"Highway 61 Revisited" by Bob Dylan
"Highway 61 Revisited" is Bob Dylan's sixth studio album and a seminal work in his career.
"Highway 61 Revisited" by Bob Dylan
Release Date: August 30, 1965
Recording Location: Columbia Recording Studio A, New York City
Producer: Bob Johnston
Historical Context:
Released in 1965, this album marked Dylan's full transition from folk music to electric rock, a move that initially polarized his audience but ultimately solidified his place in music history. The title references the iconic Highway 61, which runs from Dylan's home state of Minnesota down to New Orleans, a route deeply embedded in the blues tradition. This highway's symbolic connection to American music history underlines the album's exploration of social and personal themes through a rock and blues lens.
The recording sessions for "Highway 61 Revisited" were split into two main periods. The first session in June 1965 produced the groundbreaking single "Like a Rolling Stone," which became a major hit and set the tone for the rest of the album. After performing an electric set at the Newport Folk Festival in July 1965—a performance that famously received a mixed reaction—Dylan returned to the studio with a new producer, Bob Johnston, to complete the album in early August.
You can listen to this album on YouTube.
Musicians:
- Bob Dylan – Guitar, Harmonica, Piano
- Mike Bloomfield – Guitar
- Al Kooper – Organ, Piano
- Paul Griffin – Piano, Organ
- Bobby Gregg – Drums
- Harvey Goldstein – Bass
- Charley McCoy – Guitar
- Frank Owens – Piano
- Russ Savakus – Bass【38†source】【39†source】.
Track Listing:
Side One:
1. "Like a Rolling Stone" – A six-minute track that revolutionized rock music with its complex lyrics and electric sound. It describes a fall from grace, capturing the essence of alienation and disillusionment.
2. "Tombstone Blues" – A rapid-fire blues rock song with surreal lyrics, featuring a driving rhythm and a blend of political and social commentary.
3. "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" – A slower blues tune with reflective lyrics, emphasizing the weariness of the journey.
4. "From a Buick 6" – A hard-hitting, blues-based track with raw guitar riffs and energetic vocals.
5. "Ballad of a Thin Man" – Known for its haunting organ riff and enigmatic lyrics, it critiques the cluelessness of those who fail to understand the changing cultural landscape.
Side Two:
1. "Queen Jane Approximately" – A melodic track that blends rock with folk elements, addressing themes of change and disillusionment.
2. "Highway 61 Revisited" – The title track, featuring a whimsical and biblical storytelling style set to a rock beat, highlighting the absurdity of modern life.
3. "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" – A melancholic song with a lyrical narrative about escapism and existential crises, set to a haunting melody.
4. "Desolation Row" – An eleven-minute epic that closes the album with a stream-of-consciousness narrative, weaving various characters and scenarios into a tapestry of despair and disillusionment.
"Highway 61 Revisited" stands as a landmark in Dylan's discography and in rock music history, blending poetic lyricism with rock and blues influences to create a timeless and influential work.
