Customer Reviews

Wanted Man: In Search of Bob Dylan

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As a long time Dylan fan, I try to learn about him as much as possible. Rock's greatest poet (w/ apologies to Jim Morrison fans, Dylan gets the title hands down.) is always worth examination. Some of his lyrics rank as fine poetry. This is probably the most important song writer of the second half of the 20th Century. Unfortunately, this collection is out of print but it is worthwhile to seek out. It contains many articles and interviews spanning Dylan's entire career. It includes writing by Allen Ginsberg, Patti Smith, Leonard Cohen and Paul McCartney among others. It is a collection of Dylan lore by Dylan's companions and cohorts. It features homages paid by many who were influenced by this great bard. Fans of Dylan would do well to read this book. It is very imformative and lends some insight into the career development of Dylan. The interviews with Ronnie Wood, Roy Orbison and Eric Clapton are revealing. It is amazing when you consider the stature of the people who were influenced and touched by Dylan. Tributes by Johnnie Cash and Bruce Springsteen also highlight the book. It is a compelling look at a man ranked as one of the 100 most important Americans of the 20th Century.

Edited by the late John Bauldie (killed in a helicopter crash in England after a soccer match in late 1996), founder of the popular Dylan fan magazine _The Telegraph_, this book offers some insighful comments culled from friends and acquaintances of His Bobness ranging from Bauldie himself to Ray Orbison, Patti Smith and Eric Clapton. Illustrated throughout, this book begins with anecdotes from Dylan's days at the University of Minnesota and follows his career through the early '90's. Includes fascinating "sermons" of Bob's from when he was in his Christian phase in the late '70's and early 1980's. According to Bauldie, this book is the second in a series. The first book is called _All Across The Telegraph_ but I've never been able to find it anywhere

Wanted Man is a great song that Dylan wrote for Johnny Cash and an apt title for the book because Mr. Dylan has touched many lives in a deep and profound way. This book is a fun collection of articles, interviews, etc. that's often more fun and illuminating than standard biography writing. I have also looked for the 1st collection in this series, to no avail. If you like this book, also check out Bob Dylan: the Early Years, another fine collection of writings.