( 3 reviews )
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( 2 of 9 found this review helpful ) Posted: Apr 20 2002
this book tells you a lot about bob dylan, a folk singer turned rock singer whose songs are really good and literary. if you want to understand his lyrics and whatnot pick up this book. it is good. i liked it though i didnt read all of it.
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( 14 of 14 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jan 12 2002
Bob Dylan is one of the few musical figures from the 20th century that we have truly seen become a legend in their own time. Some would argue, indeed, that Dylan is THE quissential cultural figure of the second half of the 20th century - recording undoubtedly some of the greatest albums ever put to tape, becoming, in the eyes of many, a composer for our times on par with Mozart and Beethoven, arguably the greatest, at the very least most infulential and far-reaching poet of the century, and mapping out emotional blueprints for an entire generation with songs like Blowin' In The Wind, The Times They Are A-Changin', Mr. Tambourine Man, Like A Rolling Stone, and Just Like A Woman. And, although he has since recorded albums every bit as good as his 60's highlights, - not least among them, his magnum opus Blood On The Tracks, and his 1998 Album of The Year, Time Out of Mind - his works from that time still stands as the absolute apex of a culture that was the most turbulent decade since the 20's. Rarely has an artist, at any time, been so in tune with the tenor of the times. This book chronicles Dylan's remarkable 60's period - from his, largely interpretative, debut album through his shocking move to country music with Nashville Skyline. It indeed has the "stories behind every song", and it avoids stooping so low as to try and convey what the songs are "about." Rather, this book, much more usefully, gives the background to the songs: how and when they came about, insight into the characters mentioned in them, and what woman, person, or particular muse the song may be referring to, or have been inspired by. There may not be a lot here that Dylanologist don't already know, but it is nevertheless a useful (not to mention beautiful - it's an immaculately laid-out book, with dozens of generous photographs peppered throughout), and nice to have a reference to all these early songs in one place. An absolutely essential book for Dylan fans.
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( 15 of 17 found this review helpful ) Posted: Aug 12 1999
This was when Dylan was making groundbreaking music. This book offers fine analysis of every track and an excellent companion to the CDs of that time period. A must-have book for Dylan fans.
