A$# 038 Bob Dylan | Blonde On Blonde

Bob Dylan's always had a way with his words. It's not for naught that he's called the modern Bard; Dylan's ability to brilliantly turn a phrase has set him apart from all his contemporaries, for more than four decades. With his massive double album Blonde On Blonde, from 1966, Bob had reached a creative crescendo.

Consider some of the song titles: Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands, Absolutely Sweet Marie, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35: these are surreal and sometimes cryptic phrases. The lyrics of the songs explore many facets of human existence in a variety of poetic ways.

It issn't just the lyrics that stand out on the album, though. Dylan continues to evolve as an electric folk rocker, expanding on the direction he'd started down with Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited in 1965. Here he plays with former Hawks (and future Band members) Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson, plus a coterie of ace Memphis session musicians.

The album opener, RDW#12&35, for example, is a stoner anthem with prominent organ and brass band. Throughout the album, Dylan is backed by a strong rhythm section, plus many keyboards and guitars. Of course Bob still uses his acoustic guitar and harmonica to great effect.

There are many bright gems on BOB, such as the paeans to love I Want You and Just Like A Woman, and chronicles of loss, like Visions of Johanna, plus the epic, album-closing Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands. There are ruminations on life like the curiously titled Stuck Inside Of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again:

Well, Shakespeare, he's in the alley
With his pointed shoes and his bells,
Speaking to some French girl,
Who says she knows me well.
And I would send a message
To find out if she's talked,
But the post office has been stolen
And the mailbox is locked.
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again.

Though Bob was still getting booed at many of his concerts from folk purists who accused him of selling out, he was moving forward bravely, boldly going where no bard had gone before. Blonde On Blonde sold well, spawned several successful singles, and was praised by critics. It has been recognized as one of his best, and most influential, albums of his entire career.

Track listing:
1. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
2. Pledging My Time
3. Visions Of Johanna
4. One Of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)
5. I Want You
6. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again
7. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
8. Just Like A Woman
9. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)
10. Temporary Like Achilles
11. Absolutely Sweet Marie
12. 4th Time Around
13. Obviously 5 Believers
14. Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands