Is Bob Dylan taking the proverbial?

A group of us gathered at someone's house to watch Dylan on tv, we were 16/17 year olds and none of us had ever seen or heard anyone like him. It was one of these life changing moments, after which we all grew our hair, wore nothing but Levi's and sang along to Dylan songs when we weren't out protesting against the war in Vietnam. I still love his early albums, enjoyed reading Chronicles which confirmed his enigma status. Genius and i don't mind him touring, making records etc despite his voice having gone.

I saw him at the English Woodstock concert and again at an indoor venue some years ago. I wouldn't go to one of his concerts these days - Leonard Cohen on the other hand …….

I saw a documentary about Carole King the other week. I must be the only person of my age that neither bought nor liked Tapestry but I've now realised how lovely her music was. With a musical coming out shortly she will have a new audience. Hadn't realised that she performed for many years with James Taylor and some of his well know songs were actually penned by her.

I've heard a couple of Dylan's newies on the radio lately and I thought they were good - but I reckon it must have been because I had the radio on quite quietly.
The singing in the OP link is terrible and I wouldn't want to listen to it even for nostalgia value.
It makes William Shatner sound good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L-bTza_7-I

I've always loved Bob Dylan's stuff from the early years and still do. I'd heard 'Full Moon and Empty Arms' on the radio this morning, and really liked it.
Like many (Van Morrison and Neil Diamond to name just a couple) the voices have weakened, but the magic is still there - for me, anyway!
Rod Stewart's renditions of easy-listening songs just don't work for him, I don't think - and his voice has also weakened. I don't think much of those, though I did like him when he was 'wilder'!

I've always loved Carole King, and yes she certainly was/is a prolific songwriter. Neil Sedaka still sounded pretty good the last time I saw him perform (on tv), although he couldn't hit the high notes any more.

Let's face it, even Frank Sinatra's voice was failing at the end.

Rod Stewart and Frank Sinatra - two voices I never could like.

Oh Rod, gets me every time! x

A young Frank Sinatra singing the same song in 1945:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKsdCtsRczY
I thought I could remember it from my chidhood.

Dylan represented so much when I was younger! I have continued to enjoy much of his music over the years. Did not like his quasi religious stuff though and really can't think I am going to play the link on a Desert Island but something from Freewheelin or Blonde on Blonde might make it onto my fave eight list!

The song, All By Myself was also 'nicked' from Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2

I read Woody Guthrie made a huge impression on Dylan and always wondered if he actually worked on copying Guthrie's voice or if that was his natural singing voice too.

By no means a great singer but I never tire of listening to him. I felt quite sad listening to the link, realising his 'voice' has gone.

Just listened to another track from his new album on the Ken Bruce show BBC2. Sorry but it was dire. I'm a lifelong fan of his. Sorry Bob! Give it up. I won't be buying it.

I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes, then you'd know what a drag it is to see you. Classic. Best line ever written in a song.

First record I ever bought was Carol King: It might as well rain until September.

My favourite Dylan song petra. Fabulous words.

Fabulous memories of Dylan at the Isle of Wight 1970.

To be fair, he is not the only one to have 'lost his voice' a bit- Macca's performance at the opening of the London Olympics was one of the most embarrassing British performance- ever.

Hey Granjura, our paths could have crossed! I was there as well! x

Were you? For me, a country bumkin from the Swiss mountains, it was quite an experience. I never camped, just slept (well didn't sleep) about 40m from the stage, right in the middle- and hitch-hiked back to London.

Yep I did the hitch hike part way there. I remember getting to IOW a day early and wild camping somewhere up a hill near Ventnor. It was great. I had been to the Bath one the year before, I think it was a forerunner of Glastonbury!

By the way my mother never found out I'd been! I could be very devious! x

I think Dylan did the Isle of Wight in 1969.

We lived in a cottage at the edge of the fields where the 1970 festival was held (at the foot of Tennyson Down) It was Jimi Hendrix's last performance but the most memorable bit for us was lying in bed with all the windows open listening to The Doors.

Yes, 1970 was definitely Jimi Hendrix - I was there!

merlot, how wonderful!

The Doors Merlot I'm so envious!

(I've been to Jim Morrisons's grave in Paris!)

Definitely something to tell the grandchildren, Ana. I remember hearing a strange noise outside the bedroom window and looked out just in time to see Tiny Tim floating by in a hot air balloon. He was so close he called out, 'Helloooooo There, young lady at the window'

Just my luck to be within grabbing distance of somebody I couldn't stand!

Ha, ha yes he was rather strange (and creepy)!

Goodness, weren't we young then...?

'Tiptoe through the Tulips'........[goosebumps emoticon] and not in a good way!
Very strange guy ....
I used to go to Bath Pavilion every month to see the latest 'up and coming' groups - Beatles, Kinks, Rolling Stones, The Who, and many more. I saw Mick Jagger walking down the Road with very long hair and the skinniest legs ever seen and hearing older people tut-tutting at his appearance...nostalgia ++

I was twenty three, Ana. My seventeen year old brother was down there somewhere in the crowds and I'd promised Mum he would stay with us. She would have killed me if she'd known we didn't see hide nor hair of him from start to finish.

I thought Joan Baez was disappointing.