Tag Archives: Bob Dylan

Parsons Playlists: Back to the Future

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Griffin (class of 2027). It features a mix of new and older songs.

Back to the Future

back to the future

Recently, I’ve been listening to mostly old music as well as whatever new releases were coming out, so I thought, why not combine the time differences into one playlist? Listening to them all, it’s interesting to listen to the common themes from each period and how the sound has evolved into what we enjoy today. Listening from old to new, new to old, or shuffling the list gives light to new experiences as well.

Sampha – “Dancing Circles 2.0”

JPEGMAFIA – “either on or off the drugs”

Mustafa feat. Daniel Caesar – “Leaving Toronto”

KAYTRANADA feat. Childish Gambino – “Witchy”

The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”

Clairo – “Juna”

MAXO KREAM X TYLER, THE CREATOR – “CRACC ERA”

FKA twigs – “Eusexua”

Denzel Curry ft. Ty Dolla $ign & Juicy J – “COLE PIMP”

The Temptations – “The Way You Do The Things You Do”

Ben E. King – “Stand By Me”

Sly & The Family Stone – “Family Affair”

The Flamingos – “I Only Have Eyes for You”

Bobby Hebb – “Sunny”

Paul Simon – “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”

Stevie Wonder – “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing”

Ray Charles – “What’d I Say”

Bob Dylan – “The Times They Are A-Changin'”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZezTVskBwAUxuXEeauYQTMFG&si=2Sv6jGo_Mymlm_Ki

Arachnophonia: Bob Dylan

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Amy (class of 2025) and features Bob Dylan’s first studio album (released in 1962). Thanks, Amy!

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan (1962)

Bob Dylan’s debut album, released in March 1962 by Columbia Records, marks a pivotal moment in the history of folk and popular music. Recorded over two days in November 1961, the album introduces the world to the raw, authentic voice of 20-year-old Dylan. The opening track, “You’re No Good,” immediately showcases Dylan‘s distinctive vocal style and his ability to infuse traditional songs with new life. The album is a compelling blend of folk standards, bluesy interpretations, and a few original compositions, offering a glimpse into the mind of a burgeoning songwriter and storyteller.

Dylan’s command of the acoustic guitar is evident throughout the album, providing a solid foundation for his poetic and often socially conscious lyrics. “Talkin’ New York” is an autobiographical track detailing Dylan’s early experiences and struggles in the Greenwich Village folk scene. “In My Time of Dyin'” reflects Dylan’s fascination with mortality and traditional blues themes, while “Man of Constant Sorrow” highlights his ability to reinterpret folk classics with a fresh perspective.

The album also features Dylan’s take on the traditional ballad “House of the Risin’ Sun,” a rendition that would influence countless musicians. The haunting quality of this track, combined with Dylan’s distinctive vocal delivery, contributes to the enduring appeal of the song. “Song to Woody” pays homage to Woody Guthrie, one of Dylan‘s most significant influences.

In hindsight, Bob Dylan is a captivating snapshot of an artist on the cusp of greatness. While not an immediate commercial success, the album laid the groundwork for Dylan’s subsequent groundbreaking work. Its influence on the folk revival of the 1960s and its enduring impact on subsequent generations of musicians solidify its place as a seminal piece in the folk and rock canon. Bob Dylan captures the essence of a young artist finding his voice, foreshadowing the revolutionary changes he would bring to the world of music in the years to come.

You can listen to Bob Dylan’s first studio album Bob Dylan at Parsons Music Library.

Parsons Playlists: Autumnal Mellow

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library associate Melanie and features some autumnal music.

Autumnal Mellow

It’s the autumnal equinox, which means that fall is officially upon us, so here is a playlist of some mellow tunes that make me think of the fall season.

Justin Hayward – “Forever Autumn”

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – “Autumn in New York”

Ben Folds Five – “Don’t Change Your Plans”

Harry Nilsson – “Everybody’s Talkin'”

Nat King Cole – “Autumn Leaves”

John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman – “Autumn Serenade”

The Neighbourhood – “Sweater Weather”

The White Stripes – “We’re Going To Be Friends”

Vince Guaraldi Trio – “Great Pumpkin Waltz”

girl in red – “We Fell in Love in October”

Billy Joel – “Vienna”

Bob Dylan – “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”

Neil Young – “Harvest Moon”

The Moldy Peaches – “Anyone Else But You”

Carole King – “It’s Too Late”

Sting – “La Belle Dame Sans Regrets”

Paul McCartney – “Calico Skies”

King Harvest – “Dancing in the Moonlight”

Lindisfarne – “Lady Eleanor”

Dee Clark – “Raindrops”

Vince Guaraldi Trio – “Thanksgiving Theme”

Sting – “Soul Cake”

Van Morrison – “Moondance”

The Zombies – “Time of the Season”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:

And here it is on Spotify:

Arachnophonia: Bob Dylan “100 Songs”

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Eliana (class of 2024) and features a collection of 100 lyrics by Bob Dylan. Thanks, Eliana!

Bob Dylan

100 Songs

Bob Dylan - 100 Songs (book cover)

Bob Dylan is one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of the 20th century. He has written over 500 songs throughout the span of his career, both for himself and other artists. His most famous works include “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” which became civil rights and antiwar anthems following the frustrations many Americans were facing in the 60’s. He has received a plethora of awards, including ten Grammys, a Golden Globe, an Oscar, and the Nobel Prize in Literature.

His book, 100 Songs, is a self curated collection of 100 of his most profound works. His lyrics adorn the pages, underscoring their poetic nature. If you’re a fan of Dylan’s work, the book is a must read. For me, seeing his lyrics sprawled across 200 pages deepens their significance and allure.

You can check out this book, along with over 100 other Bob Dylan-related materials, from Parsons Music Library. Maybe grab a CD or two to enhance your reading experience!

Arachnophonia: Folk Music and the New Left in the Sixties

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student worker Eve (class of 2020) and features a book entitled Folk Music and the New Left in the Sixties. Thanks, Eve!

Folk Music and the New Left in the Sixties by Michael Scott Cain

Folk Music and the New Left in the Sixties

I am super excited about Michael Scott Cain’s Folk Music and the New Left in the Sixties book available through the Music Library Collection! As an environmental activist, I am intrigued by the connection between music and activism and have drawn strength from songs like “The Times They Are A – Changin’” (Bob Dylan), “Resilient” (Rising Appalachia) and “Pa’lante” (Hurray for The Riff Raff). Most recently, at the Climate Strike in D.C., performers like Caroline Rose sang “Money”, and my Environmental Law professor’s daughter performed an original song about climate change!

https://globalclimatestrike.net/

As a result, I am excited to explore this book and Cain’s insight about the revival of folk music in the 1960’s that addressed a political shift and new cultural ideologies in America. The book focuses on musicians like Joan Baez, Peter Paul & Mary, and Bob Dylan and is divided into three parts; first, The Background, focused on the emergence of the New Left, second, The Politics, examining the politics of the New Left, and third, The Music, or the soundtrack of the New Left movement. When paging through the book, I was interested in the connection between suburbanization and the emergence of the New Left, and was drawn to the idea of a “prefigurative model” that turns the status quo upside down, where the “last shall be first”. Michael Scott Cain integrates an analysis of American history, culture, icons, music and experiences in an accessible and interesting read. Check it out!

Bob Dylan & Joan Baez during the 1960s

Arachnophonia: “The Ballad of Bob Dylan: A Portrait”

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about items in the Parsons Music Library‘s collection. All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by Music Library student library worker, Eve (class of 2020) and features a 2012 Bob Dylan biography. Thanks, Eve!

The Ballad of Bob Dylan: A Portrait by Daniel Mark Epstein

The Ballad of Bob Dylan

I associate Bob Dylan with family; I grew up hearing my Dad play Dylan recordings and listening to my older brother singing classics such as “Blowin’ in the Wind“. This summer, my love of Bob Dylan was rekindled when I lived in Utah, as songs such as “Tangled up in Blue” and “Shelter from the Storm” were the perfect soundtrack for road trips with friends. In addition to loving Dylan’s music, I am interested in him as a counterculture icon, political figure and individual, and particularly want to learn more about his role in the Civil Rights movement and Vietnam War.

Bob Dylan goes electric at the Newport Folk Festival 1965

Bob Dylan “goes electric” and inspires controversy at the Newport Folk Festival 1965

As such, I am excited to explore The Ballad of Bob Dylan, a biography written by Daniel Mark Epstein. The book uses four formative concerts to examine Dylan’s rise to fame, his shift from folk to rock music, and more personal aspects of his life and character. It includes interviews with those close to the singer-songwriter such as Nora Guthrie and Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, as well as lyrics from Dylan songs and poems. While there are many biographies about this “voice of a generation”, The Ballad of Bob Dylan is accessible and comprehensive, allowing it to be the perfect read for a budding Dylan fan.