#38 Bob Dylan, 'Blonde on Blonde' (1966)
Previously #9
And the first drop out of the Top 10. This incarnation of the list is a rollercoaster of emotions. Following Dylan’s infamous controversial gig at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival (the one where he controversially played electric guitar), Dylan was in the market for a new band. On the recommendation of John Hammond Jr, the son of Columbia Records executive who had signed him (and later Springsteen), Dylan hired Levon and The Hawks, a group of musicians soon to be known simply as The Band. ‘Blonde On Blonde’ was the third in a trilogy of Rock albums that Dylan had release, the first two being ‘Bringing It All Back Home’ (#181) and ‘Highway 61 Revisited’.
The album opens with yet another controversial move by Dylan, the song ‘Rainy Day Women No. 12 & 35’ sounds like a “demented marching band,” according to author, Andy Gill. Featuring the iconic refrain, “Everybody must get stoned,’ Dylan knew a song with this title would be banned, rather giving it its more vague title. Moving into the Bluesy ‘Pledging My Time,’ before giving us the lovely ‘Visions Of Johanna;’ “Ain't it just like the night to play tricks when you're tryin' to be so quiet?/We sit here stranded, though we're all doin' our best to deny it.” Dylan just has a way with words like no other. A true poet in every sense of the word. ‘One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later),’ the recounting of a burned out relationship closes side 1 of the double album. Side 2 opens with ‘I Want You,’ another classic Dylan tune packed with a motley cast of characters. This record continues to give and give with each song; ‘Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again,’ ‘Just Like A Woman,’ ‘Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine’ and ‘Absolutely Sweet Marie’ are amongst my favourites. The record is a mix of Blues, Rock and a typically Nashville sound. Bob Dylan has released so many incredible albums over his 50+ year career, but this is amongst the very best putting him in the upper echelon of the best songwriters of all time. It closes with the 11 minute ‘Sad-Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands,’ the sole track of side 4, it’s a song that gently takes us towards the finish line.
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