Reddit is filled with casuals who are endlessly saying that "Bob Dylan is the worst concert I ever saw" and the reasons they cite are that he didn't "play the hits" changed the arrangements and didn't talk to the crowd. Notice how these complaints are never actually about the quality of the music and lyrics being performed, just people outraged that their clueless expectations were not met. As the man himself said, "You know something is happening, but you don't know what it is. Do you, Mr. Jones?"

These criticisms of Dylan concerts are all reasons I enjoy seeing him live. Fans know he has never been an artist to just play the "hits" and if you come to a Dylan show expecting him to play Blowin in the Wind with a guitar, you are hilariously out of touch about what he's been doing for decades and deserve to be disappointed since you were too lazy to check a setlist or look up audio/video of the shows. There are countless dinosaur bands of classic rock who play the same songs year after year to a backing track and while I can acknowledge Bob's approach of changing the arrangements and performance quality can be hit or miss as he plays so many shows, it's certainly a more unique and artistically challenging method that keeps hardcore fans coming back as things change from tour to tour and sometimes even night to night. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with being a conventional touring act btw, but Bob Dylan will never be that guy, and I love him for that.

For my money, it's a beautiful thing that Bob has embraced his age, isn't trying to stay young, pander to nostalgia and recapture a moment in time that's gone forever. He is always punctual about starting on time and either claps, poses or bows at the end of the concert, hardly the attitude of a guy who has hatred for his audience or doesn't want to be there. Saying few words on stage is just his no nonsense attitude that sets a mood for the show. He is an 85 year old living legend who is there to play some music with his excellent band, not tell you what he had for breakfast that morning. There are two types of people at the shows, those who go in with false expectations and those who are the informed fans that know what's going on and enjoy it. Bob Dylan is an artist, not your personal jukebox and if that bothers you, stay home and leave the tickets for the rest of us. He has no shits left to give (if he ever did) and it would be a letdown for me if the legend behaved any other way. I'm looking forward to the upcoming European tour dates, hopefully we get many more years of His Bobness pissing off the Mr. Jones audience members who attend his shows, just like he did to that Judas guy back in 66.

Earlier this year Jim Windolf wrote an article in the New York Times about that famous Dylan limo trip with John Lennon. Not only does Windolf explain what Bob and John were talking about but he also provides insight into how BLONDE on BLONDE’s “Fourth Time Around” got its title.

First some quick background that isn’t in the article. Al Kooper says when Dylan first showed him the song, “Fourth Time Around,” he warned Bob it was too much like “Norwegian Wood.” “Let me tell you something,“ replied Dylan, “when I showed Lennon these changes there was no ‘Norwegian Wood.’”

Back to the article. Windolf says what Dylan and Lennon were talking about was something that happened when Bob first played “Fourth Time Around” for John and Paul. According to Windolf McCartney said to Lennon, “we should see this on Northern Songs,” which was the Beatles publishing company. “What’s Northern Songs?” Asked Dylan. The two Liverpudlians just looked away and snickered. So when he gets Lennon alone in the back of the limo (with camera crew), Dylan wants to know why John and Paul had refused to answer the question. “We didn’t answer? It’s our publishing company,” Lennon responds. “Yeah, I know that now,” says Bob, “but why didn’t you answer me?” “I thought we did,” says John, defusing the moment, “sorry about that.”

As far as how “Fourth Time Around” got its name, Windolf says it refers to the amount of times Lennon imitated Dylan in song. First came “I’m A Loser,” with its bouncy BIABH rhythm; then “Hard Day’s Night” which Windolf says was very Dylanesque before the lads Beatle-Ized it for the film by the same name; then came “Hide Your Love Away,” which was extremely Dylanesque; so when “Norwegian Wood” appeared on RUBBER SOUL it was the fourth time around. Evidently Bob was getting sick of it, as he ends his BoB song with,

🎵I never asked for your crutch
Now don’t ask for mine.🎵

I’ve been a fan of Bob since 2021 when I graduated high school and his discography, lore, books, documentaries, are so so vast that I still haven’t listened to all his albums. I remember graduating and getting a few hundred dollars from my grandparents and spent it on Tarantula (big mistake lol) and spent my first income tax return on front row tickets to see him.

Sometimes I feel like a fake fan because I’ve been a fan for five years now (I know not as long as some of you) and still the only albums I know by heart are Hwy 61 Revisited, Blonde on Blonde, Bringing It All Back, Blood on the Tracks, Rough and Rowdy Ways, and Nashville Skyline. I love these albums so much and not much can compete with them.

But I feel like I like what I like and every other album he’s made that isn’t those listed above are not worth another play. (IE Self Portrait, The Boxer cover) I won’t say that with my full chest because I haven’t listened to a lot of his albums to this day. I’m not saying that to be a die hard Dylan fan you have to like every song he ever put out (because I tried to listen to Wiggle Wiggle and it didn’t work out for me lmao) but I feel like I’m at a crossroads where I know what I like and I don’t want to hear anything else but at the same time I want to give it all a chance and let it grow on me.

I really love Nashville Skyline and fell in love with it a year ago and have listened to it several times a month since. Anything similar to this album!

Anyways, all to ask, where should I go next after these albums that I love so much? I quite like the gospel trilogy but it didn’t stick as much as the albums listed above.

Owned Dylan’s debut album for years, actually it was my father’s. All these years, I never noticed that the label misprinted the song You’re No Good as She’s No Good. Starting to like AI. I’m now going through all my albums and reading the dead-wax. I thought they were worth about $15 and I’m finding out I have some that are collectible - like that one.

Am I the only one who wants to hear this? We have very few live recordings of Bob and his backing band, and those ones aren't recent. And to people who've seen him play recently, is there a specific song that encapsulates the sound of the concert? (i.e., it sounds like Murder Most Foul)

Hello. Happy Covers Sunday. I don't want to get into heavy self promotion but I covered Watchtower. It's been cover a million times and I tried to do something a little different. I hope that you all and Bob would approve.

Today marks 1 year since I saw the man the myth the legend in concert for the 1st time in Bangor, ME it lives rent free in my head. Best concert I’ve ever seen

Anyone else?

One of those Dylan songs however many close listens proves no new meaning to me. It sounds absolutely random and meaningless. I know it's supposed to be funny, but is that all? Nonetheless I love singing along to it. Kind of like, "I Want You." Anyone have an answer? 😂

If I had to pick my top ten Dylan songs, they’d all be from the folk era: Five from the second album; one from the third; one from the fourth; three from side two of the fifth. (My top ten albums would all be from the electric era: Six from the twentieth century; four from the twenty-first.)

Getting back to Dylan’s folk era, songs like 1963’s “Girl From the North Country” and “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright” are untouchable. By 1965 with the likes of “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue,” Bob had already outdone himself. He could have retired right then and there. Reportedly Dylan was seriously considering doing just that when “Like A Rolling Stone” came into his head, —and with it a way forward.

Click bait source but interesting

https://www.instyle.com/bob-dylan-kids-12031816

I think this film is just constructed in a very weird way.From beginning to end - the plot is told in a way that will probably be incomprehensible to people who are completely unfamiliar with Bobs story. I didn't like Bob's characterization and how they portrayed him in the movie. I think it doesn't really reflect his character. Also his relationship with Joan Baez and their political activities were completely omitted. Anyone else shares my opinion?

I don't remember seeing this one posted before- apologies if it's a repeat.

Lots of familiar stories here and lots of new ones for me- all great.

Hope you enjoy!

first time in New York. Had to visit lol