Known through his career as a genre-defining artist in the folk music that he shot to life in the 1960s, Bob Dylan should perhaps be better known for his influence transcending genres. Just as “Blowin’ in the Wind” defined a genre of folk began decades earlier, so too did Dylan’s lesser known songs that continued a tradition traced all the way back to Robert Johnson.
Dylan’s blues efforts, perhaps known best for their semi-incarnation in “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” stretch back much farther than the 1964 electric shocker. Beginning with the bootlegged “ Minnesota Tapes ” in November 1961, to the electric blues of 2007’s “Modern Times,” Dylan’s contribution to the craft was career-enveloping.
Bob Dylan's Blues Music: Milkcow Calf Blues and The Minnesota Tapes
The song longs for escape and for an end to the hard times that define the sound. He bids farewell in a 12-bar syncopation that builds in blues throughout. As the old bluesman, Dylan injects years of weariness into his less than 22 years on the planet. The attitude would resurface two years later, in the studio for “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan" with "Milkcow Calf Blues."
The track follows the simple blues formula of Johnson’s 1932 standard, and its A-B-B simplicity underlie the simple blues theme of loss and hard times. Just as many of Dylan’s folk numbers reflect the same hard times (including his cover of Woody’ Guthrie’s “Hard Times”), Dylan was at his vocal best on these Delta dirges.
Blues Songs by Bob Dylan: Blind Willie McTell
His blues capacity would be seen much later, over forty years on, as Bob’s 2007 offering “Modern Times” showed off more blues standards. Among these was his explosive rendition of the Muddy Waters favorite “Rollin’ and Tumblin’.” For this cover, Dylan would visit his most electric and blues-infused sound in nearly 15 years. More a Cream cover than a Muddy Waters rendition, the song has Dylan attacking the famous A-A-B format with classic lines like “I got trouble so hard I just can’t stand the strain.”
A popular import CD of Dylan’s would even be spawed in the 2000s, titled “Bob Dylan’s Blues.” The album, while hardly definitive, would catalog Dylan’s contribution throughout his career, though only at a glimpse. Starting with his 1965 acoustic blues “She Belongs to Me,” the album meets more traditional Dylan ditties like “Meet Me in the Morning.” The album would continue with Dylan’s own homage to the genre and one of his favorite artists on “Blind Willie McTell,” a throwaway from the “Bootleg Series” box set.
Folk-Blues Songs
Whether Dylan is known better for his folk or blues efforts has never been in question, but the craft that led to his rise in folk music can no doubt be traced to his interest in the music that spawned all other modern sounds, including his modern folk and subsequent rock.
Discover more Dylan Blues with these rare gems:
Bob Dylan's Unreleased Songs
Matthew Fortuna - My Blog Matthew Fortuna is a freelance writer and journalist currently contributing to multiple on-line and print publications, as well ...
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