A masterpiece. My favorite Dylan album. You'd be hard pressed to find someone as cool as Dylan was in 1966.

There’s a magic to Blonde On Blonde that cannot be explained

Perfect summary of a masterpiece! Visions of Johanna is the absolute peak on here! Spot on. Joe is basically becoming a massive Dylan fan! It’s happening. 3 4.5’s in a row! Love it. ❤

I have to say I had a lump in my throat hearing Dylan talk about visions of Johanna - a magnificent song - one of my all time favorite lines is even Mona Lisa must have had the highway blues you can tell by the way she smiled. But the point about trying to live Louise when really it is Johanna that he loved was so well made - Johanna will always be Suze rotola in my mind

The lyrical run in "Just Like a Woman" from the bridge ("It was raining...") straight through the the end of the final verse ("...it was your world") is so stunningly perfect it knocks me off my feet every single time I hear it.

all I can say is “I fucking love this album.” easily my favorite from the classic era. can’t wait to hear what Joe thinks about this next chapter of Bob with Basement Tapes. I got really into that record over this past year.

Great comments and show. I’m 79 and discovered Dylan my second year in college in in 1963. I have been a huge (!) fan since then. I agree with many of your comments in this segment. I never tire of Dylan songs and I have too favorites to mention here. Thanks for the thoughtful and informative comments from both of you. Personally, I feel that those just discovering Dylan should probably start with studio versions first then, then seek out live performances. There are some exception to my old geezer philosophy.

Great discussion. I particularly liked Joe's comment on listening to Dylan. Not mere background noise, one must listen at various levels to fully appreciate. Also Dylan's on how Bob changes from where he is and never goes back. Very insightful.

Only 7 albums by bob rated 5 stars?? I have 15. I've heard 1000s of albums, but imo nobody cuts to the soul like Dylan. Loved the comments about Visions. Really enjoying this series, thanks for doing it. Stuart

Rainy day Women is the perfect opener for this album. Can't imagine the album without it.

Big respect at your efforts Joe……..

Absolutely my favorite Dylan album. Being 20 yrs old when it came out it just hit so hard! I kept waiting for one of you to talk about Visions of Johanna and I guess Dylan was waiting for the right moment. I'm on the same page with it being my favorite Dylan song as well as number one song of all time! Thanks Bob and Dylan for doing this series 🙏

This album will always be number one to me because of the strength of four songs: Visions of Johanna, Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands, Just Like A Woman, and I Want You. All four of these songs are similar in that they are portraits of a relationship with a women expressed with shockingly original images and stream of consciousness. It's a juggernaut of creativity that has few if any equals.

A masterpiece, very glad to see that Joe has been enjoying this journey.

I agree the VofJ is my favorite song of all time. It was something of a revelation to me when I found out who Johanna was irl. It definitely changed the way I heard the song: Johanna became real to me; I knew who she was for the first time. No more guessing about what/who Bob was talking about. Here is a couple of paragraphs from her obit (she died in 2021): "Beloved mother, partner, and community presence Johanna Theresa Beck (née Altieri) 77, passed away peacefully at her Alder St. home in Scranton, PA on Friday December 24, 2021. Johanna was born May 27, 1944 in Manhattan, NY to Frank and Frances Altieri, and was raised in the Bronx, NY and Carteret, NJ. She graduated from Carteret High School, studied modeling at the Barbizon school and psychology courses at Morris County College. After pursuing a career in modeling, in 1965 the intelligent and vivacious Johanna landed a position with Albert Grossman’s management firm at CBS records as personal assistant to artists such as Richie Havens, Peter Paul and Mary, Janis Joplin, and Bob Dylan. It was during her tenure at CBS that Dylan penned “Visions of Johanna,” a widely regarded rock n’ roll masterpiece." Johanna was someone Bob wanted but could not have. Bob was, after all, married to Sarah, and if she found out, she would divorce him. So Johanna was just a vision. The whole verse about "little boy lost," Bob is talking about himself. The song expands on that theme immensely to become something much more than just an ode to Johanna Beck. Most people say it's about Joan Baez. Rubbish. By 1965, Baez was out of Dylan's life; he definitely wasn't pining for her. And 'Louise' is not someone Dylan wants. He refers in the first verse specifically to her lover -- and it obviously ain't him. This song is intimately tied, imo, to I Want You. Same theme. I read somewhere long ago who the 'dancing child with his Chinese suit' was, but I can't remember now. I was someone who was hanging around the office hitting on Johanna and Bob was pissed about it.

The first & greatest double album of all time.

I completely agree with your assessment of "Visions of Johanna." Right out of college I moved from the midwest to New York City, and a lot of the imagery in the song "feels" like that transition for me. For instance, NYC was the first time in my life I had ever heard heat pipes "cough." (If you've ever lived in an old New York apartment, you absolutely know that sound and how perfect a metaphor Dylan wrote.) Your conversation highlighted the Mona Lisa lines, but for me, the special part is the two lines that immediately precede it: "Inside the museums, infinity goes up on trial/Voices echo this is what salvation must be like after a while." Strangely enough, my first job in New York City was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and again, how perfect these lines are. Why do we take the time to look at all this art, meant to be preserved forever - for "infinity?" (There are artworks at the Met that are literally thousands of years old.) My reading of "...on trial...": how do we assess what art has value? What gets displayed and what gets tossed aside? What is canonical, and why? As for "This is what salvation must be like after a while," it rings so true as well. The museum attracts visitors from all around the world, clamoring to see priceless masterpieces. Me? I worked there every day. Sometimes I just walked by priceless masterpieces in a hurry as I headed to the museum cafeteria for my lunch break. I didn't even raise an eyebrow at the priceless masterpieces; they had all simply become wallpaper to me. "This is what salvation must be like after a while?" Indeed! Mind you, these are only TWO lines from this masterpiece song. As for Dylan being dense, yes he is! Joe, I wasn't sure if you were complaining about that? Yes, Dylan can be very dense, but that's a feature, not a bug. Dylan rewards repeated listenings. To this day I can't visit a museum without thinking about "Visions of Johanna" and how brilliant Dylan was to think up these things at such a young age.

Another great episode, thank you. It’s really clear that Joe and I listen to (or derive the most pleasure from) music differently…his focus (as a musician) is on the sound, arrangements, various pieces from the instruments, etc.)…where I, certainly with Dylan am hyper focused on the lyrics, personality and voice….that’s what I revel in. That’s why so Dylan is so very special, and to my mind so superior to all his peers. And Blonde on Blonde (5 stars for sure) is chock full of brilliant songs and a marvel of lyrics and song construction. I find I totally agree with Mr. Sevey in his appreciation of the album and the artist, particularly re his points that we are hearing something that is totally new, and (as Joe to his credit) like Orson Welles, exploring the medium in a fresh and fearless way. Special shout out to Mr. S for his excellent appreciation of Visions of Johanna…I agree, one of if not the best song, ever. I was agog when Joe spoke of “nonsense lyrics”…what, no, this is a song constructed of genius, being with one woman while thinking of another. Mind blowing song, the single best example of Dylan’s greatness. But like your Dylan said, B on B is not my favourite Dylan album…but it is excellent and a joy to dive into. With so much misfortune in the world, we are truly lucky to have an artist like Dylan (and those few others) to offer us such tremendous, inspiring, moving music. We need it! Thx for reminding us all of its importance, gentlemen! Cheers, JPE

I started episode 1 of this series with no real intent to watch it all, suddenly I’m listening to each album and following on! Thoroughly enjoying this series and love both opinions! It’s also really cool watching Joe’s development and discovery of Bob Dylan! Thanks guys!

Great album love it❤

Definitely my favorite of the electric trilogy. Like on the last album, the bluesier stuff isn't my favorite, but it is better here. The good stuff is among the best of his career. Dylan, you nailed why Visions of Johanna is so great, so I shouldn't say anymore. Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands is my favorite song in Bob Dylan's catalog: a sprawling, gorgeous love song with a lovely melody and arrangement. Looking forward to the Basement Tapes next week and my favorite Bob Dylan album in two weeks.

Ps. You’re right Dylan. When looking back really need to take a moment to recognise that this was the first time this was done… and became the foundation for so much subsequent great music. I feel a lot of folks tend to forget or overlook the brilliance in creativity when looking back.

Blonde on Blonde was the logical conclusion of an incredibly creative time in Dylan's life. Bringing It All Back Home led to Highway 61 which led to Blonde on Blonde. The same cannot be said of the Stones' Exile or the Beatles Sgt. Pepper...

One of the best vocal performances ever. A reviewer wisely once said - Dylan illustrates the difference between a great singer and a great rock n roll singer. When you’re stoned or in an altered state and time slows and becomes elastic… that’s what Dylan’s lyrics and voice makes me think of. THAT’S the point. It’s why Jack Black hugs the guy and says “it’ll be alright” when he gives him the album in Hi Fidelity. My favourite Dylan album with 61, and in my top 20 of all albums

....and then the crash happens .... yet another type of style album run will occur from BD ...... It's a joy listening to you guys , great to have the history of Rock n Roll appreciated by those younger than my 66 year old ears ....

I watched and enjoyed it to the end.

I'd say Blonde on Blonde is my favourite Bob Dylan album and most definitely 5 stars. It is part of the golden trilogy of 66 - Beatles, Bob and Beach Boys. An all-time great albums and one that warrants a double episode spectacular. Every time I listen it's an exhilarating listen that always flies by despite its run time. Great discussion as always.

Had to skip some episodes to get to Blonde On Blonde..My favourite Dylan album and second fav album of all time just behind Sgt. Pepper’s..Visions Of Johanna is my favourite Dylan song..you guys are awesome👍❤️glen

Visions Of Johanna possibly my fav song ever

Excellent episode. I started to like Bob's music with his Greatest Hits Vol. 2 back in the early 70's, and the song "Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again". Looking forward to our interview tonight!

Over an hour! Sweet 👍 bring it on!

oh yes. glad we all agree on this one.

Great review guys. Also brilliant idea to do basement tapes before John Wesley Harding.

Is this the greatest album of all time? Perhaps not.......but it's certainly good enough to be considered for the top spot. In any case, it's absolutely fantastic, sweet Marie. Goddamn.

Another great episode! A deep dive into an album that bears repeated listened. Enjoyed Joe's musical analysis and was moved by Dylan S.'s rhapsodic praise of "Visions of Johanna". (It's a song I never 'got' until I heard Robyn Hitchcock cover it live at the West End Cultural Centre.) BLONDE ON BLONDE is one of those doubles where it would be easy to cut a few songs here and there but you'd end up losing the full drama and majesty of the work. The classic songs are of such high quality that if Bob had just decided the pad the album with studio chatter or barking dogs, it would still be one of his greatest works. All of the so-called 'throwaways' have something to recommend them and the totality of the 72+ minutes is both a statement and a challenge. Serious songwriters couldn't go around this record, they'd have to go through and either absorb or reject what Dylan had recorded. As with Dylan S., BOB (hey, it's Dylan's first name!!!!) isn't my favourite album nor would it make my Top 5. However, every time I go back to it, I discover something new and exciting. I'm glad you made the disclaimer about the 1975 BASEMENT TAPES because, sadly, I'm one of those nerds. I'm glad the post-accident, pre-WESLEY HARDING period is being addressed. It's a fascinating series of sessions yielding some timeless songs. I would say that for the full treatment of those sessions, some reference should also be made of the BOOTLEG VOL 11 release (if only for "The Mighty Quinn" and some of the great songs that Dylan eventually rerecorded on his GREATEST HITS VOL 2 comp.). Okay, I'm nerding out here but I'll finally make a recommendation for Greil Marcus's book, INVISIBLE REPUBLIC. It's a thorough and very entertaining look at the "Basement Tapes" sessions as well as a defining analysis of Americana.

This and Pet Sounds are my favorite records of all time. I can listen to this album over and over. Dylan's best albums are the albums where you can tell he's emotional and letting it out - BOB, Time out of Mind, Blood on the Tracks, Street Legal. This is the peak of Dylan's I don't give a F attitude and in 1966 no one has ever been a bigger rebel than Dylan. Visions of Johanna is definitely in the convo for his best song. Plenty of straight ahead tracks such as Pledging my Time, Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat. I don't think he's ever sounded as "Dylan" than on those ones. Just like a Woman is my favorite song of all time. I can't even describe what it means to me. Fourth Time Around seems to be Dylan impersonating the Beatles - Norweigan Wood where Lennon was trying to sound like Dylan. I want You is a perfect ballad and One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) is the pinnacle of the album in my mind in terms of that aching/longing and at times sad feeling that Dylan seems to convey on this album. It's clear at this point in his career he was frustrated with everything/his stardom vs. what he viewed himself as and I think these are the songs that came out. The Band was the perfect companion for him as the songs weave in and out.

Enjoying the hell out of this journey. Yes, I thought it would be "John Wesley Harding" next, but I love that you guys are going to follow a more chronologically ordered path. Should be a fascinating installment, if for no other reason than, as Dylan said, observing the changing music scene as it happened. Great stuff.

It's probably been 15+ years since I last listened to Blonde all the way through, but my appreciation for it was renewed. It's one of the rare double albums where every song justifies its presence. I agree with the consensus that this is the best "sound" Dylan ever found, notwithstanding the extra-nasally vocals. Songs-wise, it's easily a 5 stars. "Obviously 5 Believers" would be my pick for the most underrated track. If Blonde isn't a 5 star album, then maybe 5 star records don't exist.

love that this popped up in my feed. Hope your well Dylan. The podcast is rad my friend.

Visions of johanna is also my all time favourite song. Leaves me floorless. Tragic ultimate destruction of a person to his obsessions and sublime poetry. The music too is just perfect and brings it all back home.

I really love your podcast. I do love the Bangladesh Just Like a Woman and all of the album. I enjoy listening to those much younger than I discovering and articulately discussing Dylan, although I am totally confident that the world will be listening to Dylan until the grid goes down. My first listen was at the age of 13. My main question then and now : Where do these words come from? My favorite version of Queen Jane Approximately and the best song on Shadow Kingdom 2023. I eagerly wait for EP 9. Many thanks to you both.

I love BoB alongside H61R most, but there are so many masterpieces. He stands alone. I even get shivers up my spine just by you quoting lines from those magnificent songs.

I agree with "Visions of Johanna" definitely one of my all time favorites, this one and Simple "Twist of Faith" are my Top-Notch Dylan songs!

Blonde on Blonde to my ears is Bob Dylan becoming musical. With few exceptions the music before this was something for him to put his lyrics over. And that is not to diminish Bringing It All Back Home/Highway (51?) 61 Revisited. I struggled to appreciate Bob Dylan as a young music fan. And it was hearing the Jason & The Scorcher's cover of Absolutely Sweet Marie that cracked the door open for me. That seems pretty laughable now, but I am glad it got me in. The double entendres and humor in that track still gets me every time. As cliched as the opinion may be Visions Of Johanna is my favorite Dylan track. Just reading the lyrics as you both discussed it gave me goosebumps. And the rest of the album is not far behind. Blonde on Blonde is either my favorite or 2nd favorite Dylan depending on the day. This album 100% deserved the double podcast. Thank you for the expansive discussion. The comment about Bob Dylan forever being viewed through the lens of his mid-60s highs reminded me of the refrain that follows Elvis Costello. A songwriter worthy of being in the conversation with Bob, but is tragically reduced to the first five years of his career, in many overviews. I digress, thanks again for the great show.

Well Said Boys! Love the Pepper, Exile, Blonde insight... I know I feel that way. For me, the issues are the sound, So thin and his singing. But great songs! Thanks!

Oh Joe I thought we were going so well until the 4th time around slander. That's my favourite song on the album but nevermind I'm glad you enjoyed the album overall. ✌️

Dylan has great taste! Mentions King Gizzard on a Bob Dylan pod, love that. Loves stuff from every decade too, would be very keen to see how he rates Demon Days 😂

“…for those of you still with us…” hahaha. Great discussion and insights (as usual) could easily go longer and I’d be ok with that. Looking forward to the next episode “off of the usual path”. Will I see it tomorrow?? 😂 No, really…

Visions is in my top five songs of all time. Glad to hear how important it is to Dylan here as well

I know its probably been mentioned but i feel like the albert hall album is a must to listen to after the "electric" trilogy. It really lifts to them to greater heights imo

Did I hear Dylan say, “Lo and behold?” If so, I see what you did there. It’s a lot harder to fit in “Yea! Heavy And A Bottle of Bread” into normal and conversation.

I love this series! I started to explore Dylan's later career over this past year having known mostly his 60's and early 70's output and my appreciation for his music has grown immensely! Love how you both describe your experiences with the music and lyrics! I feel like I need to dig back into everything I know and listen again! Can't wait for the next episode!!

Blonde On Blonde is a stunner. From the suggestive title to the racy lady stories, this is one of Bob’s best: playful, devilish and deeply emotive. His hair is so floofy on the album cover - I just wanna run my fingers through it, and tug at that scarf. I think sensuality is often overlooked when describing Dylan as a songwriter, and as a man. If this aspect wasn’t so often present (and candid, without being crass), I wouldn’t relate to him nearly as much. Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands slow dances like Unchained Melody. Visions Of Johanna, One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later), I Want You, Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat, Just Like A Woman, and Fourth Time Around hold so much magic for me. This album is chock-full of collective resonance, humor, charm, sass, and warmth. Some favorite lyrics: “With your mercury mouth in the missionary times And your eyes like smoke and your prayers like rhymes And your silver cross and your voice like chimes Oh, who do they think could bury you?” (Sad-Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands) “And she buttoned her boot, and straightened her suit, and she said, "Don't get cute" So I forced my hands in my pockets and felt with my thumbs And gallantly handed her my very last piece of gum” (Fourth Time Around)

Never say goodbye great love song

Really enjoying this series!

Very much enjoying this series! Very interesting discussions each and every time.

Love the series

I love this record...highway 61 revisited is my favourite...but this one is so good as well...I put a couple of sides on the turntable while I did a mountain of dishes in honour of listening to your episode today...cheers from windsor ontario...

I've listened to Blonde on Blonde tons of times. First thing. It kills me when Joseph says he doesn't care much for 4th time around and says that its Bob doing Norwegian Wood. I think what happened, and somebody correct me if I'm wrong, Bob played an early version of 4th time around for John Lennon, and John went and wrote Norwegian Wood. And I always see the last line of Bob's song as calling out John for taking too big of a chuck of inspiration from his song before Bob even had a chance to release it. I may be completely wrong, but from the little things I've read here and there, that's my impression. But I'm a big Bob fan, maybe that's just my bias. Secondly, a few things bug me about this album too. There's little obvious parts where Bob kind of messes up on his vocals, starts to say the wrong word, or forgets something. Also, there's the Bob voice. Also, when he says "I'm going to let you pass" I wish he said it more clearly, so it doesn't sound like what it actually sounds more like than "let you pass," which I'm not going to mention here.

I was really hoping you would do the Basement Tapes next rather than making the great leap forward to JWH, so I was glad to hear you will be. He certainly did cover a couple of decades worth of musical development in a few short years, just leaping blindly from peak to peak to peak.

I think Dylan’s songwriting musically made a couple steps up on this album. He started putting bridges sometimes in the songs and with the aid of the Nashville pros your right ,he does start competing with the Beatles ,Stones, Kinks etc to some extent musically I don’t think he reaches the musical sophistication of the BEATLES by any means but he still takes a leap forward and of course his lyrics remain at a level of poetry for the most part. It’s a masterpiece for sure. Sad Eyed Lady….is off the charts…really one of the most expansive LOVE SONGS EVER.Very poetic…5 stars from me.

Hi guys, I hope you'll do "Blood on the tracks" too, which is probably my favourite Bob Dylan album, onde on Blonde could be number 2 or 3, swapping position with highway 61 revisited, I'm a great fan of Nashville skyline and Desire too. The bootleg series boosted my interest in Bob Dylan sky high! I can't wait to the new ranking with the other guys

Along with white album by the beatles this is my absolute favorite album of all time by anyone. Perfect beyond belief.

I could definitely live in a world without Birthday. Honey Pie, Wild Honey Pie, Bungalow Bill,Revolution 9, Piggies, Why Don’t We Do It In the Road, Don’t Pass Me By, and Good Night.

Blonde on Blonde - Best album. Joe agrees. 1 Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again - a great song with ultra surreal lyrics and a very catchy melody. Dylan's playful lyrics and vocals blend well with Kooper's organ. Why Mobile and Memphis? Mobile was synonymous with being racially segregated and intolerant, but Memphis has soul. 10 Plus 2 Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) 10 plus. I love this. Dylan's lyrics are great and fun. An outstanding trumpet! "And I'm gonna let you pass, Yes, and I'll go last. Then time will tell just who fell and who's been left behind When you go your way and I go mine." "Well, the judge, he holds a grudge He's gonna call on you But he's badly built And he walks on stilts. Watch out he don't fall on you" Love these comical and sly lines. 3 Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands Beautiful, Haunting, of his top 3 songs for me. It's the melody for me again. So well sung, Bob modulates his voice well with his sandpaper vocals now smoother. An earnest voice takes one through a cryptic, surreal love letter to his then-wife, Sara (Lowlands) Lownds. Bob can be cruel, but I don't think he would call Sara "Sad" if she were; here, I'm guessing, Sara is sad about the state of Bob or is thinking of leaving him. Though Bob doesn't mention "love" in the song, we feel his love and obsession. Bob's obscure lyrics might confuse one unless one has some history of Sara. Sara has " a mercury mouth in the missionary times". Translation: she's silver-tongued and worked at the New York Times (Missionary Times). "Your flesh like silk, and your face like glass. With your silhouette when the sunlight dims Into your eyes where the moonlight swims And your match-book songs and your gypsy hymns (she's writing down lyrics, like a wanna-be Dylan) Who among them would try to impress you?" Send this song in a time capsule to another universe more worthy than ours. 10 PLus. I Want You. Very catchy. 10 Just Like A Woman - 8 I know, how can I not love this? I just don't love the melody, and it bores me in some way. It's not that it can be construed as sexist. I'm sorry to be out of step. Visions of Johanna 8 Fans of Dylan love it; I just like it. Fourth Time Around. 8 Dylan was tired of the Beatles or Yoko Ono ripping his songs off (Ok Oh Yoko! Not) So he wrote this as a parody and sounds something like Norwegian Wood. Dylan may have wanted to sue the Beatles but that that bird had flown So Bob lit a wooden fire but his song wasn't quite a good as Norwegian wood. Absolutely Sweet Marie. 8 Very fine up-tempo song. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat. 8 Funny song. Bob has a laugh at women's fashion; surprised he didn't mention Jackie O. Bob, with all of his Biblical and other historical references, forgot to include a reference to the pillbox hat, known as the pilleus, that was worn by Roman soldiers. This song seems to me missing references to T.S. Elliot's "The Waste Band Belt and Hat". Elliot might have written: "In the room the women come and go, talking of Michelangelo, in their brand new leopard-skin pill-box hats!" But Elliot can be so humorless. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 Dixieland, honky-tonk, drunken Salvation Army Marching band-style blues. All those genres I tend to cringe a bit at. A novelty song that grows less novel. What is stoned Dylan laughin' and others laughin about? I heard it live on KZfaq and it's a better song because they didn't travel with the huge Salvation Army Marching band with them to save expense, though they brought along some Brand New Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hats to hide the pot! 4 but a 6 live on KZfaq. Temporary Like Achilles 6 Bob seems like a 16-year-old boy trying to find this woman's Achilles' Heel so she can open her up for some lovin cup. He's hiding out in his "Trojan" Horse-play. Dylan is softening himself up just like a woman and dressing in drag as he aches for her just like Achilles temporarily did so he can break this virgin like a little girl, who is a tough cookie to crack.

No one beats the volume of output (with still very good quality, IMO) of Robert Pollard / Guided By Voices. Pretty close is Thee Oh Sees (OCS, OSees, etc.).

Hope you guys keep doing this

great double podcast for a great double album.

I agree with Joe Im always surprised at the negativity towards Rainy Day Woman , For me its a wonderful start to the album conjuring up a wonderful party atmosphere full of fun and camaraderie that sets up the rest of the album. Regarding the vocals, I agree they are mannered and work on most of the songs. The only songs where i feel they are detrimental are on "Sad Eyed Lady" and "Temporary Like Achilles" where I think his Highway 61 voice would have sounded better .Overall My favorite album',great discussion as usual.

as nearly always, i agree fully with what dylan the fan is saying, especially his words on "visions of johanna". the only aspect i missed here was a hint to the "sound of casual coolness" that is driving songs like "obviously five believers" and, differently, also "i want you", which lboth of you seem don't seem to like as much as i do. for some months, while touring the world, bob dylan was the epitome of a dandyistic drugged poet pop star. marc bolan styled himself after the blonde on blonde-dylan in 1970, i think. bryan ferry was a fan and must have listened closely to this dylan voice (two or three of his covers on his "dylanesque"-album are nice.) dylan performed this underground pop star thing as the first person ever, like a living warhol character (this was the time he had contacts with the factory). and then, he just quit. (there was some kind of reprise on "before the flood", the 1974 live double album with the band, killer "rock" versions of some blonde on blonde songs there, but the playfulness replaced with pure intensity.)

" Jewels and binoculars hang from the head of the mule, but these visions of Johanna , they make it all seem so cruel" was the line that Elvis Costello said was Dylan's peak. I'm with you Dylan Sevey, Visions is the greatest song by anybody IMHO

I am so personally involved in a lot of Dylan's records that i cannot separate my experiences from my analysis. They are intertwined. My emotions are tied up in each song on this record as if im literally consuming them. Together with the hazy pictures on the LP sleeve it has such character that it has become family in the way Blood on the tracks has. The texture or flavour ( i cant find the right fitting adjectives) is connected to my experiences playing the record, mostly on a crappy record player. Ive danced drunk to Sad eyed lady and fallen over. Ive hugged the record cover while playing it. It certainly was the substitute to an imaginary love affair while my real girlfriend went neglected. Yes, i was that stupid. But hey, i was 15. I thought Dylan was 'da shit' as they used to say. What real life was all about and nothing else mattered..

Great podcast. I'm surprised either of you hardly mentioned (if at all?) Queen Jane Approximately, which I love even amongst all the other fantastic songs on this masterpiece of an album..

❤❤The Basement Tapes! Another double album that I actually enjoy more than Blonde on Blonde, not saying better, but "tears of rage" on this is my favorite version, as is "open the door,Homer" and "crash on the Levee " I maintain is his best blues. Also a Pittsburgh reference in one of the songs lyrics lol

Rainy Day Women is just bonkers. My least favorite Dylan song by a longshot. It's basically a novelty tune. That one song would have been best regulated to a B-Side. The rest of the album is stellar. Good episode.

It fills my heart that Joe is enjoying Bob Dylan these days. It will be interesting to see how he interacts with the next several records. Any odds on what his favorite album will end up being? Which album do you think he’ll come out with his own “What’s this shit?” review?

Truly excellent commentary mates! I was impressed. I heard that LSD had some kind of influence on Dylan's wacky lyrics. Fact or fiction? Dylan?

Jo-Hanna

~ I personally would’ve cut out the two weak opening numbers, which I skip over when playing the album, & the last & released it as a stronger, more focused single album ~

I haven't bought for years that there was a motorcycle accident. Look at the end of the tour when he's sitting there rocking back and forth, talking about dying in a plane accident. That tour had him doing whole farms of weed and he was overamping on speed (at the beginnings of his "electric period" he was being called "an amphetamine prick"). So he wanted to get out from under management -- in those days managements toured their "ownees" to death -- and stop the endless touring. What better way to do that than a very public assertion of severe incapacity?

Do you guys recommend mono or stereo?

Not sure if it was Blonde On Blonde (i.e. BOB) or Frank Zappa/Mothers Of Invention's Freak Out which was the 1st rock double album. Anyway, both great records!

Couple of observations. Joe because you are not a primarily lyrically tuned in guy, VOJ is not nonsensical in any way. The lyrical narrative forms a gestalt of a world weary view similar to a painting by a gifted artist. It is one of the most atmospheric songs he ever wrote, one that captures deep despair and is considered by many to be one of his greatest lyrical achievements. One can also see the progression of the quiet withdrawal of Desolation Row into a much deeper interior complexity. What I find interesting on B on B is the inversion of the personas from the previous two albums. Whereas Dylan in Like a Rolling Stone and most songs on Highway 61 and B IABH as the hipster provocateur, here the roles have been reversed. Now it is the singer, the author, who has fallen, has lost his bearings and whose world view has become disassembled. Now the senator came down here Showing ev’ryone his gun Handing out free tickets To the wedding of his son An’ me, I nearly got busted An’ wouldn’t it be my luck To get caught without a ticket And be discovered beneath a truck Oh, Mama, can this really be the end To be stuck inside of Mobile With the Memphis blues again One cannot comprehend the full impact of Dylan unless one lived the era in which these albums came out. I had not heard B on B until 1970. I was with a younger couple, (about 19, I was 23) and we sat down to listen to it. We started wit side 2. First came the jaunty yet aching "I Want You". Then came on "Stuck Inside of Mobile". The song started drawing me in, especially Kooper's haunting yet dancing organ, and the verse above came on. I started crying bitterly, I couldn't help myself. The young man looked at me and said "You look like you really know what he is singing about". I could only nod my head. For many, Dylan and other great popular artists then were not just musicians, but cultural spokespeople giving voice to what was in the collective. The agony of feelings of abandonment, by family, by society, by cultural institutions at one of the peaks of the war was incredibly visceral, immediate and that song, in more conventional narrative creation than VOJ which I see as a companion piece in feeling but expressed in an entirely poetic surrealistic way, expressed them incredibly. What does not get discussed that often is Dylan's quite ruthless honesty about himself. Some artists had it, not that many. Stairway to Heaven is considered a great song, and I like it, but compared lyrically to Dylan, Cohen, Beatles and others it seems puerile. I also find B on B musically much richer, smoother, flowing than the previous two. The music seems to support the lyrics because it feels more interior as well. Stuck Inside of Mobile could never have been made on B IABH or Highway 61. When someone sings utterly from the heart, I have no issue with their voice.

I have a slight feeling that Joe isn’t going to “get” The Basement Tapes. Hoping it does click with him, but my hunch is that he isn’t going to like it.

"Blonde On Blonde" is not the first double album in rock and roll history. That would be "Freak Out" by the Mother's Of Invention. This has been argued for years, but in the end the available documentation points to "Freak Out" by about a week.

This may be Bob's best album - so is it all downhill from here?

Despite having his greatest song IMHO( Visions of Johanna), this is my least favorite of the Surrealist Trilogy. I rank it 8 on his albums list, 4.5 stars. Can’t wait to get to JWH, my #2 Dylan album, only bested by Hwy 61 Rev

I know this is a great album , i just happen to like 14 or 15 other of his albums more and thats excluding all the bootleg series stuff. 40 solid years into my Dylan phase and it has just never connected but…. One day it might .

I Want You is how to write a pop song without sounding or being cheesy

I'm one of the outliers who prefers Dylan's version of "Tears of Rage."

Oh man. Joe "can't really accept Dylan as a singer of love songs" ???? Please. Name any other singer of any gender who could sing I Want You with such lightness and playfulness yet pouring his utter soul sincerely into it.

I'm just saying, if they get to... the basement tapes. And joe likes that one more than any albums that came before. Then, he isn't a bob dylan fan. I am not sure why though. I feel like that album stands out as being unlike any BD album. I am not sure why though. Basically, I like that one the most out of any bd album. And I aint even a fan of the band either.

Good for you Joe. I have tried many times but I don’t find Dylan interesting

Don’t tell anyone you don’t own f*cking Blonde on Blonde.

4.5 stars. A double album that is hard to shorten to a single album without sacrificing the mood. Very happy and unique sound. Currently my second favorite behind Highway 61 Revisited, although Blood On the Tracks might dethrone it. My ranking of the songs: 14 Pledging My Time - not a very good song. It's a little annoying. Wish it was cut. Not an album ruiner, but still not great. 4/10 13 Obviously Five Believers - annoying guitar and the lyrics are deceptively not as full-blown absurd as it sounds like it should be. It's not a bad song, but i dont like it much. 5/10 12 Leopard Skin Pill-Box Hat- funny song. Good lyrics. It's a little annoying, though. 6/10 11 Absolutely Sweet Marie - a little too chipper and jangly. It's a decent song helped by Bob's lyrics. 6/10 10 Rainy Day Women - fun, jaunty, bar song. Sounds like Dylan taking the piss and making fun of Like a Rolling Stone and his critics simultaneously. Arguably underrated. 7/10 9 Temporary Like Achilles - good blues song that's very fun. Maybe even humorous. 7/10 8 Most Likely You Go Your Way - some find it annoying. I think it's a grower. Love Dylan's cadence and "bridgefulness". 7/10 7 Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again - a little longer than necessary but pretty good. I say that it is this album's version of Desolation Row instead of Sad Eyed Lady. 8/10 6 One of Us Must Know - Sounds like the lesser version of I Want You but is great on its own. Love the piano. Makes it nostalgic. 8/10 5 Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands - a gentle way to end the album. Too long, but it is beautiful and memorable. He's genuine with it. 8/10 4 Just Like a Woman - quintessential breakup song. Full of malice and clownishness. The devilish version of the Billy Joel song that's similar to it. 9/10 3 I Want You - I love all the instrumentation, especially the organ. Feels like frolicking in a field. Poppiest Dylan song. 9/10 2 Fourth Time Around - I cant justify my high liking for the song other than the story behind and in it. 9/10 1 Visions of Johanna - need i explain? 10/10

I've heard bob dylan albums a lot of them. I own many of them. But never really liked any. I just figured this was an artist that I Should like. But not a whole lot in the music for me to latch on to. Go figure. If I gave those albums another careful listen I reckon I would appreciate his music a little more maybe. But never truly like them.

Awesome series, my fave at the moment. Maybe I've listened to it once to many times but for me personally, I find BOB overrated, some great tracks but some skippable. Also some of the tracks are too long. I much prefer Dylan in the 70's.

Well, someone needs a haircut!

Not his best album . Second side is weaker .