Seeing the Real You at Last: Life and Love on the Road with Bob Dylan

by Britta Lee Shain

Britta Lee Shain was a friend of Bob Dylan's until he asked her to join him on the road in the mid 1980s, at which point she became more than a friend. In this intimate and elliptical memoir of their time together, at home in Los Angeles and on tour with Tom Petty and the Grateful Dead, she offers a unique portrait of the romantic, earthbound, and poetic soul trapped in the role of Being Bob Dylan.

Entire libraries of books have been written about Dylan, but few--if any--offer any lasting insight into the man behind the shades. Until now. Written with the elegance of a poet and storytelling snap of a novelist, Seeing The Real You At Last is a poignant and tender romance that reveals Dylan's playfulness, his dark wit, his fears and struggles, his complex relationships with the men and women in his life, and, ultimately, his genius.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Biography Memoir

280 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2016

Reviews

[Robert Morgan Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Total disclosure: I helped edit this book for Britta. I was her Book Coach (yes, I do that). Revisiting it was a pure pleasure as I was reminded just how good a writer she is. Reads more like a good novel. This is a must-read for any Dylan fan--or anyone who wants to know what it's like to romance, travel and write a song with the most famous singer-songwriter in human history. A terrific memoir.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

No way was I going to read this book; kiss-and-tells don't interest me. But Paul Zollo's review changed my mind, and the book is actually worth a read.

In the mid-80s, Britta Lee Shain is living with a guy who is Dylan's right hand man on the road, pretty much arranging all details for Bob's personal life while he's on tour. As she gets to know Dylan, he turns his skills of seduction on her (you almost think he just does this automatically), and she becomes involved with him during the tour of Europe in 87. Their affair lasts a few weeks until she confesses to her boyfriend that she's in love with Dylan. That screws everything up with both Dylan anther boyfriend, and she leaves the tour, heartbroken. A couple decades later she writes up the short romance.

She paints a pretty good picture of Dylan, and it seems to me that she captures him pretty well. He's insecure a lot, and always wants things his own way, and pretty much gets what he wants. Hell, he has the money and the fame and the talent, so who wouldn't act that way. The portrait is less interesting in that it covers a time that is not especially interesting; the second Petty tour was good if very uneven and generally not a high spot for Dylan, nor was he writing many great songs. Further, she only really knows Bob on the road and at some parties, so we don't get a picture of him in the studio or really working as a musician. It's mostly, alas, about Britta.

In Chronicles, or in an interview, Bob described that Petty tour as a turning point for him, that towards the end of it, he realized he was going out his music wrong, and needed to change things. There's no evidence of that moment in this book (or even in the tapes of that show in Locarno).

In a lot of ways, she's really naive: Bob always calls her sweetheart and baby, and she's surprised when she learned he calls all the girls that, so he doesn't have to worry about mixing up their names, and she also thinks, later in the tour (maybe she's right), that he is singing some of the songs to her.

Finally, the photos in the book are disappointing; she talks about all those she takes of Dylan, but those in the book are professional photos from the time, and have been used elsewhere. Only the photostrip on the cover is original. Wonder why?

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first there was too much talk of fancy cars, fancy clothes, fancy vintage collectibles, and fancy parties. Then came the middle, where I vicariously lived the author’s European tour bus romance with Bob Dylan. Great stuff. The end was strange and almost sad. It was almost sad to see a woman still so hung up over a brief fling with a rock star (more than a decade later!) that she couldn’t seem to enjoy the affluent, celebrity infused, Southern Californian life that so many others only get to dream of.

[Roderick Mcgillis · Rating 2 out of 5]

What can I say? The book reads like a YA romance complete with descriptions of clothes and cars and romantic encounters. It is, however, not without interest if one happens to be curious about Dylan's life in the late 1980s. The man is, without doubt, less interesting than the work.

[Albert Dubreuil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a unique perspective on the topic of Dylan and I enjoyed it a lot!

[Phil Princey · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like reading about the Rock and Roll lifestyle and the groupies that follow, this book is for you. If you're a Bob Dylan fan or not you will most certainly get a kick out of the stories about the man and the legend. No doubt this author has been a serious lifetime BD fan but had something of her own that serendipitously led her into the life of the man of her dreams and they became more than friends. But dreams that come true do not always pan out the way one hopes. This is a story about self-discovery and her own redemption that came from being Tangled Up In Blue with the larger-than-life man himself. I think the book is cleverly written that will in particular have the BD fans picking up many of his song lines and themes that have been subtly interwoven into her soul searching reflections, sprinkled all throughout the memoir. Must say there are times I called out 'you bastard' and felt like ringing the genius' neck (think the two waiters scene in the kitchen of 'The Party' that Peter Sellers gets a glimpse of from his seat as the door flips open). Nevertheless, moments later I'm checking out another tune of his on Spotify that has been mentioned in passing. Is this book just another adoring fan doting over her idol? That's for you to decide. But I think there is substance in the underlying lesson of the book about what it means to be human, to find meaning and happiness, which I think this book beautifully depicts as not being all the things that come with fame, money and power but rather finding out who the hell you really are. Surely you will see the sad irony of this lesson in Dylan's life as depicted in her delightfully entertaining and sometimes frustrating stories. A very good read for this reason in my opinion.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had looked forward to reading this book both because I was curious about Bob Dylan (a half-century-long love/hate genius influence on songwriters and music-lovers, who seems to have long cloaked himself in mystery), and because I was curious to know more about the author, who I know, like and respect, through our mutual attendance at Summersongs West over the years. What surprised me is that this book read like a novel, with almost cliff-edge suspense in several chapters. And it was fun to recognize many of the musicians who played roles in this memoir, several of whom I know or have met. Most readers, I think, will recognize many of these names. Then there are the insights into Mr. Dylan's character which I am tempted to describe, but will leave for other readers to find in this enjoyable book. Yes, it is a memoir and the author's struggles with her own life are central to the direction of this book, but what made this a fascinating read was the wild ride through a land of musicians, musical genius & flaws, and a part of our culture most of us have only experienced in occasional encounters if any, but that has influenced all of us who love both music and what the lyrics can say.

[Michael Roos) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Convincing enough but superficial

Britta’s story is a sad one. I don’t doubt the details she provides of life with Bob Dylan behind the scenes, but her portrait of the man ultimately lacks depth. Her love for Bob is little more than an obsessive fan’s fantasy. She falls in love with an image, not a human being. Dylan probably lost interest in her because he realized she was no different than any of the other many women he has slept with. Not that he is blameless. It just should be no surprise to anyone that this affair was brief and ended messily. All of that said, the book does provide a look into Dylan’s world that’s hard to find elsewhere. For hard core Dylan fans, this won’t be a waste of time.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered this book. It was an interesting memoir about a women who loved Dylan's music, and got herself into a position to get close to him in a business sense and then fell in love. Later to discover the reality of falling in love with a big star already married to another. It was interesting to get a glimpse of how Dylan's touring world was set up and how the logistics of a couple of the tours got set up. This is a one sided story from her point of view. I also have been acquainted with a few of the people Britta counts as friends. If you want a different Dylan story this may be of interest.

[Deborah Beatriz Blum · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has perfectly captured the feeling of being a young single woman in the 1970s and '80s, cruising for men - preferably famous ones - and finally scoring with her idol, the demi-god Bob Dylan. The book is more about the author than Dylan, who remains an enigma until the last. Her quest to touch fame ends with an unexpected result. This book is a seductive and beguiling journey of self-discovery.

[Mark Goddard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the first half of the book was very interesting. But I then started getting weary of reading
about Dylan & Britta window shopping for boots and jewelry. Another thought, since she posted actual dates I wonder if she kept a diary? I would rather read a whole diary of the tour with Dylan in Europe. Skipping of course the window dressing!

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should have resisted....

[Melody · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. My opinion is just that...mine, and completely unbiased.

Rubbish.

[Jim & · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unveiling Truth: A Dylan Fan’s Journey through Heartbreak and Insight

Before diving into this book and reading some of the reviews, I anticipated it would heavily criticize Bob Dylan. Being a Dylan enthusiast, I was pleasantly surprised to find that wasn't the case. While certain sections don't paint Dylan in the best light, it was expected—I've been aware of his womanizing ways for quite some time. I commend the author for sharing her truth. When we experience pain, it's crucial to speak up. Since Britta faced harsh criticism online, she did what I would have done: she told her story and dispelled rumors. It doesn't seem like Britta is attacking Bob by writing this book. Not at all! In fact, she managed to still appreciate his music despite being heartbroken. I found her narratives captivating and insightful. Initially, I felt guilty for purchasing this book because Dylan is my favorite artist, but now I realize that was an unnecessary feeling. I still admire Bob for his music, art, and poetry. I highly recommend this book!

[Alan Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some Good Writing, Some Howlers

As an editor of Visiting Bob, who had my own encounter with BD, I enjoyed Swain’s memoir, a Before-During-After thingamajig. She’s a name dropper extraordinaire who’s insecure. Apparently so beautiful she was catnip to men. Dylan included. BD is a womanizer; I’ve met a half-dozen women who’ve had Dylan. And I have nothing to do with Hollywood or the music business. He’s a scalawag. If you like his music, you might not want to see this defective side of him. Lying. Warehousing a dozen women at once. As for Swain, she follows a good sentence with a howler. Self-absorption on steroids. OCD when it comes to Bob. If you enjoy Bob’s music, it’s best to think of him as a totemic animal, not a person or a lover. This book is her attempt to get to that place. Good luck, Bretta.

[Mark O'mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A summer beach read for me as normally don’t read this kind of Dylan book but after reading recently other books by Dylan friends/former friends, and found them more illuminating than I excepted, I dived into this one. I enjoyed it. Written well and with authenticity and capturing aspects of Dylan’s lifestyle and personality I found interesting.

[Peter Trivelas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rare insight into Dylan's personal lifestyle. Overall, I found it to be a good read, in spite of the author's self-centeredness. I'm an over the top Dylan fan. He's one of the greatest living writers and performers. However, now I'll never be able to see him the same way. I'm condemned to have to separate the artist from the art from this day forward. (As is the case with most artists.)

[Mike Hopkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehh. Not particularly revealing and little tabloid-ish

[Aeisha V. Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read, average writing. Keep in mind: author is a fan who became a jilted lover-among many. But enjoyed travels, parties, drugs, meeting so-called A Listers, good tickets, backstage passes. Nice outfits, housing

Did we learn new info about Dylan? Well, he’s manipulating, doesn’t take responsibility, insensitive, addictive? But that was not new

[Dave Moyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The easiest way to summarize this book is simply with the question, "What's the point?"