Bob Dylan in Performance

Keith Nainby is professor of communication studies at California State University, Stanislaus.John M. Radosta teaches English and creative writing at Milton High School.

This is a worthy addition to the ever-growing mountain of research on Dylan. Nainby (communication, California State Univ., Stanislaus) and Radosta (English, Milton High School) have drawn on a wide range of primary and secondary sources, including song lyrics (which they quote extensively), offering a nuanced, scholarly exploration of Dylan’s performance styles. Chapter 2, “Dylan and the Popular Song Tradition,” explores the amazing range of folk and popular songs with which Dylan is familiar. Chapter 3 jumps to the rock tradition with an analysis of his vocal gymnastics and complex lyrics. In chapter 4 the authors switch to the bardic tradition, observing that "as a performer, Bob Dylan often dons the mantle of the bard, the keeper of civilization’s stories and wisdom.” The authors often contrast Dylan's live performances and his recorded legacy, as songs and styles have come and gone in his repertoire over 60 years. In chapter 6 they observe that "a hallmark for fans of Dylan’s live performances is the knowledge that they are likely to hear an entirely different rendition of a song—likely all of them.” The discussion of Dylan’s films is particularly insightful. Including a lengthy bibliography and discography, this book is intended for academic readers rather than fans.Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.

• Part One: Formations Chapter One: Eternal Circle: Dylan and PerformanceChapter Two: ABOUT THE SONGS (what they’re about): Dylan and the Popular Song TraditionChapter Three: Like a Rolling Stone: Dylan and the Rock TraditionChapter Four: Hero Blues: Dylan and the Bardic TraditionChapter Five: The Wicked Messenger: Dylan’s Vocal Resources Part Two: Transformations Chapter Six: Simple Twist of Fate: Dylan (re)working songs liveChapter Seven: Bob Dylan’s Dream: Reworking Songs in the StudioChapter Eight: Tempest: Bob Dylan’s Personae Spanning Two CenturiesChapter Nine: Masked & Anonymous: Bob Dylan and CinemaChapter Ten: Gonna Change My Way of Thinking: Bob Dylan and the Evangelical TraditionCoda: An Idiosyncratic Guide to a Bob Dylan Concert Bibliography, Discography, and VideographyAbout the Authors