Following on from the stellar Bringing It All Back home and Highway 61 Revisited comes this double LP, now squashed into one CD, which is probably Dylan's masterpiece of the sixties. The album builds on the blues themes of the previous album and moves into more experimental and unknown territory. ... Read review
(1997'sTime out of Mindis actually only about a minute shorter),Blonde on Blondefeatured Dylan continuing to demonstrate remarkable powers over the course of 14 new...
(1997's Time out of Mind is actually only about a minute shorter), Blonde on Blonde featured Dylan continuing to demonstrate remarkable powers over the course of 1...
(1997's Time out of Mind is actually only about a minute shorter), Blonde on Blonde featured Dylan continuing to demonstrate remarkable powers over the course of 1...
(1997'sTime out of Mindis actually only about a minute shorter),Blonde on Blondefeatured Dylan continuing to demonstrate remarkable powers over the course of 14 new...
(1997's Time out of Mind is actually only about a minute shorter), Blonde on Blonde featured Dylan continuing to demonstrate remarkable powers over the course of 1...
(1997'sTime out of Mindis actually only about a minute shorter),Blonde on Blondefeatured Dylan continuing to demonstrate remarkable powers over the course of 14 new...
(1997'sTime out of Mindis actually only about a minute shorter),Blonde on Blondefeatured Dylan continuing to demonstrate remarkable powers over the course of 14 new...
A review by Robin_Hod12 on Blonde On Blonde - Bob Dylan March 19th, 2009
Author's product rating:
Originality
Groundbreaking
Lyrics
Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks
Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Excellent
Advantages:
One of Dylan's Best Albums And One Of The Best Of All Time
Disadvantages:
None
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Following on from the stellar Bringing It All Back home and Highway 61 Revisited comes this double LP, now squashed into one CD, which is probably Dylan's masterpiece of the sixties. The album builds on the blues themes of the previous album and moves into more experimental and unknown territory. This for me is one of the greatest albums ever made and many agree with me, the album itself placed 9th on the 500 best albums of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine.
The recording of the album though was thwart with delays and an inability to tie tracks down, with Dylan initially recording with the Band in New York before taking on session musicians in Nashville for the final recording, which yielded the bulk of the album. The main context and inspiration from the album seems to be that of relationships, likely to be that of his with Sara Lownds after their marriage previously. But relationships and the hardships prevalent within them have always been big themes in Dylan's work so no surprises there then. The main theme though if I must blanket all of the tracks is the human condition and our emotions, the way we live our lives, he deals with the stuff of life, nothing escapes the all encompassing eye of Dylan. This will not be for everyone, but if you like Dylan, then you should like this, although many hardcore fans can't get on with it, I am not one of those, as I love this album, as you will see.
1. Rainy Day Woman # 12 & 35 ****
This is probably the weakest track on the album, as it is a random party atmosphere track about being stoned. But despite the huge drug influences in the song, this is a fun track that opens the album on a high. In the background, you can hear a number of other people shouting and talking, an idea that would be taken on by Hendrix on a few of his recordings to give them a bar atmosphere, whereas here it is more of a party atmosphere.
2. Pledging My Time *****
Many people don't like this track, but I do, as it is a nice blues piece that really gets the album going, and has some nice harmonica refrains, whilst also keeping the busy instrumental atmosphere of the previous track. The lyrics seem to be pleading towards a lover and perhaps her rejection of that and the vocals themselves seem to suggest something along these lines also.
3. Visions of Johanna *****
An incredible song that is winding and weaving with an almost dreamlike feel, and simply sublime lyrics. The song though is unclear of its exact meaning, but I see it as a battle in the singer's mind about how he deals with his love for Sara Lownds and also his feelings for Joan Baez, although obviously he would go on to marry Sara in November 1965, before the album was made. This is an epic song, although not quite as epic as the final track, but it doesn't feel long. There are other versions of this which should be listened to, although most of them are called Freeze Out, as this was the original title. The mystery of the track is perhaps its best element, but you almost understand what he is saying and feel what he means and wants you to feel.
4. One of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later) *****
After the more morose previous song, comes this upbeat song about relationships again, but this time it seems to be more about how he deals with some of his lovers actions. It is a song about the struggles we face in communication with each other and the problems that some of us face, but the upbeat instrumentation hides some of that and makes it feel happier than perhaps it really is.
5. I Want You *****
A pleading song that seems to be about lust, and his desire for Sara, although I don't mean this that sexually, but the chorus is pleading and some of the lines suggest this. The instrumentation is very much bluesy and takes from the previous track and continues it in a similar manner. A lot of you may already know this song, as it is one of the more famous ones to come off this, so you will know what I mean.
6. Stuck Inside a Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again *****
A classic blues song that seems to deal with nothing and everything. The instrumentation, notably the organ is a joy and probably the highlight of the track, creating a sense of elation and yet holding back on us. I myself prefer the style of the version off of the Bootleg Series Volume 7, which was done in New York, but this obviously makes it harder for Dylan to fit in some of the lines due to the different time, and some of the missing lines show some of his difficulty in pulling this off. But this track is still good and a nice almost halfway song.
7. Leopard-Skin Pill-box Hat *****
Blues all the way, this is a classic song that deals with the insanity of the vanity in high society, taking the mick out of the clothing and fashion that seems to be so sought after within such circles. The song itself was played at most of the 1966 world tour concerts and was usually altered to a more powerful style that I think suits this song. Again check out the Bootleg Series Volume 7 for an even bluesier version of this song, which I love.
8. Just Like a Woman *****
This moves back to relationships and in this Dylan looks at the female and struggles to find out what makes them tick. This is a soft piece that is both emotional and yet detached, almost singing this and looking into space, he explores the female psyche and tries to work out what he is doing wrong. This is a nice fall down from some of the heavier songs and as such is a highlight of the album.
9. Most Likely You'll o Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) *****
This is a great song, and please do not base your opinion of it on the awful remix done by Mark Ronson, as it completely spoils the feel of this. This picks up from where One of Us Must Know picked off, as it sounds similar, and the lyrics and vocal style seem to be in the same vein. A good some that is more upbeat after the previous track.
10. Temporarily Like Achilles ****
This is a strange track that feels sparser than some of the other tracks, taking on a more refined form, but containing some strange lyrics, although it is still good and seems to amble along nicely. The song itself is again pleading and feels almost guilty towards a lover, whilst also looking to plead to their heart in order to get some response and attention.
11. Absolutely Sweet Marie *****
This is more upbeat and the organ is the main instrument, leading us along with the drums. The vocals almost remind me of Queen Jane Approximately, but in a more free form and dealing with the non specific, taking on a more surreal and Dy;an-esque style.
12. 4th Time Around *****
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) was apparently Lennon's try at a Dylan style of some, and this is Dylan's interpretation of the events that the song described. This takes on a form not to musically dissimilar to that of Norwegian Wood, but the lyrics are so much better, dealing more in the ridiculous and surreal, which is a Dylan staple of this period and is a great reply to a great song.
13. Obviously 5 Believers *****
This is a driving song that perhaps builds the listener up before the final epic song. The song itself is a blues and is again relationships based, but the instrumentation here is key and the drumming is again great, with the guitar moaning and strumming along in the background. Not the best song on the album but still a great song.
14. Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands *****
This 11 minute epic is an ode to Sara Lownds, as proved by its mention in Sara, "Staying up for days in the Chelsea Hotel, writing Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands for you". And of course the title, lowlands, is very similar to Lownds, so the signs are there and the lyrics in the song suggest this themselves. The lyrics deal with a number of images and relate them to the person in question and slowly build over the course of the song to a crescendo near the end. The musicians in the song apparently were unaware of the length of the song, and you can hear them building really high at around the third chorus, but then having to dip again for the next verse, and this happens on a number of occasions, but this adds to the dynamic of the song and gives it a nice feel. I like this song and it is a good way to finish the album, taking in some of the elements that it has expressed and putting them into a more exploratory effort.
Overall, this is one of the best album ever made, rounding off Dylan's sixties electric trilogy with an epic double LP, which takes in all that the other two expressed and taking it even further. This is a spectacular example of Dylan's lyrical prowess and his ability to form a song into a blues or love song, and the vocals are also good, and for those who despise his voice, you are missing out on a lot and obviously can only deal with dull pop star voices. This is a spectacular album that too many miss due to pet peeves that show a distinct lack of ability to understand more complex song forms and styles. I love this album and would have it as one of my desert island disks, so give it a go, you just might like it. And for those wanting even more, try the SACD, as the mix and sound quality on this is astounding if played through a good set of speakers.
Advantages: Enormous depth, musically and lyrically wonderous Disadvantages: None
Bob Dylan's BLONDE ON BLONDE is a great rock album, and like all great rock albums, it's about love. The only difference between this and the others is other songwriters don't have Dylan's deep rooted pessimism. Apart from John Lennon, Dylan is the only great songwriter who can denounce love, portray the fairer sex as cold-hearted and still be one of the most romantic songwriters to ever have lived. There is a melancholy in his pro-love songs that ... ...masterpieces, within BLONDE ON BLONDE's context of blues, rock, folk and country the music matches the inventiveness of his lyrics, songs not so direct as to go straight to number one in the charts, but instead pieces that fit together to form this beautiful, beautiful jigsaw of an album. Astonishing. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: See text. Greeaat rocking album Disadvantages: none, just read the thing man!
...like "ohh yeeeeah." Blonde On Blonde is the third and final instalment in the world famous 'Dylan going electric' phase, and was released in 1966 the year of that infamous 'Royal Albert Hall' gig. And rather than give a typically long introductory service for all you pop-pickers out there I'm going to give you more time to spend with your loved ones and build a better world -together- today and let the music talk..
~~~~The Music~~~~ 'Rainy Day Women ... ...agony and pain, but with Blonde On Blonde I have no sleepless nights of worry. You can bop away till your head falls off and the Limp Biscuits and Spitknot loving 12 year olds on the street have a good game of footy with it. Well, only three pages long in word.. impressed? It seems so short to me. What do you think? Let me know in the comments now won't you? Good. Drive Safely. Night.
Have a laugh, have a rock-de-doo, learn about making music and ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
For anyone under the age of 30 the name of Bob Dylan probably doesn't mean very much. Those who have heard of him think of him as just another ageing rock star who still makes critically acclaimed records that get five star reviews in Q magazine but that sound a bit dodgy all the same. This would be a very unfair appraisal of such an important figure in modern music.
So let me take you back those halcyon days of 1966 when four lads from Liverpool ... ...also a time when an angry young man named Bob Dylan represented all that was rebellious and intellectual about popular music.
UNCLE BOB
By the mid sixties Bob Dylan had become the darling of the folk music scene. He had started to attract an audience at the beginning of the decade by in playing his own brand of updated traditional folk songs in front of hip/beatnik audiences in New York's hotbed of alternative lifestyle, Greenwich Village. Dylan ...
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Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency...
How does it compare to ...
Value for Money
very helpful
23.03.2002
Dylan at his best. Review ofBlonde On Blonde - Bob Dylanby
jameswoolerton
Advantages: Blues tinged rock, Dylan's best ever? Disadvantages: It has to end... u dont want it to.. but it has to!
This album represents, in my opinion some of Dylan's best work. The tracks and the mood of this album seem to have moved a little from the folk/protest roots and on to something more rocky and bluesy. The tracks range from simple but catchy 12 bar blues songs such as "Pledging my Time" to the classic "Visions of Johanna" which allows Dylan to display all of his song writing prowess and seamlessly put together a track which sounds heavenly. A big ... ...the harmonica plays, i love blues music and i love Bob Dylan and i love the sound and the harmony you can achieve, or Bob Dylan can and does acheive betweeen guitar and harmonica. This is also displayed on "Don't think twice, its alright" which isn't on this album but can be recommended as further listening if this album is to your tastes. The lyrics are, as you would expect from one of the best song writers of all time, of a high standard throughout ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency...
How does it compare to ...
Value for Money
very helpful
26.06.2001
A Masterpiece Review ofBlonde On Blonde - Bob Dylanby
heneghan
Advantages: Excellent songwriting, a masterpiece Disadvantages: None
Bob Dylan is to my mind the single most influential figure in modern music. He revolutionised modern poetry, folk music, and popular music. His work bridges generations and the quality of his songwriting has never been rivaled. Even the most accomplished of todays contemporary artists can only imitate.
"Blonde on Blonde" is a truly remarkable album that captures Dylan at what was perhaps his creative peak (although, some would argue that of the ... ...(originally released as a double LP) was recorded in two or three days. The direction of the album was hinted at in its predecessor "Highway 61 revisited", which I feel finally drove the nail into the coffin of the cliche-ridden topical songwriter. Dylan's work was developing a complexity to challenge a Picasso. The overall theme comes through the songs like an absraction rather than from any particular lines which spell-out a too-easily-understood ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Diversity, readiness to take chances and break new ground Disadvantages: Self-indulgent in places, with a marked lack of quality control
...When first released, 'The Beatles', generally known to posterity as the 'White Album' after its stark white packaging, seemed simply baffling. Apart from BobDylan's 'Blonde on Blonde', it was the first rock double album, and there was something pretty daunting about the sprawling collection of 30 tracks to digest at once. Numerous other acts have done the same since, but in 1968 it was not the norm.
However, maybe that's one of the most fascinating things about it. It's the least focused album they ever recorded, more like a scrapbook in which they sandwiched the real goodies with a collection of shorter tracks which might be seen as demos or unfinished ideas by one or two members of the group (like McCartney's 53-seconds-long 'Wild Honey Pie'), and a few highly dispensable items which suggest that quality control was giving way to...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Good early tunes Disadvantages: not comprehensive in the slightest
...To Me
6.: It's All Over Now Baby Blue
7.: Subterranean Homesick Blues
8.: One Of Us Must Know
9.: Like A Rolling Stone
10.: Just Like A Woman
11.: Rainy Day Women 12 And 35
12.: I Want You
Individually, these tracks are all amazing - truely a greatest hits (not just a load of B-Sides). You're better of buying the albums this collection came from, which are:
BobDylan · The Freewheelin' BobDylan · The Times They Are a-Changin' · Another Side of BobDylan · Bringing It All Back Home · Highway 61 Revisited · Blonde on Blonde ·
Other stand out Dylan Albums
Blood on the Tracks · The Basement Tapes · Desire ·Nashville Skyline
Time out of Mind · Love and Theft · Modern Times
All of the bootleg series, which include
Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991 · Vol. 4: BobDylan Live 1966, The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: They're fairly feckin' good Disadvantages: Well, it's not about White Ladder is it?
...this a must-have and a true classic. They just don't make 'em like they used to.
Favourite track: In My Time Of Dying, at 11.04 takes 1st prize
BobDylan - Blonde On Blonde
What can I say about this album that hasn't been said before? Dooyoo is jam-packed with BobDylan fans and if you've listened to this album you'll know why. From the hilarious Rainy Day Women Nos 12 & 35 (C'mon sing along "Everybody must get stoned"!) to the emotion filled 10.45 that is Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands, this album is unnaturally good. Visions of Johanna with it's amazing harmonica and vocals, the outstanding Stuck Inside A Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again... they're all here. Nuff said. Just buy it. Or if you already have, listen to it.
Favourite track: Sad Eyed Lady was close but Visions Of Johanna pips it at the post.
The Beatles...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Album Notes: Only a year after HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED, Dylan miraculously topped himself with further epigrams of surrealistic poetry and emotional intrigue. The pressure of a punishing touring schedule and high public profile helped drive him to an unbelievable fit of creativity as he spontaneously scribbled these gems in his hotel rooms. We were spoiled with a double album, more Dylan music than we had previously heard, yet still destined to endure. BLONDE ON BLONDE surrounds the folk-rock bard with the likes of Al Kooper, Robbie Robertson, Charlie McCoy and Kenny Buttrey, all seasoned musicians giving this album a relaxed confidence quite unlike the youthful energy of HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED. Decades later this album still rewards and surprises. A gigantic record in every sense.
Album Reviews: Q (1/00, p.136) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...easily Dylan's most melodically honed albums....an insane rush of ideas carried by what he'd later call 'that thin, wild mercury sound'....Tunes, tunes, tunes....Dylan the tunesmith never had better days than these." Mojo (10/03, p.124-6) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...The music takes on a genuine grandeur..." NME (10/2/93, p.29) - Ranked #17 in NME's list of the "Greatest Albums Of All Time."
Titles on disc 1
1.: Rainy Day Women 12 And 35
2.: Pledging My Time
3.: Visions Of Johanna
4.: One Of Us Must Know, Sooner Or Later One Of Us Must Know
5.: I Want You
6.: Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
7.: Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat
8.: Just Like A Woman
9.: Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)
10.: Temporarily Like Achilles
11.: Absolutely Sweet Marie
12.: Fourth Time Around
13.: Obviously Five Believers
14.: Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands
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