The song “Like a Rolling Stone” is considered to be Bob Dylan’s best work. In its time it conquered the top of most English-language charts and took the leading places in the ratings of authoritative music publications. And Rolling Stone magazine even gave it the first place in their list of the greatest rock hits of all time.
To some rock music lovers, this choice may seem incomprehensible and unjustified. No way – I didn’t agree with that at first, either. But it all falls into place when you find out that Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” didn’t get this spot for the drive you expect from the #1 rock hit, but for its virtuosity and sarcastic and cynical lyrics that ultimately had the biggest impact on the rock music world.
This song succeeded in breaking the commercial foundations of decades of run-of-the-mill record companies. It is the first track over three minutes long to be released as a single. Also “Like a Rolling Stone” is almost the only song of the 60’s that won the love of listeners not by its snotty romantic lines, but by the lyrics about the fall from the top of the social ladder down into the slums.
Well, for Bob Dylan himself “Like a Rolling Stone” became a “ticket” to the world of rock music and the beginning of a new turn in his musical career.
Like a tumbleweed – from folk singer to rockers
In 1965, Bob Dylan seriously considered leaving the music scene. Four years as a folk singer, the breakup with his solo artist Joan Baez, and a major UK tour that had just ended had him so exhausted that the musician decided to take a break and start composing.
In his attempts to create either a poem or a poem, Bob blotted out about 10-20 pages (even the musician himself mentions different data in his interviews), until one of the composed lines (“How does it feel?”) sounded like a melodic tune (at that moment he happened to be at the piano).
Subsequently, Dylan, like a sculptor, cut away the extra pieces of textual marble, reducing the original version to four verses and one chorus, and soon moved into the studio.
He invited several session musicians to record, including Michael Bloomfield and Al Kooper. In the beginning there were some difficulties: Dylan wanted to get away from the traditional blues sound, there were no sheet music, and the tune was only in his head, so the invited musicians had to play the song by ear. As a result, the basis of the melody was formed as a result of chaotic improvisations.
After trying several variations of the sound and sitting Cooper at the organ, the musicians finally played a version of “Like a Rolling Stone” that has been capturing the hearts of music lovers for over half a century. It went on to define the way Bob Dylan performed for years to come.