Highway 61 Revisited

Highway 61 Revisited review

Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited is perhaps his best album. The middle of his consecutive three classic releases, though the release before and a handful after are classics as well. Amazingly, all of the songs from this album are household names among Dylan fans.

The album starts out with one of Dylan's more popular classics, "Like A Rolling Stone" that hit #2 in the U.S. and #4 in London. At the time of its release the 6 minute length was unheard of, especially for radio material.

A few blues songs as expected are included, Dylan style. Of them my favorite is track three, “It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry,” a mellow gem with a superb instrumental section that is dominated by the harmonica, but the fills that complement are so well placed. “Highway 61 Revisited” is a fun upbeat bluesy slide track that is an often covered by other musicians, while “Tombstone Blues” is a psychedelic blues offering. 

The album closes enormously with “Desolation Row,” one of Dylan’s long poetic numbers. The backing musicianship offers an excellent acoustic latin flavored accompaniment making this the definitive version of the song.

It is easy to rank Highway 61 Revisited as Dylan’s best album. 

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Bob Dylan Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboards, Vocals

Label - Sony  
1965

Much of Bob Dylan's catalogue was reissued with SACD with significant sonic upgrades. Be sure to get that version of the Highway 61 Revisited.