Highway 61 Revisited: 50th Anniversary

There’s only one Bob Dylan. Whether you’re a fan of his music or not, you have to admit that the man and his songs changed not only folk but the entire music industry. Up until Dylan, the 1960s' idea of what made a “pop star” was rather different. All of a sudden, there came a singer/songwriter who, to be honest, couldn't even do half of that very well, but was able to tell a story like no other. No more soppy, run-of-the-mill love songs; Dylan took the same subject matter and turned it on its head, with tales of fantastical characters from mythical times. He also brought politics into his songs, which became anthems of the era.

Without meaning to sound funny, the fact that Dylan couldn't sing paved the way for so many artists that we may have otherwise never heard of. Take Jimi Hendrix, for example. Until that point, Hendrix had been a pretty good guitarist, strumming away in backing bands for the likes of The Isley Brothers and Little Richard. Now he could step centre stage, and it didn't matter that he wasn't very melodic - his guitar could do as much talking for him as his voice did. 

I will always be grateful to my friend (and first boyfriend) Joe for bringing Bob Dylan into my musical make-up. You see, it was kind of a package deal - it would take a lot of time and commitment if you wanted to call yourself a Dylan expert, but I hope Joe won't mind if I call him, let's say, an extreme admirer. I know I've barely scratched the surface, but having an additional insight into his music opened up a whole new kind of songwriting to me. We also went together to see him live at Wembley Arena in 2007 - a night I will never forget. I couldn't tell you specifically what he played, but I'm sure Joe still has his scribbled copy of the set list somewhere.

Bob Dylan has been a musical God for over five decades now, but on this day in 1965, he released his sixth album, Highway 61 Revisited, the title making reference to the road that ran from Canada, through his hometown of Duluth, to New Orleans. With this album and the one previous, Dylan shook the music world by moving from acoustic to electric sound, and away from his political lyrics.

The opening track, and one of Dylan's most famous songs, was Like A Rolling Stone which in 2004 was crowned by Rolling Stone magazine the greatest song of all time. I'll give you a second to take in just how important a declaration that really is...

I can't quite believe I'm saying this but, hand of heart, as I type these very words, the very song has just burst onto my radio! As always with Like A Rolling Stone, I can't listen to those first chords without beaming. It's uniquely upbeat and energetic, which comes from a special combination of a rock-formation and the improvised organ riff. Apparently Columbia Records were initially hesitant to release it due to this, and also its length (imagine their faces when Dylan presented the 11-minute Desolation Row...), but the track was leaked and grew in popularity through DJs of the time. 

Before it was put to music, Like A Rolling Stone was a ten-page verse written by Dylan after his return from a tour of England, and it seems that it is the only one of his songs that has been composed in this way. It was never intended to be anything other than written word, but according to Dylan, one day at the piano one infamous lyric sang out to him: "How does it feel?"

The sound may be cheerful, but on closer inspection of the lyrics, it's in fact quite a dark and cynical song. Dylan confronts "Miss Lonely", a previously well-to-do woman who has now fallen on hard times, about how her lack of sympathy and kindness towards others has come back to bite her. "In the end it wasn't hatred," Dylan has said, "it was telling someone something they didn't know, telling them they were lucky. Revenge, that's a better word."

I tell you one thing, some may think it's easy to do a Dylan impression, but singing Like A Rolling Stone is a completely different ball game. Rapping isn't my strong point (except for when I'm a little tipsy and suddenly remember that I know all the words to Gangsta's Paradise), but I tell you, this was just as difficult an exercise - hopefully you'll enjoy my efforts!