Bob Dylan, have an opinion?

brulee: i've said some of this before, but since you asked............ our 1st son, born may 7, 1969, was named dylan. that was a fairly rare name at the time but, unfortunately, is no longer. i was struck by its commonality especially when i learned that one of the columbine killers was named dylan klebold. that coldblooded killer couldn't have been named for the man born bobby zimmerman. at least i'll never believe so.

i heard dylan's first record in 1963 on a hifi rig built by one of my fraternity brothers. it was my listening to his unique voice on that tiny system, singing "blowing in the wind" that drove me into the hobby i've been at ever since.

first time i saw dylan perform was by chance, the year before i 1st heard him on vinyl. he was playing in a small venue, a bar really, just off harvard square. he mostly sang duets with a young woman named joan baez.

i've followed dylan's careening paths through folk, rock, nashville country, christian, post-divorce and all other forms of music he's written and sung for, lo, these last 39 years. he's disappointed me at times, i'll admit. but his best stuff is, IMHO, some of the most important music of the last century. as others have said, he's never had a soothing voice or great range. nonetheless, his music and his words nearly always shine through.

i hadn't seen the man live since he toured with the dead, until i went to see him and paul simon sing together a couple or three years ago. lately, i've been to at least a concert a year. he's playing at mackey auditorium at the university of colorado tomorrow nite. i'm planning on being there, with all the other old farts and the youngest generation, so far, to embrace him. -kelly

sdcambell summed up my feelings quite nicely

Sd. Try Joan Baez in concert volume II on Vanguard records, preferably on Black first issue LP. Listen to her version of "dont think twice its allright". More need not be said.

Thanks, everyone, for not crucifying me (with Good Friday just past). Individual tastes vary, and some of the jazz singers I like certainly don't appeal to everyone -- a good example is the late Betty Carter. Or in the folk vein, maybe Odetta would be a good example. In thinking more about Dylan, I like some of the song lyrics he wrote, and the reference to Joan Baez's version of "Don't Think Twice" is a good example -- I like her version a LOT better.

SD rather than crucify you ironically enough I really can relate to where you are coming from. Until that 1st time I saw him in that August evening of 29-30 summers ago my sentiments concerning Dylan could have been summed up similar to yours. Maybe it was the venue of that warm summer evening when he performed and all that could be heard were the sounds of the crickets and his guitar/harp and words that moved me for the very first time. “The Times They Are A-Changin” sure connected with that point in my life. I came to a different realization of the man from then on. It was a connection thing plain and simple.