80’s to today, and he’s unquestionably the greatest of all time.
I heard him live in March and even tho he sat behind the piano the whole time, at 83, he sounds better than the greatest of all time! Just mesmerizing .
My parents loved Bob so much that they named me Dylan. One might assume that I'd get sick of hearing Bob Dylan, but it never happened. Now at 36, I'm just waiting for my kids to be old enough to start to appreciate Bob's work.
Bob is a brilliant songwriter and poet. His lyrics are so impressively thought-provoking. In later interviews, even he says he doesn't know how he was able to write lyrics like he did. It was definitely magical.
I remember being 16 years old and in my last year at an English boarding school. One of the boys in our 8-boy dormitory came back from the summer holidays with Bob Dylan's Freewheelin album. The rest of us had never even heard of Bob Dylan. We did, in fact know some of his songs, but performed by others. And at that age, at that time, few young people like us took any notice of the song writer. As soon as I heard the album I was captivated. I'd never heard anything like it. It was incredible. It quickly became my favorite album. And today, 59 years later, it still is.
Had a bout of pleurisy aged nine. Off school for weeks with nothing to do I worked my way through my mother's record collection until I got to Dylan's Greatest Hits. 60 years on I still think he's the GOAT.
Al Kooper said he was invited to attend the recording and watch. Lots of people in and out. He noticed nobody ever played organ so he just acted like he was somebody and went to set behind it. He played the next take. Later listening to the playback Dylan asked where was the organ part so the engineer pushd up the fader to bring it onto the mix. Dylan loved it. History. The song wouldnt be the same without it.
As a boy from Minnesota, living two blocks from Highway 61 and a '65 HS graduate, what could be a better theme song to launch you into the "real" world!! The ultimate "one of us!"
I came at Dylan backwards, first loving Blood on the Tracks, then Greatest Hits I and II, and not listening to the folky stuff until college. Always loved LARS, but was a bit too young to get the true weight of its impact. Most of what you said I’d heard before, but you summed it up precisely and with passion-a great addition to your personal catalogue, Professor! As for people hating on his voice, Nashville Skyline and Live at Budokan exist to show you that he could sing sweet and schmaltzy, but that’s not his goal. His raw bleeding vocals expose the truth in the lyrics, and you can hear that resonate in Petty, Springsteen, Knopfler, Joplin, Fogerty…even McCartney.
HI PROFESSOR, i WAS 15 WHEN THIS ICONIC SONG BROKE, IT CHANGED MY LIFE. IT WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING I HAD EVER HEARD. IT WAS MYSTERIOUS, HAUNTING AND ALL KOOPER ON THE HAMMOND B3 JUST CEMENTED THE WHOLE THING. I FIRST HEARD IT ON A HAND HELD 7 TRANSISTOR RADIO ON AN AM STATION SITTING ON A HILSIDE OVERLOOKING THE P&LE RAILROAD IN MCKEES ROCKS, PA. AND YES IN MY OPINION THE GREATEST SONG EVER WRITTEN AND PROBABLY FOLLOWED BY ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER WHICH IS SO POWERFUL FROM AN IMAGING STAND POINT. PROBABLY THE BEST TWELVE LINES EVER WRITTEN. BOTH GREAT SONGS (ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS BY DYLAN). THANK YOU FOR THE BACK STORY OF LIKE A ROLLING STONE (OF WHICH I WAS ALREADY AWARE) BUT THERE ARE MANY THAT WERE NOT. KEEP ON ROCKING THIS CHANNEL, IT IS AWESOME
I always loved that story of how Al Kooper wound up in that session. Tom Wilson inviting him as a guitarist. But when he saw Mike Bloomfield walk in ...and he knew Bloomfield was way above him. I mean even Jimi Hendrix had enormous respect for Bloomfield. So Kooper goes slinks back to the control room. Then Paul Griffin their keyboard player suddenly decides he'd rather play piano on it. Kooper, who was a novice on the keys, decides to take a shot and basically bluffed his way into the session chiming in "oh I can play the organ part!" (which was a mild exaggeration.) But he winged his way beautifully through it. Once again, you've put together a brilliant piece on rock history and touched on one of the cornerstone songs of my youth and in this case a song that got me through a tough time in my youth. It's a pity I can only hit the like button once.
Great story. I heard it slightly differently: Kooper arrived as Mike was playing a little warmup. Hearing Mike play, as you say, "he knew Bloomfield was way above him". He had started to unpack his guitar, but quietly closed the case and billed himself as a keyboard player. The way you tell it is more likely true. But this other way is a great R&R story.
@@Uh_Clem combination of the two I suspect. But I love how this session kickstarted a great professional and personal friendship between Kooper and Bloomfield.
This is how I heard the story, except while the frustrated group was taking a break Al Kooper started playing the organ and producer Tom Wilson knew he had a winner. Had Dylan continued to use Tom Wilson on future sessions, he'd possibly had other iconic hits in his catalog by now.
I've heard a similar version of that story, but you provide some interesting details. My understanding is that Kooper was not really a "novice," but had virtually no experience playing a keyboard and basically conned the producer into letting him play the organ on this song. So he faked his way into playing the instrument and figured it out as quickly as he could. Remarkably, Kooper came up with a simple but iconic riff, repeated it throughout with little embellishment or expansion on those few notes and managed to make the organ a prominent and essential part of the instrumentation.
@@suburban60sKid Is that last comment facetious? Obviously, Dylan managed to create many iconic songs over the years, regardless of the producer. Mark Knopfler was one of them, both producing and playing guitar for Dylan after a member of Dylan's crew played "Sultans of Swing" for him and Dylan exclaimed "I want that guy playing guitar on my record". And in recent years, Dylan could have used a more honest and forceful producer, because the stuff he's been turning out is mostly trash, undermining his canon. Much like Neil Young in that respect.
It's hard for us in 2024 to imagine a song being so influential. Changed how rock musicians thought about their music, how they'd write songs, who could even get into playing music or sing, changed what the industry thought was possible.
When I was 19 I was really into poetry.Getting beyond Dylans voice was a tough obstacle,but I forced myself because I knew he was great.Now I love it.Its like an acquired taste like corn liquor or gasoline 😂. If he ever "clicks"youre in for the greatest catalog of songs ever produced.Most of my friends still dont understand🤣But its ok hes not for everyone.
Same here, I forced myself to listen to his, let's say unconventional vocals and now I find it hard to listen to anybody else singing Dylan songs because his voice and phrasing are so unique
@@derekcollins4801 Bryan Ferry made an album named Dylanesque with only covers from Bob Dylan and I just love it. For me there is no best song or artist only great ones and there are a lot of them depending on my mood because it is music that touches your soul in my humble opinion.
I agree with you, professor, that his voice is perfect for what he sings. That's true for so many artists who aren't technically great singers. Imagine a pristine voice singing Dylan songs. It's been done of course and it sounds good, but it's not the same as having Dylan's particular voice in his songs. And man, your dad sounds great. ❤️
He actually tried this. Listen to original recording of Lay Lady Lay. And this is a bit of speculation, but Bob rewrote Forever Young purposefully using notes from the very bottom of the scale range to the top, maybe in response to critics who were saying he ‘couldn’t sing’. I know about the range because I used to sing it and it was a challenge.
Dylan lived in my hometown before he moved to Woodstock. One day while I was waiting for the Bayview Avenue bus to go home from my friend's house and she was keeping me company, he stopped at the red light driving a white sports car with the top down. I was 13 and wanting to be cool, I turned to my friend and in my best "That's not something you see every day, Chauncy" voice said, "That's lookslike Bob Dylan." We continued to riff as follows without addressing him directly: Dru (friend): Just what I was going to say. Doesn't that look like Bob Dylan? Me: You took the words right out of my mouth. In fact, if you asked me 'Who does that look like? Bob Dylan ' is what I would say. And so on while I surrtitously watched him go from stiffening to laughing so hard he put his head down on the steering wheel and missed the light going green. . . so he drove through the second red light. After all, we weren't going to tell on him.
A "Rocky & Bullwinkle" fan! Cool. I was once driving thru Collingswood, NJ, and saw Ben Vaughn crossing the street. Which seemed odd, as he was living in California at the time. Later that night, I was at a bar show in Philly, and, sure enough, Ben Vaughn walked in and sat down at the bar. I'd seen him play numerous times, so I walked up and said hi. (Ben is originally from Camden, though he claims Collingswood; he moved to L.A. to actually make a living in music, and immediately was hired to write the music for the sitcom 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN. He does WHATEVER THE HECK he wants these days, including hosting an internet radio show on weekends.)
Thanks Adam, another great video. Your comment that you were a “lyrics guy” made me realise that after listening to rock music for over 55 years I am a “melody guy” but will now start to pay more attention to the lyrics. I am pushing 70 but never too old to learn something new I guess.
I do not remember hearing this song until a Friday Night in early November 1967 in the American Youth Activities center in Mainz Germany. To this day I remember walking into the building for the first time and "Like a Rolling Stone" playing on the Juke Box. The only other songs I remember when I first heard them was an A Capella version of The Who's "Substitute" and a cover bands version of The Bee Gee's "You Don't Know What It's Like" on a bus to Austria and a Dance at the Officer's Club later in the year that followed.
During the summer of 1965, when I was 13, I would sit at the kitchen table listening to this song. To this day, it's my favorite Dylan song. At the time, I remember thinking that in the future whenever I heard the song, I would remember my 13 year old self, wondering at the glory of this song, as I sat at my kitchen table.
Some of my favorite lyrics are from Mr. Tambourine man. Such incredible imagery of freedom and joy: Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves Let me forget about today until tomorrow
I was only a seven year-old Aussie kid, but music on the radio was a refuge for me. I KNEW the Beatles were a revolution as soon as I heard them, and I KNEW 'Like a Rolling Stone' was an absolute game-changer. I had two ineffable childish impressions. One was a sense of the epic that I'd never felt before about music. The other was an intuition that the words meant something really important, and that one day I'd understand what they meant. I guess it just gave me a glimpse into an entirely new way of thinking. Even as a kid, I found that song incredibly compelling, and when I was a little older, maybe early teens, I deemed it the best single ever released. I reckon I still think so, but I must say there are a lot of songs that vie for that title, many of which never get much credit.
The first time l really heard Dylan was a 16 year old being kicked out of home in 1975 and getting into my mate's HD Holden (Australia's GM car) and hearing that drum snare as l closed the door. My whole appreciation for music changed in an instant. It set me on a path to appreciate Led Zeppelin to Supertramp, from Billy Joel to Tom Waits and the triangle between Stevie Nicks, Cher & Kate Bush. And all the great clones he inspired; Springsteen, Mellencamp, Waits, Morrison, Donovan, Hendrix, Joan Osborne, Kim Carnes.Australians Paul Kelly, Richard Clapton and Mark Seymour among others
18:37 On the subject of Dylan's voice, sometimes I'll play Lay Lady Lay or something else off Nashville City Skyline and ask people to guess who's singing and nobody EVER can. He's an artist, like Picasso, he can do realism, too, he just doesn't want to, usually.
This is the song that first kindled my obsession with Dylan. My mom was a performer, who loved folk music, so we had albums in the house from Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Buffy Saint Marie, and, of course, Dylan. It wasn't until I hit my 20s, though, before I discovered him for myself. And then I was hooked. I've had to explain to friends that Dylan is emulating the sound of some old-time blues artists. And I would play for them songs like Lay Lady Lay to demonstrate.
"Like a Rolling Stone" is such an incredible song. The way it just rambles from one verse to the next, like he's talking to somebody, let'em know that he sees them for how they really are.
My oldest brother turned me into Dylan when I was probably 10-11 yrs old. Like you, Adam, I became fascinated with his lyrics. From Maggie’s Farm to Serve Somebody , his poetry has inspired or consoled me.
Professor nailed it…authenticity and emotion, best description of Dylan’s voice. I always loved his voice, can’t imagine anyone else singing Desolation Row…Highway 61 one of my favorite albums of all time ❤❤
Great presentation, I have to admit I never listened to the lyrics of Like a Rolling Stone because of the rambling tone - you convinced me that I need to close my eyes and listen...
I went nuts over this song when I first heard it in the summer of 1965. Most radio stations only played the first two verses. It was a real treat when we got to hear all four.
Only Dylan could top Dylan - I always have trouble choosing between "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Tangled up in Blue". 72 and both still still get the 'turn it up treatment' in the car. Ponce De Leon missed it - rock and roll is the fountain of youth - especially playing it. You can't get old doing either. And to answer the question of the day - it feels great! Best channel out there - keep doing what you do.
What a wonderful episode! You truly know how to tell a story, Adam, whether about a song lyric, an instrument, or how a song touched you or someone like your Dad, which was especially moving to me when you mentioned that. 🙏🏼🎶
Al Cooper’s extended interview about Like a Rolling Stone is amazing. There were so many aspects that were a complete fluke. He was invited to observe the session by the producer with the understanding he would NOT play. He was really a guitar player, not a keyboard player. He snuck into the studio and sat down with his guitar, hoping to be included until Bloomfield showed up. Went back into the booth. During a break between takes, he went back out and sat at the keyboard, hoping someone had left it on because he didn’t even know how to turn it on. The monitor was back in the corner so he couldn’t hear himself very well. He wasn’t sure of the cord changes, that’s why there were delays that ended up being classic to the sound. Dylan liked that version in the playback and the rest is history.
"You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat Ain't it hard when you discovered that He really wasn't where it's at After he took from you everything he could steal" If this is viewed as metaphor, I had this exact experience in college. I met a guy who projected self assurance and he did exactly what the song says. Not just possessions but screwed with my identity.
I only talked with Dylan once. I didn't expect him to make it as he was essentially an imitation of Woody Guthrie. Never underestimate the power of youth. We all have to start somewhere.
Without question Bob is a genius when it comes to the written word. I have been a diehard fan since I first heard his music. I think you hit the nail right on the head 👍
In my opinion, this is the greatest song of all time. It came out in the summer between my sophomore and junior years in high school. I listened to it on my transistor radio on the beach on the shores of Lake Erie. It changed how. music could be made and played on the radio.
Oh my! I went down an odd rabbit hole. When you said Al Kooper, I thought of Al Stewart. One of my favorite teenage songs "Year of the Cat." I just rewatched it, and it still stands up for me. Thanks for the memory. :)
What's not to love about Bob Dylan? Few artists could equal the sequence of albums from Bringing It All Back Home through Blood On The Tracks. Mindblowing lyrical compositions that just knocked me over the first time I spent the time to listen. I'm thankful to have had the chance to see him on tour a few years ago when he toured with Willie Nelson. What a legend.
This is a great song to play and sing. Of course memorizing Dylan's lyrics takes some doing, but when the rhythm, cadence, and chords all come together it's like hopping a freight train and riding it down the tracks. It's nonstop and straight ahead to the end of the line. A fantastic ride.
I had the pleasure of seeing The Rolling Stones perform "Like a Rolling Stone" in concert at Madison Square Garden in 1998. This is one of your best videos Professor, and I enjoy and watch all your videos.
Jakob Dylan and the Wallflowers came into the cafe where I worked, and I had the opportunity to hang out with them after my shift. I passed on it, because I was such a MASSIVE Bob Dylan fan, I did not want to insult the son by having so much to say about the father!
Hey Adam! Your episode's are always great, but you've reached a new level! Always loved Dylan! This is one of my favorites. These lyrics are so imaginative, but slap you with the question, "HOW DOES IT FEEL?" Amazing. The fact that we're still talking about this song 60 years after its release, says it all! Thank you Bob. Thank you Professor. Congrats on a new zenith of shows! Dylan is groovy, and so are you! * I feel "groovy" should have been in our world much longer than it was.*
Completely agree with your opinions and those of your commenters on this musical genius !!! His catalogue of songs has kept me in awe for 60 years . The pinnacle is of course Like a Rolling Stone and so many of his other classics are right there with it !!!
Jim Post, whom I knew just before he died told me the story of doing a concert and making a equip about Bob Dylan not being able to sing. Suddenly, to his horror, Bob got up out of the audience and started out the door. Jim ran after him, saying “Bob, come on back, I’m an asshole, I’m sorry, come back and sit down “it took some persuading, but he got him to sit back down again.
Dylan influences Beatles. Beatles influence Dylan. Dylan influences Hendrix. Damn I love the 60's. They weren't about anything but the music then. Sure they had fashion. But fashion took the back seat not the front. As for the line about emotion and authenticity in Dylan's voice. I watched a video earlier today about Prince's work process. How he would do a song a day. Write the lyrics, come into the studio and knock it out in one day. He wanted to capture the raw emotion and feeling as quickly as possible. Especially in the vocals he put down. Often maybe doing 5 or less takes. And most of the time he took the first take not because it was the best technically but because it had that emotion and authenticity that the others didn't quite match. Even if there were small errors in it. He wanted that take because of the power in it. Art for art's sake. Not about commerce. About artistic integrity and freedom. The real keeping it real. Man I wish we still had that today.
Poll: I've NEVER ASKED THIS...In your opinion... What is the GREATEST SONG OF ALL TIME?
Ode to Joy.
Blowing In The Wind
Kansas "Dust in the Wind"
Dream Weaver- Gary Wright
Like a Rolling Stone.
I love how, almost 60 years later, we're still listening to, talking about, and analyzing the amazing music created during that era.
I love how everywhere I go for the past 10 years, these classics from the 60s and 70 are heard in any place music is being played because it’s still better than anything ever recorded in any era.
My late best friend and I always agreed that our generation had the best music and I still believe it.
I have been apologizing to kids and grandkids for years for the Boomers using up all of the good music.
@@mikehenson819
In 2016 my son took me on an 8 day trip to Scotland and to my surprise this is what their radio stations play. My son said mom you even have your music. It was great. Always smiling 😊
I'm glad I was there.
@@jeff4310 I think the Baby Boomers were the greatest generation because we had the best music.
I can go months without listening to Dylan, but each time I find my way back, it hits me hard. It’s not just the lyrics. It’s the phrasing, and the music is so diverse. No words
I can go forever without listening, and will 😅
It takes me back to better days.
@@timmoore8773 Maybe you can go forever without listening to Dylan himself, but there is no way you don't listen to his songs. I cannot think of any songwriter whose songs have been covered by more artists and bands than Bob Dylan. According to Alexa, 2,000 artists have covered his songs. Wikipedia says 1500. Whichever, it's still a lot!
@@timmoore8773 Some people dig Taylor Swift, nothing wrong with that.
I can barely go a week without Dylan's music in my opinion he is a far superior lyricist than anyone else in any kind of music
To me the sixties were a time of great surprises in music. I'm 75 so I was the perfect age to be surprised and inspired by pop music. However in the last few years pop music is not very surprising at all. That's what the sixties was so good to me.
I'm 76 and we had really fun music covering many genres. Cast Your Fate to the Wind would never be played today. Would the Motown music be hits?
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I LOVE Dylan's voice! It had sooo much Character & Distinction.
You nailed it. His voice is ABSOLUTELY perfect for what he sings, and I love your uncontained frustration with all those critics picking such petty nits!! LONG LIVE LYRICS 👊🏼
In the summer of 1966 I bought Highway Sixty-One Revisited without even knowing much about Dylan's move over to electric.
I was a 22 year old architecture student and the rock scene was very peripheral to my world.
I was living in an old house apartment in Terre Haute. Thewell ito evening temperatures were in the 90s for weeks.
The humidity hung at near 99 % the whole time. And I'd gone to Kmat to buy a fan.
But I just got the record..
I lay in that bed and started up the record on my tiny battery driven Singer portable.
My record collection was mostly Bach, Beethoven and other classics,
But the cover made me buy it.
Now hearing these sounds something sounded like I was listening to music for the first time.
Then it happened. Lying there in a hot pool of my own sweat more less miserable.
But something thrilling was going on.
I sensed a change in the air. For me anyway..
He began You Know There's Something Happening.
And then he got to "Do you Mr. Jones.".
And it was other worldly. This guy is speaking to me.?!
That's my name.
Ken Jones.
Bob Dylan hooked me in that moment. He sure as hell got my attention anyway.
And he's had it more than anybody else ever since.
Thanks for your show.
tatkhj
Nice story. Thanks for sharing. Dig in there’s more to come.
Beethoven, Bach, and Dylan on that battery operated player back in Terre Haute. What a story!
Terrific comment !
Got that vinyl a few years back in Tuscon at the El Presidio 😎
I’m a huge Dylan fan. Since I was 10. I preferred him over the Beatles. I’m 70 now. Saw him 3 times. He’s an awesome artist! ❤
Thank you. I got ridiculed for my preference over the Beatles but as a kid I just knew there was more substance in Dylan songs. Yes the feeling is genuine in his voice and so honest.
I'm 75 and a child at that time but it's the greatest time 3 or 4 classic songs every week I couldn't stop listening 24 7
You're 75? LOL...NO! I'M 75!!! (b. 07-04-'49) ;-) ...And I've been a musician/singer since before I was tall enuff to reach the "On" knob on my Mother's Sylvania 4 speed mono phonograph. (now THAT was a sentence!).... g.l. Peace. ☮
I’m 68, at least 3-4, it kinda felt like daily I had a favorite new song, or band, kinda sorta;)
75 - arrival in this world August 49 - a teenager in the sixties, THE time for pop music. We were spoilt for choice.
75 what a time to have lived and still be here but where is the optimism now?
I’m 74 I understand. GBY
I grew up in the 60s and to me this was the anthem of the 60s! Thanks Bob great song!
For me also along with Joan Baez, Maryanne Faithful and so me more.
Me too! We were so lucky
Me too
I still remember where I was the first time this came on the radio. I was driving in my mom's '61 Bel-Air and almost ran off the road. I knew all of his prior work, especially Times They Are a Changing, but Bob Dylan singing rock and roll was like a paradigm shift. Hearing him blowing that harmonica to a rock beat instead of a strumming acoustic guitar blew the lid off my brain. There was nothing like the 60's. Thanks for the great tribute to this groundbreaking song!
And it sounds so carefree and wonderful.
It was like communism suddenly got a voice when the electric guitar hit dylan and the rest is his story.
For any who don't know, Bob Dylan was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize for literature for his lyrics.
Sadly he didn’t go to the ceremony to accept it.
@@Waterfalls2016 "Bob Dylan did attend the Nobel Prize ceremony to receive his award. Initially, he was not sure if he would attend the event, but in the end, he did travel to Stockholm to accept the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016."
In 50 years Springsteen’s lyrics will be studied and Dylan forgotten.
@@KentonJoseph
Well darn I followed the story for awhile. They were having a hard time getting Dylan to accept. After the award ceremony I saw 3-4 articles talking about him not going. I was really bummed also. I knew Dylan before The Beatles I think. Hey, thanks for letting me know.
@@philsphan4414
Dylan will never be forgotten and Springsteen won’t even be a close 2nd.
I'd have to say "Tangled Up In Blue" is my fav Dylan song. It's hard to pick a favorite.
I confess that I thought it was going to be the focus song of this vid
Wow! Thought I was the only one. Kudos.
‘Never Say Goodbye’ (off Planet Waves) always, always gets me so emotional &.. elated ! Don’t know why - the beautiful heartbreaking lyrics, the soaring music, the rough sketchy throwaway quality of it.. (it always sounds kind’ve unfinished. & I don’t know if he’s ever played it live?). When I mention it, even many Dylan fans say they’ve never heard of it..
I used to care but things have changed
@ or in the words of Mose Allison, “I found that things are gettin’ better, just people that are gettin’ worse.”
Dylan is my all time favorite performer and lyricist. I’ve been listening to him for over 45 years and never get tired of his music.
Nice 😎
He may not be the best singer, but he is one of the best lyricists.
When I was 19, I was living in a run down, dirty apartment with no heat in the winter, and a roommate who I was assigned to work with who was a super-sized jerk. Every day was an exercise in misery. I was on my own, with no way home, a complete unknown, like a rolling stone. This song captures the lowest point in my life perfectly.
Wow, I feel better about myself after reading that.
So, how did everything work out for you?
Dylan had an insight no others had.
@@peterermish3017 I got really determined not to fail. I went to school and graduated in accounting and worked really hard as a CPA and later corporate controller. I live in a nice house next to a golf course and my wife spends all of my money. I’m still just as broke, but have heat in the winter and my wife lives in luxury!
Just a crazy thought…if I crash and lose it all, the song will be about my wife!! To be fair, she is a great mom, keeps the house clean and orderly, cooks top notch food, and is in A+ shape. She will land on her feet.
I have never heard a better folk-rock song ever and I am 70 years old.
I’m 60. Dylan was a huge part of my youth, and helped me get through a lot of painful things in my early years. He is a master of poetry and interpretation.
I'm 59 and I agree.
He is a part of my life.
Uncle Bob.
yeh same pretty much the same age dylan records we pretty much grew up with love em or hate em kinda like the smiths 80s was driving what difference does it make came on local radio i watched some of the american series doc. a few months ago was pretty good overall
59 at the end of this month, and a Dylan aficionado.
I'm 60 as well as you, and I've always appreciated Bob Dylan's work. I listened to his music for countless hours on end. I still do. His lyrics are as a voice, which talk to you. The tunes that sticks out most to me are: "Positively 4th Street", "Stuck Inside of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again", Sad Eyed Lady of The Lowlands", "Lay, Lady Lay", "Knocking On Heavens Door", "Love Minus Zero, No Limit". However, I do love other songs of his, but those still resonate with me....
Dylan and the Stones.
I have to add this thought, considering that back in the day, yes most songs were 2 or 3 minutes long on radio. But, all of you know that when you hear a great song: you just want it to go on forever! That's why we hit replay! We just want it to go on and on and never stop! This is one of those songs! Thank you, Bob for being that 'lightning rod' that captures the human soul.
A friend and I always told each other for years “they should give him a Nobel Prize” for his lyrics. You should have seen our faces when they did!
Bob Dylan was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize for literature, for his lyrics.
You were SPOT ON! Pat yourselves on the backs!
The word I always use to describe Dylan's voice is 'conviction' He sings with such conviction.
And a mouth full of dog turds
Yes.Especially on his Rolling Thunder Revue.
@kenkaplan3654 Exactly!!! I was originally going to mention the 'Hard Rain' LP specifically but decided to keep my comment short.
@@stormymunday9836 Did you check out the live 75 "bootleg" record. They have the entire thing on TH-cam. A rock version of "Hard Rain", (also on a different video on TH-cam) that will knock your socks off and the best version of Tambourine Man I have ever heard.
He is always way out of pitch
I bought this as a 45 single with all the money I had at the age of 13, I was so blown away. The music, yes, but the lyrics and the voice caught my early teenage angst and screamed. I am 71 now, and by the way, a university teacher and a multi-published poet. At 13, I knew perfection of emotion when I experienced it.
For me, as a kid, Dylan was all about attitude. Expressed in a way I'd never heard. His words rang out with a truth, a sincerity and a soulful penetration. I began to question everything. Thanks Bob Dylan.
To have lived and breathed that era (I am a young 75 now) words can't express how "Like a Rolling Stone" still triggers emotional feelings of that whole decade. I'm born and raised in (old) San Francisco which was the epicenter of so much during that time. Reflecting on the intricacies of the song, now, again at this stage, it feels even more priceless. Thank you Bob for being you.
So many words to remember in most Dylan songs but "when you ain't got nothin' you got nothin' to lose" is so powerful.
My love and respect for Bob Dylan can never be equalled.
After listening to your stories about your father, you are blessed to have him as your dad.
I totally agree. miss him every second.
Anytime he mentions his dad, I tear up immediately.
@@purplelove392
When he brings up his dad, it brings MY DAD back to me (my dad passed in 1999 and he was MY music “teacher”). So when he does bring up dad, I start to remember all the music convos I HAD with my dad. He may be 6 years YOUNGER than me, but I still think we’ve had almost the same life experiences.
@@DanieVargas I hear ya. My dad wasn't really into music as much as classic movies, but he honored my love of music. He gave me albums for every occasion and sometimes just because and he let me control the radio as we traversed the country on our family road trips.
I wish my dad was like that. What a role model.
For years I thought Jimi Hendrix wrote “All Along the Watchtower” but it was written by Bob Dylan.
Dylan may not have a velvet voice but he’s a hell of a songwriter.
Amen!
perhaps well beyond definition !!!
I like the uniqueness of his voice.
Jimi also covered St. Pepper a day or so after release...live 🤘
Hendrix's cover inspired a term I like to call "Watchtowering" where a cover song is not only so good that it becomes the cover artist's song, but is so superior that it completely overshadows the original. For example when anybody thinks about All Along the Watchtower, it's Hendrix's version people think of, not Dylan's and this was BOB DYLAN we're talking about, Jimi accomplished something extraordinary.
The Jimi Hendrix version of All Along the Watchtower. This what happens when the greatest song writers work meets the greatest guitar playing.
Thank you both, Bob and Jimi
This Hendrix album was one of the very first LPs I bought at age 14 in the mid 60’s, solely based on the album cover. I soon bought a Dylan album based on Watchtower.
Having him with Traveling Wilbury's was so perfect!
I love Tweeter & the Monkey Man.
It's was truly masterful!
@@Whisper_292 For sure! :) btw, did the video jump from a story about the Stones to this one? I got a video not available and then this one showed up
Yes. I think they pulled it, maybe because they posted the wrong video. They've done that before. @thetitleisours1
@@thetitleisours1 By POR replacing it, I imagine.
Free Wheelin' Bob Dylan was one of the first albums I ever bought. His body of work is timeless. Thank you for highlighting this song.
My husband and I didn't have a " song" we had an ARTIST. Thank you for the best episode ❤️. Dylan is a Nobel Laureate. He is a master craftsman. In my opinion, no one sings his songs better.
Amen!
Yes he is.
I love his lyrics. They tend to be exceptionally well written. I strongly disagree, however, with making him a Nobel Laureate in literature.
You're right. I heard Alison Krause cover one of his songs. Now this woman has the voice of an angel but after listening, I thought, dang, Dylan's version is SO much better. It's his conviction, not his vocal tone.
Well put
Way to go Adam! You did a fantastic job on this one. Dylan is the absolute BEST lyric writer of the rock area, which is saying a lot!❤
THanks William! I love doing it.
You know, Adam, half the fun of this show is seeing which vinyls are going to make it into the rack behind you each day. Always a nice selection for sure, but my favorite is when there's one I don't recognize and I have to try and figure it out. My fun little Prof of Rock mini-game, lol. Keep up the great work!
Same here! And I love it where he displays an obscure favorite LP that I love.
Like an onion - or a parfait 🤔 He's got layers of entertainment & information!
Prof will flip them around and open up gatefolds on us too, so you gotta know the albums inside and out to stay with that little game. Good clean fun.
I still have that Elvin Bishop album….top right…I always look to see which ones i have.
Funny, I do the thing.
I recognize all but one (middle right)
😎👍 I remember hearing this on the car radio when I was a kid. My mom hated “that guys voice”, but she wouldn’t change the channel because of the hypnotic lyrics. This is such a good song.
Finally some Dylan! Used to think he was on the level of The Beatles then I discovered his music from the 80’s to today, and he’s unquestionably the greatest of all time.
Thanks!
Yup.
I heard him live in March and even tho he sat behind the piano the whole time, at 83, he sounds better than the greatest of all time! Just mesmerizing .
My parents loved Bob so much that they named me Dylan. One might assume that I'd get sick of hearing Bob Dylan, but it never happened. Now at 36, I'm just waiting for my kids to be old enough to start to appreciate Bob's work.
Nice to meet you Dylan.
Smart parents. 😊
Bob is a brilliant songwriter and poet. His lyrics are so impressively thought-provoking. In later interviews, even he says he doesn't know how he was able to write lyrics like he did. It was definitely magical.
I remember being 16 years old and in my last year at an English boarding school.
One of the boys in our 8-boy dormitory came back from the summer holidays with Bob Dylan's Freewheelin album. The rest of us had never even heard of Bob Dylan. We did, in fact know some of his songs, but performed by others. And at that age, at that time, few young people like us took any notice of the song writer.
As soon as I heard the album I was captivated. I'd never heard anything like it. It was incredible. It quickly became my favorite album. And today, 59 years later, it still is.
Had a bout of pleurisy aged nine. Off school for weeks with nothing to do I worked my way through my mother's record collection until I got to Dylan's Greatest Hits. 60 years on I still think he's the GOAT.
Al Kooper said he was invited to attend the recording and watch.
Lots of people in and out. He noticed nobody ever played organ so he just acted like he was somebody and went to set behind it.
He played the next take.
Later listening to the playback Dylan asked where was the organ part so the engineer pushd up the fader to bring it onto the mix. Dylan loved it.
History. The song wouldnt be the same without it.
Thanks!
As a boy from Minnesota, living two blocks from Highway 61 and a '65 HS graduate, what could be a better theme song to launch you into the "real" world!! The ultimate "one of us!"
Al Kooper made the song with that incredible riff! And it was a such a spontaneous move. Just magic!
Professor, You were all in on this episode. Really enjoyed unpacking the impact this song had on a generation of musicians and listeners. Excellent
I came at Dylan backwards, first loving Blood on the Tracks, then Greatest Hits I and II, and not listening to the folky stuff until college. Always loved LARS, but was a bit too young to get the true weight of its impact. Most of what you said I’d heard before, but you summed it up precisely and with passion-a great addition to your personal catalogue, Professor!
As for people hating on his voice, Nashville Skyline and Live at Budokan exist to show you that he could sing sweet and schmaltzy, but that’s not his goal. His raw bleeding vocals expose the truth in the lyrics, and you can hear that resonate in Petty, Springsteen, Knopfler, Joplin, Fogerty…even McCartney.
Nicely done.. truly one of the most influential songs ever .. Beatles Hendrix (didn’t know those things!) and Bruce .. my favorite!!
HI PROFESSOR, i WAS 15 WHEN THIS ICONIC SONG BROKE, IT CHANGED MY LIFE. IT WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING I HAD EVER HEARD. IT WAS MYSTERIOUS, HAUNTING AND ALL KOOPER ON THE HAMMOND B3 JUST CEMENTED THE WHOLE THING. I FIRST HEARD IT ON A HAND HELD 7 TRANSISTOR RADIO ON AN AM STATION SITTING ON A HILSIDE OVERLOOKING THE P&LE RAILROAD IN MCKEES ROCKS, PA. AND YES IN MY OPINION THE GREATEST SONG EVER WRITTEN AND PROBABLY FOLLOWED BY ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER WHICH IS SO POWERFUL FROM AN IMAGING STAND POINT. PROBABLY THE BEST TWELVE LINES EVER WRITTEN. BOTH GREAT SONGS (ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS BY DYLAN). THANK YOU FOR THE BACK STORY OF LIKE A ROLLING STONE (OF WHICH I WAS ALREADY AWARE) BUT THERE ARE MANY THAT WERE NOT. KEEP ON ROCKING THIS CHANNEL, IT IS AWESOME
I too was in McKees Rocks when I heard this song for the first time.🇺🇦💙
Dylan is a Master! I’ve always loved Desolation Row!!
hell ya!!! that’s one of my favorite songs ever!
Yes sir
Amazing song.
I always loved that story of how Al Kooper wound up in that session. Tom Wilson inviting him as a guitarist. But when he saw Mike Bloomfield walk in ...and he knew Bloomfield was way above him. I mean even Jimi Hendrix had enormous respect for Bloomfield. So Kooper goes slinks back to the control room. Then Paul Griffin their keyboard player suddenly decides he'd rather play piano on it. Kooper, who was a novice on the keys, decides to take a shot and basically bluffed his way into the session chiming in "oh I can play the organ part!" (which was a mild exaggeration.) But he winged his way beautifully through it.
Once again, you've put together a brilliant piece on rock history and touched on one of the cornerstone songs of my youth and in this case a song that got me through a tough time in my youth. It's a pity I can only hit the like button once.
Great story. I heard it slightly differently: Kooper arrived as Mike was playing a little warmup. Hearing Mike play, as you say, "he knew Bloomfield was way above him". He had started to unpack his guitar, but quietly closed the case and billed himself as a keyboard player. The way you tell it is more likely true. But this other way is a great R&R story.
@@Uh_Clem combination of the two I suspect. But I love how this session kickstarted a great professional and personal friendship between Kooper and Bloomfield.
This is how I heard the story, except while the frustrated group was taking a break Al Kooper started playing the organ and producer Tom Wilson knew he had a winner. Had Dylan continued to use Tom Wilson on future sessions, he'd possibly had other iconic hits in his catalog by now.
I've heard a similar version of that story, but you provide some interesting details. My understanding is that Kooper was not really a "novice," but had virtually no experience playing a keyboard and basically conned the producer into letting him play the organ on this song. So he faked his way into playing the instrument and figured it out as quickly as he could. Remarkably, Kooper came up with a simple but iconic riff, repeated it throughout with little embellishment or expansion on those few notes and managed to make the organ a prominent and essential part of the instrumentation.
@@suburban60sKid Is that last comment facetious? Obviously, Dylan managed to create many iconic songs over the years, regardless of the producer. Mark Knopfler was one of them, both producing and playing guitar for Dylan after a member of Dylan's crew played "Sultans of Swing" for him and Dylan exclaimed "I want that guy playing guitar on my record". And in recent years, Dylan could have used a more honest and forceful producer, because the stuff he's been turning out is mostly trash, undermining his canon. Much like Neil Young in that respect.
It's hard for us in 2024 to imagine a song being so influential. Changed how rock musicians thought about their music, how they'd write songs, who could even get into playing music or sing, changed what the industry thought was possible.
One of your greatest episodes ever highlighting one of the greatest songs of an era ever ‼️🧐😲😃😁
Bob Dylan is one of my go to songs when I sing karaoke. This song always gets the crowd singing along.
When I was 19 I was really into poetry.Getting beyond Dylans voice was a tough obstacle,but I forced myself because I knew he was great.Now I love it.Its like an acquired taste like corn liquor or gasoline 😂. If he ever "clicks"youre in for the greatest catalog of songs ever produced.Most of my friends still dont understand🤣But its ok hes not for everyone.
Great comment. I agree!
...Like Roquefort Cheese
Same here, I forced myself to listen to his, let's say unconventional vocals and now I find it hard to listen to anybody else singing Dylan songs because his voice and phrasing are so unique
@@derekcollins4801 Bryan Ferry made an album named Dylanesque with only covers from Bob Dylan and I just love it. For me there is no best song or artist only great ones and there are a lot of them depending on my mood because it is music that touches your soul in my humble opinion.
Bob Dylan is one of my all time favorite artists. I have most of his albums. He's the G.O.A.T.
I agree with you, professor, that his voice is perfect for what he sings. That's true for so many artists who aren't technically great singers. Imagine a pristine voice singing Dylan songs. It's been done of course and it sounds good, but it's not the same as having Dylan's particular voice in his songs. And man, your dad sounds great. ❤️
It would not work as well. Probably the only instance where that would be the case.
He actually tried this. Listen to original recording of Lay Lady Lay.
And this is a bit of speculation, but Bob rewrote Forever Young purposefully using notes from the very bottom of the scale range to the top, maybe in response to critics who were saying he ‘couldn’t sing’. I know about the range because I used to sing it and it was a challenge.
Try Lewis Sings Dylan!! Yeah Gerry Lewis just nails it!!
Professor, that story about your dad made me smile. Only music has that kind of power.
Dylan lived in my hometown before he moved to Woodstock. One day while I was waiting for the Bayview Avenue bus to go home from my friend's house and she was keeping me company, he stopped at the red light driving a white sports car with the top down. I was 13 and wanting to be cool, I turned to my friend and in my best "That's not something you see every day, Chauncy" voice said, "That's lookslike Bob Dylan."
We continued to riff as follows without addressing him directly:
Dru (friend): Just what I was going to say. Doesn't that look like Bob Dylan?
Me: You took the words right out of my mouth. In fact, if you asked me 'Who does that look like? Bob Dylan ' is what I would say.
And so on while I surrtitously watched him go from stiffening to laughing so hard he put his head down on the steering wheel and missed the light going green. . . so he drove through the second red light. After all, we weren't going to tell on him.
A "Rocky & Bullwinkle" fan! Cool.
I was once driving thru Collingswood, NJ, and saw Ben Vaughn crossing the street. Which seemed odd, as he was living in California at the time. Later that night, I was at a bar show in Philly, and, sure enough, Ben Vaughn walked in and sat down at the bar. I'd seen him play numerous times, so I walked up and said hi. (Ben is originally from Camden, though he claims Collingswood; he moved to L.A. to actually make a living in music, and immediately was hired to write the music for the sitcom 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN. He does WHATEVER THE HECK he wants these days, including hosting an internet radio show on weekends.)
Thanks Bob , and Professor!
Thanks Adam, another great video. Your comment that you were a “lyrics guy” made me realise that after listening to rock music for over 55 years I am a “melody guy” but will now start to pay more attention to the lyrics. I am pushing 70 but never too old to learn something new I guess.
I do not remember hearing this song until a Friday Night in early November 1967 in the American Youth Activities center in Mainz Germany. To this day I remember walking into the building for the first time and "Like a Rolling Stone" playing on the Juke Box. The only other songs I remember when I first heard them was an A Capella version of The Who's "Substitute" and a cover bands version of The Bee Gee's "You Don't Know What It's Like" on a bus to Austria and a Dance at the Officer's Club later in the year that followed.
It brings me to tears every time I hear it. It takes me back to a time I was homeless and alone.
I hope you are sheltered, safe, and loved. Godspeed,
Dylan's favorite songwriter was Gordon Lightfoot.
During the summer of 1965, when I was 13, I would sit at the kitchen table listening to this song. To this day, it's my favorite Dylan song. At the time, I remember thinking that in the future whenever I heard the song, I would remember my 13 year old self, wondering at the glory of this song, as I sat at my kitchen table.
Some of my favorite lyrics are from Mr. Tambourine man. Such incredible imagery of freedom and joy:
Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free
Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves
Let me forget about today until tomorrow
So much imagery in that song.
@lauriebak: "to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free" was even quoted by Carl Sagan in his book "The dragons of Eden".
Dylan makes you feel it !
I was only a seven year-old Aussie kid, but music on the radio was a refuge for me. I KNEW the Beatles were a revolution as soon as I heard them, and I KNEW 'Like a Rolling Stone' was an absolute game-changer. I had two ineffable childish impressions. One was a sense of the epic that I'd never felt before about music. The other was an intuition that the words meant something really important, and that one day I'd understand what they meant. I guess it just gave me a glimpse into an entirely new way of thinking. Even as a kid, I found that song incredibly compelling, and when I was a little older, maybe early teens, I deemed it the best single ever released. I reckon I still think so, but I must say there are a lot of songs that vie for that title, many of which never get much credit.
The first time l really heard Dylan was a 16 year old being kicked out of home in 1975 and getting into my mate's HD Holden (Australia's GM car) and hearing that drum snare as l closed the door. My whole appreciation for music changed in an instant.
It set me on a path to appreciate Led Zeppelin to Supertramp, from Billy Joel to Tom Waits and the triangle between Stevie Nicks, Cher & Kate Bush.
And all the great clones he inspired; Springsteen, Mellencamp, Waits, Morrison, Donovan, Hendrix, Joan Osborne, Kim Carnes.Australians Paul Kelly, Richard Clapton and Mark Seymour among others
18:37 On the subject of Dylan's voice, sometimes I'll play Lay Lady Lay or something else off Nashville City Skyline and ask people to guess who's singing and nobody EVER can. He's an artist, like Picasso, he can do realism, too, he just doesn't want to, usually.
So true!
Yup. I personally do recognize his voice but that sure does ring true.
An amazing song from an amazing talent. Like a Rolling Stone is a personal favorite.
Another awesome Rock n Roll History lesson thanks Professor.
🎶🎤🎸🎸🎹🥁🎶
Thanks Roger!
This is the song that first kindled my obsession with Dylan. My mom was a performer, who loved folk music, so we had albums in the house from Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Buffy Saint Marie, and, of course, Dylan. It wasn't until I hit my 20s, though, before I discovered him for myself. And then I was hooked.
I've had to explain to friends that Dylan is emulating the sound of some old-time blues artists. And I would play for them songs like Lay Lady Lay to demonstrate.
"Like a Rolling Stone" is such an incredible song. The way it just rambles from one verse to the next, like he's talking to somebody, let'em know that he sees them for how they really are.
@ernesteison7979: That's how I would describe "Positively 4th Street".....one of my favourites.
I've always loved it that he could sing out his nose. If Bob can sing, anybody can.
Bob Dylan was raw and honest, he didn’t hide anything in his music or poetry. I have always enjoyed his music.
My oldest brother turned me into Dylan when I was probably 10-11 yrs old. Like you, Adam, I became fascinated with his lyrics. From Maggie’s Farm to Serve Somebody , his poetry has inspired or consoled me.
Professor nailed it…authenticity and emotion, best description of Dylan’s voice. I always loved his voice, can’t imagine anyone else singing Desolation Row…Highway 61 one of my favorite albums of all time ❤❤
Amen!
Great presentation, I have to admit I never listened to the lyrics of Like a Rolling Stone because of the rambling tone - you convinced me that I need to close my eyes and listen...
I went nuts over this song when I first heard it in the summer of 1965. Most radio stations only played the first two verses. It was a real treat when we got to hear all four.
I love the organ on this. Thanks for giving the background on the organ playing... and everything else, of course :)
Only Dylan could top Dylan - I always have trouble choosing between "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Tangled up in Blue". 72 and both still still get the 'turn it up treatment' in the car. Ponce De Leon missed it - rock and roll is the fountain of youth - especially playing it. You can't get old doing either. And to answer the question of the day - it feels great! Best channel out there - keep doing what you do.
Thanks!
What a wonderful episode! You truly know how to tell a story, Adam, whether about a song lyric, an instrument, or how a song touched you or someone like your Dad, which was especially moving to me when you mentioned that. 🙏🏼🎶
Al Cooper’s extended interview about Like a Rolling Stone is amazing. There were so many aspects that were a complete fluke. He was invited to observe the session by the producer with the understanding he would NOT play. He was really a guitar player, not a keyboard player. He snuck into the studio and sat down with his guitar, hoping to be included until Bloomfield showed up. Went back into the booth. During a break between takes, he went back out and sat at the keyboard, hoping someone had left it on because he didn’t even know how to turn it on. The monitor was back in the corner so he couldn’t hear himself very well. He wasn’t sure of the cord changes, that’s why there were delays that ended up being classic to the sound. Dylan liked that version in the playback and the rest is history.
"You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discovered that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal"
If this is viewed as metaphor, I had this exact experience in college. I met a guy who projected self assurance and he did exactly what the song says. Not just possessions but screwed with my identity.
I only talked with Dylan once. I didn't expect him to make it as he was essentially an imitation of Woody Guthrie. Never underestimate the power of youth. We all have to start somewhere.
Thanks!
My late husband and I would sing along with this song on really long road trips…getting way too loud on the chorus. What fun!
One of your best break-downs yet. Thanks for this!
Glad you liked it!
Without question Bob is a genius when it comes to the written word. I have been a diehard fan since I first heard his music. I think you hit the nail right on the head 👍
In my opinion, this is the greatest song of all time. It came out in the summer between my sophomore and junior years in high school. I listened to it on my transistor radio on the beach on the shores of Lake Erie. It changed how. music could be made and played on the radio.
Oh my! I went down an odd rabbit hole. When you said Al Kooper, I thought of Al Stewart. One of my favorite teenage songs "Year of the Cat." I just rewatched it, and it still stands up for me. Thanks for the memory. :)
What's not to love about Bob Dylan? Few artists could equal the sequence of albums from Bringing It All Back Home through Blood On The Tracks. Mindblowing lyrical compositions that just knocked me over the first time I spent the time to listen. I'm thankful to have had the chance to see him on tour a few years ago when he toured with Willie Nelson. What a legend.
I agree 100% Great stuff!
@@babygerald4645 ty6e greatest sequence.
Daylight 2nd, 3rd and 4th
All masterworks.
Hank Williams was the first Rock & Roller. The recording industry in the 40’s couldn’t produce Hank Williams brilliance. Thanks for mentioning him.
Hank Williams was country down home performer not rock n roll.
This is a great song to play and sing. Of course memorizing Dylan's lyrics takes some doing, but when the rhythm, cadence, and chords all come together it's like hopping a freight train and riding it down the tracks. It's nonstop and straight ahead to the end of the line. A fantastic ride.
I had the pleasure of seeing The Rolling Stones perform "Like a Rolling Stone" in concert at Madison Square Garden in 1998. This is one of your best videos Professor, and I enjoy and watch all your videos.
Great tribute to a great giant of pop music.
Positively 4th street and Like a Rolling Stone favorites. Had his earlier albums but those two songs hit me after graduating college. Still do.
Jakob Dylan and the Wallflowers came into the cafe where I worked, and I had the opportunity to hang out with them after my shift. I passed on it, because I was such a MASSIVE Bob Dylan fan, I did not want to insult the son by having so much to say about the father!
...authenticity and emotion were what truly mattered in the truth of rock and roll...
You, my friend, have a way with words yourself!
Thanks!
The Prof is the Dylan of pop music review! 😛
I have to say how much I appreciate you and your work!!!
You are a Star!!!
It is my favorite Dylan song and one of my favorite rock songs. When someone tells me they can’t stand Dylan, I sing it just to annoy them.
Sing them anything from Blood On The Tracks
Hey Adam! Your episode's are always great, but you've reached a new level!
Always loved Dylan! This is one of my favorites. These lyrics are so imaginative, but slap you with the question, "HOW DOES IT FEEL?" Amazing. The fact that we're still talking about this song 60 years after its release, says it all! Thank you Bob.
Thank you Professor. Congrats on a new zenith of shows!
Dylan is groovy, and so are you!
* I feel "groovy" should have been in our world much longer than it was.*
1st heard it summer of 65. I was 13 and when I heard it on the radio I thought so, this is Bob Dylan ? Loved it. Still love it.
Completely agree with your opinions and those of your commenters on this musical genius !!! His catalogue of songs has kept me in awe for 60 years . The pinnacle is of course Like a Rolling Stone and so many of his other classics are right there with it !!!
Welcome back, gang. Hello to everyone.
Hello again!
Greetings and Salamanders!
Welcome back to saddles, Mondays, and a second shiny new episode!
@@Code.Name.V Salutations and Geckos.
@@TerrickTerranHaHa! Touche'!
Jim Post, whom I knew just before he died told me the story of doing a concert and making a equip about Bob Dylan not being able to sing. Suddenly, to his horror, Bob got up out of the audience and started out the door. Jim ran after him, saying “Bob, come on back, I’m an asshole, I’m sorry, come back and sit down “it took some persuading, but he got him to sit back down again.
Dylan influences Beatles. Beatles influence Dylan. Dylan influences Hendrix. Damn I love the 60's. They weren't about anything but the music then. Sure they had fashion. But fashion took the back seat not the front. As for the line about emotion and authenticity in Dylan's voice. I watched a video earlier today about Prince's work process. How he would do a song a day. Write the lyrics, come into the studio and knock it out in one day. He wanted to capture the raw emotion and feeling as quickly as possible. Especially in the vocals he put down. Often maybe doing 5 or less takes. And most of the time he took the first take not because it was the best technically but because it had that emotion and authenticity that the others didn't quite match. Even if there were small errors in it. He wanted that take because of the power in it. Art for art's sake. Not about commerce. About artistic integrity and freedom. The real keeping it real. Man I wish we still had that today.
Great comment! Love it!