dylanbooks.substack.com
Until last week, my near-500 collection of Dylan books had only two titles addressing Dylan’s legacy from a music theory perspective.
Steven Rings’ new scholarly What Did You Hear? is the first full-length study of the music I’ve seen.
Recommended.
Until last week, my near-500 collection of Dylan books had only two titles addressing Dylan’s legacy from a music theory perspective.
Steven Rings’ new scholarly What Did You Hear? is the first full-length study of the music I’ve seen.
Recommended.
Chris O’Connor’s You Don’t Need A Weatherman: Bob Dylan For Beginners (Melbourne Books, 2025, pbk, 219pp) is a fine new intro. Gen Z-ers ready to board the Dylan train will welcome it. It answers key questions - why is Dylan important and how do I explore his legacy?
Chris O’Connor’s You Don’t Need A Weatherman: Bob Dylan For Beginners (Melbourne Books, 2025, pbk, 219pp) is a fine new intro. Gen Z-ers ready to board the Dylan train will welcome it. It answers key questions - why is Dylan important and how do I explore his legacy?
Bob Dylan: Things Have Changed, is a celebration of Dylan’s genius. It’s original, engaging… and partisan.
Author Ron Rosenbaum is no fawning fanboy. He argues that, after Street-Legal, Dylan’s writing changed for the worse - there are very few great songs.
Bob Dylan: Things Have Changed, is a celebration of Dylan’s genius. It’s original, engaging… and partisan.
Author Ron Rosenbaum is no fawning fanboy. He argues that, after Street-Legal, Dylan’s writing changed for the worse - there are very few great songs.
Bob Dylan: Things Have Changed (Melville House) is one of the most enjoyable Dylan books I’ve read for ages.
It’s: ambitious, challenging, eloquent, engaging, erudite, iconoclastic, idiosyncratic, irreverent, literate, profound, stimulating, stylish, witty… .
Bob Dylan: Things Have Changed (Melville House) is one of the most enjoyable Dylan books I’ve read for ages.
It’s: ambitious, challenging, eloquent, engaging, erudite, iconoclastic, idiosyncratic, irreverent, literate, profound, stimulating, stylish, witty… .
As a fan, you’re likely to have a valuable Dylan book(let) collection - The Bootleg Series book(let)s of liner notes.
Typically about 60 pages long, the booklets of the standard CD releases are a rich source of Dylaniana.
As a fan, you’re likely to have a valuable Dylan book(let) collection - The Bootleg Series book(let)s of liner notes.
Typically about 60 pages long, the booklets of the standard CD releases are a rich source of Dylaniana.
I’m loving the new release - a forceful reminder of Dylan’s genius, right from the off. Sheer, unalloyed brillance!
But I’m disappointed by the liner notes book(let) - at 32pp, it’s only half the length previous Vols.
I’m loving the new release - a forceful reminder of Dylan’s genius, right from the off. Sheer, unalloyed brillance!
But I’m disappointed by the liner notes book(let) - at 32pp, it’s only half the length previous Vols.
I don’t possess a single volume dedicated solely to the music of early Dylan, 1956-63.
Fortunately, these four picks - all from my Best 10 Dylan books - will enhance your appreciation of the new TBS Vol. 18.
I don’t possess a single volume dedicated solely to the music of early Dylan, 1956-63.
Fortunately, these four picks - all from my Best 10 Dylan books - will enhance your appreciation of the new TBS Vol. 18.
Why Dylan Matters, by Harvard’s Richard F Thomas, is invaluable - a well-written, expert analysis of Dylan’s borrowings from Greek and Roman literature. And his intertextuality.
But its title is misleading. Dylan matters for his writing, recording and performing.
Why Dylan Matters, by Harvard’s Richard F Thomas, is invaluable - a well-written, expert analysis of Dylan’s borrowings from Greek and Roman literature. And his intertextuality.
But its title is misleading. Dylan matters for his writing, recording and performing.
I’ve just added to my collection The Story of Bob Dylan, a 130 page “bookazine” published in Aug by Future (Bath, England). It’s editorially broad, richly illustrated and attractively designed. The text I’ve sampled is detailed and lively.
I’ve just added to my collection The Story of Bob Dylan, a 130 page “bookazine” published in Aug by Future (Bath, England). It’s editorially broad, richly illustrated and attractively designed. The text I’ve sampled is detailed and lively.
As it’s Nobel Prize time again, here’s a reminder of Dylan’s response to receiving his 2016 award. Bob Dylan The Nobel Lecture is a beautiful little artefact (thank you, Simon & Schuster) and it repays close reading.
My third favourite book by Dylan.
As it’s Nobel Prize time again, here’s a reminder of Dylan’s response to receiving his 2016 award. Bob Dylan The Nobel Lecture is a beautiful little artefact (thank you, Simon & Schuster) and it repays close reading.
My third favourite book by Dylan.
A welcome addition to my DYLAN BOOKS collection. Short chapters on all 31 gigs of Dylan’s tour of NE North America. Setlist changes, contemporary reviews, special guests, extracts from Sloman and Shepard etc. Pbk, 84pp.
A welcome addition to my DYLAN BOOKS collection. Short chapters on all 31 gigs of Dylan’s tour of NE North America. Setlist changes, contemporary reviews, special guests, extracts from Sloman and Shepard etc. Pbk, 84pp.
UNCUT, the English rock monthly, has published as many Dylan covers as MOJO, even though it started four years later - the two mags are equally rich sources of Dylaniana.
UNCUT, the English rock monthly, has published as many Dylan covers as MOJO, even though it started four years later - the two mags are equally rich sources of Dylaniana.
Rock monthly MOJO has had loads of Dylan front covers. Seeing them appear on sale has always been a thrill. The 16 monthly issues and four one-offs I’ve bought are a rich source of Dylanology.
Is my collection complete?
Rock monthly MOJO has had loads of Dylan front covers. Seeing them appear on sale has always been a thrill. The 16 monthly issues and four one-offs I’ve bought are a rich source of Dylanology.
Is my collection complete?
… in my opinion, Anthony Varesi’s The Bob Dylan Albums (Guernica Editions, 2nd ed 2022, pbk, 523pp - also in Kindle).
It’s comprehensive, detailed and up-to-date, as well as independent-minded, knowledgeable, insightful, nuanced and stylish.
… in my opinion, Anthony Varesi’s The Bob Dylan Albums (Guernica Editions, 2nd ed 2022, pbk, 523pp - also in Kindle).
It’s comprehensive, detailed and up-to-date, as well as independent-minded, knowledgeable, insightful, nuanced and stylish.
I’m enjoying Point Blank, bought in May. It’s an intriguing set of charcoal/pencil sketches of people and objects. Though it’s one of the lesser titles in my collection of about 30 Dylan art books, it’s certainly worth having.
I’m enjoying Point Blank, bought in May. It’s an intriguing set of charcoal/pencil sketches of people and objects. Though it’s one of the lesser titles in my collection of about 30 Dylan art books, it’s certainly worth having.
Dylan’s Europe 2000 tour is widely regarded as one of his best. I saw the 24 and 25 September shows in Portsmouth, England - exactly a quarter of a century ago today (and tomorrow).
I stood just under Dylan’s mic for two perfect gigs.
Dylan’s Europe 2000 tour is widely regarded as one of his best. I saw the 24 and 25 September shows in Portsmouth, England - exactly a quarter of a century ago today (and tomorrow).
I stood just under Dylan’s mic for two perfect gigs.
No surprise to see Dylan fronting the new MOJO. The English rock monthly has always championed Dylan. Its Nov 1993 launch issue has Bob on the cover with John Lennon.
No surprise to see Dylan fronting the new MOJO. The English rock monthly has always championed Dylan. Its Nov 1993 launch issue has Bob on the cover with John Lennon.
An 11 page feature article on Dylan 1956-63 plus 15 track cover-mount CD, The Best of Greenwich Village 1959-65. Excellent package.
An 11 page feature article on Dylan 1956-63 plus 15 track cover-mount CD, The Best of Greenwich Village 1959-65. Excellent package.
Another Bob Dylan cover, another must-buy.
MOJO has supported Dylan ever since the very first iissue paired him and John Lennon on the cover.
Another Bob Dylan cover, another must-buy.
MOJO has supported Dylan ever since the very first iissue paired him and John Lennon on the cover.
NEW, REVISED RANKING - CHRONICLES AND RAY PADGETT ADDED
Ranks the key titles in the key areas - writing by Dylan, critiques, lyrics, bio, live and insights.
The pile in the video is arranged in rank order, from 10 Chronicles on top, to 1 Lyrics at the bottom.
NEW, REVISED RANKING - CHRONICLES AND RAY PADGETT ADDED
Ranks the key titles in the key areas - writing by Dylan, critiques, lyrics, bio, live and insights.
The pile in the video is arranged in rank order, from 10 Chronicles on top, to 1 Lyrics at the bottom.
The Australian leg of the 1978 tour had a very impressive brochure.
It’s a precious memento. I bought it at the remarkable 1 April Sydney Showground gig.
The ace setlist had 30 songs!
Full article in Substack - link above.
#bobdylanaustralia
The Australian leg of the 1978 tour had a very impressive brochure.
It’s a precious memento. I bought it at the remarkable 1 April Sydney Showground gig.
The ace setlist had 30 songs!
Full article in Substack - link above.
#bobdylanaustralia
Mark Davidson and Parker Fishel (eds), Bob Dylan: Mixing Up The Medicine, Callaway, 2023, hbk, 608pp.
It’s magnificent…
Full article - Substack DYLAN BOOKS - link above.
Mark Davidson and Parker Fishel (eds), Bob Dylan: Mixing Up The Medicine, Callaway, 2023, hbk, 608pp.
It’s magnificent…
Full article - Substack DYLAN BOOKS - link above.
This week’s The World of Bob Dylan 2025, organised by The Institute For Bob Dylan Studies at the University of Tulsa, Thurs 24 - Sun 27 July, will be a unique gathering of Dylan experts.
The 2019 meet proceedings are a must-have Dylan book.
This week’s The World of Bob Dylan 2025, organised by The Institute For Bob Dylan Studies at the University of Tulsa, Thurs 24 - Sun 27 July, will be a unique gathering of Dylan experts.
The 2019 meet proceedings are a must-have Dylan book.
Just how Jewish, how American, is Bob Dylan’s work?
Just how Jewish, how American, is Bob Dylan’s work?