I would like to start getting into Dylan but have no idea where to start.

Greatest hits compilation (which one)?
Single Albums (too many to choose from)
Live albums (good place to start?)

I'm thinking about purchasing 4 CDs and I'm hoping to get the neccessities. So please can someone suggest a handful of MUST HAVE Dylan recording?. I love live recordings...and I"m hoping Dylan has a few out there that are staples to any collection. I was thinking of getting the greatest hits but there were a couple of them out there with different volumes and was overwhelmed.

Any help and I'd appreciate it!

Highway 61 Revisited
Blonde On Blonde
Blood On The Tracks
My wild card:
Bob Dylan Live 1975 (The Bootleg Series Volume 5)

I'm tired, I'm tired of doing what I'm told.
Things are moving way too slow.

I'd recommend NOT to start with a greatest hits compilation. I think the songs loose a lot of their power, when taken out of context with the rest of the album. This goes for a lot of artists, but especially for Bob Dylan.
I'd recommend "Live 1975" for a starter, instead of greatest hits-compilation.
As for studio albums...Gazza can have the honour.

the essential Bob dylan Comp for a good comp

Higway 61 Revisted for a early to mid

Blood on the Tracks for a good mid period

Live 1966 for a good live

and anyone of last 3 for a good recent.

I'm with Mr Snow - no comps.

I'd go:

Blonde On Blonde
HWY 61
Desire
Blood On The Tracks (NY bootleg version if you can find it)
Bringing It All Back Home

and of course, The Basement Tapes.

And I'm with your list there, cosmoprim!
Good call on Desire, it's the first Dylan album that I got into.

Desire
Street Legal
Real Live (Mick Taylor)
Highway 61
Slow Train Coming

Then just buy all of them, there are no stinkers, except Under The Red Sky, I even like Self Portrait

In addition I would suggest,
Nashville Skyline
Infidels
Oh Mercy
Time Out of Mind

Oh Mercy. That one worked for me

You know, you can ask this question to a thousand people and will surely get just as much different answers...

Just try it out. Dylan has done very many very different things in his career, if you don't like one album doesn't mean you don't like the subsequent one too...

Me, I started with "Time out of mind" just because I found the title interesting, not many people would recommend this as a starting point, and today I'm a really BIG fan of his work and own all of his albums!! And I'm only 21 ;-)

MacPhisto Wrote:
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> You know, you can ask this question to a thousand
> people and will surely get just as much different
> answers...

Oddly enough the six I would suggest as starters match cosmoprism's (although i prefer the released 'Blood on the tracks' to the alternate one thats on bootlegs)


>
> Just try it out. Dylan has done very many very
> different things in his career, if you don't like
> one album doesn't mean you don't like the
> subsequent one too...

Thats true. Of the released studio albums, to be honest the only ones to avoid IMO are 'Down in the groove' and 'Saved' (the latter had some great songs written and performed live around that time - it just didnt gel in the studio and they omitted many songs far superior to what he did put out). 'Knocked out loaded' is subpar as well, although 'Brownsville Girl' is worth getting it for alone. Still, its on a few compilations.
>
> Me, I started with "Time out of mind" just because
> I found the title interesting, not many people
> would recommend this as a starting point, and
> today I'm a really BIG fan of his work and own all
> of his albums!! And I'm only 21 ;-)

You are truly wise beyond your young years.

Justin - you could always get the 3-CD compilation "Dylan" which comes out on October 1st.

humanriff77 Wrote:
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> Desire
> Street Legal
> Real Live (Mick Taylor)
> Highway 61
> Slow Train Coming
>
> Then just buy all of them, there are no stinkers,
> except Under The Red Sky, I even like Self
> Portrait

Self Portrait is fantastic - I never understood why so many people hate it so vehemently. It's definitley in my second tier (with Nashville Skyline and Freewheelin')

I don't have Red Sky, not wild about Self Portrait, but otherwise i don't think you can go wrong. I like him better after he went electric, but the early acoustic work is good too.

cosmoprim Wrote:
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> humanriff77 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Desire
> > Street Legal
> > Real Live (Mick Taylor)
> > Highway 61
> > Slow Train Coming
> >
> > Then just buy all of them, there are no
> stinkers,
> > except Under The Red Sky, I even like Self
> > Portrait
>
> Self Portrait is fantastic - I never understood
> why so many people hate it so vehemently. It's
> definitley in my second tier (with Nashville
> Skyline and Freewheelin')



Count me in as another 'Self Portrait' fan. Especially "Copper Kettle".

I CAN understand why people dont like it, though - especially if you'd followed Dylan throughout his career up to that point (1970) because it does sound at times like he's taking the piss and de-constructing the entire myth that had surrounded him up to then.

The real low mark is "Dylan" from 1973.

The only ones to avoid - at the beginning - is his first one and "Shot Of Love" ...and that is pretty much it.

For a really good start - buy his latest (Modern Times). I've yet to meet someone who does not like this album.....even my ex mother-in-law who is 72 ;-)

....and go see him in concert if you ever get the chance!! No bitching about "stale" setlists here - they change almost entirely from one night to the next ;-)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-09-21 23:46 by mofur.

Svartmer Wrote:
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> The real low mark is "Dylan" from 1973.


But even that one has it's moments. It's not available on CD though, so it's not a threat to Justin. Pretty much the same as Metamorphosis....a release by the "ex-label", without any approval of the artist himself.

Svartmer Wrote:
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> The real low mark is "Dylan" from 1973.


Cant really count that as Bob didnt authorise its release. CBS put it out in a fit of pique after he temporarily left them for Asylum/Island. Its the only Dylan album thats currently unavailable on CD (I bought it on e-bay a few weeks ago and it cost me £55, although I've seen it go for higher - got it to complete my collection)

I like 'Shot of love'. He left off some great songs like 'caribbean wind' but theres some fine songs on it ("Every grain of sand", "In the summertime") and the sound on it is excellent. The first album has a certain charm too, although theres a huge step up in class when he put out 'Freewheelin' a year later.

Mofur - it's "Modern Times"



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-09-21 23:38 by Gazza.

Shot of Love has one my favourites songs with Dylan, Property of Jesus.

Gazza Wrote:
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> I like 'Shot of love'. He left off some great
> songs like 'caribbean wind' but theres some fine
> songs on it ("Every grain of sand", "In the
> summertime") and the sound on it is excellent.

Not to mention Property Of Jesus and Heart Of Mine!

A really nice album, but not recommended to "start a Dylan collection" with.

Gazza Wrote:
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>
> Mofur - it's "Modern Times"


Ouch!!!! That hurt......my only excuse is the two bottles of red wine consumeed before sitting down to the computer ;-)

....but not more drunk than I knew that as soon as put the boot in on one of God's albums (Shot of Love) I would be shot down myself ;-) (If you read carefully, I'm only saying that it is not for the beginner - IMHO)

Me - I'm no beginner and I love almost all of God's work!! Love his voice, love his attitude (slurp! Ahhhh...) and love everything about him "keep on keeping on"

Bringing It All Back Home
Highway 61 Revisited
Blonde on Blonde
Blood on the Tracks.


The above four are in my opinion Dylan’s most assessable albums. Anyone who likes rock music should listen to these and enjoy them imo. There are other albums that many will cite as being better, but I think the above are the safest bets for first timers. Frewheelin is a firm favourite of mine, but if folk protest songs aren't your thing, then you may find it hard work. Stick with the above.

I really fail to see how anyone could disagree!

Big Al Wrote:
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> Bringing It All Back Home
> Highway 61 Revisited
> Blonde on Blonde
> Blood on the Tracks.
>
>
> The above four are in my opinion Dylan’s most
> assessable albums. Anyone who likes rock music
> should listen to these and enjoy them imo. There
> are other albums that many will cite as being
> better, but I think the above are the safest bets
> for first timers. Frewheelin is a firm favourite
> of mine, but if folk protest songs aren't your
> thing, then you may find it hard work. Stick with
> the above.
>
> I really fail to see how anyone could disagree!

If you stick "Modern Times" in there we might find some kind of compromise ;-)

Big Al Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bringing It All Back Home
> Highway 61 Revisited
> Blonde on Blonde
> Blood on the Tracks.
>
>
> The above four are in my opinion Dylan’s most
> assessable albums. Anyone who likes rock music
> should listen to these and enjoy them imo. There
> are other albums that many will cite as being
> better, but I think the above are the safest bets
> for first timers. Frewheelin is a firm favourite
> of mine, but if folk protest songs aren't your
> thing, then you may find it hard work. Stick with
> the above.
>
> I really fail to see how anyone could disagree!



I'd actually put 'Desire' as being more accessible than just about any of those, although those 4 would probably be his best.

there's not much in the way of protest songs on 'Freewheelin' (maybe about 5-6 out of 13), compared to 'The Times They Are A Changin'. If anything, its as dominated by love songs.

mofur Wrote:
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> If you stick "Modern Times" in there we might find
> some kind of compromise ;-)


I haven't heard Modern Times!

I chose the above albums though because I really do think they are the easiest ones to get into. Very little to be offended by!

A great live is Before the Flood. His voice on that tour -74 was extraordinary good.

This was exactly what I was looking for. I was hoping for some matches in people's suggestions and you guys came through. I will pick up:

Highway 61 Revisited
Live 1975
Blood On The Tracks
Blonde on Blonde
Bringing it all back home

and maybe Modern Times...

that should do it?

thanks everyone!

Svartmer Wrote:
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> A great live is Before the Flood. His voice on
> that tour -74 was extraordinary good.


Disagree...
Maybe good voice, but without any feelings or direction



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-09-22 00:11 by Erik_Snow.

Wholeheartedly agree with the thoughs on "Freewheelin'" above..

It's one of my favourite Dylan albums, just himself, guitar & harmonica for the most part, sounds so vibrant even today, it's a wonderful rollickingly good album!

The first 4 I heard when getting into Dylan were four of his masterpieces --

Highway 61
Blonde On Blonde
Desire
Blood On the Tracks

There are a handful of dodgy album around the mid-'80's, but, maybe I'm alone in this, have always had soft spot for '85's "Empire Burlesque". Have no idea of the general consensus on this one, but, mostly, I love the damn thing!

For a first 4, I'd go for Freewheelin / Highway 61 / Blonde On Blonde / Desire /

Good luck in your Dylan odyssey...

For me...I don't get him...I went through the same thing a couple of years ago...never liked Dylan...but I love Ron Wood solo and I love Tom Petty both of who try to be much like Dylan...so I figured I really must be missing something...it must be me...

I asked the same question...went out and bought a couple of Dylan CD's....

No luck...couldn't sit though it...still think it sucks...

PECMAN