Younger Than That Now: The Collected Interviews with Bob Dylan

by James Ellison

Bob Dylan, enigma and superstar, has intrigued millions of fans over the past five decades. His life, music, and influences have been explored through numerous mediums and the market for Dylan-related products continues to grow. Nonetheless, the oral records of his career—his interviews—have been unavailable until now. Gathered here are the most revealing and personal of Dylan's interviews. As a group they show a brilliant, adored, and eclectic musician, unsettled and angered by the fame and reverence surrounding him. In one interview with Time magazine he denigrates his newfound celebrity status, belligerently attacking the interviewer, pushing him nearly to tears. In a later Rolling Stone interview Dylan announces that the archangel Gabriel has visited him, and that he is a born again Christian. Collected from small publications and zines like Positively Tie Dream, Trouser Press, and New Music Express as well as mainstream outlets as disparate as Seventeen, Playboy, Spin, and the New York Times, Dylan's interviews illuminate his journey from ornery folksinger to acclaimed Grammy-winner. Included are interviews by Pete Seeger, Nora Ephron, Susan Edmiston, Studs Terkel, Jon Pareles, Nat Hentoff, Kurt Loder, Steve Allen, Ron Rosenbaum, Bono, Jonathon Cott, Jann Wenner, Robert Shelton, and many others.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 10, 2003

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Reviews

[Kate Stericker · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the whole, this collection was very interesting--I appreciated the variety of interviews selected, which encompasses everything from brief promotional articles to in-depth profiles spanning almost thirty pages. Furthermore, Dylan's intellect and his changing circumstances over the 35 years these interviews cover prevent them from becoming boring or repetitive. My main complaint is that the book is riddled with typos and small formatting errors--although these may be preserved from the original publications, I found them distracting and occasionally confusing.

[David Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually interesting, occasionally illuminating, sometimes confounding, just as often exasperating. The 1965 interview with Laurie Henshaw is hilariously hostile. The 1976 interview with TV Guide is surprisingly warm, as he and Neil Hickey share beers on the beach. This is kind of a junior companion to the Essential Interviews book, a bit half-assed in selection and typography (no editor/compiler even gets a credit) but worthwhile for fans.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a few books written about Dylan and Chronicles, written by Dylan himself. This collection of interviews with Dylan reveal more about his approach to life and music than most other books, and it’s particularly interesting to read these in chronological order to see his thoughts, attitude and responses change over the years.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never trust a trickster.
Still, an essential piece of the puzzle.

[Zenzile · Rating 4 out of 5]

The personification of metamorphosis. There were some interviews here I don't even remember reading in the Rollingstone collection.