Bob Dylan changed music forever when he released Highway 61 Revisited on August 30th in 1965. 61 years later, there is nothing new that can be said about Highway 61 Revisited that hasn’t been said millions of times. All I can offer is my deep appreciation and acknowledgement of the massive legacy and beautiful artwork that has inspired and entertained so many throughout the years. I am a newer Dylanologist, having recently taken the Bob Dylan course at MTSU this spring, but I quickly became obsessed with the myth and work of Bob Dylan as I learned about him and was exposed to his music. Few artists have had the impact and vast body of work that Bob Dylan does; his output is simply unmatched and every decade of his work includes many loved and respected albums. Highway 61 Revisited stands at the top of not only his catalogue but at the top of popular music as a whole.
Highway 61 Revisited followed the divisive Bringing It All Back Home record from the same year that brought Dylan out of the acoustic/folk/protest box that many put him in. Bringing It All Back Home is an amazing album that acted as Dylan’s first steps away from his acoustic focused music but Highway 61 Revisited was Dylan fully taking that leap going all into his new electric backed instrumentation and lyrical themes that were not present previously. Highway 61 Revisited was produced by Bob Johnston outside of “Like a Rolling Stone” which was produced by Tom Wilson. The recording of the album was split across two recording periods, the first part was with Tom Wilson before Dylan’s famous electric set at the Newport Folk Festival. After Newport, Dylan returned to the studio to complete the record with Bob Johnston. Tom Wilson had previously produced most of Dylan’s records from The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan to Bringing It All Back Home.
Highway 61 Revisited is an excellent rock record that set the standard that all other acts would have to reach, or at least attempt to reach, in the 60s and the decades following. Most of Dylan’s catalogue is highly influential but Highway 61 is objectively one of if not the most influential of his releases. The record completely shaped the entire rock genre and music industry going forward. Highway 61 is filled with beautiful writing from Dylan matched with the electric instrumentation that brings forward a hard hitting record filled with tons of fun, anger, and rebellion. This record showed everyone what music and songwriting can be. Expert musicianship, writing, and raw performances all wrapped together in earnest emotions, creating as close to perfect art as possible. The track listing is absolutely perfect with “Like a Rolling Stone” kicking off the record with the anthem that continues to resonate with so many after all these years. The songs that follow continue Dylan’s rebellious nature and anger towards the older generation, the gatekeepers, the critiques, and the people in power. Highway 61 Revisited is as important now as it was back then, it lives on as a record for the young and for people that want change and to push back against the labels and decisions that others place onto you. Take today as a chance to experience one of history’s most excellent works of art whether you’re revisiting it (pun intended) or experiencing it for the first time.
