Customer Reviews

The Times They Are a-Changin'

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As early as his third album Dylan started showing signs of the changeling artist that we know today. And we all know that he kept on changing and changing throughout the years. In fact, for Dylan the times never stopped changing. It remains true today.

Dylan's previous album from 1963, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan", was funny and rollicking in places. The lighthearted struck a good balance with the morose. 1964 saw a new album with a totally new mood. "The Times They Are A-Changin'" shot wildly to the morose side of the spectrum. It contains mostly down and out stories of tragedy and "world gone wrong" tales. Nothing here inspires laughter or joy. The still very young Dylan weaves lyrics and tunes with the sensibility of one who has "seen it all and is sick of it". Regardless, this album remains one of Dylan's greatest albums, though its darkness may not appeal to everyone.

Dylan does his best Woody Guthrie impersonation on the cover (the photo almost completely mimics an early photo of Guthrie). To get a sense of just how much Dylan looked up to Guthrie, read Dylan's own "Chronicles, Vol. 1". There he speaks about the first time he heard Guthrie's music. He may as well be speaking about the rapture. The experience changed Dylan forever, and had a lasting influence on his music. "The Times Are A-Changin'" represents the pinnacle of that influence. One could almost call it a tribute to Guthrie's legacy (though admittedly Guthrie also had a well developed lighthearted side). Guthrie's own "Dust Bowl Ballads" evokes a similar mood to this album. Both albums take themselves very seriously and succeed incredibly.

This album put Dylan right in the spotlight of the then burgeoning folk-protest music movement. It's not hard to see why with calls to social revolution such as the title song. Many since have appropriated this song to their own ends. But it still remains Dylan's own. He continues to play it on tour in many forms and arrangements. "With God on Our Side" explores the history of the United States and the killing it did under the banner of "God". "One Too Many Mornings" seeps with weariness of life. "Only A Pawn in Their Game" explores power and class: the exploiters and the exploited and those who use people as a mere means to selfish ends. "Boots of Spanish Leather" uses the melody of "Girl From the North Country" to a different end. "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carol" revisits class and exploitation. A rich man gets off with a paltry penalty for killing one of his maids. The closing song, "Restless Farewell", mournfully expresses retribution and acceptance of the world as it is. It's an appropriate close to an album filled with stories about some of the worst life and civilization have to offer.

Following the dismal themes and yearning music of "The Times Are A-Changin'" Dylan turned slighty toward the humorously ridiculous on his next album. He never again made an album as seriously world weary as this one (though some defintely come close). Not only that, this album stands as his folk/protest swan song. In just one more year Dylan would appear with an electric band and get booed for his adventurousness. And then his lyrics started to take on more abstract, opaque, and poetic themes. In short, he soon began to move away and alienate himself from the folk scene. According to "Chronicles, Vol. 1" he had succeeded a little too well with the protest crowd. Some people started referring to him as "saviour". They demanded that he lead them. Dylan simply (and understandably) didn't want the job. So he left his main fan base and a few incredible albums behind him (and soon found a new fan base who listened to his new incredible albums).

"The Times They Are A-Changin'" remains one of the high points of Dylan's early acoustic "phase" that stretched from the beginning of his career to roughly 1965. It's constructed solidly and a theme with an unmistakable undertone runs through it. Whether people agree or disagree with its message in the end it inspires thought about some of the issues that affect all of us even to the present day.

Dylan's third album finds him writing songs with a heavily political bent, taking ideas from newspapers and setting them to old and new folk melodies. Though it lacks some of "Freewheeling"s light-hearted moments, "Times" comes across as more mature, often more emotionally moving, and darker. The title track became a Dylan anthem and concert staple. "Ballad Of Hollis Brown" is one of my personal favorites--the folk guitar and brooding story are perfect, with a clever ending. "One Too Many Mornings" is a bit darker on this disc than on Nashville Skyline, but is also folkier. "Boots Of Spanish Leather" is an excellent and touching love song. "Hattie Carrol" is one of Dylan's most famous newspaper songs, and stirs feelings of racism and the fallibility of the justice system. The closer is somber and characteristic of the whole album, but I like the whole thing. Dylan's voice is good (better than on Another Side of Bob Dylan) and the songs fit well together in the album's scheme. This is Dylan's last protest album, and sees Dylan at the top of his protest period. Recommended if you like acoustic folk, and suggested that you take a few listens to let it really sink in!

The audio quality of this CD easily beats the previous champ, the vinyl Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs 1/2 speed master. It mops up the floor with the standard CD issue and discards the filth in the wastebasket. It has nothing to do with being "louder" as one hapless reviewer states. The original CD was pinched, colored, and distressed.

"The Times They Are A-Changin'" is classic Dylan of course and little need be said about the superb quality of the performances and the songs.

This CD also contains a few previously unpublished photos from the recording sessions.

Although the booklet doesn't say so, I believe this was DSD mastered. Steve Berkowitz, also uncredited on this remaster, is in charge of the overall remastering of Dylan's catalog. He deserves a lot of thanks.

This is one of the great albums from Dylan's first decade. The title tune should be in any Hall of Fame for American music of the last half of the 20th century.

"The Time They Are A-Changin'" is a song that speaks to the crosscutting debates of the 1960s. It provides voice for one perspective. But so, too, do other of the songs on this CD. "Ballad of Hollis Brown" and "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" can still bring anger, produce a sense of unfairness. "With God on Our Side" is a powerful statement regarding the manner in which religion can make some people feel superior to others, with whatever relevant God is on their side. "Only a Pawn in Their Game" suggests the reality of an elite manipulating the mass of people; whether or not one agree with the theme, the argument is well portrayed. So, too, "North Country Blues" has a statement to make.

There are, in addition, softer tunes, such as "One Too Many Mornings" and "Boots of Spanish Leather."

All in all, a must buy for those wanting to understand the full body of Bob Dylan's work. Perhaps the best of his pre-electric corpus.

The opening track, "The Times they are a-Changin'" is a call to arms. It was heeded in the Sixties when the streets were filled with protesters, kids who wanted an end to the war in Vietnam. Dylan has sung this song countless times over the years, talking about the battle that is outside raging, but somehow we've forgotten this message, though we sing the words with Dylan at almost every concert he's given on his never ending tour. Sadly there are almost no protesters today. And it seems if one does raise a voice, bad things could happen to him.

Lord, I have to wonder if God ever was on our side. Bob Dylan doesn't think he was, but there are so many today who are convinced he is, maybe they should listen to this record. At least we've done something about the horrible racism Dylan sings about on "Only a Pawn in Their Game" and the haunting "Ballad of Hollis Brown," but we have a long way to go. I think all those people who are so against those who only want to better themselves by coming to America should be forced to sit down and listen to this record. That's what I think.

Like "The Free-Wheelin' Bob Dylan," this is a great folk album. However, this album is a bit darker, but just as good (almost, at least). This is a must have for anybody that likes Dylan or folk. And check out the price. Go get this album, close your eyes, and be blown away!

1. The Times They Are A-Changin': This title track is an amazing anthem that gets stuck in your head. After listening to this song, you know you are in for something special.

2. Ballad Of Hollis Brown: Sad and effective. This song has sparse instrumentation but haunting lyrics that stick with you after the final note.

3. With God On Our Side: This song makes you think whether in our past as a country we have always done things for the correct reasons or just think that we did. Very catchy songs that keeps you listening.

4. One Too Many Mornings: A slow song with beautiful, poetic lyrics. Not the best song on here but you won't want to skip to the next song.

5. North Country Blues: Not a big fan of this song but it does have good lyrics. I'd rather hear "Girl From The North Country."

6. Only A Pawn In Their Game: Amazing song! Great lyrics and super catchy! You'll be singing along "You're only a pawn-awn-awn in their game!" This is one of the many intelligent Bob Dylan songs about social injustice and racism that does not come across as gimmicky.

7. Boots Of Spanish Leather: This is probably one of Dylan's best love songs. It has beautiful imagery and you can feel his pain in each line he sings.

8. When The Ship Comes In: A very upbeat Dylan song with (surprise, surprise!) great lyrics. I loved the ending lines:
And like Pharaoh's tribe,
They'll be drownded in the tide,
And like Goliath, they'll be conquered.

9. The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll: Like songs 2 & 6, this is one of those sadder, darker songs that works really well. It's ripped from the headlines and has excellent lyrics. He repeats at the end of each verse:
"Take the rag away from your face.
Now ain't the time for your tears."

And then once the unfair verdict comes in, he changes the words to:
Bury the rag deep in your face
For now's the time for your tears.

Perfect!

10. Restless Farewell: A good song to finish a great album.

Hope this review helped you out. Go buy this album now if you don't own it. If you do own, go put it in your CD player.

Despite what you might hear from other reviewers, this album still touches on issues that rule the day even now. The title track is easy to cite, but it really is on tracks like "With God On Our Side" and "Hattie Carroll" that time vindicates best. For all the countlesss albums made by others that were specifically designed to make a strong political statement, none were able to distill the transient issues of the time into bigger principles, and to tie them to basic human issues like this. Racism, political inertia, the economic struggles of the working class are all presented here in stories of their time, but not done in such a way as to be dated by them. It should be recalled that Dylan did his political stuff in the early sixties; several years before the nation went that way en masse. By the time the country became overtly politically charged, Dylan had long moved on, and was singing about Country Pie. To accuse him of milking a trend is a joke. If anything, he was criticized for not jumping back in when the country caught up with him.

The timeless themes here are not just a function of the subject matter, but also a function of the fact that Dylan always tried to use time-tested musical forms to tell the story...the folk songs of Ireland, the blues of the American south, even some of the free-form improv stuff of jazz. He was a student of all types of folk music, and this album shows how astute his observations were. He wanted his musical language to borrow from that which was proven by history, and he did it as well on this album as any.

I also want to suggest this album foreshadows the focus on personal relationships that would come to dominate the bulk of his career. "Spanish Leather" is a story of a love in limbo - and ultimately in vain - that uses universal themes and his unique keen insight on it to great effect. It's greatness is revealed by the fact that the song takes many many listens to reveal its full scope.

The remaster series, in my opinion, are more for the pleasure of audiophiles. Dylan - especially in this era - never really spent a ton of time on the details of recording. His decision to do so never negatively impacted fan's enjoyment of the work. Adding more clarity to it now will do little to impact it positiively. Get this CD so that the source will be as loud in your headphones as the other re-issues. That seems to be the best reason to get it.

New Dylan fans should pick this up with Freewheelin' to get the "protest" era's best stuff. After that, you will find his genius focused upon interpersonal relations, and he never really returns to the political with this intensity. It is important if only for that.

This album was originally released in 1964 and the messages are as true today as they were then. The third title in this album, "With God on our side", was never included on any of the Greatest Hits releases, and its only other release was in a 1995 live album. It is sad to note that the civil rights activism and anti war passions of the 60's do not exist today. Everyone needs to listen to this song especially the political leaders of the world. The last verse of the song is the most memorable:

"So now as I'm Leavin'
I'm weary as Hell
The confusion I'm feelin'
Ain't no tongue can tell
The words fill my head
And fall to the floor
If God's on our side
He'll stop the next war"

Bob Dylan is by far one of the greatest song writers around. His music has spanned the decades and continues to thrive into the new millenium. Even though the events have changed, the references made can still pertain to things happening today and tomorrow and probably forever. Dylan's creativity continues to thrive and change on his third album and every album he continued to make. There seems to be something that everyone can enjoy. From traditional folk to rock influenced, his sound will be forever etched in stone. The Time They Are A-Changin' is a must have for all Bob Dylan fans and just another way for the younger generations to feel the emotions that were flowing throughout the 60's. Highly recommended!

I must admit that I'm one of those people that just didn't get Dylan. I liked many of his songs but actually prefered the cover versions to the originals and being more into the music rather than the lyrics, really didn't see what the fuss was about. Well I've gone back and revisited Bob and now I get it, both his folk flavored material and his band oriented works.

On The Times They Are A-Changeing Dylan manages with just acoustic guitar, occasional harmonica and Bob's ragged voice, to make one of his most powerfully emotional albums. Perhaps the darkest of his career, certainly the starkest and it's just beautiful. Beautiful in it's simplicity and beautiful in the directness of the oftimes sad and timeless stories he tells.This is Dylan's most overt protest album, quietly yet powerfully raging against social injustice. Now while I very much like Dylan's band oriented material such as Highway 61 Revisited or Desire or Blonde On Blonde this album, Dylan's third, is a distilled essence of pure Dylan. There arn't any frills or fat, no drums or overdubs. It's just Bob and has become my favorite album by him.