Music review: Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan
Highway 61 Revisited had been sitting my shelf for years, not being listened to after I didn’t really enjoy The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.
The opening and closing tracks on Highway 61 Revisited are outstanding. “Like a Rolling Stone” really needs no explanation from even someone such as myself who isn’t a fan of Bob Dylan. “Desolation Row” is the other outstanding track.
The rest of the album is rather forgettable. It matters nothing to me that Highway 61 Revisited is Dylan’s first album to be entirely recorded with a band. What matters is if I can still relate to the music that was recorded. Highway 61 Revisited was released in the same year as Rubber Soul (1965). I can easily see why Rubber Soul is considered a classic because in addition to making an impact at the time of its release and influencing many musicians, Rubber Soul also still makes an impact on people who had never heard the album until 30 years after its release (such as myself). I realize that Highway 61 Revisited is regarded as great album (a glance at Wikipedia has all 8 of their “professional reviews” giving it their highest rating), but two great songs do not make a classic album.
Rating: 4 out of 10.
B.J. replied:
Dude! Where do I begin!?!?
1. Comparing H61 to Rubber Soul is like comparing a Ferrari to a Lamborghini and calling the worst of the two a terrible car. RS is GREAT, but H61 isn’t THAT far behind it. Is it a 10? Ehhhh, maybe not. But a solid 8.
2. You say RS influenced other musicians. Bob Dylan going fully electric (as he did on this album) influenced the entirety of rock music! [BTW, check out "Live 1966" to hear a lot of these songs REALLY kick butt!]
3. Look at the other top rock songs in 1965 — according to the Billboard “Top Rock Hits” CD summarizing that year:
1 The Name Game Shirley Ellis
2 A Lover’s Concerto Toys
3 This Diamond Ring Lewis, Gary & the Playboys
4 Help Me, Rhonda Beach Boys
5 You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ Righteous Brothers
6 Wooly Bully Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs
7 1, 2, 3 Len Barry
8 Treat Her Right Head, Roy & The Traits
9 I Got You Babe Sonny & Cher
10 Eve of Destruction Barry McGuire
Look at that garbage!!! Think about what happened to rock music and folk in the next couple years and tell me Dylan didn’t influence that!
4. Saying it only has “two good songs” completely insults “Ballad of a Thin Man” “Tom Thumb’s Blues” and “Tombstone Blues” — all GREAT. Five great songs out of nine, and the rest aren’t too shabby either!!!
Although, I’ll point out, the best Dylan albums are Blonde on Blonde and Blood on the Tracks. If you haven’t given up on him yet, check ‘em out!
November 5, 2009 10:54 pm at 10:54 pm. Permalink.
bobsala replied:
I fully realize that H61 was a major influence on music at the time. But I really don’t care about that, nor do I care if it was better than 99% of music released in 1965. What matters to me is how I relate to the music today and how much of an impact it makes on me in the present. I don’t listen to Bach because he influenced generations of composers, nor because he wrote the best music in 1723. I listen to Bach because his music impacts me both emotionally and cerebrally. I cannot say the same for H61 except for 2 songs.
November 8, 2009 5:55 pm at 5:55 pm. Permalink.