I was born in 1954 and too young to understand the whole thing. As an adult I have enjoyed Dylan's music. All I can say is the Nobel Prize in Literature speaks volumes.
Grew up in RI and I remember the brouhaha over Dylan’s appearance at the Newport Folk Festival. From folks I’ve spoken with, Dylan (or maybe his publicist?) has mythologized that appearance. Fans were disoriented by the electric guitar but the big disappointment was only four songs were played. I find it interesting that people are discovering Phil Ochs’ music (Dylan derisively called Ochs a journalist) during these dark times. It would’ve thrilled Phil to know his songs still had meaning.
Aw thanks. Wow, I keep learning new things about your many talents. Isn't that nice? As for your question, I think that today there's more of a tendency to judge on the basis of marketability rather than genius. It's fascinating that Columbia Records gave a very big contract to a folk singer with a gravel voice who wasn't remotely handsome. They saw something deep within and decided to promote it. No I don't think that would happen today.
“Whether a mouthpiece or not, he was a genius, one who had the good fortune to live in a time when genius could still be recognised, cultivated, recorded, and appreciated.” - do you think in our times, that’s not true any longer? This was a great read on a topic I honestly knew nothing about. Have to say, Dylan was “a thing” before I had any interest in music that wasn’t written for piano. Most of the 60’s and early 70’s passed me right by as I was working hard to become either a concert pianist or an opera singer. Well, yes, neither of those happened, and I went into the US Army for the next years with a degree in European History, speaking quite a few languages (learned because of Opera). I sang in choirs for many years and occasionally had the soprano solos in various pieces, and I played organ for chapels and churches, but overall I became less and less involved in classical music and started listening to the radio. When I heard Bob Dylan for the first time, I wasn’t particularly impressed. It wasn’t until the 2000’s that I’ve spent any time learning about the history of rock/pop/folk/gospel and you know, I find that I can enjoy listening to just about anything including rap and hiphop and I quite like Queen Latifah. But still, wasn’t at all sure about Bob Dylan. However after this essay, I’m going to go find some Bob Dylan and really listen and see what I think.
I was born in 1954 and too young to understand the whole thing. As an adult I have enjoyed Dylan's music. All I can say is the Nobel Prize in Literature speaks volumes.
Grew up in RI and I remember the brouhaha over Dylan’s appearance at the Newport Folk Festival. From folks I’ve spoken with, Dylan (or maybe his publicist?) has mythologized that appearance. Fans were disoriented by the electric guitar but the big disappointment was only four songs were played. I find it interesting that people are discovering Phil Ochs’ music (Dylan derisively called Ochs a journalist) during these dark times. It would’ve thrilled Phil to know his songs still had meaning.
Yes, Ochs was a sensitive soul. Such a sad story.
Aw thanks. Wow, I keep learning new things about your many talents. Isn't that nice? As for your question, I think that today there's more of a tendency to judge on the basis of marketability rather than genius. It's fascinating that Columbia Records gave a very big contract to a folk singer with a gravel voice who wasn't remotely handsome. They saw something deep within and decided to promote it. No I don't think that would happen today.
“Whether a mouthpiece or not, he was a genius, one who had the good fortune to live in a time when genius could still be recognised, cultivated, recorded, and appreciated.” - do you think in our times, that’s not true any longer? This was a great read on a topic I honestly knew nothing about. Have to say, Dylan was “a thing” before I had any interest in music that wasn’t written for piano. Most of the 60’s and early 70’s passed me right by as I was working hard to become either a concert pianist or an opera singer. Well, yes, neither of those happened, and I went into the US Army for the next years with a degree in European History, speaking quite a few languages (learned because of Opera). I sang in choirs for many years and occasionally had the soprano solos in various pieces, and I played organ for chapels and churches, but overall I became less and less involved in classical music and started listening to the radio. When I heard Bob Dylan for the first time, I wasn’t particularly impressed. It wasn’t until the 2000’s that I’ve spent any time learning about the history of rock/pop/folk/gospel and you know, I find that I can enjoy listening to just about anything including rap and hiphop and I quite like Queen Latifah. But still, wasn’t at all sure about Bob Dylan. However after this essay, I’m going to go find some Bob Dylan and really listen and see what I think.