Description
Bob Dylan is one of the major cultural figures of the modern age, combining a reverence for the traditions of many forms of American music with a distinctly postmodern sensibility. It is no exaggeration to state that he has revolutionised the art of poetic songwriting. He is a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature, the Pulitzer Prize and numerous other awards, as well as being arguably the most influential single artist in the history of rock music.
This book is the second volume of Chris Gregory’s Picasso of Song, a highly comprehensive ‘trilogy in reverse’ which takes ‘deep dives’ into all of Dylan’s songs, while exploring the many ways in which he has used live performance to expand and deepen the effects of his art. Following on from the acclaimed Determined to Stand: The Reinvention of Bob Dylan, which covered his later years, Minstrel Boy focuses on the many artistic and personal metamorphoses he went through between 1967 and 1990 – what might be called his ‘years of struggle’. Dylan could easily have rested on the laurels of his early fame but he refused to be categorised or ‘boxed in’ by the intense personal pressures that were placed on him.
Instead, he continued his restless quest to find new ways to present his songs to fans and followers, knowing that they would hang onto every word he said or sang.
Part One, Retreat, examines the period between 1967 and 1973, when he largely shunned public appearances and produced a series of laid back, country-influenced albums. Part Two, Return, looks at the years 1974 to 1978, when he released a number of highly acclaimed recordings and tours which fully restored his reputation as a poetic song writer. Part Three, Rebirth, considers the period between 1979 and 1990, when he underwent a religious conversion, followed by what was generally considered to be an artistic slump and then another surprising ‘upturn’ as he began to re-orientate his approach yet again.
Chris’ podcast Bob Dylan: A Headful of Ideas can be found on youtube, Apple Podcasts, buzzsprout, Spotify and many other platforms.
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