I've been a devotee of Dylan since 1965 when I discovered The Freewheelin'
Bob Dylan album (which came out in 1963). I've always loved the caterwaulic
quality in his voice, it sounded real as opposed to artifice, but of course
it was just a much artifice as Johnny Mathis's voice. I didn't know that
until he came out with Nashville Skyline with a reinvented his voice. And
in Love and Theft he presents yet another. The main reason I fell in love
with Dylan was the The Freewheelin' album cover. He looked so protest poet
perfect walking down that snow covered New York Street in his brown suede
jacket with a beautiful woman on his arm. "Oh, yeah," I said, "that's me!"
It was probably about 20 years later before I saw in him concert here in
Memphis and realized just how me he was -- he's a short dude!! Us short
guys gotta stick together. You know how it is.
Mike Geary very short on time in Memphis
For any fan of Bob Dylan, indeed, for anyone who wonders WHY the allegiance has been so unflagging, why soooo many people booed for a few years in the '60s and why even today, people revere the man most people just call "Dylan", I would HIGHLY suggest Martin Scorsese's new documentary about Robert Zimmerman.
I watched it yesterday afternoon (it's about 3:25) and could NOT hit the pause button -- it's available on DVD already. I was never really a big Dylan fan. I couldn't get past the fact that, while his lyrics were pure poetry, his style was completely 'other' than musical (for my personal taste in music). After watching the disks, I have only four things to say:
1) Bob Dylan, of anyone EVER, was in the right place at the right time
2) He was a better poet than I had previously thought
3) He absolutely deserves the adoration that he even today enjoys
4) He is one of the best inteviewees I've ever seen. I could listen to him talk for hours. He's cryptically crystal clear.
I'm still not a fan of Dylan's music, but I am certainly a fan of Bob.
paul
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