Highway 61 Revisited Review: The Sound of Dylan Going Electric
10/10 — Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
Pros
- 'Like a Rolling Stone'
- 'Desolation Row'
- Bloomfield and Kooper's playing
Cons
- Cryptic lyrics
- Acquired-taste vocals
Highway 61 Revisited was the album on which Bob Dylan fully embraced a rock band sound. It followed the polarising ‘going electric’ moment at Newport and reshaped what popular music could say.
What works
‘Like a Rolling Stone’ is among the greatest singles ever, and ‘Desolation Row’ is a stunning acoustic epic. Mike Bloomfield’s blues guitar and Al Kooper’s organ give the songs a taut, rowdy energy, and Dylan’s lyrics are razor-sharp.
Where it falters
The songs are sometimes cryptic, and Dylan’s rasp is not to every taste.
Verdict
A thunderous, literate and revolutionary record.
