Bob Dylan has always regarded himself as a
songwriter: 'I am my words', he wrote in 1964.
Distilling a lifetime's passion and study, leading Dylan
author, Clinton Heylin charts the development and first
moments of genius of this unique artist whose songs
changed the world. From his first attempts at writing,
''Song to Bridget'', in 1957, (apparently for Brigitte
Bardot) Bob Dylan always aspired to poetry, yet his role
as a writer rather than a performer of his own songs is
often overlooked. In over fifty years of creativity, he
had penned some of the most iconic, and perfect, songs
in popular history. Arriving in New York in 1961, the
city had an enormous impact on the young artist and, as
he established himself amongst the folk clubs and
artists, he would produce songs that spoke for a whole
generation: ''Blowing in the Wind'', ''A Hard Rain's
Gonna Fall'', ''The Times They Are a Changin''', ''Like
a Rolling Stone'', and ''Forever Young''. In
''Revolution in the Air'', Clinton Heylin recounts the
story of each song as it is written, giving a full
appreciation of the songs themselves as well as Dylan
the emerging artist.Unlike any other book on Dylan, it
charts his rise as a writer, where he gained his
inspiration, the burst of energy which produced some of
his most famous songs as well as the lesser known
stories behind the more iconic verses. This is an
essential book for anyone interested in Dylan and his
place in literature. Informative, opinionated, packed
with new insights and revelations, this is an instant
classic. |
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