NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Blonde on Blonde

Blonde on Blonde is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 7th studio album, released in 1966 by Columbia Records. Many critics and fans consider it to be the creative pinnacle in Dylan's career. Cover of the Bob Dylan album Blonde on Blonde. ... A studio album is a collection of previously unreleased, studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is a Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, author, musician, and poet who has been a major figure in popular music for five decades. ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year (137th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... October 5 is the 278th day of the year (279th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (70th in leap years). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Bob Dylans folk-rock album, Blonde on Blonde Folk-rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. ... Blues-rock is a hybrid musical genre combining elements of the blues with rock and roll, with an emphasis on the electric guitar. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Bob Johnston (born 1933 in Fort Worth, Texas) is a noted record producer, best known for his work with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and many Nashville recording artists, as well as Simon and Garfunkel. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 5_stars. ... Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is a Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, author, musician, and poet who has been a major figure in popular music for five decades. ... Highway 61 Revisited is Bob Dylans sixth studio album, released in 1965 by Columbia Records. ... Bob Dylans Greatest Hits (1967) was the first compilation album released by Bob Dylan. ... The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ... Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is a Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, author, musician, and poet who has been a major figure in popular music for five decades. ... A studio album is a collection of previously unreleased, studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ...

It is believed to be the first double album in rock music,^[1] its length forcing it to two LPs, although digital reissues fit the album on one compact disc. It is notable for injecting Dylan's brand of blues rock, fully established on Highway 61 Revisited, with a more eclectic sound and even more surreal lyrics. Despite its uncompromising nature, it has come to be regarded as one of Dylan's greatest achievements, and "one of the greatest rock & roll albums ever made".^[1]^[2] A double album is an audio album of sufficient length that two units of the medium in which it is sold (especially records and compact discs) are necessary to contain the entirety of it. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Childrens gramophone records be merged into this article or section. ... A Compact Disc or CD is an optical disc used to store digital data, originally developed for storing digital audio. ... Blues-rock is a hybrid musical genre combining elements of the blues with rock and roll, with an emphasis on the electric guitar. ... Highway 61 Revisited is Bob Dylans sixth studio album, released in 1965 by Columbia Records. ...

It also marked the end of an era for Dylan, who would soon be involved in a near-fatal motorcycle accident and significantly change his musical approach.

Recorded in Nashville, the album was produced by Bob Johnston. It peaked at #9 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart in the US, eventually going double-platinum, while it reached #3 in the UK. Nickname: Location in Davidson County and the state of Tennessee Coordinates: Country United States State Tennessee Counties Davidson County Founded: 1779 Incorporated: 1806 Government - Mayor Bill Purcell (D) Area - City 526. ... Bob Johnston (born 1933 in Fort Worth, Texas) is a noted record producer, best known for his work with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and many Nashville recording artists, as well as Simon and Garfunkel. ... Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ...

Recording sessions

Background

Dylan's appearance at Newport Folk Festival in July of 1965 marked his first attempt to replicate his new sound in concert. His next attempt would come at two concerts scheduled at the end of August. Al Kooper and bassist Harvey Brooks, both of whom played on Highway 61 Revisited, were hired for these performances, but guitarist Michael Bloomfield and drummer Bobby Gregg were unable to attend due to prior obligations. In their place, Dylan recruited Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm, both of whom were members of the Hawks (who would later be known as The Band). This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Harvey Brooks (born 1944, New York City) is an American bassist. ... Highway 61 Revisited is Bob Dylans sixth studio album, released in 1965 by Columbia Records. ... For the astronaut, see Michael J. Bloomfield Michael Bernard Bloomfield (July 28, 1943 â€“ February 15, 1981) was an American musician, guitarist and composer, born in Chicago, Illinois, into a well-off Jewish family on Chicagos North Side. ... Jaime Robert Robertson (born July 5, 1943 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known for his membership in The Band. ... Mark Levon Helm (born May 26, 1940) is an American rock musician most famous as the drummer for the rock group The Band. ... For other uses, see Band. ...

It is unclear how Dylan came to this decision; he was familiar with the Hawks through John Hammond, Jr.'s So Many Roads, but it is possible his manager's secretary, Mary Martin, suggested their hiring, as well. (Martin was an avid fan of the Hawks.) Dylan actually auditioned and hired Robertson first, and backed by a preliminary four-piece band, began rehearsals at Carroll's Rehearsal Hall without Helm. After two weeks of rehearsing, "Robbie [wasn't] impressed with the drummer Bob was using and suggested he hire me instead," recalls Helm, who ultimately rehearsed with the band before securing his place as the new drummer. John Hammond album cover John Paul Hammond (born November 13, 1942), also known as John Hammond Jr. ...

The first concert was held on August 28 in New York's Forest Hills Stadium. The first half of the show was dedicated to a 45-minute solo acoustic set, which seemed to placate his older fans, but only "To Ramona" (from Another Side of Bob Dylan) predated his 'newer' work. One song, the epic "Desolation Row," was taken from Highway 61 Revisited, which was not due to hit stores until two days later. After the set was over, Dylan had a brief talk with the band before beginning the second, full electric band set. According to Brooks, "We talked about just remembering the music and having a good time with it. Bob said, '...If they don't like it, too bad. They'll have to learn to like it.'" Another Side of Bob Dylan is Bob Dylans 4th studio album, released in 1964 by Columbia Records. ... Highway 61 Revisited is Bob Dylans sixth studio album, released in 1965 by Columbia Records. ...

With the exception of "Maggie's Farm" and "Like a Rolling Stone," the electric set was mostly unfamiliar to the audience; four songs had yet to see release on Highway 61 Revisited while new renditions of "It Ain't Me, Babe" and "I Don't Believe You" were radically changed, electrified versions of two songs better known in their acoustic renditions. Highway 61 Revisited is Bob Dylans sixth studio album, released in 1965 by Columbia Records. ...

Though it is unclear what proportion of the audience was booing, they were fairly vocal. Dylan's friend Paul Nelson recalls, "There were very few people applauding the electric set. Some woman walked up to me and said, 'Joan Baez wouldn't sell out like this,' and I thought, 'Joan Baez? What's she got to sell out?'" (Baez herself would soon release her own records featuring electric accompaniment.) Joan Chandos Baez (born January 9, 1941) is an American folk singer and songwriter known for her highly individual vocal style. ... Joan Chandos Baez (born January 9, 1941) is an American folk singer and songwriter known for her highly individual vocal style. ...

Several days later, before flying to Los Angeles for the second concert, then-journalist Nora Ephron asked Dylan to respond to the audience's reaction at Forest Hills. "I thought it was great," said Dylan, "I really did. If I said anything else I'd be a liar." On September 3, Dylan and the band played an identical set at the Hollywood Bowl. The audience was considerably more friendly, and when Levon Helm expressed his relief, Dylan replied, "I wish they had booed. It's good publicity. Sells tickets." The Hollywood Bowl performance did get considerably less news coverage than the Forest Hills performance, which made The Village Voice's front page ("Mods, rockers fight over new thing called 'Dylan'"). Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area City 1,290. ... Nora Ephron Nora Ephron (born May 19, 1941 in New York City, New York) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and novelist. ... Hollywood Bowl opening night 2005. ... Mark Levon Helm (born May 26, 1940) is an American rock musician most famous as the drummer for the rock group The Band. ... Hollywood Bowl opening night 2005. ... The Village Voice is a weekly newspaper in New York City featuring investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts reviews and events listings for New York City. ...

In fact, Dylan held his first real American press conference the day after the Hollywood Bowl performance, giving a preview of the unpredictable press conferences and interviews that would be conducted over the next year.

Meanwhile, Dylan had three more shows scheduled later in the fall, and Al Kooper suddenly informed Dylan that he would not participate as the negative reaction from previous performances proved too much for him. Upon hearing this decision, Levon Helm approached Dylan's manager with a surprising ultimatum: "Take us all, or don't take anybody." Helm was more interested in reuniting his band, the Hawks, than touring with Dylan, but as it was, Dylan accepted Helm's proposal, and two all-night rehearsals were held before Dylan and the Hawks traveled to Texas for two concerts at the end of September. Those shows, as well as an October 1st show at New York's Carnegie Hall, were all well-received, but they were not without controversy. At the Carnegie Hall show, Dylan's friend Paul Nelson recalls that "most of the people from Sing Out made a point to leave at intermission." However, Helm adds that "at Carnegie Hall a couple of hundred people rushed the stage at the end, shouting for more ... [Dylan was] really beaming. 'Thank you,' he mumbled. 'I didn't think you'd feel that way.'" This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Mark Levon Helm (born May 26, 1940) is an American rock musician most famous as the drummer for the rock group The Band. ... Official language(s) No Official Language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area Ranked 2nd - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 kmÂ²) - Width 773 miles (1,244 km) - Length 790 miles (1,270 km) - % water 2. ... NY redirects here. ... Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street. ... Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street. ... Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street. ...

New York

Perhaps as a result of these performances, Dylan decided to take the Hawks into the studio. A session produced by Bob Johnston was held on October 5 and 6, at Columbia's Studio A in New York. The session focused on two songs: "I Wanna Be Your Lover" and "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" The former was ultimately shelved and would later see release on 1985's boxed-set retrospective, Biograph, while the latter was a new arrangement of a song recorded but rejected during sessions for Highway 61 Revisited. This new version of "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" was soon issued as a single-only release, reaching #58 on the singles charts. Biograph is a collection of Bob Dylan tracks, both rare and popular, that was released in 1985. ... Highway 61 Revisited is Bob Dylans sixth studio album, released in 1965 by Columbia Records. ...

As Dylan became more confident about the Hawks, the nay-sayers grew more hostile. More shows were scheduled in October, and they attracted a number of hecklers, shouting "Go back to England!" and "Get rid of the band!" It eventually took its toll on Helm, who soon left the band, citing the booing as the main reason. By now, drummer Bobby Gregg was available, and he was recruited as a replacement.

Even without Helm, Dylan still felt he had a potential band for his next album. On November 30, the Hawks (with Gregg still sitting in for Helm) accompanied Dylan at Columbia's Studio A to record Dylan's latest composition, "Freeze Out." Later retitled "Visions of Johanna," "Freeze Out" was an ambitious composition, a surreal epic approaching ten-minutes in some performances. Even with session players like guitarist Bruce Langhorne, keyboardist Paul Griffin, and Al Kooper standing by at the November 30 session, Dylan was unable to record a satisfactory performance of his new song. Bruce Langhorne is an American folk musician. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Dylan would not hold another session until after New Year's; on January 21, 1966, he returned to Columbia's Studio A to record another long composition, "She's Your Lover Now." Accompanied by the Hawks (this time with Sandy Konikoff sitting in on drums), the session failed to yield a single complete take of "She's Your Lover Now"; Dylan would not attempt to record this song again, but a recording from the January 21 session would ultimate appear on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991. (Columbia reportedly issued the most 'complete' take from that session, as it breaks down at the start of the very last verse.) The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991 is a compilation box set by Bob Dylan. ...

Failing to realize two potential songs for his planned album, Dylan grew disillusioned about using the Hawks for studio recording. He held another session at Studio A on January 25, but this time he was backed by drummer Bobby Gregg, bassist William E. Lee, pianist Paul Griffin, and Al Kooper on organ; Robbie Robertson also played at this session, and several members of the Hawks may have been present too, but their presence is uncertain due to the lack of documentation. Regardless, two more new compositions were recorded on January 25: "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat" and "One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)." Only "One of Us Must Know" was successfully realized, and a master take was later selected for the final album. Jaime Robert Robertson (born July 5, 1943 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known for his membership in The Band. ...

Another session was held on the 27th, this time with guitarist Robbie Robertson, bassist Rick Danko, Al Kooper, and drummer Bobby Gregg. "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat" and "One of Us Must Know" were recorded again, but Dylan was still unable to realize the former and performances of the latter did not supplant the master take that was ultimately taken from January 25. A rough performance of "I'll Keep It With Mine" was also recorded at this session; though it doesn't appear to be a serious attempt at realizing the song, the recording was ultimately released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991. Jaime Robert Robertson (born July 5, 1943 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known for his membership in The Band. ... Richard Clare Rick Danko (December 29, 1942-December 10, 1999) was a Canadian musician and singer, probably best known as a member of The Band. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991 is a compilation box set by Bob Dylan. ...

Meanwhile, the shortage of new songs and the sessions' slow progress contributed to Dylan's decision to cancel three more recording sessions he had already scheduled. Dylan would later meet with critic Robert Shelton in March and admit that "Oh, I was really down. I mean, in ten recording sessions, man, we didn't get one song ... It was the band. But you see, I didn't know that. I didn't want to think that." Journalist Robert Shelton was born June 28, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, and died December 11, 1995, in Brighton, England. ...

Nashville

Around this time, Dylan decided a change in scenery would help his situation. Producer Bob Johnston had some experience recording at Columbia's studios in Nashville, Tennessee, working with seasoned veterans like Grady Martin and Floyd Cramer. "They were great musicians, but they were used to working a certain way," Johnston recalls. "I'd ask them to play this or that part, and they'd say, 'Nope, don't want to play that.' They wouldn't play anything they didn't want to play." Johnston was also familiar with a number of musicians, including Jerry Kennedy, Wayne Moss, and Kenny Buttrey, who had moved up to Nashville from Florida and other parts of the South. "I started using them on demo sessions [in Nashville] and liked them." During sessions for Highway 61 Revisited, Johnston flew one of these musicians, Charlie McCoy, into New York to accompany Dylan on "Desolation Row." It was during those sessions that Johnston told Dylan he should try recording in Nashville. "I said, 'You outta come on down to Nashville sometime. They got no clocks down there, and they've really got a bunch [of] great musicians — everybody really cares ... Bob just kind of said, 'Hmm,' and put his hand to his chin, looking like Jack Benny" recalls Johnston. "That's how he always was with a new idea — everything you ever said to him he always heard, but he never reacted right away. He'd just file it away, and it would come out later if he liked it." Dylan's manager, Albert Grossman, and Columbia Records president Bill Gallagher, were present during this exchange, and according to Johnston, "a little later, [they] came to me and said, 'If you ever mention anything about Nashville again to Dylan, we'll fire you. The reason being, we're having too much success the way we're doing it now.' I said, 'Okay, you're the boss.'" Bob Johnston (born 1933 in Fort Worth, Texas) is a noted record producer, best known for his work with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and many Nashville recording artists, as well as Simon and Garfunkel. ... Nickname: Location in Davidson County and the state of Tennessee Coordinates: Country United States State Tennessee Counties Davidson County Founded: 1779 Incorporated: 1806 Government - Mayor Bill Purcell (D) Area - City 526. ... Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 - December 31, 1997) was an American Hall of Fame pianist who was one of the architects of the Nashville Sound. ... Kenneth A. Buttrey (1945 - September 12, 2004) was an American drummer and arranger. ... Highway 61 Revisited is Bob Dylans sixth studio album, released in 1965 by Columbia Records. ... For the African American blues musician, see Papa Charlie McCoy. ... Jack Benny (February 14, 1894 in Chicago, Illinois â€“ December 26, 1974 in Beverly Hills, California), born Benjamin Kubelsky, was an American comedian, vaudeville performer, and radio, television, and film actor. ... Albert Bernard Grossman (May 21, 1926 -- January 25, 1986) is best known as the manager of Bob Dylan. ...

However, Dylan never forgot Johnston's suggestion. A session was actually scheduled for November 1965, but it was cancelled at the last minute. With his current situation, Dylan decided to give Nashville a try. "It wasn't me pressuring him in any way," recalls Johnston. "I took him to Nashville later because he'd said, 'Let's go down there.'"

On February 14, 1966, Dylan held his first recording session at Columbia's Music Row Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to Al Kooper, Dylan and Johnston recruited guitarist and bassist Charlie McCoy, guitarist Wayne Moss, guitarist and bassist Joe South, and drummer Kenny Buttrey. Charlie McCoy recalls, "When [Dylan] first came in ... he asked us if we'd mind waiting a while. They had stopped at an airport in Richmond and he didn't have a chance to finish his material. ... So we all went out and let him have the studio to himself. He ended up staying in there [writing] for six hours." Nickname: Location in Davidson County and the state of Tennessee Coordinates: Country United States State Tennessee Counties Davidson County Founded: 1779 Incorporated: 1806 Government - Mayor Bill Purcell (D) Area - City 526. ... February 14 is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For the African American blues musician, see Papa Charlie McCoy. ... Joseph Alfred Souter, known as Joe South (born February 28, 1940, in Atlanta, Georgia), is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter with a distinctive guitar sound. ...

Three songs were recorded at that first Nashville session, with "Fourth Time Around" and "Visions of Johanna" receiving successful renditions that were ultimately chosen for the album. Further attempts at "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat," however, were deemed unsatisfactory. (Guitarist Jerry Kennedy and pianist Hargus "Pig" Robbins attended this session, playing only on "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat.")

The next day, Dylan held an extended session that lasted through the early morning hours of February 16th. However, studio logs indicate that no actual songs were recorded until 4 a.m. on the morning of February 16. It was during this session that Dylan recorded another epic composition, "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands." Ken Buttrey recalls, "[Dylan] ran down a verse and a chorus and he just quit and said, 'We'll do a verse and a chorus then I'll play my harmonica thing. Then we'll do another verse and a chorus then I'll play some more harmonica, and we'll see how it goes from there.' ... we were preparing ourselves dynamically for a basic two- to three- minute record because records just didn't go over three minutes ... If you notice that record, that thing after like the second chorus starts building and building like crazy, and everybody's just peaking it up 'cause we thought, Man, this is it ... This is gonna be the last chorus and we've gotta put everything into it we can. And he played another harmonica solo and went back down to another verse and the dynamics had to drop back down to a verse kind of feel ... After about ten minutes of this thing we're cracking up at each other, at what we were doing. I mean, we peaked five minutes ago. Where do we go from here?"

Another session, held at 6 p.m. on February 17, was dedicated to yet another epic composition, "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again." A master take was successfully recorded and later included on the final album.

Dylan left Nashville to play a handful of concerts, backed by the Hawks, but he returned in March to resume sessions at Columbia's Music Row Studios. This time, he came prepared with eight songs to record. According to Al Kooper, Dylan would spend much of his spare time in his hotel room, refining these compositions. "He had a piano in his room at the hotel and during the day I would go up there and he would teach me the song," recalls Kooper. "I would play the song over and over on the piano for him. This served a double purpose. One, he could concentrate on writing lyrics and didn't have to mess with playing the piano; two, I could go to the studio early that night and teach it to the band before he even got there, so they could be playing the song before he even walked through the door."

On March 8, master takes of "Absolutely Sweet Marie," "Just Like A Woman," and "Pledging My Time" were all recorded. A final, all-night session ran through the evening of March 9th into the early morning hours of March 10th, producing master takes of "Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)," "Temporary Like Achilles," "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35," "Obviously Five Believers," "I Want You," and "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat," all of which would be included on the final album.

Dylan was very pleased with the Nashville sessions, and when he supervised the final mix of Blonde on Blonde in April in Los Angeles, he had enough material for a double-album.

"The closest I ever got to the sound I hear in my mind was on individual bands in the Blonde on Blonde album," Dylan would later say in 1978. "It's that thin, that wild mercury sound. It's metallic and bright gold, with whatever that conjures up. That's my particular sound. I haven't been able to succeed in getting it all the time. Mostly I've been driving at a combination of guitar, harmonica, and organ."

Songs

Salon.com critic Bill Wyman praised Blonde on Blonde for its songs and performances, writing that "[Dylan's] singing alone is a catalog of the human emotion genome, excepting perhaps mercy. Dylan swaggers, brags, sighs, loves, loses, smiles, grieves, pleads, lusts, swoons and trips — and that's just on 'Pledging My Time' and 'Visions of Johanna.' The album contains 'Just Like a Woman,' a love song so elegant and confused it's not clear today, nearly 35 years later, whether it is insufferably condescending or startlingly loving. The album ends with a song that took up an entire album side back in the vinyl days, a love song to Sara Dylan, 'Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands,' more feverish and disturbed than even Van Morrison's Astral Weeks." Screenshot of Salon. ... George Ivan Morrison OBE (generally known as Van Morrison) (born August 31, 1945) is a singer-songwriter from Belfast, Northern Ireland. ... Astral Weeks is the title of a folk-rock and R & B album by (Northern Irish) musician Van Morrison released in November 1968 on the Warner Brothers Records label. ...

"Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" opens Blonde on Blonde with "a Salvation Army sound," as Dylan describes it. Wyman referred to it as a "stoner anthem" due to its drunk atmosphere and the continual use of the words "stone" and "stoned" ("They'll stone you when they say that it's the end ... But I would not feel so all alone / Everybody must get stoned"), but as Clinton Heylin writes, the song generated "some controversy among those unconversant with Proverbs 27:15." ("A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.")

Heylin wrote that "Visions of Johanna" was perhaps "his most perfect composition. The song's imagery is bone-chillingly precise, even as its subject matter, the omnipresent yet physically absent Johanna, hovers nebulously out of reach." NPR's Tim Riley writes that "'Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again' may be rock's grandest costume piece, balancing displacement and alienation with the offhand hatchet job (Shakespeare hitting on a French girl, the preacher 'dressed / With twenty pounds of headlines / Stapled to his chest')." Saturday Evening Post writer Jules Siegel (who was traveling with Dylan while writing a cover story on him) was present in Dylan's hotel room in Vancouver, British Columbia, when Albert Grossman brought him what was probably the first acetate dub of "Blonde on Blonde." According to Siegel, after playing "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands," Dylan said, "Now that is religious music! That is religious carnival music. I just got that real old-time religious carnival sound there, didn't I?" NPR logo For other meanings of NPR see NPR (disambiguation) National Public Radio (NPR) is a private, not-for-profit corporation that sells programming to member radio stations; together they are a loosely organized public radio network in the United States. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Albert Bernard Grossman (May 21, 1926 -- January 25, 1986) is best known as the manager of Bob Dylan. ...

Different versions of Blonde on Blonde

Blonde on Blonde has been issued in no fewer than eleven different forms, with marked differences in mixes and track lengths. No specific version has been established as canonical. In at least one European market, it was originally released as two single LPs. Even the album's original release date remains in doubt; while Columbia reports an official date of May 16, 1966, several Dylan discographers have challenged the date. In 1968, Columbia revised the album cover's inside gatefold, since the original featured a photograph of the Italian Tunisian-born actress Claudia Cardinale (who many speculated was Dylan in drag) that was used without her permission. A gatefold cover or gatefold LP is a form of packaging for LP records which was popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. ... Claudia Cardinale (born April 15, 1938) is an Italian actress born in Tunis, Tunisia to Sicilian parents. ...

Aftermath

Blonde on Blonde was a commercial success; it even spawned several hit singles that restored Dylan to the upper echelons of the singles chart. However, it was an even greater critical success. As critic Dave Marsh wrote in the Rolling Stone Record Guide, Blonde on Blonde is widely regarded as one of Dylan's "best albums, and [one] of the greatest in the history of rock & roll." Dave Marsh (born 1950) is an American music critic. ... The Rolling Stone Album Guide, previously known as the Rolling Stone Record Guide, is a book that along with its sister publication, the magazine Rolling Stone, is one of the best places to find definitive reviews of popular music (apart from wikipedia!). // First Edition Title: The Rolling Stone Record Guide...

"A sprawling abstraction of eccentric blues revisionism, Blonde on Blonde confirms Dylan's stature as the greatest American rock presence since Elvis Presley," writes Tim Riley. Critic Greil Marcus wrote that Blonde on Blonde is "the sound of a man trying to stand up in a drunken boat, and, for the moment, succeeding. His tone was sardonic, scared, threatening, as if he'd awakened after paying all his debts to find that nothing was settled." Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 â€“ August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Greil Marcus (2006) Greil Marcus (born 1945) is an American author, music journalist and cultural critic. ...

In August 1995 Blonde on Blonde placed number 8 as the greatest album of all time in a poll conducted by Mojo Magazine. In 1997, it placed at number 16 in a 'Music of the Millennium' poll conducted by HMV, Channel 4, The Guardian and Classic FM. In 1998, Q magazine readers placed it at number 47. In 2003, the album was ranked number 9 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Mojo is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Channel Four Television Corporation be merged into this article or section. ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... Classic FM is the United Kingdoms first national commercial radio station, broadcasting classical music in a popular and accessible style. ... Q is a music and entertainment magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the magazine. ... Promotional Book Cover The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time is the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone magazine published in November 2003. ...

Soon after handing the final mixes of Blonde on Blonde over to Columbia Records, Dylan flew to Hawaii for the first of many concerts scheduled in a two-month tour. The album would not be released until mid-May 1966, and until then Dylan had a series of concert engagements to attend to.

Despite their disappointing performances in the studio, the Hawks were far more successful on-stage. Though some fans remained unsatisfied with Dylan's new musical direction, the Hawks would eventually become Dylan's most celebrated touring band. That reputation would be secured with the upcoming tour and eventually documented in The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Bob Dylan Live 1966, The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert.

In 2003, Nada Surf released a song named Blonde on Blonde on their album Let Go and was featured in the opening credits to the 2004 German film Sommersturm (Summer Storm). Nada Surf is an American alternative rock / indie rock group formed in 1992. ... Sommersturm, or Summer Storm in English, is a 2004 German film directed by Marco Kreuzpaintner. ...

Interestingly enough, Martin Scorsese's 2005 documentary No Direction Home (which covers Dylan's life from birth to 1966 , with an emphasis on Dylan's metamorphosis from smalltown youth to folk sensation to world-renown folk-rock popstar), offers virtually no specific insight into either the making of Blonde on Blonde, nor examines its contents. Furthermore, there is apparently no visual record of the actual Blonde on Blonde recording sessions themselves, with no extant photographs or film directly attributable.

Track listing

Side one

Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 is a song by Bob Dylan and the opening track of his 1966 album, Blonde on Blonde. ... Pledging My Time is a blues song written and recorded by Bob Dylan for his 1966 album Blonde on Blonde. ... Visions of Johanna is a song by Bob Dylan from the 1966 album Blonde on Blonde. ... One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later) is a song written and recorded by Bob Dylan for his 1966 album Blonde On Blonde. ...

Side two

I Want You is a 1966 song recorded by Bob Dylan which appeared on the album Blonde On Blonde. ... Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again is a song by Bob Dylan that appears on his 1966 album Blonde on Blonde. ... Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat is a song by Bob Dylan, from his 1966 album Blonde On Blonde. ... Just Like A Woman Is a 1966 song written by Bob Dylan and released on his classic 1966 album Blonde On Blonde. ...

Side three

Most Likely Youll Go Your Way (And Ill Go Mine) is the first track of the second disc of the 1966 album Blonde on Blonde, the groundbreaking seventh album from singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. ... Temporary Like Achilles is a song written and recorded by Bob Dylan for his 1966 album Blonde On Blonde. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wikiquote. ... 4th Time Around is a song by Bob Dylan off his 1966 album, Blonde on Blonde. ... Obviously Five Believers is a song that appears on the Bob Dylan album Blonde on Blonde. ...

Side four

Personnel

Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is a Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, author, musician, and poet who has been a major figure in popular music for five decades. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Organ in Katharinenkirche, Frankfurt am Main, Germany The organ is a keyboard instrument played using one or more manuals and a pedalboard. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The horn (popularly known also as the French horn) is a brass instrument decended from the natural horn that consists of tubing wrapped into a coiled form. ... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... Jaime Robert Robertson (born July 5, 1943 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known for his membership in The Band. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Joseph Alfred Souter, known as Joe South (born February 28, 1940, in Atlanta, Georgia), is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter with a distinctive guitar sound. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Richard Clare Rick Danko (December 29, 1942-December 10, 1999) was a Canadian musician and singer, probably best known as a member of The Band. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is an electrically-amplified string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ... The violin is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... The name Bill is in two (2) generations of Atkins. ... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. ... Kenneth A. Buttrey (1945 - September 12, 2004) was an American drummer and arranger. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... Paul Griffin may refer to: Paul Griffin (basketball) Paul Griffin (Gaelic football) This human name article is a disambiguation page â€” a list of pages that might otherwise share the same title, which is a persons or persons name. ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... {{Infobox musical artist |Name = Garth Hudson |Img = |Img_capt = |Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist |Birth_name = Eric Garth Hudson |Alias = |Born = August 2, 1937 Windsor, Ontario |Died = |Origin = |Instrument = Organ, piano, keyboards, accordion, saxophone, synthesizer, Melodica Slide Trumpet, [[ |Genre = Rock and roll, rock, pop, Jazz, R&B, country, folk |Occupation = Solo artist, Session musician |Years_active... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... The saxophone (colloquially referred to as sax) is a conical-bored instrument of the woodwind family, usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece like the clarinet. ... Bob Johnston (born 1933 in Fort Worth, Texas) is a noted record producer, best known for his work with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and many Nashville recording artists, as well as Simon and Garfunkel. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... Richard Manuel (April 3, 1943 â€“ March 4, 1986) was a Canadian pianist, keyboardist, drummer, singer and songwriter best known for his membership in The Band. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is an electrically-amplified string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ... Remaster (and its derivations, frequently found in the phrases digitally remastered or digital remastering) is a word and concept ushered into the mass consciousness via the digital age, although it had existed before then. ... For the African American blues musician, see Papa Charlie McCoy. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is an electrically-amplified string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The trumpet is the highest brass instrument in register, above the French horn, trombone, baritone, euphonium, and tuba. ...

References

Time, (whose trademark is capitalized TIME) is a weekly American newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ...

Contents

Recording sessions

Background

New York

Nashville

Songs

Different versions of Blonde on Blonde

Aftermath

Track listing

Side one

Side two

Side three

Side four

Personnel

References

See also

Contents

Recording sessions GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Background

New York

Nashville

Songs

Different versions of Blonde on Blonde

Aftermath

Track listing

Side one

Side two

Side three

Side four

Personnel

References

See also

Recording sessions