The voice of a generation. In a world where the word 'genius' is grossly over used, this man deserves such a plaudit.

Essential LPs include the wired and truly unique Blonde on Blonde, the raucous Highway 61 Revisited, the unparalleled break-up LP Blood on the Tracks, Desire (released in 1975, the same year as Blood on the Tracks), the country-heavy Nashville Skyline and the rootsy John Wesley Harding.

This is of course forgetting the albums that made him famous in the first place. The covers-riddled debut Bob Dylan is a homage to all those what influenced him; The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan is a one-man-and-his-guitar masterpiece brimming with the early 'let's pretend he's a hick' infuence of Colombia Records and containing some of the most famous songs of all time. The Times They Are A Changing continued his ascendansy to the role of 'chief protestor' against the Vietnam War, whilst painting a brutal picture of under-privileged America.

Bringing It All Back Home was the first album of a trio that debatably changed the face of popular music (Highway 61, Blonde on Blonde being the others). Drums are incorporated for the first time and the touring of these three saw Dylan make the transition from acoustic folk star to a musician backed by a full electric band.

This transiton was a brave decision. It didn't go down at all well with folk purists, and Dylan and his band had to endure yells such as "Judas" from crowds around the world.

The meteoric rise and dramatic change of the young Bob Dylan into the whippet-like, world conquering fashionista is documented with an unparalelled detail in the DVD No Direction Home directed by Martin Scorcese.

It follows the stresses of Dylan's new found infamy ending at the end of the Blonde On Blonde tour and roughly two weeks before he suffered a horrendous motorcycle accident. The full details of the crash have never been released but it is a widely held belief that he suffered a broken neck.

John Wesley Harding was the first album released post-crash, and from this writers perspective it was a more mellow and humble affair after the drugged out cockiness of Blonde On Blonde. The songs are reflective and Dylan is more mature.

Classic album after classic album followed. My knowledge of Dylan in the 80's, when he went through a Christian phase and released numerous records as 'Bob Dylan And the Band' is minimal, so hopefully some other devotee will fill in this gap.

Dylan is currently 65 (3/3/07) and continues to embark on his so-called 'Never Ending Tour'. It's been on the road for fifteen years or so and shows no sign of stopping. He no longer plays guitar on stage, allegedly due to arthritis, and often changes structure and lyrics of his songs so much so that they barely resemble the original.

His last three records Love And Theft, Time Out Of Mind and Modern Times have been widely regarded amongst critics and fans alike as a return to form after pumping out oceans of turgid shite in the 80's and 90's.

Even with these two decades of mediocre output, Dylan has undoubtedly a virtually unparlelled back catalogue of guitar music of the highest quality, acoustic and electric.

His lyrical prowess will long remain largely unchallenged - in this writers opinion.

Releases

• No Direction Home - album, out 05/09/2005 on Sony. 1 review (read/post)

Past events

• Tue 17 Apr at Birmingham NIA. (post review)
• Mon 16 Apr at London Wembley Arena. (post review)
• Sun 15 Apr at London Wembley Arena. (post review)
• Sat 14 Apr at Sheffield Hallam FM Arena. (post review)
• Thu 12 Apr at Newcastle upon Tyne Metro Radio Arena (formerly Telewest Arena). (post review)
• Wed 11 Apr at Glasgow SECC. (post review)
• Sun 20 Nov at London Brixton Academy. (post review)

News

• 25/02/2008: Jack White helps out Bob Dylan on new album
• 06/07/2007: Full Fleadh Line Up
• 06/07/2007: Dylan to Headline Fleadh Festival
• 27/02/2007: WIN! Tickets to Bob Dylan in London
• 04/09/2006: Crocodile Hunter dead, Trouser Snake not: chart round-up
• 23/08/2006: Dylan: modern recordings are atrocious
• 05/05/2006: Dylan biopic forthcoming
• 12/10/2005: Dylan exhibition on now
• 29/09/2005: Dylan to lose his direction again?
• 14/09/2005: The times they aren't a chainin': HMV ditches Dylan

Features

• 19/09/2007: The Weekly DiScussion: the movie soundtracks that matter
• 12/09/2007: The Weekly DiScussion: what are the essential musical page-turners?
• 16/05/2007: Versus The Fans, the preview: The ATP Perspective...

Links

• Official Site

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