| features in: Album Chart of 1964 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s |
The first of two Dylan albums in 1964 and, in many ways, it’s quite a brave release. There are no frills on-board whatsoever – sparingly used harmonica, and a relatively subdued guitarist. Putting those lyrics forefront as the sole play was a bit of a gamble, but I guess if anyone could do it then Bob could, for he was a topical troubadour without equal. These are all Zimmerman originals for the first time, dealing with issues such as racism, poverty, and social change. Poignant album highlight “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” is musically unremarkable, and Bob is content to simply read the news and pull you in to the story of black hotel barmaid Hattie Carroll, and her death at the hands of young white socialite, William Zantzinger. For all its simplicity, it’s hard hitting stuff and you are coaxed into reading between the lines and drawing your own conclusions. These ain’t no tunes for Top of The Pops. “With God On Our Side” brilliantly points out the hypocrisy of the citizens within the nations of the Christian West and the atrocities which they sanction (ed) with their silence – Americans and Germans notably get a rough ride. Gotta love Bob – no prisoners! “Only A Pawn In Their Game” shines a light on the despicably racist South by highlighting the murder of black civil rights worker Medgar Evers by Ku Klux Klan member Byron De La Beckwith. Evers had been gunned down just hours after President John F. Kennedy’s speech on national television in support of civil rights. The Times They Are a-Changin’? Maybe they were, even if progress was slow. But thankfully, the likes of Bob Dylan were there to lay down the truth – it wasn’t pretty, and the story was told here warts and all…
The Jukebox Rebel
20–Apr–2007
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [03:15]  Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Robert Zimmerman) Folk |
| A2 | [05:06]  Bob Dylan - Ballad Of Hollis Brown (Robert Zimmerman) Folk |
| A3 | [07:08]  Bob Dylan - With God On Our Side (Robert Zimmerman) Folk |
| A4 | [02:41]  Bob Dylan - One Too Many Mornings (Robert Zimmerman) Folk |
| A5 | [04:35]  Bob Dylan - North Country Blues (Robert Zimmerman) Folk |
| B1 | [03:33]  Bob Dylan - Only A Pawn In Their Game (Robert Zimmerman) Folk |
| B2 | [04:40]  Bob Dylan - Boots Of Spanish Leather (Robert Zimmerman) Folk |
| B3 | [03:18]  Bob Dylan - When The Ship Comes In (Robert Zimmerman) Folk |
| B4 | [05:48]  Bob Dylan - The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll (Robert Zimmerman) Folk |
| B5 | [05:32]  Bob Dylan - Restless Farewell (Robert Zimmerman) Folk |
