Inspired by yesterday’s post of Dylan and Johnny Cash singing “Girl from the North Country”, I got juiced up to make a list of the Dylan songs I love most.
I could have called this post (which will be a pleasure to write), “The best Bob Dylan songs,” but of course music is a matter of taste. After all, I hear that some people even like the music of Taylor Swift. I originally intended to post my favorite 20 Bob Dylan songs, but I whittled it down to thirteen and, reviewing all his albums, I can’t find any other song that is par with these. But of course readers might find some that I’ve missed, and at any rate feel free to comment below. Since this is a subjective matter, also feel free to criticize my choices.
All these songs were written by Dylan, and I’ve put in clips for every one, though some show performances with other people, and two don’t show Dylan at all. That said, here we go. These are given in no particular order: they are just a selection I culled from reviewing his output. Links to the Wikipedia entries of each song are provided, and I’ve shown live performances when possible:
Positively 4th Street (1965). These are multiple takes from the studio recording:
My Back Pages (1964). This is from the Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert in 1992, and there’s more rock talent onstage at this concert than I’ve seen in any other performance. I won’t name all the singers and players as you should be able to recognize the stars, but I have to say that the guitar solo is stellar.
All Along the Watchtower (1967). The classic version by Hendrix, which Dylan liked better than his own. This is a live version from the Isle of Wight concert:
Mr. Tambourine Man (1965). From the Newport Folk Festival, introduced by Pete Seeger:
The Times They are A-Changin’ (1964). The caption gives the time and place: “Starlight Ballroom, Belleview Hotel, Clearwater, Florida, 22nd April 1976.”
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (1973). I think the recorded version (written for the movie “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, is the best take (the echoes improve it a lot), but I’ve put up a good live version performed along with Tom Petty (and the Heartbreakers).
Love Minus Zero/No Limit (1965), from the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh in New York:
I Shall Be Released (1967). This is one of my very favorites. And there’s never been better covers than those by Joan Baez (she was of course involved with Dylan). What a voice! This performance was at Woodstock, but you can see a duet with Dylan here.
It’s all Over Now, Baby Blue (1965). This performance is from Manchester, England in 1965:
Tonight I’ll be Staying Here with You (1969). This may be a bit of a ringer, but I do love it. The best version is the recorded one:
Blowin’ in the Wind (1963). This is without doubt Dylan’s best protest song, and it’s a work of genius. Here’s a version from the Live Aid Concert in 1985, performed with Keith Richards and Ron Wood:
Girl from the North Country (1963). This version was performed with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (though I hear nobody but Dylan) in Australia in 1986:
Like a Rolling Stone (1965). This is surely on everyone’s list of favorite Dylan songs, and there’s no version like the recorded one. I must have heard it a gazillion times, but when the opening chords sound, I know I have to listen to the whole thing. Al Kooper is on the organ.
It’s clear that I favor the early Dylan over the later one. Note that all of these songs, with the exception of “Heaven’s Door,” were released between 1963 and 1969.
Go here to see a list of Dylan’s favorite songs written other people. He considers Glenn Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman“, written by Jimmy Webb, to be “the greatest song ever written.” I can understand that, for it mirrors Dylan’s own style when he sings about love rather than politics.
Professor CC, you are a man of your era! Those are great Dylan tunes, but they are the early years!
Give me almost any track from Blood on the Tracks and Time Out of Mind. Fill in any gaps in the list with several fine tracks from more recent LPs, such as the extraordinary song “Mississippi” (“Only one thing I did wrong…”).
I’ve listened to more recent Dylan songs and in general I don’t think they measure up to the old ones.
Why do think that is? That seems to be the case with many artists. They peak in their 20s, and then have trouble reaching those same heights later.
I’ve read that fluid intelligence peaks on one’s 20s, so perhaps that’s it? Or is it more just the speed of change of popular music…which leads to obsolescence despite the talent still remaining.
I adore Blood on the Tracks and Desire was on heavy rotation at my house, too. Some parted ways with him at that time but I loved that phase. Not to say I didn’t also love his early stuff. Lay Lady Lay, Like a Rolling Stone, etc. Lots of nostalgia here, Jerry. Thanks for the good tunes. Every time Bob Dylan puts the harp in his mouth I want to hear Apple Scruffs by George Harrison. Anybody else…?
Debi,
Yeah. When Harrison released his single with Apple Scruffs on the B-side, I played the B-side until it was worn out. Then I bought the All Things Must Past LP, not having heard anything but that single. Apple Scruffs is my Harrison-favorite.
I agree with you and several on this thread that Blood on the Tracks and Desire marked a new beginning in Dylan’s songwriting and performances. I love his early stuff, but I believe he matured through the 70s-80s and reached his peak in the 90s. His two best LPs are Blood On the Tracks and Time Out of Mind.
I agree about Blood on the Tracks. I only have owned about a dozen albums in my life (I am now 67) and one of them (and the only Dylan album the group) was Blood on the Tracks. About five were by Joni Mitchell, one was Fleetwood Mack’s “Rumours”, one was “Sgt. Pepper”, one was CSNY.`
Tangled Up In Blue. Holy shit.
Oh my God Jerry how is anybody supposed to get any work done this morning with this many amazing clips to watch–and being all Dylan songs, like ten minutes each?? We all have a personal favorite we’d add to this mix but obviously there’s no arguing with your choices. Would you believe I saw Dylan for the first time at the Chicago Stadium in 1978, all of 16, thinking it would be a last chance to see him because of course he was SO old already, I assumed. In those days there was no real security and I could just walk up the main aisle to the stage and slip into the fourth or fifth row and stand there with everybody else. Will never forget that backlit Dylan hair. Great clip choices–really digging this Heaven’s Door right now.
How indeed Cate. I am just going to lock myself in my room after lunch and listen top to bottom…and Joan Baez too! What a day this promises to be. Thank you for curating, Jerry.
Exactly. And I thought I would have a productive day…
I think I have to let my paint dry now….
I bet that most women would have Lay Lady Lay on their lists.
I thought about that one, but decided on “Tonight I’ll be staying here with you” instead.
The third in that mood being “I’ll be your baby tonight”
Great list – great melodies, really singing out about some big thing Dylan sees in his great mind, and brings it into view… or whatever….
yeah, Wichita Lineman is a great tune. I only heard about it a few years ago through Rick Beato’s YouTube channel.
Great choices all! As written above, we could all add a few more…
Speaking of great Dylan covers (as is the case whenever “All Along the Watchtower” is mentioned), another great cover that Dylan himself singled out was Johnny Rivers’ version of “Positively 4th Street.” It’s really good.
For hardcore Dylan fans, Ray Padgett has a Substack in which he writes exhaustively about all of Dylan’s live performances. His interviews with sidemen, photographers, etc. are amazing. Here’s a sample post that provides some great insights into Dylan:
https://www.flaggingdown.com/p/guitarist-ira-ingber-recalls-1980s?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=24981&post_id=163655664&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=4ciwk&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Your list is great. One of my favorite Bob Dylan’s song is Desolation Row (the original version from Highway 61). I saw Dylan four times, but the first one was the best – the Rolling Thunder Revue in Montreal in 1976
Desolation Row on Highway 61 Revisited is a great song. Behind the imagery of the lyrics is the driving rhythm of his acoustic guitar, the urgency of his voice and the accompanying lead guitar by Charlie McCoy makes this song one of his best.
My first Dylan concert was in September, 1965 (I was 18).
From Blood on the Tracks:
Simple Twist of Fate
Tangled Up in Blue
From Desire (for Scarlett Rivera Violin and Emmylou Harris!)
Oh, Sister
One More Cup of Coffee.
My two favorite Dylan albums. Will add Shelter from the Storm to your list. Blood on the Tracks is a masterpiece.
Here’s a kindred spirit (see my post above)
Such passion and soul throughout Desire. It was more complex music than he’d written in the past.
The albums Desire and Blood on the Tracks are my favorites.
My favorite record set is Bob Dylan’s The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration, with all of his great compositions being covered by other people. In my opinion, Dylan isn’t the best at his own music. Stevie Wonder was amazing in Blowin’ in the Wind. I liked Chrissie Hynde for I Shall Be Released, Willie Nelson for What Was It You Wanted.
Track: Tangled up in Blue
Album: Blood on the Tracks
But there is so much more.
If not for You
I Want You
Just like a Woman
Every Grain of Sand
Lily, Rosemary, & the Jack of Hearts
Idiot Wind.
I’m born in 1960 so I’m more partial to early-mid 70s stuff.
An off topic question: do you consider yourself a baby boomer or a gen xer? I’ve always identified more with generation x, but being born in 1960 — like you, we’re right on the cusp. I believe that technically we’re part of the boomers, but I don’t identify with them and definitely didn’t live the typical baby boomer lifestyle. Just curious. I’ve overposted on this one. Apologies. I promise to shut up now.
I’d say boomer, as my father and friends’ fathers were mostly in WW2. But definitely a 70s child!
Three Dylan songs I like but which aren’t mentioned in the “Best of” lists: “Idiot Wind,” “Every Grain of Sand” and “Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts.” “Idiot Wind” features one of my favorite Dylan lines: “And in the end he won the war after losing every battle.”
My favorite has always been “Like a Rolling Stone”. I actually recently saw and heard a video of Jimi Hendrix’s version–wow!
Angelina (1981). Kept off album Shot of Love but better than 99% of songs today
My favourite Dylan track is Things have changed – a late one but brilliant. Love all the tunes in this post too. Another one of my favourites missed was Blind Willie Mc’tell.
Those are both great songs!
He writes a good song, but couldn’t keep a tune in a bag. Can’t listen to anything with him in.
I became intrigued by Dylan later in my life and in his career, so it’s good to hear this early stuff. I didn’t experience that cultural moment, so these songs will never have that sort of generational resonance with me, but every song you picked is excellent.
His songwriting might not be as brilliant now, but it is still strong, and for my money he makes much better sounding records. I listen to his harmonica playing in the early years and can understand why dogs howl, but since the 90s he seems to have been putting together excellent roots music bands and often reinterprets his older songs in a way that allows me to appreciate them in ways that I couldn’t before. I also like that his old man voice finally matches the “old soul” that he often projected in his younger years.
Here are some songs from his 21st century output that I think represent good writing and solid record making:
Love and Theft (2001)
Mississippi, High Water (For Charlie Patton), Moonlight
Modern Times (2006)
Workingman’s Blues #2, Spirit on the Water, Ain’t Talkin’
Together Through Life (2009) (Most songs on this album are co-written. The music is great, as one might expect when you collaborate with members of Los Lobos!)
This Dream Of You, It’s All Good
Tempest (2012)
Duquesne Whistle (gorgeous Americana!), Tin Angel
Rough And Rowdy Ways (2020)
I’ve Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You, Mother of Muses
The man has had an incredible career and his entire catalogue is worth exploring.
For the first time in nearly 25 years I will not be working on Independence Day, but instead will be seeing Mr. Dylan in concert, along with Willie Nelson, Asleep At The Wheel and others!
Absolutely, Dylan himself would agree – he’s said that Love and Theft was the album where he found his sound…Tempest for me is one of his very best. I also have a lot of affection for Oh Mercy and World Gone Wrong. I can’t think of any other artists who are still doing essential work in the latter part of their life, Neil Young? Tom Waits, though he seems to have retired
Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull have released three new albums in the last four years and they’ve all been very good.
Dylan has probably been parodied as often as he’s been covered. Here’s Neil Innes with a good natured send-up of him that always cracks me up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfTlGMCeuDE
I like this bluesy cover of “Man in the Long Black Coat” by Joan Osborne. Very Flannery O’Connor narrative.
https://youtu.be/vbytjEDQFYA?si=PbE8xbRduUjqZjoo
I have a great fondness for The Basement Tapes, that wonderful collaboration between Dylan and my favourite group, The Band. It has an old-timey, anarchistic, sometimes ribald quality. Many great tunes: Don’t You Tell Henry Orange Juice Blues, Please Mrs. Henry, This Wheel’s on Fire, et al.
I’ve seen a number of songs I like listed above but a few of my favourites that I haven’t seen listed yet are:
Masters of War
Slow Train Coming
Wagon Wheel…one he co-wrote. It was originally done by Old Crow Medicine Show but has been done a couple times more recently. One of the best IMO is by Matt Andersen. Although Darius Rucker did a pretty good version as well.
A really interesting live version of “Like a Rolling Stone” was done by Bob and The Band on the “Before the Flood” double album. It starts out almost unrecognizable, sounding as though they are just warming up. Then the crowd goes wild when they recognize it — and that happens in phases.
https://youtu.be/7N53rF3Zbhc?si=5IrGNNDKFKraT7UJ
I am a bit late to the show but I’ll put another plug in for my favorite Dylan album: Time Out of Mind.
I’ll also give a nod to a favorite Dylan tune that gets relatively little attraction and no air time: Brownsville Girl.
“One more cup of coffee (for the road)” is unique in his repertoire, intense and strangely powerful.
Watch his expressions. I think he is shedding a tear or two..
Somewhere there is a version where he does a weird sort of warble when he pronounces some of the words, like some ancient chant…You can hear a tiny bit of that in this version.
Then there’s this Krimmis video that he made, that seems completely out of character, yet I like it at that time of year. It has a sorta klezmer-esque character to it, too. There must be a good backstory to it.
I agree with all your choices. Here’s a couple that would figure high in any list I compiled. The first is a hymn to life, a wish that growth is real but the essence stays the same. The second song tells us that things don’t always stay the same and sometimes we need to understand that.
a) Forever Young.
b) Boots of Spanish Leather. ( The late Nanci Griffith did a lovely version )
Am I the only 84 y/o who thinks one of his best is Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues? I vividly remember buying Highway 61 and getting home to the stereo to experience Dylan’s 2nd very electric album.
I was never into Dylan until I first heard Desolation Row and thought “what the hell is this?!”.
Personal favourites are “Like a rolling stone”, “Desolation row” and “If you see her say hello”. Blood on the Tracks is a classic from start to finish, though I’m still not sure why Rosemary would take a cabbage into town.
However, as noted above, his very recent stuff is way better than it has any right to be.
That video of Hendrix at the Isle of Wight brings back memories (although through a bit of psychedelic-induced haze) – I was there! I still have my concert program and ticket stubs.
Like our host, I’m much more a fan of early Dylan than of his later stuff.
My sister and her future husband took me (age 9) to Joan Baez-Bob Dylan concert in Pittsburgh. Still remember seeing them in black and white, from far away. I loved her singing, not so impressed with him until I hit college and was buying his albums.
I still love her album of his songs “Any Day Now>”