Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde
(1966)
Tracks
1 Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 4:36
2 Pledging My Time 3:50
3 Visions of Johanna 7:33
4 One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) 4:54
5 I Want You 3:07
6 Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again 7:05
7 Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat 3:58
8 Just Like a Woman 4:52
9 Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) 3:30
10 Temporary Like Achilles 5:02
11 Absolutely Sweet Marie 4:57
12 4th Time Around 4:35
13 Obviously 5 Believers 3:35
14 Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands 11:20
The first album that The Cellar Tapes radio show ever featured;
Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan, released in 1966 on Columbia, marked the end of Bob Dylan’s creative spell for the mid sixties, concluding the holy trinity of Dylan masterpieces with yet another exceptional release.
One of the first double vinyl releases;
Blonde on Blonde was the follow up to 1965’s
Highway 61 Revisited. It marked a transition from the garage blues sound found on his previous two releases, towards a more rounded and defined sound incorporating melody with a more folk rock finish. Produced once again by Bob Johnston in Nashville, it is arguably Dylan’s finest moment taking his output to a more mature and controlled level.
The album begins in bizarre fashion, with the rousing brass number,
Rainy Day Women Nos. 12&35, the lyrical content, is shall we say, “controversial”, but its difficult to find a song where Dylan is this jovial. This opener is in stark contrast to the lovingly handsome songs which follow;
Pledging My Time and
Visions of Johanna feel more akin to
Another Side of Bob Dylan or
The Freewheelin’ than the electric Dylan, but saying that they still feel quite at home on this album. Later in this immense work he continues this vibe with the elegant
Just Like a Woman, a lovely song.
Track four takes us to
One of Us Must Know which it must be said is classic bitchy Dylan, but with a twist, believe it or not in this song there’s a touch of remorse to the vocals and lyrics, again providing yet further evidence that Dylan with this release was well and truly on the top of his game.
This song is followed with probably one of Dylan’s most poppiest moments to date;
I Want You is an upbeat song which is rather pleasant even for you reluctant Bob Dylan listeners out there. As with the previous two albums, there are some moments for
The Band to shine also, particular with
Leopard-Skin Pill-box Hat and
Obviously 5 Believers.
And not forgetting the unbelievably marvellous
Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine),which brings the brass section back into the studio, this song for me combines everything that is good about Dylan, my favourite song on this record. The album finishes with the 11 minute 20
Sad Eyed Lady of The Lowlands, which on paper appears long having side four all to itself, but when caught in the mood of the album it may actually be a tad short.
Containing filthy blues, gentle beauty, biting lyrics, soft vocals and classic Dylan imagery; this album is the sum of all the best bits from the previous six albums. My view is that of all his albums it is probably the best record to get introduced to the man’s legendary yet diverse styles. From here there was yet more and more layers added to the Bob Dylan repertoire for delivery, but for me, although coming close in previous and later years, he will never top this moment in 1966.