1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #64. Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde (1966)

Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde (1966)
Label – Columbia
Producer – Bob Johnston
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality -USA
Running Time – 71:00

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
2. Pledging My Time
3. Visions Of Johanna
4. One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)
5. I Want You
6. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
7. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
8. Just Like A Woman
9. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)
10. Temporary Like Achilles
11. Absolutely Sweet Marie
12. Fourth Time Around
13. Obviously Five Believers
14. Sad-Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands

Here we have a double lp by Bob Dylan. Thought to be the first rock double record. It does however fit nicely on 1 compact disc. Basically it picks up where his ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ left off. There are a lot of varying styles on this record, blending blues, country, rock, and folk into a new wilder sounding Dylan. He also had replacing the searing guitar of Michael Bloomfield with the powerful, weaving guitar of Robbie Robertson from the Band – or as they were called at the time the Hawks. ‘Blonde on Blonde’ is comprised of songs driven by Dylan’s witty wordplay but the music takes center stage with cutting guitar riffs, liquid organ riffs, crisp pianos, and even woozy brass bands on "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35".
To me this is Dylan at his best. He would never release a studio record that rocked this hard, or had such great energy ever again.
It has come to be regarded as one of Dylan's greatest achievements, and "one of the greatest rock & roll albums ever made". It also marked the end of an era for Dylan, who would soon be involved in a motorcycle accident (significantly changing his musical approach).
The record peaked at #9 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart in the US, eventually going double-platinum, while it reached #3 in the UK. It is ranked as the ninth greatest album of all time by both VH1 and Rolling Stone.
It is recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.