starts a bit of a run of me getting to listen to actual albums for this club. Basically all of these were given to me by my mumâs old uni friend and my sorta non religious godmother type
As soon as she heard that I was getting into vinyl she told my mum that I should take her big 60s/70s collection that she never used - there were boxes of the things! I took most but plenty have gone to my mum and we handed some off to my uncle too which was sweet. Sparked a chat with him about music, which is a subject we never really cover despite how well as we get on generally. I got a good chunk of Dylan, Beatles, some Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Harry Nilsson, Fairport Convention etc etc. Been a good education on lots of stuff I meant to know better than I did, and nearly all of them are perfect for my favourite Sunday morning read and album session.
Sadly a few months after we saw her and picked all of these up, she died pretty unexpectedly. Felt a bit unreal but genuinely happy I managed to get these from her first and thank her for them - every time me or my mum plays any of them we think of her. Canât ask for much better than that from a gift really
Love The Times They Are A-Changing, better than Freewheelinâ for my money, most people seem to disagree, but this is a top 5 Dylan album for me.
Yes all the humour of the Freewheelinâ is gone but heâs gone deeper into the politics and itâs a really powerful record imo. When I first heard this I was fascinated by the very specific 60s people and events he was singing about and spent hours on Wikipedia reading about Medger Evers and William Zantzinger (same with figures outside of this album like Emmett Till, Davey Moore and James Meredith of Oxford Town fame). The songwriting has really shifted up a gear imo, this is the peak of folk Dylan for me.
Kind of thing I was looking/hoping for by going back through these one by one.
Assumed Iâd know this one by osmosis but I donât know it anywhere near as well as Freewheelinâ. Loads of great songs I mustâve heard before but donât feel that familiar with.
Loved it. Donât think there are as many peaks as Freewheelinâ but I also think you can hear him developing into a stronger songwriter. Reckon itâs more consistent.
They were written (and recorded I think?) before Kennedy got shot but imagine hearing the title track and With God On Our Side just a few months later. Unimaginably powerful.
Know he actively rallied against the tag but itâs not hard to see why the music press went with the whole âvoice of a generationâ thing.
If you ever encounter one of those people who get sniffy about Dylan being awarded the Nobel, just direct them to this:
In the courtroom of honor, the judge pounded his gavel To show that allâs equal and that the courts are on the level And that the strings in the books ainât pulled and persuaded And that even the nobles get properly handled Once that the cops have chased after and caught 'em And that the ladder of law has no top and no bottom Stared at the person who killed for no reason Who just happened to be feelinâ that way without warninâ And he spoke through his cloak, most deep and distinguished And handed out strongly for penalty and repentance William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence
Oh, but you who philosophize, disgrace and criticize all fears Bury the rag deep in your face for nowâs the time for your tears
Always viewed this one as a step down compared with the highs of Freewheelinâ. Itâs an unfair opinion on this record, but thatâs just my opinion maaaan. Think itâs the seriousness of the record that puts it down a peg or two.
However this record is so consistent. And the lyrics and subjects of the songs are incredible. Pawn in Their Game is powerful. And obviously the time they might be a changing is the mouthpiece of a generation, and more. Boots of Spanish Leather really gives this album a little space to breath in.
Will give this a few more listens to see if I can shake that opinion.
Wonderful. Freewheelinâ has some of the very highest highs but feels like a bit of a mish mash of songs at times. I rarely want to sit through it all.
This is such a cohesive record that plays so well together - a little precursor to sixties AOR?
I managed one week before falling behind I did mean to listen to Freewheelinâ last week, but kept on saying âmaybe tomorrowâ in my head and now iâm here. Dylan has always been someone I need to be in the right mood for, so joining this listening club may have been a mistake haha. But I figured, after missing out on the Modest Mouse listening club, I need to join one from the beginning where I know only the most famous albums and I can discover more.
I did mean to listen to Freewheelinâ last week, but kept on saying âmaybe tomorrowâ in my head and now iâm here. Dylan has always been someone I need to be in the right mood for, so joining this listening club may have been a mistake haha. But I figured, after missing out on the Modest Mouse listening club, I need to join one from the beginning where I know only the most famous albums and I can discover more.
