Back in the mid-sixties Dylan used to just sit at the typewriter churning out one song after another. He was connected to his muse and songs poured out of him. He lost that at the end of the decade and struggled for a few year but bounced back. Anything from "Subterranean Homesick Blues", "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde on Blonde" are pure gold.
@@darrenherbst5572 Yeah, he did, and he has said so himself. "I could do that then, but I can't do it now. I can do other things, but I can't do that." Of course those other things are pretty cool too.
I think that motorcycle crash he had in 1966, made him lose some confidence and changed him and his music. Love his early stuff, I had many Elvis Pressley albums before Dylan but as some as I heard Dylan a light in my mind went on and never played them Elvis records again. Yes I'm over 70 but still remember the fabulous 60's
Bob Dylan would not have cared who he offended. He was and always has done what he wants.If people don't like any of his songs then tough! He is still going strong at 80!
He was always anti-establishment in everything he did. One of the worst things in the world is to watch artists who were anti-establishment turn into mouthpieces for the establishment. Bob seems to have resisted this cultural authoritarianism, and it’s good to see him continue to put out art that challenges social institutions and norms. I hope he keeps going for another decade. We still need him!
@@Bastikovski99 theres nothing sacreligious about this song, bob has never, ever been an athiest....the john wesley harding album, made 2 and a half years later, has 61 biblical references in 35 minutes...thats nearly 2 references every 60 seconds---- so, yeah, keep claiming bob is an atheist, like some 7th grade 1980's metal head kid, and keep on thinking he supports this clown world we're currently living in....."tear it all down, bro...yeeah, maaaan, peace...lets nuke russia, bro" ....moron....... i can give u 20 quotes from the last 40 years that prove it. "the communists jumped on his back" , which is what jack kerouac said in his last interview, which is EXACTLY what they did to bob....ask allen ginsberg and joan beaz whether or not bob ever went to a sit-in, or a be-in with them; beaz talks all about it in the 2005 "no direction home" documentary....saying people always ask her "hey! is bob coming to the protest??" .....and she says "he never does, u moron, when are u gonna give up on that?" ....and thats pretty much verbatim.....anyway, keep spreading ur propaganda.....im so sick this sh#t, sick ignorant of bob fans with their heads way, way, way up thier a$$es, aging, smug lefties smelling their own farts, claiming that everyone shares their asisnine opinions, they conflate as "facts" with their "fact-checks", .....which under oath, in court, mark zuckerburg was forced to admit that the social media "fact chekers" were actually what they referred to (with their language twisting bs) "protected opinion"...cherry-picked, conflated non-sense,,facebook and twitter, the "private companies" that are, in reality, an arm of the goverment...liars, swindlers, and thieves, .....that all the left is
U. S. Highway 61, known as the “blues highway,” rivals Route 66 as the most famous road in American music lore. Dozens of blues artists have recorded songs about Highway 61, including Mississippians Sunnyland Slim, James “Son” Thomas, “Honeyboy” Edwards, Big Joe Williams, Joe McCoy, Charlie Musselwhite, Eddie Shaw, Johnny Young, Eddie Burns, and Mississippi Fred McDowell. The original route, now called Old Highway 61, was just west of here.
I used to live just off Highway 61 in White Bear Lake north of the Twin Cites. Bob traveled this 'ol road many a time, indeed. He traveled between his home in Hibbing abd Dinkytown by the U of MN. There really is something special abot it. I drive a long ways, both north and south on it. Dylan nailed the ethos.
How could you leave out the most famous reference of all, Robert Johnson? It was at or near the intersection of Hwy 61 and 49 that Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for musical genius, hence the birth of Rock 'n roll. You can see this in RJ's "Crossroad Blues" and "Hellhound on my Trail", maybe others.
This song came out in 1965. Old Brown Shoe came out in 1969. George Harrison was heavily influenced by Bob Dylan. In 1968 he visited Bob at his home at Woodstock in Upstate New York and spend some time there playing music with Bob and the members of the group called The Band.
"'The next time you see me comin' you better run'" -- my favorite line in the song. Highway 61 Revisited is one of the great albums of the sixties -- "Like A Rolling Stone", "Tombstone Blues", "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry", "From a Buick 6", "Ballad of a Thin Man", "Queen Jane Approximately", "Highway 61 Revisited", "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues", "Desolation Row" -- brilliant! Give a listen to the whole thing when you can. "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" is a lot of fun if you're itching for a quick one, especially if you've ever been to any of the border towns in Mexico. The actual Highway 61 extends 1,400 miles alongside the Mississippi River from New Orleans, Louisiana through Memphis, Tennessee, to Duluth, Minnesota the city where Dylan was born.
Totally echo what you said. I bought the album when I was about 18, and it was already more than 15 years old at the time. For the next couple of years, I just played the crap out of the record. So good from end to end. Even liked the crazy writing on the back. Just spectacular.
yeppers, the Aorta-Vein allaway from yank territory down to New Orleans, the Home of the Blues. Thinking i read that the great Bessie Smith, who even Jazz Innoivator was influenc'd by, died along 61
Well, Abraham Zimmerman had two sons. The eldest one was called 'Robert Allan'... 'Old Brown Shoe' has been written about 4 years after 'Highway 61' by one of Bob's biggest fans and best friends, George Harrison. Please check out the album version of 'Just Like a Woman' next.
Well, everything he said is pretty much straight from the Bible. God did order Abraham to sacrifice his son. The only deviation was that he didn't say to do it on Highway 61 obviously. You're right about Dylan playing with words. They're almost toys to him. To promote WWIII just put some bleachers out in the sun on Highway 61. It shouldn't be funny, but it is. For his best lyrics, try It's a Hard Rain A Gonna Fall or another masterpiece It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding). Either of those two songs will simply destroy your brain. Mr. Tambourine Man is gorgeous poetry, though it isn't as impactful as the other two. Neither one will let you down.
God was testing Abraham's loyality because He had big things in mind for him. God didn't let Ab kill his son. He was testing him. While John Lennon said the Beatles (at the time) were more popular than Jesus, he said that wasn't necessarily a good thing.
Talk about a rabbit hole I could name 25 songs off the top of my head and still not make a dent in his oeuvre . Wonderful album by the way . Highway 61 runs from bob Dylan’s home state of Minnesota to the Deep South . Listen to stuck inside of mobile with the Memphis blues again .
You can't go wrong with Uncle Bob. Bob Dylan came first, and yes The Beatles were highly influenced by him so much that his photo appears on the cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
It just doesn't stop. The 1960s. So much great music from, or rooted from, just one decade. Beatles, Dylan, Stones, Pink Floyd, Moody Blues and on, and on. I got into Dylan with his album release of "Another Side of Bob Dylan" and promptly bought the albums preceding it. Been a fan ever since.
Highway 61 is regarded as Dylan's best by many. It was the road out of his home town Duluth, which he longed to take. I particularly like the piano track. The last track on this album was called Desolation Row, it's my favourite. It's got a beautiful acoustic guitar behind some wonderful lyrics amazing imagery, and a nice little bit of harmonica near the end. I urge you to react to it, and anyone who hasn't heard it to give it a spin. Classic Dylan.
Seen him play this a few times live. Dylan is a bluesman at heart. Bought this Album in 1966 when I was 15. Then saw him on his world tour in 66 backed by the Hawks ( Band) it was all genius. "Fifth daughter on the twelfth night....." I was never the same again. And we hear the great Mike Bloomfield who Dylan described as the best guitarist he ever heard. Thats Dylan on the whistle.
Thanks Harri. This is one of my favorite Dylan songs and some of my favorite lyrics by him. I love that line where God tells Abraham the next time you see me coming you better run✌️
Highway 61 goes north to Minneapolis Minnesota (Bob Dylan's home state) and south to New Orleans by way of Mississippi where famous blues man Robert Johnson "sold his soul to the devil" at the crossroads near Clarksdale Mississippi and also in Memphis Tennessee part of the road on the Southside is called Elvis Presley Blvd. because Elvis' Graceland home is on it.
Dylan wrote many songs that others made big hits, such as "All Along the Watchtower" recorded by Hendrix. Dylan also promoted Folk music, which was quite big also in the 60-70s. Harri, I like your videos. You are correct about Lennon's comment. I remember watching the TV at the YMCA of people across America burning large pile of Beatles records. It was their property to burn too, I must point out. The line about Abraham reminded me that Bob's dad was also an Abraham, so there could be double entendre. Bob Dylan, the great songwriter and performer, was born Robert Allen Zimmerman. The son of Abraham and Beatty Zimmerman
The amusing thing about burning the Beatles albums and paraphernalia was that many of those kids ended up buying the stuff for a second time to replace the things they burned! Brilliant!
Quite likely. But there are two sides to it. Parents and many teens felt betrayed by Lennon's claim to be more popular than Jesus, insulted even. Lennon indicates that he regretted this statement. I think we all say things that we regret. Lennon was searching for big answers, and he was outspoken. Imagine a 20 something having so much influence. The radio was all Beatles songs in mid60s. By the latter 60s other groups like Zepplin, Sabbath, Stones, Doors, Jefferson Airplane, and Hendrix were on radio--although often on late night AM.
Funny thing is, it may have been true considering that The Beatles were enjoying worldwide popularity and over two thirds of the world's population is not Christian.
@@ptournas I understand your point, but I doubt that much of the world knew much of the Beatles, as in Communist China, India (outside of a few Gurus), North Korea, and many African nations, just to name a few. Moreover, America was where the Beatles made much of their money. Lennon's statement was not in his or the band's interest. I do not think he even believed it. But in America and Europe, the Beatles were probably the most popular band ever in my 60+ years. They were met with wild hysteria by the teenie girls. So many hits too during one time--more than any band, I am aware of.
@@willieboy3011 Actually, despite the high risk, selling Beatles bootleg albums was a thriving business in Russia from the from their first album on. They were also played on Radio Free America, which had a large Russian audience. I never heard the same about China, so they may not have been as well known there, and China was much poorer that Russia at the time, so it's doubtful that there were as many shortwave radios to listen to Radio Free America. But there was probably some knowledge of them, since they played Hong Kong in 1964 on their world tour. And the day they were to play in Hong Kong the headline of the South China Post read "They're coming: YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!". On the same tour at a refueling stop in Beirut, security had to use foam firefighting hoses to hold back the frantic screaming fans. The plane was also mobbed by screaming fans at fueling stops in Calcutta and Bangkok. In South Africa they were popular enough to be banned from raido play for three years after this statement by John. I've see collectible vinyl records for sale that include early (1963) Beatles records on Parlophone pressed in South Africa. The total population of the countries in which they charted #1 records by 1966 was about 1.2 billion, world population was about 3.4 billion. And many large countries that they sold a lot of records in, like India, didn't keep charts of music records. So, I think it's fair to assume that it's possible they were more popular than Jesus, though I wouldn't say there was enough evidence to conclusively say they were or weren't, Of course if you read the whole interview that the quote was taken from, what John was actually discussing was the decline of Christianity, which in fact was happening. It's also happening right now with a decline in the US alone of about 12% from 2009 to 2019.
HarriBest- you should do a reaction video to Dylan’s song “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carol” if you haven’t already. It’s a great song & I think you’ll love it and appreciate it. 😊
You're my favorite of the myriad of Dylan reactor video actors, how can I help you up your views? You're spreading the Gospel of Dyl quite well HarriBest, well done! Give "Up to Me" a go!
Respect for reacting to Dylan... nobody's playing him and he is the master of lyrics and his songs are so interesting...and you'll find surprisingly humourous at times
Bob Dylan songs, “Like A Rolling Stone“, “Tangled Up In Blues”, “Just Like A Women”, “Simple Twist Of Fate“, “Shelter From The Storm”, “Hurricane”, and 100 more. Also his stuff with the Traveling Wilburys.
"It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding"... Not just a song, a lesson on life..... OR, for the funniest song ever written.... "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" (song name) will make you laugh at Bob's incredible sense of humor.
Great pick & reaction, to Uncle Phil & Harri, respectively. Guvnor, I also hear, "Old Brown Shoe", in this Dylan song. As for which came first, "Highway 61 Revisited", came out in 1965, and, "Old Brown Shoe", came out 4 years later, in 1969. Dylan was a big influence on the lads from Liverpool. Not just musically, either. Bob introduced them to Mary Jane, during their first meeting--an introduction which changed The Beatles' music and lives. The lads idolized Dylan.
Red Wing is a town in Minnesota on the Mississippi River and along Hwy 61 where there is a juvenile detention facility. Not far from where I live, I've been by there numerous times. Luckily I never did time there.
Great song. Great reaction. I have always loved the line 'put some bleachers out in the sun' and have it on Highway 61. The album is a classic. You should react to the whole album. Tombstone Blues is another great tune that zips along.
In the '60's and 70's, there was a huge Jesus Movement. A lot of it was driven by the popular music - loads of Bible quotes in the songs (although not necessarily accurate, but that didn't matter). Some other examples - Jesus is just alright (Doobie Bros), Spirit in the Sky (Norman Greenbaum), When Jesus came to Play (Jethro Tull), Jesus the Missing Years (John Prine), Jesus On The Mainline (Ry Cooder). Also a few Jesus singers (Staples Singers, Barry McGuire, even Bob Marley). It really influenced my life, making me very Jesus-aware, eventually making me an easy convert, on which I stand to this day.
I think an oft-missed part of Dylan’s genius was that he wasn’t the first to present a persona that was different from his “real life”; country artists spent decades pretending to be hicks and hillbillies when they wore suits and drove Buicks. But he perfected the idea of a complete image with songs and philosophy and clothes to match, long before say, Madonna. He was the impish vagabond, infused with the restless American yearning of Guthrie, the put on nasal voice of Hank Williams, and the courageous puckishness of say, George Carlin. He was deliberately provocative IMO.
I once heard it said of Dylan that when he writes he does arithmetic with words. Highway 61 runs through Duluth, Minnesota, Dylan's home town, and ends in New Orleans, one of the great music cities in the U.S.
Surprised you ain't herd more of bob the poet...this is the time Dylan wrote some of his best work...he wrote album after album in this period then a double album in 66 blonde on blonde.
WW III was still a very real possibility in 1965. To me the idea to build the bleachers out in the sun reflects the idea of the Roman Colosseum, of people gathering/hungry for the carnage. It could also be the "sun" of the atomic bombs. To this day this song is still one of the first choices on any playlist I make.
“ God Said To Abraham Kill Me A Son ‘. has to be the greatest opening line s of any song and Like A Rolling Stone from the same album the greatest song.. In a two year period Dylan Released “ Bringing it all back home” highway 61 revisited, and blonde on blonde a double albumthree masterpiece albums that forever changed popular music .a creative outburst only rivaled by the Beatles Rubber Soul , Revolver and Sgt Prppers.. in a similar time frame..
There actually is a Highway 61. It goes from northern Minnesota (where Dylan grew up) to southern Louisiana. But I doubt if the song is a reflection of any particular sites, just metaphorical.
Highway 61 starts in Minnesota, up on the Canadian border, where Dylan was born, and runs all the way… maybe 1500 miles…down to New Orleans, shadowing the Mississippi for much of the way. This, I have always thought, is a very personal song for Dylan about his musical roots and “growth “ though I think he was only about 25 when he wrote it and he was metaphorically going down that road looking for answers….
Harri, One of the great albums of all time, as said,, the 1st part of an unsurpassed trilogy. Have been listening to it since the day it was released. And, Highway 61 passed through his hometown of Hibbing, Mn all the way down to New Orleans, birth place of true American culture, the Black folks blues, which Dylan always (tries to) sings.
You would love my favorite three songs on this record - Desolation Row, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, and best of all Tombstone Blues. Amazing lyrics, beautiful songs.
Honestly, you should just play that whole album. His best one. It's freaking amazing!! Hey, that's actually in The Bible. There's some crazy stuff in it! Esp in The Old Testament. Dylan & The Beatles both influenced each other.
A bit late to this party, but here's examples of Lyrical Gymnastics. Even Dylan himself, today can't explain where it came from: It's Alright Ma, Chimes of Freedom, Desolation Row ....then go to Bob Dylan's 115th Dream. We could create a lenghy list! Again Dylan has no clue where it all came from ... 'That well spring of creativity ' is all he could say (60 Minutes interview) while admitting he can't do that today..
The beauty is the conviction he puts into such nonsense ,somehow it makes it seem deep wisdom. My father played this album so many times..... allso me and various freinds
I love Dylan from start till he decides to finish. Please dive into his BLONDE ON BLONDE album, Harri - You won't be sorry. And thanks so much for sharing your love of music - you are always a pleasure to hang out with.
HIGH Harri.... Dylan is a Master Craftsman at writing great songs.. "Who Killed Davey Moore".... "Ballad Of A Thin Man'.... "Ballad Of Frankie Lee And Judas Priest".... and the funniest song ever written...... "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" will bust you up laughing like nothing you've ever heard before. Have a Splendid Successful Day
Dylan and the Beatles had a great influence on each other. Lennon said after hearing Dylan he was inspired to write more folk like songs such as Norwegian wood. After hearing the Beatles Dylan went electric which caused him a lot of grief with the folk music crowd. Also Dylan introduced the Beatles to pot. 😏
Dylan was well ahead of the Beatles. A true genius on many levels. Great reaction, Harri.! BTW, I defy you to find a single self-penned Dylan song that doesn't awaken something inside you. Many are true master Pieces. Let me know if you want a few suggestions - many of which you will probably have never heard.
Great catch! Highway 61 came first. Old Brown Shoe was latter written by George Harrison who famously had a man-crush on Dylan--they worked together on The Traveling Wilburys.
Hari, I really like your channel. Bob was great. Amazing at his best. That's a very good ear to hear a similarity to Old Brown Shoe. Harrison, who wrote OBS, was of course a big Dylan fan, so maybe he did unconsciously pick up on something there. I don't believe that Bob got much flack because of this song. To put it into context, the Beatles were considered to be teeny-boppers at that stage of their career, whereas Dylan specifically and folk/protest music in general was considered to be closer to real art. Dylan could therefore get away with things at that stage that the Beatles couldn't have. Dylan wrote serious songs about racism, starvation and murder. Plus, Lennon's Christ comments came across as though he were bragging.
Nice work. Of course, Mr Dylan's song was before Mr Harrison's. Both good. They were great mates and did plenty of stuff together. These tunes and chords roll around and around in time. Like they get handed down from one to the next and find new inspiration. Mr Dylan is such a brilliant music man. His melodies take you places. Not just the lyrics, it needs to sound good too.
Highway 61 was just a highway in the area where Bob grew up he said that one time in an interview which was rare. I don't remember any question's raised about this song back when he did have some that they wouldn't play due to content.
I well remember Dylan's 1978 concert at Western Springs, Auckland, where at one point he announced "I'd like to say 'Hi and hello' to the Highway 61 motorcycle club.", members of which were in the audience. "Club" isn't exactly the word to describe Highway 61, they being one of the country's largest and most notorious gangs! As late as 2010, they still held that position and may continue to do so, though other gangs have grabbed more headlines of late. I'm not sure if the gang took their name from Dylan's song or from the highway itself.
I really enjoy all of your reactions to Bob Dylan,you give such insightful thoughts for a first listen. Keep up the great work and hopefully you keep reacting to Bob Dylan and maybe Warren Zevon too. Great lyricist's !
U.S. Route 61 or U.S. Highway 61 (U.S. 61) is a major United States highway that extends 1,400 miles (2,300 km) between New Orleans, Louisiana and the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. Highway 61 is often called the Blues Highway because of its long history in blues music; Part of the route lies on the Mississippi Blues Trail and is denoted by markers in Vicksburg and Tunica.It is also the subject of numerous musical works, and the route inspired the album Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan.
