Bob Dylan is recognized by the Grammys
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When the Ship Comes In

Over the next several years, Bob Dylan’s career seemed to ebb and flow like the tides. He had moved to a more country sound which at one point, prompted Rolling Stone Magazine to ask, “What is this shit?” Still, in the same breath, singles like “Lay Lady Lay” climbed the charts.

In 1972, Bob Dylan was commissioned to write the score for the movie, “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid” and caught a role as Billy’s sidekick, Alias. Although the film was sprinkled with stars, it didn’t light a fire under many of the critics. However, Dylan’s musical score was a hit and was nominated for a Grammy in 1974. The single, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” hit #12 and Bob Dylan’s career had turned with the tide once again.

In January of ’74, his album Planet Waves was released and became his first number 1 album, but the two record set, “Before the Flood” (in collaboration with The Band) was indicative of the turmoil in Dylan’s wife as he and wife Sara ended their 13 year marriage.

Career-wise, Dylan was still riding high. Blood on the Tracks (1975) went to number one as did the next album Desire (1976). In addition, Dylan was surrounded with old friends as he toured with the Rolling Thunder Review that included Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Mick Ronson, Jonie Mitchell, Roger McGuinn and Allen Ginsberg.

I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight

In 1979, Dylan declared himself to be a “born again” Christian and released several gospel albums that were a mixed blessing at best. However, by 1983 he had renounced his new faith and returned to secular recording in 1983 with “Infidels” that brought him good reviews and brought his fans back to the fold. In the mid-80’s Dylan began what would become a crusade of tours. In 1986 he began his odyssey with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, the following year he toured with the Grateful Dead and then in 1988, he began the tour to end all tours —the Never Ending Tour which was a constant stream of one-night-stands that lasted into the new millennium.

In 1991, the Bootleg Set, Vol. 1-3 was released and this collection of rare and unreleased tracks is still popular today, Volume 6 having been released in 2004. 1991 was also the year that the Grammy’s recognized Dylan for his body of work. Another Grammy followed in 1992 for best traditional folk album, “World Gone Wrong”.

1997’s Time Out Of Mind was Dylan’s first release of original material in seven years. The album debuted in the top ten and received three Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, Best Contemporary Folk Album, and Best Male Rock Vocal.

Love Minus Zero/No Limit

Whether the world needed Bob Dylan is a question that will remain unanswered throughout the annals of time and that’s maybe as it should be, since throughout his career, Dylan’s poetry has been an irritant that begged an answer to many cultural and musical questions. However, one thing is clear, with or without intended direction, Bob Dylan has left an impact wherever he has traveled… just “Like a Rolling Stone”.


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