Bob Dylan 

Chronicles volume 1

Anyone who has been alive in the past 50 years and has paid attention to the music scene should know the name Bob Dylan. For me, Bob has had a different road to my musical soul than most. I’ve always understood that Bob was the prolific poet musician who wrote the words to many songs covered by bands and they made those Dylan songs even better, or so I thought. 

Chronicles volume one; is a 300+ page book that is so creatively written that it was hard to rap my mind around. After a few days of completely finishing reading Chronicles, I’m still thinking about it. Once I found the rhythm of the author, I couldn’t wait to turn the pages. They’re no major facts about Dylan’s life, He doesn’t name drop, or is it a fact finding kind of book. But it has loads of short artistic branches of a man’s craft, writing and recording music. What did you aspect from a guy who’s writing and recording career has been as bountiful than his? What you get early on are folk names from the past that help him find his why through early folk life. They shaped and made the man who he is today. His father who gave him worldly advice and a mother who Bobby could do no wrong with encouragement sentiment. I found a man who fished, sailed and enjoyed Broadway show’s, Bob Dylan? Wow, who would of thought that Bob would like that! There are pages like this throughout Bob Dylan’s Chronicles. A man who wanted to bring up his family, out of the public eye, and guide them though early life. 

I knew the songs and records Dylan spoke about throughout the book Chronicles, but I’ve never owned a Bob Dylan recording. Today I own his newest effort called Tempest. Some friends have said, his voice is shot, but I found it fitting and soulful throughout the album. The American roots rock, country feel is recorded masterfully. I can’t put the record down many days. Some of the tracks are story telling tales and others are groove based American folk rock classics. I’m the type to pour through a record, listening to each track, listening to everything on each cut. I listen to the melody, vocals, guitar, bass, drums and all the extra bits in a musical score. This record is something special, written by a special man. America, this man is special and I think he wouldn’t like me saying this, but he’s a living legend. And I want him to still make music, cause I’m happily listening. Bob Dylan’s 2005 book; Chronicles is must reading.