Song & Dance Man

The final volume in the Song & Dance Man Series studies Dylan’s 1990s albums beginning with a defense of “Under The Red Sky” for its innovative use of nursery rhyme. It then expands on the deep review of Bob Dylan and the Blues from Vol.1 with an investigation of the history of the folk & blues songs Bob Dylan recorded on on “Good As I Been To You” and “World Gone Wrong”. It then includes an extensive analysis and ultimately a re-assessment of 1997s “Time Out Of Mind” – including an assessment of the ‘four major works’ found on that Grammy winning album. The volume concludes with a closing overview, ‘There Is Only Up Wing an’ Down Wing’ which considers the challenges and low points Dylan had experienced (mostly in the 1980s) alongside the unmistakable achievements and genius that he has delivered through his career – and particularly where he worked himself back to by the end of the century. ——————-

“SONG & DANCE MAN: The Art of Bob Dylan” is unique in its scope, integrating biographical, literary and musical contexts into a powerful scrutiny of Dylan as songwriter and performer. This 50th Anniversary Edition is a three-volume republishing of the celebrated text that has gone out of print from Song & Dance Man III.

The work in these three volumes has been called “Monumental, endlessly illuminating.” (Rolling Stone) “Probably the greatest book about the work of a single popular musician ever to have been published.” (London Review Bookshop) and “The definitive critical work.” (Evening Standard). The 50th Anniversary Series makes this classic book obtainable again after over a decade out-of-print. It contains no new material but rather turns the contents of the 3rd edition into three new volumes.

Author Michael Gray is recognized as a world authority on the work and career of Bob Dylan; he was the first to consider Dylan’s writing as worthy of treatment as serious art. As author K G Miles said: “People forget that the road to the Nobel Prize was very long, took many years, and began with that book; it began with Michael Gray.”

The 50th Anniversary Series also includes Volumes 1 and 2:

VOLUME 1 – ‘Language and Tradition’ contains the foundational and timeless analysis that made this title a classic – looking at how Dylan’s writing and performance were influenced by folk music, rock music, and literature. It deeply inspects and discusses Dylan’s use of language, both his early bursts of complexity and his later move towards simplicity. Included is a special review of the song ‘Lay Down Your Weary Tune’ which Gray finds particularly effective and impressive, and an over 100-page chapter detailed Dylan’s fascination with and use of the pre-war blues.
VOLUME 2: Language and Tradition – centers on Dylan’s late 1970s move to Born Again Christianity and studies his 1980s albums from Slow Train Coming to Oh Mercy plus special looks at some outtakes from these records such as Groom Still Waiting At The Alter. It also includes a chapter devoted to the celebrated “Infidels” outtake ‘Blind Willie McTell’.

Generations of listeners have turned to Song & Dance Man to more deeply understand and appreciate Dylan’s work and unique creativity. Now you can too.