You Walk into the room: Essential Bob Dylan # 4

1965

Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues

Highway 61 Revisited

Here,  Bob ditches the acoustic guitar and sung fireside chats for rebellious rock and roll. His dynamic lyricism remains. On the cover of the album Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan stares into the camera defiantly, wearing a motorcycle club shirt and a look on his face that could be described as serious or hilarious. Bob’s not quite world weary yet, here, but he ain’t afraid to get there just for the experience. Bob, boozed out on the Mexican coast, slyly tells us the world is mad from his bar stool. The package is delivered perfectly over 12 bar blues and an outstanding vocal performance from Bob. It's been said that a singer is a good one if the listener thinks their telling the truth when they sing. Here, Bob sounds tired enough, but ready for another round. Honorable mention: the entire rest of the album, especially “Ballad of a Thin Man”, who’s opening keys pounded on the piano kick off a song that is equal parts clever and sick.