Bob Dylan!

There is nothing particularly earthshaking that I could add to whatever has been written or said about Bob Dylan. He is a great lyricist, great tune-maker, he's very prolific, and is a warm and engaging vocalist. He is smart, funny (in a dry, intellectual sort of way), and sincere. He has always conducted himself with dignity and forthrightness. Of course he isn't perfect, as no one is, but for a man who has been literally worshipped by millions around the world, he is surprisingly centered. His music is NOTORIOUS for passing through phases. This often creates a rather bumpy ride for his fans, but generally, whatever he digs turns out to be very enjoyable for us too. 

 1961-1962 He arrived as a hardcore folk revivalist. 

He was a follower of Woody Guthrie. Guthrie was the influential and semi-famous folk troubador, best known for writing "This Land Is Your Land". Bob also liked to revive "lost" rural music a la Pete Seeger. This was an esspecially important thing for him. To breathe new life into old songs was his forte. Bob even effected a Guthrie-esque singing voice. Representative songs: "Talkin' New York", "Song For Woody", "House Of The Rising Sun".

1962-1963 Next Bob Dylan was seen as a "protest singer" 

 

This was a label he never attached to himself. He thought of himself more as one who chronicles significant events. Never actually protesting so much as presenting. It was up to the listener to decide. The seriousness of much of his music, and the conviction with which he sang it, gave rise to the perception of an artist with a cause. Dylan's only real cause was honesty. Representative songs: "Blowin' In The Wind", "It's Alright Ma", "The Times They Are A-Changin'" 

1964-1966 Bob reinvents himself as a rock icon.  

 When Bob "went electric" it sent shockwaves through the music world. He was pigeon-holed into the folk genre which meant you used a guitar and harmonica, and that was it. Being backed up by a loud full rock band caused many folkies to see him as a sell-out. Dylan always held true to one thing... his vision. Several outtakes from 1962 had plenty of drums and guitars ("Mixed Up Confusion" for instance). Dylan left the "protest singer" baggage behind forever. Representative songs: "Subterranean Homesick Blues", "Like a Rolling Stone" 

 1967-1975 Bob gets down to the roots.

 

After being laid up because of a motorcycle crash, Bob took some time off from the music biz. During this time, interest in him diminished somewhat, but most importantly, it created a tangible break from all the weird stuff Bob had to endure from 1962-1966: The labeling, the battles over artistic freedom versus catering to a segment, and being a lightning rod for controversy. During this phase Bob dabbled heavily in country (even adopting a brief country croon style of singing) and made music that was rooted in basic American rock n roll. When he played acoustic it was spare and folky, but could never be confused with "protest" music. Representative songs: "Lay Lady lay" (country croon voice), "If Not For You", "Tangled Up In Blue" 

 1975-1979 Bob's music expands and becomes bombastic.  

 This phase is when Bob started experimenting with his sound. In the studio there were horns, sax, backup singers, and a prominent violin. The Rolling Thunder tour in 1975-76 became a famous tour remembered for wild reinvention and the free-flowing creativity involved. Who can forget Bob in white face paint? 

   

Representative songs: "Mozambique", "Changing Of The Guards" 

1980-1982 Bob becomes a Christian artist.  

 For a while Bob even refused to play his older material. Realizing this was not a good idea, he bagan to slowly return much of his famous 60's material back into his setlists. While much of his Christian music is indeed excellent, and played with much passion, it proved to be fairly unpopular with the masses. Many Christians didn't embrace him and his music, fearing it was yet another of his brief phases, and non-Christian fans were alienated by his preachy and stubborn attitude. Luckily, he eventually got out of this phase (although it is widely reported that he is still very much a believer). Representative songs: "Precious Angel", "Saved", "Jokerman" 

1984-1987 The Dylan Dark ages. He had lost his way a bit.

 

 

Though this phase is generally regarded as a sort of three year "lost weekend", he sang on the fundraising all-star blockbuster "We Are The World", was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, and toured with Tom Petty. So, not bad for treading water. Representative songs: "Drifting Too Far From Shore", "Silvio" 

 1988-1997 Bob returns to form, more or less.

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He had some serious hits (Traveling Wilbery's, "Oh Mercy", "Time Out Of Mind") and some misses ("Under the Red Sky", a near death experience). This phase finds him back to his creative self, releasing some of his best and most commercially enjoyable material ever. He played a concert on MTV and played for the Pope as well. Representative songs: "Everything Is Broken", "Not Dark Yet" 

 2000-2010 Bob as roots-rock elder statesman. 

 

 Each CD is as good and solid as the last. Each one is drenched with good ol' rootsy rock. Sometimes bluesy, sometimes spare, always jivey and cool, with good lyrics and good tunes. Representative songs: "High Water", "Thunder on the Mountain", "Beyond Here Lies Nothing" He has been on tour steadily since 1988 and shows no signs of stopping. Although his voice has been reduced to a croaking warble, he still manages to convey the eclectic humor and sincerity he has always been known for. He even recorded a Christmas album.