Short Look On Bob Dylan

Let’s start off with an interesting Dylan story.

The Ed Sullivan show was a great way to catch some entertainment in the 50’s and 60’s. The show usually had most of its viewers watching for what was kickin’ on the pop charts. Some of the biggest names during that time were booked for the show such as, Elvis, The Beatles, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, and of what was soon to be, Bob Dylan. As a well known folksinger Dylan was given the thumbs up by Sullivan to sing "Talkin' John Birch Society Blues". CBS wasn’t much of a fan of the song though and overruled him turning Dylan down. Dylan never appeared on the show but never blamed Sullivan on what could have been.

Just a little interesting story I liked to share. Now to talk about what you all clicked for.

Like so many other artists during the Classic Rock era, Dylan was born with a different name. Robert Allen Zimmerman was born on May 24, 1941, in Duluth, Minnesota. At an early age before his teen years Robert wrote many poems and which showed his brilliance which was soon to come. In the youth of his teen years he began to play the guitar and put two and two together and formed his first band, Golden Chords. After graduating in 1959 he became more interested in folk music and country. After dropping out of college the next year he came up with the stage name Bob Dylan. No one knows exactly why that was his name but most think it’s in honor of a great poet who he admired, Dylan Thomas.

In 1961 Dylan was noticed by many critics and had received many phenomenal critiques. Columbia Records also noticed him and sent him off working on his debut album. His next album which was released in 93 was claimed to have had two of the best folk themes during the 60’s. “A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall” and “Blowin’ In The Wind" had his career flying to the top. His next album carried what was one of his saddest songs he ever wrote, “Boots Of Spanish Leather”. Dylan produced quite a few more albums with not as many hits but still throwing out what he had. Songs like “Subterranean Homesick Blues”, and “Mr. Tambourine Man” still came to many people as great songs. But none of them compared to what I think is his best work “Like A Rolling Stone” which to much of my anger, only reached #2 on the charts.

Dylan continued his career with less well known songs but still alive and kickin’ playing at Woodstock with the hawks and appeared in a film by Sam Peckinpah. He’s played with many greats such as Tom Petty and the heartbreakers, The Traveling Wilburys, and who is now touring with as we speak, Willie Nelson. Dylan has inspired many of us to rock the world in our own little influential style.

Comments

[lohnlennon]

ok. could add a little more

[Phalanx]

He did say it would be short.

[cick13]

I've read a biography of Dylan, and am a fan of his music, and all I can say is that while this short article may be a nice introduction to Dylan, it hardly does one of the worlds most influential songwriters justice.

[joshpwc]

well i liked it good job.

[Persistent-Lazy]

Bob Dylan is a genious when it comes to lyrics. He INFLUENCED the Beatles and the Rolling stones.

[page59]

i really don't think you should care about what the charts say about him. it was a bit biased, but dylan is great. i give it a four.

[Jerry_page]

i like dylan. i think this short article gives the media a wedgie for giving Bob Dylan a hard life.

[rhcpcure2826]

this guy is supposed to be the greatest songwriter of all time- SONGWRITER, not guitarist, but id choose a good songwriter over a good guitar player any day.

[Unseen_hero]

Bob Dylan wrote propaganda songs.

[hen]

His next album which was released in 93 was claimed to have had two of the best folk themes during the 60's.

shouldn't it be 63? a bit short, but i guess that's what it was supposed to be like. that's the only thing i noticed, so kudos to you sir.

[Shoestick]

twas okay

tiimmm..yyy: Warning for spam

[Dalgaard]

Bob makes the best lyricks no one can compeate with him! I went to a live konsert last winther in denmark and the man ***ing kicks ass!

[dogsballs]

I believe it was the late ian curtis (joy division) who wrote the best lyrics!

[Unseen_hero]

his lyrics are propaganda.

[GuitarJenks]

well i believe the whole Dylan WAS great but if you've heard at all lately, he's turned into a pile of crap

[AlreadyTooLate]

Haha pile of crap i hope that was supposed to be kidding Dylan is amazing just look at what he did with his song Hurricane. WOW.

[GuitarJenks]

I just saw him in concert with willie and you can't understand a word he says, let along know what song it is...and i'm a pretty big Dylan fan.

[Nesk_101]

BOB DYLAN IS ACUTALLY FROM HIBBING, MINNESOTA. damnit, if you're gonna write an article at least do a LITTLE research you friggin idiots.

[Liam Alan]

Unseen_hero, Give it a rest. Bob was a genius that was covered from Hendrix to Clapton. He believed in his lyrics and they mean't something. Dylan is God. The article was a little sparse for some one as great and did as much as Dylan.

[Zeve]

^^^ what he sayd. dylan+leonard cohen=FOLK GODS

[ShoeLaces907]

The only Dylan album I have "Highway 61 Revisited". It's pretty good when you're in the mood. I've also heard "Blood On The Tracks" and was significantly less impressed. One thing I can definitely appreciate about Dylan is that he always seemed to march to the beat of his own drummer (even if you can question the sincerity of some of his songs), but I can't say I like everything he did. I dig him, but I'm perfectly sympathetic to people who hate his music with a passion.

[Unseen_hero]

dylan+leonard= propaganda shit from the bowels of satans ass.

Give it a rest and leave it to your parents generation.

[box_car_racer51]

bob dylan for president (or prime mininster since i'm canadian)

[Zeve]

Id rather listen to their propaganda than chinas:

We must free the tibetan people from the "tyrrany" of the dalai lama

[Unseen_hero]

what do you have against eastern religions?

facsist

[Jason144]

You did alright. Thank goodness for Bob Dylan. His lyrics are some of the greatest ever.

[scionist]

Much too short article. There would have been more stuff to tell.

[Rubin Remus]

Bob Dylan was born in Hibbing, Minn, then grew up in Duluth, Minn... refer to the "Blood On The Tracks" album, song "Something there is about you"....

[lennon9dylan]

bob dylan is the greatest lyricist of all time and still rocks

[Dogwillhunt]

Though I would not feel so all alooone
Everybody must get stoned!

[TheUnderground]

u have it backwards, Dylan was born in Duluth and grew up in Hibbing. Watch No Direction Home

[TheUnderground]

and Bob Dylan never played at Woodstock

[Phrozac]

that article was crap and i think some research would have payed off.

[hendrixfanatic]

Just read "Chronicles", Dylans book: it's great, a lot better than this column