Bob Dylan – A first listen

Somehow, I’ve made it into my 30s without ever having listened to Bob Dylan‘s first album. That is, not that I can remember; my mother informed me over the weekend that I indeed heard it many times as a young one, but truth be told I don’t remember much from my diaper-wearing days (but we’ve already gone over how terrible my memory is).

In honor of the March 1962 release of Dylan’s eponymous album, I’d like to share my first-listen experience with you. Click on the song titles to listen to previews on Dylan’s website. Share your own impressions of Dylan’s first album in the comments – when did you first hear it?  What did you think of it?

The First Two Tracks

“You’re No Good” by Jesse Fuller: Whoa. What’s happening with that harmonica? I’m pretty sure we just briefly entered the realm of polytonality. Not necessarily complaining.

“Talkin’ New York” by Bob Dylan: This pretty much sums up my first year in NYC (brrr that was a cold winter)

Moving on

“In My Time of Dyin’” arr. Dylan: This is more to my liking, a moany, bendy blues tune. Dylan can really sing! This must be where the White Stripes got the inspiration for their sound.

“Man of Constant Sorrow” arr. Dylan: We switch to a major key, but Dylan’s soaring voice makes it sound, well, sorrowful. Ooo and I like that overlong harmonica note that’s mimicking his voice.

“Fixin’ to Die” by Bukka White: More gritty vocals, Dylan seems to be trying to embody the grim lyrics with his vocal chords.

We Hit the Middle

“Pretty Peggy-O” arr. Dylan: Your standard upbeat tune about a girl with yellow hair who runs away.

“Highway 51 “: I like the recurring syncopated chord-pattern, I hear in it the nascent cries of heavy metal.

“Gospel Plow” arr. Dylan: Heart attack harmonica playing! I always wondered how harmonica players can play those super fast rhythms without passing out in the middle of the song.

“Baby, Let Me Follow You Down” arr. Eric von Schmidt:  Cute story at the beginning about meeting Schmidt in the green pastures of Harvard University. This is the most pop-rock-sounding song on the album so far.

Pulling into the Station

“House of the Risin’ Sun” arr. Dave Van Ronk: The only song on the album I recognize (but as recorded by The Animals). I love this song, and Dylan brings out the lamenting bass line expertly.

“Freight Train Blues” arr. Roy Acuff: Crazy gear change as we veer off into harmonica hyper-drive again. Aw, he’s imitating a train whistle when he sings “bluuuues”. Ow, ok, enough!

“Song to Woody” by Bob Dylan: It’s amazing how differently he sings when he’s singing his own songs. Much more intimate tone, really touching, confessional song.

“See That My Grave Is Kept Clean” by Blind Lemon Jefferson: Back to the gruff vocals, he actually sounds like an old man singing this.

What was I doing at the tender age of 20? Certainly nothing that some scrappy blogger would want to write about 51 years later. Cheers, Mr. Dylan.