Bob Dylan: A Descriptive, Critical Discography and Filmography, 1961-2007

by John Nogowski

When Bob Dylan professed in a Rolling Stone interview to be the guy who "owned the Sixties," he was not overstating. Recently, the iconic American musician, author, and poet was named by the same magazine the second greatest artist of all time, outranked only by The Beatles. This six-part, updated examination of Dylan's five-decade career provides a comprehensive analysis of his writing and recording history. It features critical commentary on every song and album, including the many rare bootleg recordings. Parts Four through Six list and discuss Dylan's numerous appearances in film, in literature, on radio, and on television. The expanded introduction further analyzes the historical import of Dylan's prolific creative output, the first four decades of his career, and his amazing twenty-first-century musical comeback.

284 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Michael Elkon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible detail. I read the 2022 edition so it goes through Rough and Rowdy Ways, which Nogowski likes as much as I do. I didn't agree with all of his takes (I think that "Black Diamond Bay" is a classic whereas he thinks its meh) but I came out with a better understanding and appreciation for the depth of Dylan's songbook. You think you have heard everything and then you read a book like this and realize how much of his catalog I still haven't explored.