“The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1964Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s

TJR says

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] 7.7.png Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Robert Zimmerman) Folk
A2 [05:06] 7.4.png Bob Dylan - Ballad Of Hollis Brown (Robert Zimmerman) Folk
A3 [07:08] 8.9.png Bob Dylan - With God On Our Side (Robert Zimmerman) Folk
A4 [02:41] 6.6.png Bob Dylan - One Too Many Mornings (Robert Zimmerman) Folk
A5 [04:35] 6.4.png Bob Dylan - North Country Blues (Robert Zimmerman) Folk
B1 [03:33] 8.1.png Bob Dylan - Only A Pawn In Their Game (Robert Zimmerman) Folk
B2 [04:40] 6.9.png Bob Dylan - Boots Of Spanish Leather (Robert Zimmerman) Folk
B3 [03:18] 6.2.png Bob Dylan - When The Ship Comes In (Robert Zimmerman) Folk
B4 [05:48] 9.0.png Bob Dylan - The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll (Robert Zimmerman) Folk
B5 [05:32] 5.8.png Bob Dylan - Restless Farewell (Robert Zimmerman) Folk

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