Admittedly...this is the first Dylan album I've listen to from end-to-end. And it's beautiful.
Wearing earbuds that silence the outside noise relatively well, I'm currently listening to The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan as I write this post. For those of you who don't know, it's Dylan's second release, issued on May 27, 1963. It also marks a major step for Dylan in writing is own music: of the thirteen songs on the album, eleven of them are original.
To start: the album cover. This iconic image of Dylan and his then-girlfriend, Suze Rotolo, reminds us that amongst the songs about the "Masters of War", there are songs of love and peace.
There's probably not much original I can write about Dylan, so I'm going to be clear that my intention in this post is not to be revolutionary, but to share my experiences in what I hear listening to his music.
The simple honesty of Dylan's music is what captures me as I listen to his writing. And of course, the fact that he is known as an iconic political musician of his time adds to the depth of the music. He speaks to a wide range of issues on the album. "Girl from the North Country" takes some of the familiar refrain from "Scarborough Fair". But that's stating the obvious.
"Masters of War" is the first politically-charged anti-war song, which carries momentum and determination. It's an accusatory warning to the powers of war. But after the structured sound of "Masters of War" finishes, Dylan relaxes into "Down the Highway", which highlights him being lost and alone while Suze Rotolo was in Italy studying Art.
What's unique about the album is how personal it is. I feel like I'm literally getting a snapshot into 1963 Bob Dylan's life and mind (which I really am). But this kind of honest, articulate, story-telling is not commonly heard in contemporary music - at least not in the same way.
"A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is the next song on the album that really sinks in with me when I listen to it. And as it turns out, from what I've been reading, it really resonated with fans at the time, in particular after John F. Kennedy warned the Soviet Union over their nuclear missiles in Cuba, which was just one month after Dylan first played the tune live. The length of the song distinguishes itself from the other albums on the track. It's almost like their are chapters within the song - movements of music and lyric, or verses of poetry that depict different experiences - mostly bleak, and a few beautiful. But the images have clarity and transport us to each of these vignettes instantly. It's almost self-explanatory, as though Dylan is telling about his experiences of the world and what he plans to do about it: "And I'll tell it and think it and speak it breathe it / And reflect from the mountain so all souls can see it". Doesn't that seem to encapsulate what we know of Dylan's music?
So I think I'll end this post here - not because I don't want to comment on the rest of the album, but because I think "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is a perfect summary of Dylan's writing and how the album is a mouthpiece for his experiences.
I feel lucky to finally experience one of his albums in full and gain a better appreciation for his music. I would really love to hear your thoughts about The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, so please share below.
Enjoy, music fans...
#97 - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (Bob Dylan)
by 14783513 |
Admittedly...this is the first Dylan album I've listen to from end-to-end. And it's beautiful.
Wearing earbuds that silence the outside noise relatively well, I'm currently listening to The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan as I write this post. For those of you who don't know, it's Dylan's second release, issued on May 27, 1963. It also marks a major step for Dylan in writing is own music: of the thirteen songs on the album, eleven of them are original.
To start: the album cover. This iconic image of Dylan and his then-girlfriend, Suze Rotolo, reminds us that amongst the songs about the "Masters of War", there are songs of love and peace.
There's probably not much original I can write about Dylan, so I'm going to be clear that my intention in this post is not to be revolutionary, but to share my experiences in what I hear listening to his music.
The simple honesty of Dylan's music is what captures me as I listen to his writing. And of course, the fact that he is known as an iconic political musician of his time adds to the depth of the music. He speaks to a wide range of issues on the album. "Girl from the North Country" takes some of the familiar refrain from "Scarborough Fair". But that's stating the obvious.
"Masters of War" is the first politically-charged anti-war song, which carries momentum and determination. It's an accusatory warning to the powers of war. But after the structured sound of "Masters of War" finishes, Dylan relaxes into "Down the Highway", which highlights him being lost and alone while Suze Rotolo was in Italy studying Art.
What's unique about the album is how personal it is. I feel like I'm literally getting a snapshot into 1963 Bob Dylan's life and mind (which I really am). But this kind of honest, articulate, story-telling is not commonly heard in contemporary music - at least not in the same way.
"A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is the next song on the album that really sinks in with me when I listen to it. And as it turns out, from what I've been reading, it really resonated with fans at the time, in particular after John F. Kennedy warned the Soviet Union over their nuclear missiles in Cuba, which was just one month after Dylan first played the tune live. The length of the song distinguishes itself from the other albums on the track. It's almost like their are chapters within the song - movements of music and lyric, or verses of poetry that depict different experiences - mostly bleak, and a few beautiful. But the images have clarity and transport us to each of these vignettes instantly. It's almost self-explanatory, as though Dylan is telling about his experiences of the world and what he plans to do about it: "And I'll tell it and think it and speak it breathe it / And reflect from the mountain so all souls can see it". Doesn't that seem to encapsulate what we know of Dylan's music?
So I think I'll end this post here - not because I don't want to comment on the rest of the album, but because I think "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is a perfect summary of Dylan's writing and how the album is a mouthpiece for his experiences.
I feel lucky to finally experience one of his albums in full and gain a better appreciation for his music. I would really love to hear your thoughts about The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, so please share below.
Enjoy, music fans...
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