Dylan.FM S02.08 - Bob Dylan and the Folk Tradition (Song & Dance Man - Vol.1 Ch.1)

This begins a series of episodes going inside the book Song & Dance Man: The Art of Bob Dylan with author Michael Gray.

Released: June 23, 2023 on all Podcast Platforms. Extended Edition available for FM+ Subscribers.

The first two serious books on Bob Dylan were released just over 50 years ago. Until then, Dylan was documented primarily in magazine articles.

The two books that came out in ’72 weren’t the kind of books that were typically written about musicians, or pop culture figures of any kind. One was a serious biography, called just Bob Dylan, and written by Anthony Scaduto.

The book was notable because Dylan cooperated, so Scaduto talked with him, spent time with him, and everyone in Dylan’s life was told to cooperate. Even his parents were interviewed. None of that every happened again. The result however is a great Dylan biography - well worth reading - albeit one that now covers only about 1/4 of his life.

The other book that came out in 1972 - in the UK at least, and then…