This list is for people who are like my friend Jo, who knows a little of Bob Dylan and asked, what songs I would recommend? He’s heard the uber-uber-famous works – such as Mr Tambourine Man, Knocking on Heaven’s Door and Blowing in the Wind – so I’ve left these off here. But beyond that, I have taken one or two of the very best from the first studio album (1961) to the last (2020).
I have ordered these by recording date and dodged the thousand trapdoors offered by alternative or unreleased takes. Of course, there are also the recordings of the live work but those who are already in that deep need no guidance from me.
Needless to say, I have left off a further 100 or so songs that I initially wrote down as “definite”. And I know devotees are bound to be incensed not to see their favourites here. But this list is for people like Jo – the Dylan-curious. And if you want to get started on the mighty 60-year work of the man, you won’t go too far wrong with these songs, each and every one full of Dylan’s enduring genius.
