4. Like A Rolling Stone - Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln3UE-IIzrI The opening snare shot sounded like somebodyd kicked open the door to your mind, spoke Bruce Springsteen of this iconic Dylan behemoth. The Boss enthusiasm captures the songs sheer audacity and glistening innovation, as Dylan hurls a torrent of anger and condescension at his vacuous addressee. With insults that are commonly believed to be directed at Warhol scenester and one time Dylan flame, Edie Sedgwick, Like A Rolling Stone is imbued with an unwavering complexity and bile-oozing lyrics, providing a cutting and nuanced assessment of a privileged (yet selfish) womans spectacular fall from grace. A pop song that in its length, clocking in at just over six minutes, revolutionised perceptions of the 7 single and its subject matter. No longer did it have to be about love, happiness and romance but it could now incorporate the weightier themes of rejection, loss, resentment and the very meaning of life itself. Away from its impressively disparaging wordplay, Highway 61s opener is probably most remembered for Al Koopers infectious, improvised organ playing; a distinctive sound that drives the track through its testing motions and a significant contribution that wouldnt have existed at all had producer Tom Wilson had his way before being overruled by Dylan. Further proof of the mans unmatchable genius.
Dan Owens
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A 22 year old English Literature graduate from Birmingham. I am passionate about music, literature and football, in particular, my beloved Aston Villa. Lover of words and consumer of art, music is the very air that I breathe.
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