Dylan’s 70? My Top 5 Dylan Songs

Posted by Mitch Mitchell on May 25, 2011

As I say about blogging, sometimes you get inspiration from reading other people’s blogs and then commenting on them in some fashion. In this case it’s the blog of a local young guy who not only works for the local newspaper, but is a DJ. He has an interesting connection with all types of music, even music that, in my strange opinion, I would never expect him to know; it shows there are some younger people with an appreciation for older music.

Anyway, his name is Geoff Herbert, @deafgeoff to us here because he’s also legally deaf, and his post was titled Chillin’ like a villain: My all-time top 5 Bob Dylan songs, only he had 6 songs instead; kids, can’t count. lol Of course, he has some of these from movies and some of these with other people singing; I can’t roll like that. I’m giving you Dylan, the best of him and, well, him anyway. lol So, here we go, not necessarily in any particular order.

Just Like A Woman

I think this is the first Bob Dylan song I ever heard, from the Blonde on Blonde album, and though he had this really weird voice, there was something about this song that captured my imagination.

Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright

This is the first of two songs in a row from the album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. It was also in a movie called American Pop, along with the next song. This is one of the most musical songs Dylan ever put out, very catchy tune.

A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall

As I said above, same album and same movie. This was probably one of the best albums he ever put out because I liked almost every single song on it.

Forever Young

Of all things I couldn’t find this one on YouTube, but I find it elsewhere. This song is from the album Planet Waves, and I sang this version of the song at a wedding, believe it or not. It’s not a love song but the bride, the sister of a friend of mine, heard me play it and requested it for her wedding; who was I to say no?

Bob Dylan-Forever Young(from The Last Waltz)

Melody | Myspace Video

Tangled Up In Blue

Well, I guess I did end up putting them in order because this is my favorite Bob Dylan song of all time, and it’s the “newest” song on my list. What a great story this song is, and some of the lyrics are classic, one of the best songs lyrically I’ve ever heard. I have to admit this isn’t my favorite version of this song, but it seems that no one has created a video with the original so it’ll have to do. At least it’s Dylan live.

Tags: Bob Dylan, Dylan top 5 songs, Music

15 Comments »

Sonny - Kids' Craft Blogs:

Have you watched the movie “I’m Not There,” which came out about 2007 (I believe)? It was sort of a retrospective on different aspects of Dylan’s life and career, and different actors – e.g., Cate Blanchett – dress up as him in the film. You’d enjoy it…

Ron Leyba Reply:
May 26th, 2011 at 1:06 AM

Yay, then its a must see/watched movie. Never heard or seen of it yet. Thanks for the information.

Mitch Mitchell Reply:
May 26th, 2011 at 1:13 AM

Sonny, I have to say I knew about it but I didn’t see it. For some reason I just wasn’t all that interested; I’ve seen the biography on him and of course read his biography as well. Not sure why it didn’t appeal to me but maybe one day I’ll watch it.

May 25th, 2011 | 10:08 PM

Carl:

I favor “All Along the Watchtower”, both version the one from Bob Dylan and the cover of Jimi Hendrix.

Mitch Mitchell Reply:
May 26th, 2011 at 11:36 PM

That’s not a bad song, Carl, just didn’t quite make my top 10 list.

Carl Reply:
May 27th, 2011 at 5:24 AM

You are right, actually I this was the top song of Jimi, but he also could not make it top. However, I think all Bob Dylan songs are really unforgettable.

May 26th, 2011 | 4:54 AM

Adie @ seo social media:

Every time I hear Bob Dylan’s song, I remember my deceased father. When he was still alive, he always play Dylan’s song. His ultimate favorite song is Forever Young…

Mitch Mitchell Reply:
May 27th, 2011 at 11:03 PM

Adie, Forever Young is just a great song. However, it wasn’t anything my dad would have ever liked. lol

May 27th, 2011 | 1:34 PM

Beverly Mahone:

Mitch,
One of the things about Bob Dylan is you always knew it was him when one of his songs came on the radio. NO ONE else had a voice like that! I think my favorite songs by him were Like a Rolling Stone and Lay Lady Lay.

Last blog post: http://boomerworld.blogspot.com BABY BOOMERS AND INFIDELITY

Mitch Mitchell Reply:
May 28th, 2011 at 10:03 AM

Wow Bev, I forgot about Lay Lady Lay; that was a good song as well. You’re right, he was very distinctive; still is.

May 28th, 2011 | 9:59 AM

Phil:

I missed this post earlier–or I would have responded sooner! There are far too many songs to limit to five–I’ll go w/ 10.

10) “Song To Woody” his ode to his hero–and a perfect example of his folk singer era.

9) “Subterranean Homesick Blues” “twenty years of schoolin’/ then they put you on the day shift.” Every post-grad’s favorite!

8) “Every Grain Of Sand” unbelievably beautiful song, w/ a country gospel feel, at the end of his Christian period.

7) “Maggie’s Farm” political, but not preachy.

6) “Positively 4th Street” irresistible melody and great lyrics about perils of fame.

5) “I Shall Be Released” less a protest song than a meditation on justice, suffering and dignity.

4) “Jokerman” wow, wish he’d done more albums like “Infidels”: Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits and legendary reggae rhythm section Sly & Robby.

3) “All Along The Watchtower” go back and listen to Dylan’s acoustic version and you appreciate both his song and Hendrix’s majestic electric version all the more.

2) “The Time’s They Are A-Changin’ “Your old road is rapidly agin’/ Please get out of the new one/ If you can’t lend your hand/ For the times they are a-changin’.” talk about the voice of a generation!

1) “Like A Rollin’ Stone” Perhaps the greatest R & R song ever, not just Bob’s.

Mitch Mitchell Reply:
June 1st, 2011 at 10:37 AM

Great stuff Phil. I have to admit I’m not as familiar with the newer stuff, but I love all the older songs you mentioned. However, greatest R&R song ever? I’m not sure even Dylan would have ever considered himself a part of R&R lol

Phil Reply:
June 1st, 2011 at 2:52 PM

You’re probably right–Dylan has always eschewed labels: but I’m claiming him in the name of R & R!!

June 1st, 2011 | 10:29 AM

Andrew Walker:

Wow. Bob Dylan! My father and I are a huge fan of Bob Dylan. “Like A Rollin’ Stone” is definitely cool. The greatest rock n roll song ever. “How does it feel/To be on your own/With no direction home/Like a complete unknown/Like a rolling stone ?”

Mitch Mitchell Reply:
June 13th, 2011 at 11:38 PM

That is a classic Andrew, and definitely in my top 10.

June 13th, 2011 | 9:19 PM

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