Acoustic to Icon

“You need to be great at singing to be a famous artist.” This is what I and tell myself every time I pick up the guitar and try to write my own music. Today we’re going to be going over one of my biggest inspirations, Bob Dylan. Some may know him for his wonderful poet esk lyrics, others may hate him for his unpopular singing voice.

 Either way Bob Dylan isn’t just an artist, he is an icon! An icon in an era full of artist changing the music scene. Many who were also inspired by Bob Dylan, like Johnny Cash and the Beatles.

So, let’s take a look at the man who changed the world musically for decades.

Born on May 24, 1941 in Duluth Minnesota, Robert Allen Zimmerman had a typical life. Dylan grew up in Minnesota, even attended the University of Minnesota.

At the University of Minnesota is where Dylan began his music career. Using the name Bob Dylan, which he stole from a popular western series called Gunsmoke, he began playing for audiences.

By 1960, Dylan dropped out of college and moved to Greenwich Village in New York City. This is where he would meet countless artists and poets. Greenwich Village in the sixties was a popular place for artists to hang and write music.

Columbia records would eventually sign Bob Dylan to a record contract in the fall of 1961, following a promising review in New York Times. The following year Dylan’s self-titled first album would be released.

The next two albums Dylan released The Freewheelin` Bob Dylan in 1963, followed by The Times They Are A-Changin` in 1964, were two of his biggest and well received albums. Songs like The Times They are A-Changin`, Blowin` in the Wind, and Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright are some of the most popular songs in his catalogue.

In his early years Bob Dylan was synonymous with bare bones acoustic folk music. In 1965 he decided to change his image and do a half electric half acoustic album called Bringing it all Back Home. Although initially hated, this album along with the following albums Highway 61 Revisited in 1965, and Blonde on Blonde released in 1966, are regarded by many as some of his best work. They also symbolized the future of Bob Dylan as a musician, a musician that continues to reinvent his sound.

I want to jump in here and say that these early recordings were what peaked my interest in his music. I actually own a vinyl copy of his first album. It’s not an original but sounds just as good. 

In 1966 Bob Dylan was in a near fatal motorcycle crash that would take him a year to recover from. Dylan would continue to create music, although some of it was not received well by critiques. Self Portrait for example came out to terrible reviews from critics. 

In 1974 Dylan would finally partake in his first major tour since his motorcycle accident in 1966. The seventies were a great decade for Bob Dylan. He would see his first three number one albums Planet Waves, Blood on the tracks, and Desire.

Throughout the eighties Dylan would continue to evolve his sound. He went on tours with some fellow big names like the Grateful Dead and Tom Petty. He even recorded a live album Dylan & the Dead, which I highly recommend listening to.

His relationship with Tom Petty would later be rekindled when they would form the super group The Traveling Wilburys in the mid-nineties. The group included follow large names like George Harrison, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne.

Bob Dylan still continues to record music to this day! He recently released a seventeen-minute song called Murder Most Foul. Which is a great listen if you are a fan of Dylan.

I’ve been listening to Dylan for almost my whole life. He has been one of the largest influencers on my music taste. He has inspired me to write my own music. Some have said that I actually remind them a lot of Dylan when it comes to my singing. Which I guess is a complement.

I chose to highlight Bob Dylan because I feel as though many people from younger generations don’t know much about him and his music. Back in the sixties and seventies Bob Dylan was one of the most popular artists. Even still, many people skim through his releases for the more “popular” releases.

Dylan’s music often goes over many people’s heads due to his complicated lyrics at times. I do think that if you give him a chance you will definitely enjoy him. My personal favorite song of his is Subterranean Homesick Blues on the Bring it all Back-Home album. Which is also one of my favorite albums.

For those just starting out with Bob Dylan I recommend listening to the following albums, Bob Dylan (self-titled), The Free Wheelin Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks, Bring it All Back Home, and Blonde on Blonde. If you’re feeling a deep dive check out the Basement tapes, and newer albums like Tempest and Modern Times.

Links to check out

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https://www.biography.com/musician/bob-dylan

https://www.expectingrain.com/