Sounds like Clinton Heylin referring to the Beatles in a Dylan book, ha.

And the Basement Tapes never happened. 🤷‍♂️

Remarkable Bob Dylan-related footnote from Ian MacDonald’s Beatles book Revolution in the Head: “…the quality of his work went into permanent decline.” Like Blood on the Tracks wasn’t a thing.

It's a privilege to be able to hear the evolution of Like a Rolling Stone from a jaunty waltz to the gut shot master and on through surf rock guitar licks and more over 20 takes. The deluxe edition of The Cutting Edge has an entire disc dedicated to the song.

Stories In The Press: Dylan Revisited — The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 chronicles Dylan’s 1965–66 studio evolution, from solitary first takes to full-band reinventions, revealing how classic songs like Like a Rolling Stone and Desolation Row took shape. https://bit.ly/4cZoyoW

Released in 2015, The Cutting Edge is an epic collection of outtakes that charts the development of Bob Dylan's mid-60s trilogy of classic albums. Check out my full revisit 👇

It was a huge honor to return to the fantastic Definitely Dylan podcast to talk with host Laura Tenschert about Bob Dylan’s underexamined filmmaking work and my new book: www.definitelydylan.com/podcasts/202...

Stories In The Press: Dylan Revisited — Deep dive into Another Side of Dylan (1964): a loose, quickly recorded album that moved him from topical protest to introspective, symbolist songwriting, featuring My Back Pages, Chimes of Freedom and It Ain’t Me Babe. https://bit.ly/3MvchxX

Really like this Sad-Eyed Lady rendition by @nataliemerchant.bsky.social - her hesitant phrasing on the verses really draw you in and then you get the slow-born eruption of the chorus. From a recent Blonde on Blonde tribute show at @bobdylancenter.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihxb...

The exemplar of that thin wild mercury sound with one of Bob Dylan's most sincerely-stated choruses: "I want you...so bad" www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iIS...

Reviewed the excellent new soon-to-be-released Bob Dylan book by Michael Glover Smith over on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/94matthe...

On Visions of Johanna - from my revisit to Bob Dylan’s mid-60s masterwork, Blonde on Blonde.

My new book - The Umbrella Man and Other Stories - is available to pre-order online at @waterstones.bsky.social and, if you hurry, you get 25% off* *Offer available until midnight on the 20th. Just add FEB26 at the checkout to claim your discount www.waterstones.com/book/the-umb...

Blonde on Blonde revisited dylanrevisited.com/2026/02/13/b...

Happy birthday to 'The Times They Are a-Changin',' released on this date in 1964

Released on this day (Feb 10th) in 1964: the peak and completion of Bob Dylan's protest phase - The Times They Are a-Changin'

Mary Jane and the Damage Done

One of my favourite discoveries when researching Bob Dylan's 1975 SNACK Benefit appearance was learning that Neil Young was once in a band with Rick James - Mynah Birds.

Excerpt from my latest revisit to Bob Dylan’s surprise appearance alongside Neil Young at the 1975 Snack Benefit Concert in San Francisco. The pair performed a unique mashup of their songs Helpless and Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door with an intriguing lyrical twist.

Been posting my archive of revisits to Substack and I enjoyed this comment about The Freewheelin'. I like the idea of Bob Dylan's Dream as the password to a secret society.

In March 1975, 60,000 people packed San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium to hear Bob Dylan and Neil Young perform a memorable mash-up of two of their biggest songs. But why these two rock icons came together at the SNACK Benefit Concert was the more prosaic matter of budget cuts. 🧵

Fantastic - Dylan autographed the poster by crossing out the names of the publications below the pull-out quotes so it's like it's him talking about himself. Also added "is a drag" after Columbia Records.

A play-by-play of the second Night of the Hurricane 1976, as told through contemporary newspaper accounts. Plus other Bob Dylan appearances offstage and onstage afterwards in Texas. Includes confirmation of songs not previously listed with Bob Dylan's participation (Mercedes Benz, etc).

Revisiting Bob Dylan's surprise guest appearance alongside Neil Young and The Band at the 1975 SNACK Benefit Concert: dylanrevisited.com/2026/01/21/s...

This was the first Dylan album I knew about in advance, and I was so disappointed it would have no originals! And then he followed up with another all-covers album! I had to wait until 1997 for originals but it was well worth the wait. Both cover albums are of course magnificent!

You don’t often see Bob Dylan in a supporting role. But at the SNACK Benefit Concert at Kezar Stadium on the edge of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on March 23rd 1975, he’s essentially a backing musician for the event’s headline act, Neil Young. 🧵 📷 Alvan Meyerowitz

You don’t often see Bob Dylan in a supporting role. But at the SNACK Benefit Concert at Kezar Stadium on the edge of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on March 23rd 1975, he’s essentially a backing musician for the event’s headline act, Neil Young. 🧵 📷 Alvan Meyerowitz

My most basic Bob Dylan opinion is that Blood on the Tracks is his best album. It’d be much more fun to argue for Street Legal or Modern Times or something more unusual. But come on. Blood on the Tracks has never been topped - by him or by anyone else.

I am with those who name Blood On The Tracks as Dylan's finest album. "You're a Big Girl Now" is distilled heartbreak. "Lily Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts" is amazingly cinematic. It should be a movie. Seriously.

Happy Blood on the Tracks day!

Blood on the Tracks was released on this day 51 years ago. I revisited it eight months ago...

Is Bob Dylan Now History – An Evening With Writer Michael Gray. This Thursday, 22nd January. Dorchester Corn Exchange

On the latest episode of the Dylan Revisited podcast, I look back at Bob Dylan's memorable 1964 show at New York's Philharmonic Hall but mostly talk about Joan Baez and her relationship with Dylan and his music. Links below 👇

Stories In The Press: Dylan Revisited — The Gaslight Tapes (1961–62) capture early Greenwich Village performances, showing Dylan's songwriting evolution, roots in traditional folk and blues, and early social commentary—essential listening for fans. https://bit.ly/4aWSVvj

Dylan Revisited podcast episode 10: The Bootleg Series Vol. 6 - Concert at Philharmonic Hall Hear it now: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/c...

Not sure what black magic they cast when the lights went out but hearing Desire @pitchblackplayback.bsky.social kinda made me love Joey.

I'm looking forward to listening to Desire in the dark this evening. Here's what @pitchblackplayback.bsky.social founder Ben Gomori told me I can expect from the experience.

Listen to Bob Dylan's Desire in the dark @pitchblackplayback.bsky.social dylanrevisited.com/2026/01/12/p...

I wrote a chapter for this new Leonard Cohen book alongside some great writers. Mine’s about Cohen covers. Preorder wherever you do such things

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bob Dylan's Desire with a unique listening party - entirely in the dark. I spoke to @pitchblackplayback.bsky.social founder Ben Gomori about hearing more in music when the lights are out. Link 👇

Dylan’s cover of John Hiatt’s “The Usual” on this soundtrack is pretty good!

Found this in my local record shop this morning.

Happy birthday Joan Baez!

Happy 85th birthday Joan Baez. I wrote a bit about her in my revisit to Dylan's 1964 Philharmonic Hall concert: dylanrevisited.com/2025/07/15/t...

Stories In The Press: Dylan Revisited — Revisiting Dylan's 1962 self-titled debut: a gritty, blues-heavy, and commercially ignored album that still hints at the songwriter he would become, preceding his breakthrough on The Freewheelin'. https://bit.ly/3Z8p0cc

Revisiting an epic two-disc collection of early live Bob Dylan recordings from quiet Greenwich Village folk cafés to a raucous Royal Albert Hall. Link 👇

Stories In The Press: Dylan Revisited — Rare Live collects 29 early live performances from 1962–66, offering historic debuts and unique takes—an excellent overview of Dylan’s evolution for aficionados and newcomers. https://bit.ly/4jqYBje

Great comment on my recent Rare Live revisit from someone who was at Dylan's Royal Festival Hall concert in 1964. The campaign for the full show to get an official release starts here.

The most-read Flagging Down posts of 2025 (a thread I meant to do earlier) #1: The Bob Dylan Concert for Just One Person