Highway 61 Revisited

5 star

I apologize for being prejudiced towards Bob Dylan (Robert Zimmerman). I think he's a genius!

"How does it feel?" Amazing, that's how it feels. I find it difficult to write about one of the greatest wordsmiths of all time. Let's just say, this is one of those albums that lights my darkness and restores my faith in the human soul. "And the only sound that's left After the ambulances go Is Cinderella sweeping up On Desolation Row." Thank you, Bob.

Where to start? An album which opens with one of THE great songs, the iconic moment when Dylan went electric, and closes with one of the most incredible. I still remember when I first heard 'Like A Rolling Stone'. A wet bank holiday when I was about 16. Radio 1 counting down the best 100 songs voted for by listeners, it was about number 5 and Stairway to Heaven number 1. Times have changed but it still sounds incredible, music and words coming together so perfectly. Words words words! Does any album on the list have more words than this! It's poetry but not babbling brooks, open skies, hearts and flowers. It's urban poetry of characters and chaos, it's so evocative and often bizarre but Dylan creates a world in each song. 'Desolation Row' is remarkable. An 11 minute journey through New York - maybe? So many characters, so many names, he ambles all over the place, it's often surreal but it works. Musically a track this long heading in one direction could get dull but it never does for me. The strumming is fine but the lead acoustic guitar flourishes add such beauty and contrast, elevating the whole thing. Funny to think that My Chemical Romance introduced me to this song 15 years ago! The tracks between are fascinating, full of characters and brilliant words, often bluesy and downtrodden. 'Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues', 'It Takes a Lot To Laugh' and 'Tombstone Blues' are probably my favourites but they are all growing on me. It's so imaginative and compelling, I can't wait to hear what he's going to sing next. But nothing matches the iconic opener, when Dylan went electric, and the fantastic closer. I want to give this 9/10 but that's not an option and who am I to round Bob Dylan down? Even The Beatles looked up to him! It's easy to hear why.

Yes

His voice is so classic and unique. Nothing like it. Beautiful album.

Truly the greatest singer-songwriter of all time, in my opinion, and this album is a reminder of why that’s true.

Bob Dylan at his apex, his peak. His craft and vision are second to none.

Este disco marca un antes y un después en la historia del rock. ¿Bob Dylan pasándose a la guitarra eléctrica? Parecía algo imposible antes de "Like a Rolling Stone". Ganándose el odio de muchos y el aprecio de millones más, Dylan pasa al panteón de las leyendas, traspasando géneros y ampliando su influencia sobre la construcción lírica de la cuna de la industria musical que conocemos hoy por hoy. Todos querían ser Dylan ¿Por qué? Porque en esencia es un poeta y todos buscan el clamor de la crítica. Nadie lo podía hacer como Zimmerman y creo que pocos han llegado tan alto como el con tan poco como 6 cuerdas, una voz rasposa y una buena pluma. Completamente recomendable y probablemente, el disco más fácil de consumir del legendario astro. Tanto así que recomendaría partir por este si se requiere entrar en su catálogo.

The album when Bob Dylan became Bob FUCKING Dylan. I'm sure Elizabeth Nelson (seriously, look her up) could put together a lengthy paean to how damned solid and sordid and angry and odd this piece of work is, but it's art. Tombstone Blues is just a damned banger. As for the rest, well, it's famous for a reason.

Brilliant. His best.

First of all I don't really see how people think Dylan can't sing, I mean he quite clearly could at this point in his career, the vocals on these tracks are fine. You might not like his style, but that doesn't mean he can't sing. Anyway moan over, this is classic and showcases his evolution away from more simple and folky arrangements into using more electronic guitars/drums etc. Like A Rolling Stone might be the greatest rock song ever and the rest is great too. No other songwriter has ever penned lyrics as great as Dylan could in the 60s

A folk rock classic. Arguably the framework for the genre as a whole. Incredible album front to back…and still only Dylan’s THIRD best

I love the imagery, the word play and the story telling in his lyrics. While Ballad of a Thin Man wasn't a favorite, I like that I could put this on and enjoy the whole album. I love classic Dylan and this is just one of many.

I was a little young for Bob Dylan’s music but he definitely made a mark with his cultural observations about race, class and gender. I appreciate his song lyrics much more as I age.

I wasn’t sure I wanted to see him. His concerts were infamous by now, where he was known to be as cantankerous as Miles, playing with his back to the audience and with an air of irritation for the audience… that would piss me off if I paid good money for the live experience. But I made a promise to myself that after the pandemic, I was going on a personal vision quest to see as many musical icons perform live as I could, because if there’s any lessons learned from COVID it’s that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and many things in life won’t happen unless you manifest it and take passionate action. So, I traveled for shows to see McCartney, Elton, Eagles, Springsteen… amazing experiences all. Then I got an alert Dylan was playing an intimate, country fair type outdoor show in Grand Junction, a full performance of his new album Rough and Rowdy Ways played in its entirety. $500 for front row tickets…🙄🙄… but what if we get “Bad Dylan”, especially since he’s now 80 yrs old? Begrudgingly I buy a ticket…and the concert was one of the best of my life! He was transcendent; we didn’t get “Good Dylan”, we got “Amazing Dylan”; I’m so glad I told the chance. The couple next to me were Dylan superfans; seen him 50 times over the years including legendary performances from his first heyday in the 60s, and their experienced feedback was that we were blessed that night… it sure felt like it; the whole evening was like a sweet dream. And as usual, a great live performance led me to doing a discography deep dive… a bit intimidating with Dylan because there’s so much music to go through, but years later I’m STILL wrestling with Dylan’s music, and loving the journey. I’ve come to the idea that Dylan is the Ying to The Beatles, and specifically Paul McCartney’s Yang: where The Beatles and Paul took the I-IV-V foundational framework of rock that comes from the primal beginnings of R&B and Blues and pushed from there to the future, Dylan started with the same primordial soup and rather than look forward, he’s always been looking back to continue mining those beginnings for remaining unlocked beauty still waiting to be tapped. With his brilliant songwriting and a penchant for connecting with his idols like Jimmy Reed, Odetta and primarily Woody Guthrie, it’s clear why he was considered a “new voice of a generation” when he came out of NY’s folk scene in the sixties. His albums, and the subject matter he covers, are like Kerouac novels, rewarding listeners that dive into them like a favorite book. Let’s just say I’m SO happy I decided to take a chance and see an 80-year-old Dylan perform and we got “Great Dylan” that night… I still smile when I think about moments from that show… the man contains multitudes for sure.

Awful - 1/5, only one good song

Bob plugged in and music was forever changed

A classic Dylan album, not a bad song on the whole thing. Stand out tracks: - Like a rolling stone - Tomestone blue - It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry - Ballad of thin man - Queen Jane approximately - Desolation row - Highway 61 Revisited

Oh, this was great. I had the day off, so I got high and listened to this and loved it. It didn’t used to be, but it’s now in the pantheon with Blonde on Blonde and Blood on the Tracks.

Edit: What a terrible fucking take. Wtf was I thinking? I gave this a 4 originally. I love Bob Dylan and even enjoy his voice. His lyricism and songwriting is second to none, but Highway 61 does have some of his more meandering songs in Ballad of a Thin Man and Desolation Row. I love those songs, but they go on a little long. Like a Rolling Stone is a top 10 song of all time. Overall great album that is maybe 10 minutes too long.

This was part of that perfect run of albums that Bob Dylan had from May 1963 to June 1966 that included The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, The Times They Are A-changin', Another Side of Bob Dylan, Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, and Blonde on Blonde. We listened to Blonde on Blonde a little over a week ago. And I wish we'd listened to Highway 61 before that: not just because it comes first chronologically. But also because Highway 61 kinda pales next to Blonde on Blonde. But regardless, Highway 61 Revisited is a fabulous album on its own merits. It has Like a Rolling Stone, which is probably Dylan's most important song. This is also the Dylan album that Mike Bloomfield plays on. And we get treated to lots of his frantic guitar bursts throughout. There's rollicking fun in Tombstone Blues, Queen Jane Approximately, and Highway 61 Revisited (who decided to include the fireman's whistle in Highway 61? It is genius). There's the moody minor key Ballad of a Thin Man. For the acoustic Dylan acolytes, there's the eleven-minute Desolation Row, closing out the album. As far as the early batch of electric Dylan albums go, I prefer Blonde on Blonde, and the first side of Bringing It All Back Home, over Highway 61 Revisited. But I love Bob Dylan; and that entire six album run from 1963-1966 are all five-star albums for me. Highway 61 is still essential listening.

Tras su primera incursión eléctrica en Bringing It All Back Home, su disco anterior, Dylan se explaya en su primer largo totalmente electrificado en el que graba una colección de canciones imprescindibles en la historia del rock. Siempre será el disco del épico temazo "Like a Rolling Stone", pero también de canciones que van desde el folk-rock pensante de "Desolation Row" (una visión distópica de un mundo sombrío de soledad y alienación en el que los hombres buscan sin descanso el significado de la vida) a temas más bluseros entre los que destaca para mi gusto "Ballad of a Thin Man" (una canción que nos habla de los sentimientos de alienación y confusión de su protagonista, Mr. Jones, advirtiendo contra el conformismo y llamando a desafiar al "establishment"). Además de estos temas me gusta el rock callejero de "Highway 61 Revisited" (otro temazo en el que la autopista 61, al igual que hiciera el poeta Jorge Manrique con los ríos, se convierte en una metáfora de la vida) y "Tombstone Blues" (un tema muy social en el que Dylan habla de desigualdad, injusticia y desesperación en un mundo caótico donde los gobernantes menosprecian a la gente en su lucha por encontrar un lugar en el mundo).

Holy shit

Perfect album. Perfect. Nothing to add more to what has already been said a lot!

I would listen to a whole album of Ballad of a Thin Man verses. Keep em coming Bob.

If you know anything about me, you'll know I'm quite partial to Bob Dylan and his expansive catalog. He is by far my most listened to artist recently. Though honestly, Highway 61 isn't my favorite of his albums, it would be my favorite from 99% of all other artists. Just literally the coolest album of all time. No matter how many times I listen I always find it so incredibly charming and intricate. Some of Dylan's best songwriting here, especially on songs like Ballad of a Thin Man and obviously, Like a Rolling Stone. Not a moment is wasted here, and it makes for one of the best records of the 1960s. The fact that he released Bringing it All Back Home AND this album within a single year shows how incredibly talented he is.

A musical changing of the guard. When rock n roll became something to be taken seriously.

This & Blonde on Blonde are my favorite Dylan albums. And I like a lot of Dylan albums. He’s our Wordsmith Laureate and then some. Every time I listen it could be like I’m listening for the first time. Excellent.

As much a poet as a song writer. It is easy to see why so many budding song writers of the 60's/70's drew inspiration from Dylan

Not his best work but not (very much not) his worst!

Already heard this before, but why not relisten. If "Bringing It All Back Home" was a bridge from acoustic to electric since that album has a half electric guitar / rock work, and half a singer-songwriter / acoustic guitar side, this album is the full transition from acoustic to electric for Dylan. For me, personally, didn't get why Dylan got backlash for this movement (ok, I get that people liked him as a singer-songwriter acoustic type of musician, even I have an admiration of Dylan's acoustic music, but I don't find a reason to boo Dylan for going electric), because he definitely didn't lose his magic in his voice and lyrics, and of course, dropped this album which is widely considered his best album. This thing is a classic. It's incredible. Its THE Folk Rock album. This is the album that got me into Bob Dylan in the first place. His Lyrics are so fucking amazing, and here's why: well, besides Dylan being a genius writer, the second best part about the lyrics is that they are open to so many interpretations, since the lyrics on this album are very cryptic. Dylan is a poet. What else to say about "Like A Rolling Stone" that hasn't been said before? One of the greatest songs of all time. One of my favorite songs of all time. Lyrics are top, instrumentation is top. This song is incredible, let's just get to the next song. "Tombstone Blues" is a catchy one. Lyrics, again, amazing. I overlooked it upon first listen, why would I do that? I dont know. "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" is an underrated song. "Ballad Of A Thin Man" is a satire of a Mr. Jones, who isn't just a person, rather the press at the time, since Dylan wasn't at the best of terms with the press, and this Mr. Jones is someone who probably isn't up to date with the counter-culture Dylan was a part of at that time. And this track a favorite of mine. "Queen Jane Approximately" is another favorite. The title track also rocks. "Desolation Row" is one of the best songs ever written, period. One of my favorites as well. Overall, a classic of his and for the folk genre. A must listen. One of the most groundbreaking albums to come out of New York. -favorite songs: Like A Rolling Stone (<3), Tombstone Blues, It Takes A Lot To Laugh; It Takes A Train To Cry, Ballad Of A Thin Man (<3), Queen Jane Approximately (<3), the title track, Desolation Row (<3) -least favorite song: Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (still a pretty good song)

every listen i appreciate it a little more. just delightfully strange, chaotic, and out of tune. the lyricism also feels a little less opaque the more i listen, but always a sense of mystery to them. i dunno, i really like this guy and this is one of his tightest albums.

oooh baby i love yuo 5/5

Dylan being Dylan. What's not to like?

Anytime he comes up I am reminded of the Bowie tune, Song For Bob Dylan... \"Oh, hear this Robert Zimmerman I wrote a song for you About a strange young man called Dylan With a voice like sand and glue Some words had truthful vengeance That could pin us to the floor Brought a few more people on And put the fear in a whole lot more\" With a voice like sand and glue, Dylan is a troubadour, songwriter, and above all else a story teller.

Thoughts before listening: One of Dylan's classic electric albums. I just got "Freewheelin Bob Dylan" earlier this week, so it's nice to have this as a counterpart to show the more rock side of his 60s output. This will be another 5-star rating. Review: Yeah. This is about as good as 60s rock gets. I love that Dylan abandoned the folk sound for straight up dirty rock n roll, that at times resembles something more akin to garage punk than the hippie rock of the 60s. Sure there's still some folk rock thrown in for good measure ("Desolation Row"), and the album also starts with a top 10 pop rock song of all time ("Like A Rolling Stone"), but it's the hard rockers that I love the most ("Tombstone Blues" and the title track). Definitely a 5-star album.

electric Dylan, with a complete banger to open

How does it feeeeel?

yeah this one is an all timer to me. in my opinion, this is bob dylan at his peak (maybe a controversial take? maybe not). his songwriting here is top notch. i think this may be his best crop of songs on an album. i also like the sound of this album. it's sort of the midway point between 'bringing it all back home' and 'blonde on blonde' - you sort of get a good feel for where he's going but it's still pretty folky at points. my favorite tracks are the standout, 'like a rolling stone,' as well as, 'ballad of a thin man.' overall, just a great record.

One of the biggest discrepancies between album artwork and music quality. Can we get some kinda re-issue with a less phoned in cover?

Otro clásico. Uno de los discos mejor valorados de todos los tiempos. Dylan eléctrico, en buena compañía por ejemplo de la guitarra de Mike Bloomfield. Like a Rolling Stone es una de las mejores canciones jamás escritas (en buena parte gracias a la inspiración de Al Kooper). Sin embargo escuchar el disco del tirón, con la voz de Dylan, supone un reto para el oyente. Llegar a Desolation row puede suponer una tarea dura porque esa voz no es precisamente el punto fuerte de Dylan. Tombstone blues es un blues acelerado que entra perfectamente después de tan luminosa apertura. It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry es una canción para perderse en ella, con un piano y una armónica excelentes. From a Buick 6 tiene un bajo que cabalga toda la canción mientras la armónica lo acompaña. Ballad of a thin man baja revoluciones pero no el nivel, es un gran tema. Queen Jane approximately resuena a Like a Rolling Stone tanto en el ritmo como vocal e instrumentalmente, eso lejos de ser una crítica es una virtud. Highway 61 revisited sube revoluciones, folk eléctrico de varios quilates. El folk de la costa este se va de viaje al pantanoso blues del sur de Memphis y Nueva Orleans. Just like Tom Thumb blues, es una canción que se puede hacer algo larga por ser algo monótona, pero sirve de puente hacia Desolation Row... más de once minutos de folk eléctrico para cerrar el disco. Ese mismo año Dylan publicó otro de sus discos esenciales: Bringing it all back home (un disco pleno de excelentes canciones y donde abrió la veda al rock). Otros discos fundamentales, de 1965: Antônio Carlos Jobim- The Wonderful World of Antônio Carlos Jobim, THE SONICS - Here are The Sonics, OTIS REDDING - Otis blue / Otis Redding sings soul, THEM - The angry young Them, THE BYRDS - Mr. Tambourine Man y Turn! Turn! Turn!, THE BEATLES - Help! y Rubber Soul, THE BEACH BOYS - Today!, , THE ROLLING STONES - Out of our heads, THE ANIMALS - Animal tracks, DON COVAY - Mercy!, THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, THE KINKS - The Kink Kontroversy y Kinda Kinks, THE WHO - My generation, THE PRETTY THINGS - The Pretty Things, THE YARDBIRDS - Having a rave up, BARRY McGUIRE - Eve of destruction, The Zombies- The Zombies, The Shangri-Las - Leader of the Pack , Bert Jansch- Bert Jansch y It Don't Bother Me, The Lovin' Spoonful- Do You Believe in Magic, The Yardbirds- For Your Love y Having a Rave Up with The Yardbirds , Petula Clark - Downtown, The Turtles- It Ain't Me Babe, John Coltrane - A Love Supreme, The Temptations - The Temptations Sing Smokey, Nina Simone - Pastel Blues, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Going to a Go-Go, Nina Simone - I Put a Spell on You, James Brown - I Got You (I Feel Good), The Walker Brothers - Take It Easy With The Walker Brothers, Martha & The Vandellas - Dance Party, The Supremes - More Hits by The Supremes, Dionne Warwick - Here I Am y The Sensitive Sound of Dionne Warwick, The Impressions - People Get Ready, Four Tops-Four Tops y The second album... en general cualquier cosa de Motown...

I've collected a bunch of Dylan songs over the years but somehow have never listened to an entire album of his before now (partly because his discography is so huge that it's overwhelming). This was a great one to start with. The music is fun and varied enough that it kept my interest throughout — lots of electric, blues-inspired songs with a bit of the old folk that Dylan started in. The guitar melody on "Desolation Row" is beautiful — like a summer day in Greece, which makes the juxtaposition of the lyrics interesting. I wasn't familiar with any of the songs besides "Like a Rolling Stone," but these lyrics showcase Dylan at his best. His wordplay is unmatched, and whether he's being funny, political, poignant, or absurd, the language is always creative and interesting. Highly poetic, there's a ton to unpack to fully understand the meanings, but that just makes for a good excuse to listen to it over and over. Highlights: Like a Rolling Stone, Highway 61 Revisited, Desolation Row I enjoyed this way more than I was expecting to. 5/5

Legend

Absolute perfection. I don’t have the lyrical ability to describe this, so let me (probably mis)quote someone else I once heard long ago: Dylan sings like a dog with its leg caught in barbed wire. If that isn’t recommendation enough, I don’t know what is!

Goddamn

Dylan never sounded so good. Master lyricist Great sounding band Songs that paint a picture in your mind

Loved every song!

The king of blues. I only knew about like a rolling stone on that album, but all tracks are good, and some are excellent. I will often play it!

Really enjoyed this and can see how revolutionary it was. Great start with like a rolling stone too and hard to be cynical after a start like that. Tombstone blues, Buick 6, queen jane, highway 61 and desolation row and the title track mean this is a 5

Yes it's great. Yes Bob Dylan is brilliant. Yes this deserves to be on the list. There's a surprisingly small number of obvious inclusions on this list though.

Another absolute masterclass in songwriting. Kinda 60's Dylan's thing.

sitting here, stewing, thinking "How can I give this anything else but a 5 star rating", hearing the slide whistle on "Highway 61 Revisited", trying furiously to change my mind,

Maybe my favorite Dylan record. He's loose and weird and rock 'n rolling.

Many of my favourite songs on this

One does not fully mature until they realize how incredible Bob Dylan is

Der große Bob Dylan, sein großes Album. Ein Meisterwerk. Ich habe es schon lange nicht mehr gehört, aber es ist immer wieder ein Erlebnis. Nicht umsonst gehört es zu den Top Ten in der ever Liste der Pop, Rock Geschichte. Ich ziehe meinen Hut.

One of the ones that started it all!

i needed this album today

A Classic! How can anyone give less than 5 stars

Even after all these years, it’s a masterclass in songwriting and production values.

I don’t need to say much about this album, it’s one of the all time greats. Ever hear the live version of Like a Rolling Stone where a guy yells “Judas!” at Bob because he’s traded in his acoustic for an electric? Bob turned to the band, tells them to “play fuckin loud” and then drops that tune on everyone’s head.

the first bob dylan record I ever got into. Im getting Deja vu writing about this for some reason but love the grandiose instrumentation. For him going "electric" on this record it still has so much personality of his own that it transcends just a straight up dylan goes blues rock record. His lyricism and style still shines through. Like a rolling stone may be his best song. Ballad of a thin man may be my favorite of all time.

Some of the best songwriting from one of the best American artists of all time. While no one has ever accused Bob Dylan of having a beautiful voice, it fits his music perfectly. With this album he pays tribute to his blues influences while at the same time fully embracing rock and roll with his own distinctive style. This is some of the most iconic music of the 1960s, but still holds up well today.

one of my favorite albums ever, love it

Just an all-time great album.

Awesome

Come on, if you are an influence on the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, you qualify as an All Time Badass. This album is considered one of the best ever recorded, it is. 5 stars all day long.

Heard a million times. 5 Zimmermans

Bob with a full backing band, sounds more rock n' roll and bluesy than just the folk he released before.

Dylan sings the blues with a chip on his shoulder. Beauty.

When he’s good he’s amazing, when he’s bad it’s awful. Thankfully this is one of his best and I really enjoyed it.

When you listen to this album you can hear everything it influenced for the next fifty years.

besta plata piltsins?

Its Bob Dylan, what more really needs to be said.

Brought back a lot of good memories.

Troubadour. Trailblazer. Thank you for everything you have done, Bob Dylan!

Fantastic album where the lyrics are wonderfully odd and the music is solid.

Have loved this one since high school. I think something clicked about “the sun’s not yellow, it’s chicken” this time around.

Just look at that cover with Dylan sitting there looking super cross but with his silky party shirt on, ready for hijinks. That's the vibe of this album for me, a lot of fun but on Dylan's terms through and through. Folkies want him to keep doing acoustic? Nope it's rockin time says Dylan. Want the musicians to tune their instruments? If Dylan can't tune his own voice to be in key then no can do. Want some tracks about having a good time? Nope, best he can do is some rollicking organ & some fun hooks here and there. Starting out with one of the best "told ya so" tracks ever, "Like A Rolling Stone" is brilliant opening track as, even if I'm not in the mood for Dylan, I am 5 seconds after I drop the needle on that song.

Well this is a revelation. I was dragged to a Dylan concert in the late 80s (early 90s?). It was the worst concert I’ve ever been to. He was so wasted. Just standing there kind of mumbling, words indistinguishable. I was accompanying a friend who was a fan, who apologized to me. So who is this young man singing thoughtful lyrics so clearly? After 35 years of being a Bob Dylan NON-fan, I can’t deny the talent I hear on this album. Knowing it was ground-breaking in terms of musical style at the time, and the culture shift it helped suppory, I may have to give it a five star rating in spite of his voice.

Perfect in every way. Desolation Row is my favourite long ass song.

Amazing.

A classic! Dylan is a true master of song writing.

I mean yea of course its good

I'm not a big Dylan fan. Mostly I really don't get along with his singing style - not his voice, but his way of phrasing lines. The constant pitch shifting in every word seems to be more controlled on this album though. The production seems to be fairly dialed back, but constantly highlights different instruments, so while all the tracks are somewhat long, there's more than enough going on to keep the energy up. Desolation Row might be one of my favorite ways to spend 12 minutes.

Because he spits hot fire.

The monotone ramblings always get me.

Starts with the greatest song ever written. Ends with Desolation Row. Only one song I would consider a deep track.

Mi álbum favorito de Dylan, a partir del cual se torna más eléctrico, más rockero, y continúa redefiniendo su sonido. Qué tipo único, con una voz tan emocional como sus letras. Con esta re-escucha a los 34, no hace más que reforzar mi gusto por éste trabajo, ampliado por el contexto que estamos viviendo en mi queridísima Argentina. Es como que cuando hay dudas, volver a lo pasado es una manera de encontrar guías, de emocionarse y pensar otras respuestas.

He's a Jewish bluesman, descended from Jeremiah and the boys. If you think he can't sing, you probably think Howlin' Wolf can't sing or that rabbis should have to take singing lessons from Barry Manilow.

One of the greats 96/100

Brilliant album, Bob Dylan does not get better than this. Rolling Stone, one of the greatest rock songs ever, is a great way to open the album and Desolation Row a superb closing track. In between Dylan is supported by some rollicking rock n roll from the Band and his songs fizz with energy and mischief.

I can understand if you don’t like Bob Dylan and you can’t get past his voice. It’s not the most…traditional singing voice. Bob Dylan is not for everyone. But if you can’t I feel sorry for you; you’re missing out some of the best stuff ever created. This album is so iconic that even if you don’t like it, the artists you listen to do, and the artists they listen to do, etc. It changed the shape of songwriting. It deserves to be on this list for that alone. Plus, it’s just so very, very good.

Highway 61 Revisited stands as a monumental achievement in Bob Dylan's illustrious career, cementing his status as one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Released in 1965, this album marked a significant departure from Dylan's folk roots, embracing a more electric sound that would revolutionise popular music. From the iconic opening track Like a Rolling Stone to the enigmatic Desolation Row, each song on the album is a masterpiece in its own right, showcasing Dylan's unparalleled lyrical prowess and evocative storytelling. Dylan's distinctive vocals, coupled with the raw energy of the backing band, create a sonic landscape that is both timeless and transcendent. The album's influence extends far beyond its initial release, shaping the course of rock music for generations to come. With its blend of poetic lyricism, inventive melodies, and groundbreaking instrumentation, Highway 61 Revisited remains a quintessential album that continues to captivate and inspire listeners to this day. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 7 STAND OUT TRACK - Like a Rolling Stone

Another classic. Like A Rolling Stone, Ballad of a Thin Man, Highway 61 Revisited, and Desolation Row have long been favorites

Masterful and timeless. Always find something new in this album.

I'll put it down to bad luck that we had 2 Coldplay and 4 Metallica albums before the first sight of any Dylan. Anyway, we're here now, and that's all that matters.

I have always loved this album and was genuinely pleased to sit down and listen to it properly again from start to finish. Highway 61 Revisited is Dylan at his absolute best. Sharp, biting lyrics, swaggering delivery and that electric backing that still sounds bold decades later. It feels confident and slightly dangerous, like he knew he was changing the game. I had forgotten just how strong some of the deeper cuts are. From a Buick 6 has real punch, and the whole album carries that restless energy. Like a Rolling Stone is obviously monumental, but Tombstone Blues is just as thrilling in its own chaotic way. There is not a weak moment on here. It is one of those records where every song feels essential. Favourite songs: Like a Rolling Stone and Tombstone Blues Least favourite song: None. Not a bad song on the album Album artwork: Iconic. Effortlessly cool and perfectly matched to the music

The best Bob Dylan album in the era of best Bob Dylan albums. Also makes me feel like a hobo train hopping across America in the 30's. 5/5

I just realized this is the first 'classic' Dylan album (I have Time Out Of Mind and Love and Theft) I have ever heard all the way through which is absolutely bananas. When I was in high school, a friend made me a double cassette personal Dylan collection and I always felt that was satisfactory, so I jumped into this with a lot of anticipation. I was a bit underwhelmed because of it and would probably rate this as 4.5, but the songs I do know are some of the greatest songs ever written, so bumping this to 5 knowing after listening more it would get there.

From the first-note-recognition of Like a Rolling Stone, I felt like I was hanging out with an old friend. I simply love this album and I have for a very long time. I listened to the lyrics much more carefully this time and, even so, they are so dense that I'm sure I missed some of the brilliance.

In college I read watchmen and wanted to understand the references so I checked this album out. I hadn't even "understood" Bob Dylan until then but I quickly fell in love with this entire album. It's sort of a crossover album for Bob Dylan, bridging the gap from his folk roots into the world of rock. Like a rolling stone, tombstone blues, ballad of a thin man and desolation row are the standouts!

Flawless

Ironically, just this weekend, I was at the supermarket and "Like a Rolling Stone" was playing on the store's sound system. While walking down the bread aisle, I was feeling really annoyed by it and its length and, having been studying popular music for the last 3 years, made a mental note that maybe I actually hated that song. Turns out that it was maybe just the context wasn't right, which calls into question all of my 913 previous ratings—because today I was quite taken by it. I was quite taken, in fact, by the whole album. I am sure that I will have, by now, ratings for Bob Dylan all over the place. But I remind myself that being required to listen to someone isn't always going to work out well. But some days it does.

I already know myself to be a big fan of some Bob Dylan albums, and this project has shown me that I am not so big of a fan of others. As for Highway 61 Revisited...count me as a fan!

Another album that makes me want to recalibrate all of my ratings. 12 stars.

One of the many changes I have experienced doing this project is in my relationship to the music of Bob Dylan. This album started strong - Like A Rolling Stone is one of the Bob Dylan songs that I loved before I loved Bob Dylan. I was all-in on the arc of this album. The surprise to me is that 11:20 closing track Desolation Road. After an album of electrically-charged songs Dylan delivers an arresting acoustic epic. The guitar work is absolutely beautiful and the song unfolds and slowly swells with Bolero-esque drama that I can’t stop thinking about. Amazing and beautiful.

Masterpiece. 5

Always enjoy listening ing to this one

J'ai plus aimé que j'aurais cru. Il y a plusieurs chansons que je n'avais jamais entendues et que j'ai beaucoup aimées.

The last Dylan album I had from this challenge basically made me into a Dylan fan, and so I'm struggling to rate this one compared with Bringing It All Back Home. I probably prefer that one, with it having higher highs but lower lows, but it's bloody close. This one is more rock and blues, angrier and darker but still with moments of lightness. I won't even pretend to understand half of the lyrics but I love hearing them in the same way you can look at a surrealist painting. Every now and then you get a shot of something meaningful, or maybe not. This feels like a super American album, blues, and folk, and rock for a roadtrip across the desert in the 60s. 04/03/24

Such a great album!

It’s been established I’m a Bobby fan. I don’t have this on vinyl (yet) but I did have almost every track on Spotify already.

I thought I was going to be such a little contrarian and not like the Bob Dylan albums but lol no this is incredible. Can’t wait to listen to it again and again.

Had to have been on drugs while writing the lyrics but I love it

bob dylan is a legend 👏

These electric Dylan albums of this period are very enjoyable. The playing here is confidently loose and the songs have a lot of depth. Like a previous album on this list, it needs to be slowly absorbed and meant to be taken in full. If I am to fault this one, the harmonica does get pretty shrill in places, but that also gives things a nice live feel.

Album # 31 Classic Dylan, not much else to say

I've still got a few more Dylan albums to catch up to on this list but the ones I've listened to so far I've enjoyed and this one tops them all so far. It's hard to go past Like a Rolling Stone as it's such a classic. Tombstone Blues, and Desolation Row are other standouts for me.

Top quality Dylan - has everything I love about "Bringing It All Back Home" in it, which makes sense given it was released only a few months later. Another redundant Dimery pick, eh. It's also, for me, a reminder about how rubbish the before times were, music distribution-wise. I bought "Bringing It All Back Home" on cd in uni - only had a very limited budget so couldn't buy too many albums, and definitely not multiple speculative purchases by the same artist. I woulda loved "Highway 61 Revisited" just as deeply if I'd had access to it, I reckon. Fave track - "Like a Rolling Stone" is an absolute culture-dominating monster of a song. "Tombstone Blues", "Ballad of a Thin Man" and "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" from the tracks I was less familiar with...

I am stingy giving 5s, but no way could this be less than a 5 for me. Great lyrics / Great songwriter. I do like his voice; perfect for his lyrics. Has always been one of my favorites of all time. Like a Rolling Stone is one of the best songs ever written! Understandably and deservedly on or near the top of most top songwriters, songs, and albums of all time.

own

1965's "Highway 61 Revisited" was a landmark record in folk and Dylan's career. The once-entirely folk artist veers into the sounds of hard rock while continuing to refine the lyrical prowess that was seen in the previous "Bringing it All Back Home". In contrast to his previous album, I find Dylan's vocal and lyrical presentation here more aggressive, while still finding a clear patch to fit in comfortable blues and ballad cuts. Said aggression is kicked off with the brilliant "Like a Rolling Stone" which is a song about an individual forced to live out on their own after being deceived by once trusted cunning characters with a chorus that almost rubs it in the protagonist's face. The protagonist is almost being scolded over this organ and harmonica-driven opener. I've always been a fan of the "rolling stone" metaphor introduced by Muddy Waters. The aggressiveness carries over to the next track "Tombstone Blues" as Dylan recites anecdotes of conflicts instantiated by the wealthy and powerful before shifting down to the image of struggling working-class people. Like most of this album's anecdotes, they're part funny, entertaining, and at times surreal, throwing character names around without a means of introducing them and forcing the listener to immediately place themselves in the strange scene he's set. The song has a garage rock tint to it with the loud, almost overblown, drum beat alongside the incredible electric guitar interludes between each verse. I feel the same instrumentally about the title track which has one of my favorite opening verses in any folk song. Then there's my favorite track "Ballad of a Thin Man", an eerie track thanks to the organ and piano pattern here that's slow while invoking a looming sense of dread within me. The lyrics tell a different story though; of a well-educated scholar who struggles to come to terms with the wildly eccentric room he's walked into. The song comes off as a metaphor, or a jab, at those who are unable to accept nor understand the changes and strides in the evolution of music seen in the 60s. But Dylan pities the individual he's describing here knowing accepting change can be difficult when seemingly eccentric imagery projects itself and overshadows a movement's true soul. But being able to accept that eccentricity is key to understanding a musical movement. I've mentioned the more aggressive tracks, lyrically, but the slower ballads are very enjoyable as well. The blues-styled "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" is a warm and enjoyable track. I feel the same about "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" a confusing story that's still enjoyable in its own right strictly because of the sweet anecdotes it's composed of. This song also has one of the sweetest piano-driven instrumentals. It's also worth mentioning Dylan's vocals on these songs, and the album as a whole. Dylan, in typical folk fashion, sticks to a single melody and repeats it. I wholeheartedly think this album showcases his best vocals as Dylan is highly aware of his vocal range and uses his voice optimally as a result. The album closes off with an acoustic-driven track "Desolation Row" where Dylan sings about the tragic endings to characters' stories leading them to a twisted Desolation Row. It's a long song that's a melancholic closer to this incredible record. I don't think everyone will appreciate this album as much as I do. It's long and repetitive and Dylan's vocals are not particularly ear-grabbing at first but you'd be hard-pressed to find an album so tightly packed with meaningful tracks that perfectly encapsulate the strange and confusing time in which this album was written. 10/10

Opens with Like a Rolling Stone and closes with Desolation Row. Best Dylan album? It's certainly up there

Mér finnst Blonde on blonde betri, en ballaðan um Brian Jones, sem er samt ekki um hann, tryggir þessari plötu sinn sess í hjarta mér. Helst Tombstone og Tom sem ég er ekki að dansa eins mikið við og hin lögin, en þetta er samt fullt hús.

Great album. Like a Rolling Stone easily a 5 by itself. The whole album was filled with good tunes and the album flowed nicely

Outstanding album. Not everyone (or many people) love Dylan's voice but I like it and the songwriting is brilliant.

Fantastisch album, 61 sterren!

It’s Dylan

One of the best ever!

10/10 one of Bob Dylan’s best albums he’s one of the finest songwriters of his generations and provides banger after banger in this tracklist my favorite song might be Ballad of a Thin Man (Mr. Jones), Desolation Row, or (of course,) Like a Rolling Stone while he might not be the best musician (when it comes to actually playing/performing music) he sure is one of the all time greatest songwriters of the 20th century

Timeless. Incredible story telling, wonderful musicianship. Dylan's most accessible album for me.

Bob Dylan is just a five star guy. Really nothing else to say.

If I'm in the mood for Bob Dylan (which isn't often tbh, but it happens), this is the one I reach for. Fully enjoyable and I can't pick out any flaws, so it gets the 5. It's technically a 4.5 I'm rounding up, but I think it deserves it.

An absolute classic! Love it!

Wonderful. A classic great album by Bob Dylan. Like everything about it.

I have heard this one many times before. This is a classic album and of course if ends up on this list. I know people hate his voice and harmonica playing, but since when do you need a pleasant singing voice to make great and important music?

Desolation Row goes on for so long without being... good. Other than that a very good album.

Right in his pomp, still had the voice, it's a 5 in every which way.

Chock full of bangers with a slice of Buick 6 shaped Americana.

Some things need to be set aside to focus on what makes this standout. It is the songs. The voice is hit and miss, the production isn't forensic enough.

Amazing, one of the best ever made

Revisiting Highway 61 Revisited. Listening while driving from Rochester to Ypsilanti for the U of M National Championship game. Don't remember it sounding so good and full and lush. I've always loved the rhyme scheme in Like A Rolling Stone and it's still so good. Excited just for the lyrics on this album. Crunchy guitar and bass and organ are cool, but I know they were crazy when it came out. Can't imagine this song without em. 5/5 so far, but Balled of a Thin Man absolutely fucks. Finished, clear 5/5. Positives: oh so many It's hard to judge how a almost 60 year old album sounded when it came out, but man this album sounds so good. It feels like it innovated on everything that came before and influenced everything that came after. Lyrics, sounds, style, sequencing, just so good Rhyme scheme from Like a Rolling Stone comes back a few times and is anyways good. Lyrics and delivery are just so engaging. Bob shreds on the harmonica Negatives: some songs are a little long (though they never drag) Some of the harmonica is mixed a little harsh

Oddly enough, Like a Rolling Stone is my least favorite. But, this is probably my favorite Dylan album. Tombstone Blues

Classic

It's one of the best works of Bob Dylan. I loved it!

Great !!

I love Bob Dylan. One of the best artists of all time. This is one of his most creative albums. Hauntingly beautiful and irrelevantly whimsical like great poetry should be. One of my favorite Dylan albums.

One of my all time favorites, great way to start the year!

This is in that top tier of Bob Dylan albums where my favorite of his is constantly changing. Rating: 4.9

This is Dylan's first rock album. This was released just after the uproar around Dylan leaving folk music behind and "going electric." This is a collection of songs that have helped define modern popular music. It leads off with "Like a Rolling Stone," which is among the most influential songs from the sixties and from Dylan's extensive catalog. While he had "gone electric," Dylan's songs continue to tell rich stories full of vivid images, like "Highway 61 Revisited." Dylan's music has elements of folk, blues, and threads of traditional American music which add dimension to his engaging storytelling.

Holy smokes what an album. Spitting with rage and irony and sarcasm. It’s so influential that it’s hard to take it in as a standalone piece of art. Is it all good? I can’t even tell you that. You could listen forever and still not get to the bottom of it.

This or Blonde on Blonde, which is better? The world may never know

Whilst not the absolute best that Dylan has to offer, it's still exceptional.

General Rating 10: New Favourite 8-9: Listen Consistently 6-7: Might Listen Again 4-5: Wouldn't be mad if came up again 2-3: Wouldn't Listen Again 1: Never listen. Song by Song Analysis: Like A Rolling Stone: 10/10 Tombstone Blues: 9.5/10 It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train To cry: 7.9/10 From a Buick 6: 6/10 Ballad of a Thin Man: 8/10 Queen Jane Approximately: 9.2/10 Highway 61 Revisited: Slide Whistle/10 Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues: 7/10 Desolation Row: 7 M/Md: 8/7.95 True Opinion: Wow, no wonder it's such a highly regarded album. My ranking doesn't factor in how much I consider it a work of art, more how much I'd listen...but this is definitely something as an album I'd listen to more. 9/10 Thoughts: Colors are rusted red and the strange sort of baby blue you find on trucks. It rolls around, cragged with Dylan's voice, but it's a beautiful album, and I was pleasantly surprised by how pretty the guitar was.

Great album

Masterpiece

Highway 61 Revisited is not only my second favourite Bob Dylan album, after Blonde on Blonde, but also one of the most influential albums of all time. It marks Dylan's transition from acoustic folk to electric rock, and showcases his brilliant and poetic lyrics. The album opens with the iconic "Like a Rolling Stone", a six-minute anthem of alienation and liberation, and closes with the epic "Desolation Row", a surreal and haunting portrait of a dystopian society. The songs in between are equally stunning, featuring memorable characters, stories, and melodies. Highway 61 Revisited is a masterpiece of 60s rock and songwriting, and a testament to Dylan's genius and vision.

9/10 - great use of harmonica and great working music.

someone please take away this fucker's harmonica

Classic rock royalty. Big influence on everyone else.

9 up, 9 down. The songs that aren’t earth shattering are great rockers in their own right. His only truly perfect album.

Such a fun album

Transcends language

one of my favorite albums ever. fave Dylan for sure

What can you even say about nobel laureate robert zimmerman. Rife with biblical allusions and poetic turns of phrase, this album is folk at its best.

My favourite Dylan album. Musical DNA. ‘Well god said to Abraham kill me a son Abe said man you must be putting me on God said no. Abe said what? His said ‘you can do what you want Abe but Next time you see me coming you’d better run. ‘ Abe said ‘where you want this killing done?’ God said ‘down on highway 61’ ‘ Dylan was never better. Though he came close occasionally. Leopard skin pill box hat. Stuck inside of mobile with the Memphis blues again. Dylan himself wondered how he wrote such songs. And the personnel. And the personnel. My God. Most of the hawks. Most of the butterfield blues band. Other incredible Musicians. Like a rolling stone with Al Kooper realising he wasn’t as good a guitarist as Mike Bloomfield so teaches himself organ essentially following Dylan’s fingers on the guitar. Bloomfield bought a telecaster and hadn’t even bought a case so was wiping the snow off it. That this guitar was converted to left handed and back again requiring extensive restoration is a story for another day. The slightly behind the beat organ lines are less a musical choice and more of a ‘where’s the G? Oh there!’ 11 minutes of desolation row would be self indulgent tripe in anyone else’s hands. But not Dylan. He makes it compelling. Somehow. So many thought they could imitate. So few could. If you wanted to know what Dylan was about this is the one. Sure Blonde on Blonde and Bringing it back home and John Wesley Harding is great as is the other stuff. But for me, this is peak early (ish) Dylan. 15/5

I saw my youngest sister last week. We were reminiscing & she mentioned how she couldn’t get over the way I could often remember when I first heard a song. I immediately retold how I first heard Like A Rolling Stone on my valve radio one afternoon in late 1965. I was standing in my parents’ bedroom, where I had a desk that I completed my homework on every afternoon, away from the noise of my 3 siblings. I was 15. I stood there thinking - what is this? What am I listening to? That’s the point here. Nobody had heard anything like it before. I fell in love with it on that one hearing. Fortunately I was able to record it on reel-to-reel tape, so got to know it well as It climbed to #5 on the 2UE Top 40. That was the first time I ever heard Bob Dylan. I knew a couple of his songs - Blowing In The Wind & The Times They Are a-Changin - but I only knew the Peter, Paul & Mary versions. I had never heard any of Dylan’s first 5 albums. I only heard singles on AM radio & this was his first charting single in Australia, released the same week as this album. It was a couple of years before I first heard Highway 61 Revisited. I still love it dearly. Still, nothing sounds like it, except maybe his follow-up album, Blonde On Blonde. Apart from Like A Rolling Stone, I’m most fond of Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues (the original here is great, but I have to say that Nina Simone’s version often reduces me to tears), Ballad Of A Thin Man, the epic Desolation Row, & the title track - you have no idea how hearing a song start with the line “God said to Abraham kill me a son” could affect a good Catholic boy at that time ( it wasn’t till much later I learned that Dylan’s father’s name was Abraham). And the fact that one of my favourite bands, Steely Dan, took the title of their debut album from the opening lines of It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry - “Well I Ride on a mailtrain baby / Can’t buy a thrill”. This really is a ten out of five for me.

I don't listen to this album very often, but every song is a classic. Is it because they are that good, or because Dylan is the patient zero of smart rock and roll? This album in particular, where he has moved past folk and truly into rock and roll (this is his first all-rock record), really is a template for soooo much that comes afterwards. It is no surprise that Jimi Hendrix was obsessed with this record, and plays Like a Rolling Stone at Monterey to (re-)introduce himself to America. I love the immediacy of the playing, that really becomes a blueprint for so much rock to come. Recorded quickly, it genuinely rocks, and the lyrics are still fresh all these years later. Fave tracks: Tombstone Blues, Highway 61 Revisited.

Really enjoyed this!

I'm not exactly a Dylan evangelist but this is excellent. The two bookend tracks probably just get it a 5 from me.

This is just brilliant. Don't want to totally rehash the Dylan vs Beatles debate, but this came out at a time when the Beatles were still mostly doing their twinkly pop boyband routine. They discover LSD and meet Dylan around the time this album comes out, and then they start doing their adventurous work. And Highway 61 has aged a lot better than most of that Beatles work, too. I'm not a Dylan fanboy, I haven't listened to even a quarter of his discography, but this is superb. He doesn't go too overboard on the harmonica, he keeps the songs within his vocal range, the lyrics and storytelling are wonderful, it's just a captivating album. 5/5.

Wasn’t in the mood for Dylan. 5 minutes later and Dylan had convinced me otherwise. Finishing off in such confidence with 11 minutes of Desolation Row that somehow leaves you wanting more? So so good. It helps that I care about lyrics, and there are some real Dylan gems here.

One of the good folk rock albums. I think this is when Bob Dylan started incorporating electric guitars.

There's a review in here that starts like this: "The genre is raggedy-ass beatnik blues rock, so progressive it’s being invented as it’s recorded. The only thing under full control is Dylan's voice. Outside that, the band careens around like a motorbike with a dodgy ticker, which is why everyone seems to think they’re playing lead. One second the drums are in charge, then the organ, then rhythm guitar, then someone hooks the harmonica up to the bike’s exhaust and gives it maximum revs. All while Dylan’s on stage with a stack of library books, ripping pages out at random and holding them up to a giant fan to send them flying over his audience at random. That's how we get Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot fighting on the captain’s tower of a sinking Titanic. Jack the Ripper sitting at the head of the chamber of commerce. God pow-wowing with Abraham. It’s the ultimate high school reunion. Held together by glue that’s one part mystery and two parts the most voracious appetite for language in the history of recorded music, everything here is an outlaw song..." Wow. What do you want me to add to that, seriously? Mr. Zimmerman sure inspires a lot of talented people. But it's only because he's insanely talented himself. About *Highway 61 Revisited*, more specifically, I've always felt that it is not the *best* album that Bob Dylan has ever released (Is it *Blonde On Blonde*? *Bringing It All Back Home?* *The Freewheeling Bob Dylan*?). But I know some fans say it is. Whereas my personal enjoyment of it would probably point to a 9.5/10 grade *only*, if you take my meaning. The 0.5 penalty comes from a lack of catchy musical hooks on the first side--ones that Dylan is so good at, normally (and returns to for side 2, fortunately). Sure, there's *Like A Rolling Stone*. But it's like Bob said; "OK, I've written a massive hook here. Now I can forget a little about that and focus on the lyrics." Lazy-ass genius. 🙃 Besides, if this record points to the sweeping, expansive experience that *Blonde On Blonde* will be right after, it's not *it* yet. Even if some individual songs are already goddamn sweeping in this particular tracklist, *of course*. At the end of the day, all of this is splitting hair, I know it. The influential nature of *Highway 61 Revisited*, along with the historical artefact that it is--as the first LP where Dylan dropped the folk idiom altogether (still present on one side of *Bringing It All Back Home*), makes it belong to this list 100%. And some of the cuts in here--from "Like A Rolling Stone" to "Ballad of A Thin Man", "Queen Jane Approximately" and "Desolation Row"--are so damn representative of who Dylan is as an artist, and also tell so much about mankind at large, that they should be sent to space to introduce the Earth to alien sentient species. Number of albums left to review: 373 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 283 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 149 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 202

5/5

Dylan breaking into electric - it’s fantastic.

Best early Dylan album by a long way in my opinion 7 of the 9 tracks are classics that 90% of music lovers would be able to name. Desolation row is without doubt one of the best songs ever written

Great album. Listened 2x in Rio. 4.6/5

As soon as the organ hits on the first song (Like a Rolling Stone), you know you're in for a treat but it's the title track that gets me every time with the opening lyrics of "Oh God said to Abraham, 'Kill me a son' / Abe says, 'Man, you must be puttin' me on'"... But, yes, I think it can be very easily done We’ll just put some bleachers out in the sun And have it on Highway 61

Classic

Love this album

It starts with a crack of the snare: the skull of Bob Dylan the protest singer, the folk icon, the man of the people, shatters forever. In its place, a towering and sprawling monolith rises up, layer upon layer of swirling electric organ, whirling lead guitar, cascading verses, bellowed choruses. If “Like a Rolling Stone” isn’t quite a reinvention of the art, it’s certainly a reinvention of the artist, slinking back behind shades and veiling himself in literary references, sly misdirection, sharp humour, absurdity. On every level, it just works, and then there’s… …oh, what‘s the point? You’ve heard all this before. So much has been made of “Highway 61 Revisted”: a cornerstone of counterculture, the birthplace of electric rock, the origin of popular music as we know it. It can be difficult to know what thoughts or feelings to add to that, and it’s also very difficult to separate learned hyperbole from cold, hard facts. Yes, “Highway 61” is a landmark record, triggering a butterfly effect for countless influential artists. But in my book, it’s not even the best Bob Dylan album from 1965. Despite its brilliant highs, I’ve always found this record a little light on the tender, heart-aching ballads. I’ve always been a bit underwhelmed by “It Takes A Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry” and “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues”: rudimentary blues numbers with little sincerity, lulling themselves to sleep, the best things about them being their titles. However, this is more than compensated for by the range of other moods and styles on offer. Across the record, there’s Dylan at his most vindictive (“Ballad of a Thin Man”, “Like a Rolling Stone”), his most playful (“From a Buick 6”, the goofy title track) and his most cryptic (“Tombstone Blues”, “Desolation Row”). “Like a Rolling Stone”, “Ballad of a Thin Man” and “Queen Jane Approximately” will always be favourites of mine, but it’s “Desolation Row” that became my favourite Dylan song the moment I heard it (and still is today). I’m always blown away by its labyrinth of faces rearranged into literary, cultural and historical figures, a procession of oddities, deadbeats and tragedies stretching into infinity along a superb improvised guitar line. I’ve been saying since I first heard it that I could listen to it my whole life and still not understand every line. I still don’t, and I hope that feeling never changes. Okay, so I was going to be harsh and contrarian on this record, and not write a very long review, but you know what? This is “Highway 61 Revisited”. Who am I kidding?

The total chaos of the music is so refreshing compared to his strickly acoustic stuff. Obviously an immortal classic all the way through.

- Queen Jane Approximately is a banger

5 star album

It's Bobby D at his peak. What could I possibly say?

Dylan gets lost in my rotation and everything I come back to his music I remember how much I love it. Absolute classic album. I prefer his earliest work if I'm being honest but it's like saying I prefer lobster to steak. It's all incredible music.

I like it very much.

A true classic

Maybe as classic a Dylan album as there is. Fully electric and some of his best known songs, truly a measured masterpiece from start to finish.

Solid album. Has the hits, and other songs that shoulda been hits. Standout tracks: Like a rolling stone (obvi), Tombstone Blues, Just like Tom Thumb's Blues, and Desolation Row.

If I listen to Dylan's hits in a row, I find I often get tired of it pretty quickly... however, this album is amazing from front to back, and sees him at his finest (and most coherent).

I really enjoy the offbeat Bob Dylan sound. Good album, blues rock pop feel throughout on top of the folk nature of his voice and lyrics. Only recognised the first song ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ but that didn’t take away from the enjoyment. 5 stars

Pretty cool album. Good to listen to some Bob Dylan that isn’t just greatest hits.

Great album in every aspect

Great

Fantastic record! We all know and have talked about how Bob Dylan can’t sing but that’s not really what this is about. Dylan’s lyrics are some of the best storytelling we’ve had on a record. Side note: Does anybody use the harmonica better than Bob Dylan? Essential Tracks: Like a Rolling Stone (Playlist) Highway 61 Revisited

Classic Bob Dylan. Nice variety of styles in the offerings.

This is one of my favorite Dylan albums by far. I listen to it quite often. It's gonna be a 5/5. It blows my mind that he came out with this and "Bringing It All Back Home" in the same year and then released "Blonde On Blonde" the next year. He was at the height of creativity and just churning out incredible music. Standout Tracks: Like a Rolling Stone, Tombstone Blues, It Takes a Lot to Laugh It Takes a Train to Cry, From a Buick 6, Ballad of a Thin Man, Queen Jane Approximately, Highway 61 Revisited, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Desolation Row

These songs have an immediate appeal in their sound, and because of Dylan's masterful lyric writing they continue to get better with repeated listens. That, together with the legendary backlash when he went electric just before its release, makes this album great.

The apex of his rock trilogy and the second classic album he recorded and released in 1965. I absolutely love the way he uses Highway 61 as a conceptual link to tie his inspirations together. 5 stars for "Like a Rolling Stone" alone, but 5 stars for all of it.

Definitely, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts -- each song on its own is strong, but together this album comes to life like a bizarre storybook out of some strange parallel universe. Say what you will about Dylan's singing voice, his lyrical poetry is an absolute masterpiece. "The sun isn't yellow, it's chicken."

Dylan's best album.

для меня лучший альбом дилана

I don't like all of Bob Dylan's works, but this albums is great

This album is packed with great songs carrying an urgency separate from the lyrics. You can feel the urgency through Like a Rolling Stone with the organ propelling the lyrics, and the electric guitar carries Dylan in a new direction.

Fantastic lyrics, great sounding all around, album starts with the terrific Like a Rolling Stone and ends perfectly with Desolation Row. I've been listening to Dylan most famous songs but never really went through this album in full, really great and fantastic listen.

5.8/10

Really enjoyable. Great to listen to, definitely deserves its spot.

Such a great album.

What can I say one of the classic albums from one of the best artist of all time. Definitely not my favorite Dylan album, but it’s a great one. 9/10.

Fantastic album, what an icon

Bob Dylan's always great, even if he can't sing

Great

Have listened to the album previously, but this is my first listen in a while. I always associate Dylan with great lyrics, so I knew what to expect; however, the lyrics are striking every listen. Fascinating phrasings and soulful, honest delivery makes every song compelling. Not to mention the opener, widely considered one of the best songs ever written. Favourite Track: Tombstone Blues

No brainer for me, this is the album I have in the car fgs. Dylan at a point where everything he typed turned to gold and his fans wanted to cut his throat, inject it Really been enjoying It Takes a Lot to Laugh it Takes a Train to Cry recently, but the standouts remain: -Like a Rolling Stone, -Queen Jane Approximately, -Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, -Desolation Row. Just a fantastic album from start to finish, even if its my least favourite of the trilogy.

Two of Dylan’s best songs bookend this record. The peerless “Like A Rolling Stone” opens proceedings and we finish with the sublime “Desolation Row”. In between these two we find Dylan in imperial form, it’s a brilliant record.

Of its type this is more or less peerless.

One of the most legendary albums of all time. Deserves more than 5 stars.

I'm not the biggest Bob Dylan fan, but this is a fantastic album. Dylan's pivot to electric is widely praised and for good reason - this album is inspired and full of energy. It sounds fresh to this day. I totally understand why people can't stand his voice, but it works so well in this album. Like a Rolling Stone is an all-timer for a reason, and Tombstone Blues is the other standout track for me.

Mixed feelings about this album - the lyrics feel like poetry, and the good tracks are good, but I can't get into the blues stuff. I'll give it a 5, it could definitely grow on me. BT - Like A Rolling Stone - It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry - Ballad of a Thin Man - Queen Jane - Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues - Desolation Row

Obviously a 5. Desolation Row is a 5 on its own ffs. Think that was the one he said he could have continued writing verses for it "more or less forever". Then Thin Man, Queen Jane, title track, Rolling Stone etc etc

Probably my 4th fav Dylan album. And still a five.

Yeah, I mean, am I really gonna rate this as anything lower than 5? It's one of the best of all time and for good reason. What I will say is I understand how it may not be everyone's cup of tea. But damn, this album just has SO MUCH to offer. There are easily five timeless tracks here, and that's only been done on a handful of records over the past sixty years.

You could revisit this landmark stretch of sonic highway 61 times over and still uncover new insights on the inevitable 62nd.

One of the best openings to an album. Ever!!!

This is an easy 5 for Like a Rolling Stone and Desolation Row alone. The fact that the rest of the album is as solid as it is is a pure bonus. I'm not the biggest Dylan Stan, but this album was extremely solid and a thoroughly enjoyable backdrop to leaf collection this weekend. High 4 or low 5... Going the latter.

awesome

Прикольный

Bob Dylan has to be considered one of the greatest singer/songwriters of our time. He has endured a long career since the early 60's and continues to produce and release new recordings. Of course, with a ton of albums and songs he's recorded, his output has been uneven with lots of crap and boring music, but also some timeless classics and a handful of releases that I would consider essential. There is so much to say about Dylan, so let's focus on Highway 61 Revisited from 1965. I would rank this in his top 2 best records, it's super influential and it really elevated his career at the time. The opening track, Like A Rolling Stone is undeniably a great song, so that alone is worth the price of admission and the rest of record isn't filler. Truly a classic and yes, essential!

Regarded by many to be the greatest album of all time; my review isn't necessary here, just go listen for yourself.

Apparently, I am a Bob Dylan fan. I do not give 5 stars lightly. This was great.

Masterful. Listened to it 10 times through in a week. An incredible, timeless album.

listened

Poetry set to blues rock - a great combination of simple "Americana" music with amazing lyricism and works so well with Dylan's distinctive voice

Stunning album, all the problems I had with the previous bob Dylan album were definitely not here for this one, extremely coherent, well produced, well performed!

This one was so good I really like Bob Dylan and his talent for storytelling. My favorite track is Desolation Row because it's 11 minutes long and I love long songs. I also liked Like a Rolling Stone and Tombstone Blues but all the songs were really good.

I had some reservation about Bob Dylan since I didn't like his antics with seeing him live, but it's undeniable that this is a legit good album.

Nice oldies

Blues rock album van Bob Dylan. Markeert de transitie van de artiest van folk naar electric rock in het thema van de blues langs Highway 61, waar Dylan diepe connecties mee had. Tracklist bestaat uit hoogstandjes als Like a Rolling Stone en Desolation Row. Legendarisch album. leukste nummer: Desolation Row Like a Rolling Stone was van grote impact op een toen 15 jarige Bruce Springsteen. In 1988 huldigde Springsteen Bob Dylan in voor de Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

When Dylan went electric, everybody went electric. Fav Track: Ballad of A Thin Man

Genius

One of Bob's best, even if the acme siren is a bit shit.

No brainer, 5 stars.

Another perfect Dylan album. How can an album that kicks off with Like a Rolling Stone and finishes with Desolation Row be anything other than 5 stars? See? It can't.

Pretty iconic well trodden path. Not loads to say other than Desolation Row is a masterpiece in itself.

Know this one by heart. Should give another listen. Should also own the CD. I’ll add it to my list.

If you never plan on listening to Bob Dylan give this one a go as it his best album (IMHO) and the one where his (croaky) voice stretches out across all tastes. Brilliant lyrics too

1. Like a Rolling Stone - A classic. Terrific songwriting, energetic performance from Dylan and his backing band. 10/10 2. Tombstone Blues - Fun, electrifying, punky. Great guitar playing and surreal lyrics. 9/10 3. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry - Decent blues folk. Slows down the momentum of the previous two songs, but still memorable. 7/10 4. From a Buick 6 - Similar energy to Tombstone Blues. Another high energy one. 8/10 5. Ballad of a Thin Man - A great, menacing song that moves with that signature lurch of this era of Dylan. Another highlight of his writing. 9/10 6. Queen Jane Approximately - Good opening to Side B. Sets a great pace for the more somber portion of the album. 8/10 7. Highway 61 Revisited - A pretty decent title track. That whistle thing in the intro and outro is a little annoying, but the rest is alright. 7/10 8. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues - A wonderful, downtrodden, story-led song that is one of the best of the album. 9/10 9. Desolation Row - The best song on the album. A beautiful closer that explores tragedy and despair in a near-perfect way. 10/10

Well so much for getting a couple more lower rated albums I guess I get the greatest folk rock album of all time. Some of bobs acoustic stuff gets boring after a while for me but this stuff is so lively and energetic while still maintaining genius songwriting it’s insane. The all of the songs are bangers back to back with tombstone blues and ballad of a thin man being my favorites.

Great listen. This is now the first Dylan record I've listened to front to back. Some songs that I have heard before remain my favourites. Specifically "Like a Rolling Stone", "Ballad of a Thin Man", and "Queen Jane Approximately". Personal Enjoyment - 8 Song Writing - 8.5 Lyrics - 10 Originality - 7.5 Production Value - 10 Artwork - 10 Overall - 8.8

harmonicaaaa

Oh my god Bob’s gone electric :O

Ooh it's very good isn't it

So, it's not as folk as I usually like my Bob Dylan to be, but I'll be damned if it isn't a great album, all you jabronies can go in the slammer for all I care.

One of the best offerings from one of America’s best songwriters. Like a Rolling Stone is overexposed but still great. Ballad of a Thin Man is a kafkaesque masterpiece, and Queen Jane Approximately is gorgeous. As a whole, it just works.

Known this one since high school. One of the most important albums in rock history. And more importantly, one of the best. This is foundational stuff right here. I'd give it a 6 out of 5 if I could.

Dang, so good. How cool does Bob look on the cover here too? Haven't listened to this since uni.

Great album

I really loved this album. The first album he went heavy electric. I understand why he has the reputation of being an amazing lyricist, though he's maybe not the most 'technically proficient' vocalist. Favorite tracks: Ballad of a Thin Man, Desolation Row, and I can't not love Like A Rolling Stone

Wow - really, really good.

This is good Dylan.

I probably say this too much, but this album genuinely changed my life when I first heard it.

Classic album, like a rolling stone is probably Dylan's most famous song. Ballad of a thin man is an interesting listen. Overall classic folk rock from one of the all time greats

How could you NOT give this five stars?

The hysterical bride in the penny arcade Screaming, she moans, "I've just been made" Sends out for the doctor, who pulls down the shade And says, "My advice is to not let the boys in" And the medicine man comes and he shuffles inside He walks with a swagger and he says to the bride "Stop all this weeping, swallow your pride You will not die, it's not poison" Mama's in the factory, she ain't got no shoes Daddy's in the alley, he's lookin' for food I'm in the kitchen with the tombstone blues Every single track is amazing and the whole album is fucking great. 5/5

Desolation Row is the peak here

This is ace. The lyrics are what stand out. It also sounds full for an album that is so old. I’m biased by being a Dylan fan, but I forgot how unusual this album is compared to anything you’d hear now. 5/5

Really the only person working at the same level as the Beatles

I mean it’s got like a rolling stone and ballad of a thin man on side one then desolation row on side two even if the other tracks were shit (they’re not by the way) it would still be a very easy 5/5.

I've loved this one for 20 years

If Dylan had entered BGT or whatever TV show that tries to find the next big star, then he'd not make it past the auditions with his nasal intonation, yet this is a brilliant album - his poetic lyrics weave and intertwine with the music. Humorous, ironic, or serious contemporary commentary - it is all there - and is as relevant now as it was when it was released. Timeless.

America was changing, and Bob Dylan had his finger directly on the pulse. Through nine of the best tracks of his career, he expresses youthful fury and maturity beyond his years, at once poetic and clumsy, soulful and fierce.

I mean it's only one of the nost culturally significant works of art in modern western civilization.

Brilliant. A classic

Pure class

Is this my favorite Dylan album? Maybe. It is the first one I heard and owned. But it has to be his best, the one that I would say definitively represents him. A

Not a Dylan fan, but this was better than I expected. Bob Dylan is a good songwriter but I don't love his voice or harmonica, although the imperfection may be the point. I've rounded my rating up due to popularity and influence.

flawless.

This album has 9 songs and I saved 6 of them. Standouts: Like a Rolling Stone, Tombstone Blues, From a Buick 6, Highway 61 Revisited, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Desolation Row

Stone Cold Classic. It would still make the cut if there was nothing more to note than Like a Rolling Stone. Melding blues and country with folk in a rock context was revolutionary at the time and set the stage for the second half of the 60s. Nothing more needs to be said.

Maybe not his best but brilliant nonetheless. Most artists would kill to write just one song as good as most of these.

Embarrassingly good.

I wasn't a Dylan fan but everyone is really. This is a superb album, a man at the heights of his lyrical talent. Obviously one of the greats.

forever a classic

flawless even in its flaws

Bobby D, again with the hits. I don't think this was quite as good as Blonde on Blonde, but... few albums are. This was still fantastic.

I thought this was a fantastic album, very relaxing to listen too, I don't think you can go wrong with Bob Dylan

I loved this album. I never did like Bob Dylan on account of his vocal style but over time it’s grown on me. His talent as a poet and songwriter is truly incredible and it shows.

The ultimate expression of Bob world. Listening again for this revealed that perhaps Desolation Row is a touch less amazing than I had previously thought, but the band is just magnificent.

Great album

I am very familiar with Bob Dylan's work, and really enjoy his music, so I am looking forward to today's listen. This is the 6th studio album from Bob Dylan, and his first electric album (all songs except Desolation Row). Bob is one hell of a poet, spinning words together, that seem nonsensical at first, but when really thought about, take on a whole new meaning. You can tell he is a well read individual by his usage of different literary and historical references throughout his music. Bob really can't sing, and there are imperfections in the instrument playing, but I think that is done on purpose. It gives you a feel of listening to a live concert of some obscure up and coming band who isn't yet polished. I just feel it adds character to the songs. Overall, this was a phenomenal album, and going into listening to it, I didn't think anything could top Like a Rolling Stone for favourite song, but Tombstone Blues is so fantastic!! There is a reason this album is considered one of the best albums of all time! Every song on the record is amazing. Favourite songs: Tombstone Blues, Like a Rolling Stone, Desolation Row, Highway 61 Revisited, From a Buick 6, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues Least favourite song: it forced to pick, Ballad of a Thin Man Easy 5/5

Remek djelo

It’s Dylan. Need I say more?

Another 5 star Bob Dylan Album!

One of Dylan’s many perfect albums

Fantastic album showcasing the power of folk with electric guitar. Dylan at his best. Fav song: ballad of a thin man least fav song: like a rolling stone

Gamli Dylan er snillingur