Sign-In
Cart
Iconic Albums - Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
Paperback
Series: Iconic Albums
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Mar 14 2025
Pages: 112
Weight: 0.35
Height: 0.23 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Iconic Albums: Highway 61 Revisited
By Richard Ward
What happens when one album dares to defy an entire generation's expectations-and in doing so, changes the face of music forever?
In Iconic Albums: Highway 61 Revisited, acclaimed music historian Richard Ward delivers a bold, immersive deep dive into Bob Dylan's groundbreaking 1965 masterpiece. Widely hailed as one of the greatest rock albums of all time, Highway 61 Revisited wasn't just a collection of songs-it was a cultural revolution. This book unpacks the chaos, controversy, and creative fire that surrounded its making, taking readers on a journey through the heart of Dylan's artistic transformation.
From the anthemic explosion of Like a Rolling Stone to the sprawling surrealism of Desolation Row, Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited redefined what a rock record could be. It merged electric blues with poetic abstraction, folk idealism with scathing satire, and radio pop with avant-garde experimentation. But behind its brilliance lay risk, resistance, and reinvention. Dylan was booed, criticized, misunderstood-and yet he pushed forward, carving a new path that countless artists would follow.
What you'll discover inside this book:
A detailed, track-by-track analysis of all nine songs
The story of Dylan's split from the folk movement-and the uproar that followed
Exclusive insight into his 1965-66 world tour, including the infamous Judas! incident
The impact of the Beat Generation and literary influences on Dylan's evolving lyricism
Studio session breakdowns, outtakes, and alternate versions rarely discussed in depth
The cultural, political, and historical context that shaped the album's creation
Reflections on the album's ongoing legacy and why it remains essential listening today
Meticulously researched and vividly written, Iconic Albums: Highway 61 Revisited blends biography, musicology, cultural criticism, and storytelling into a compelling narrative of one of the most transformative moments in rock history. Whether you're a lifelong Dylan devotee or a curious newcomer, this book offers fresh insights, behind-the-scenes revelations, and a newfound appreciation for the album that redefined modern songwriting.
Why this book matters:
This is more than a tribute to a classic LP-it's a study in artistic courage. At a time when audiences demanded protest anthems and clean acoustics, Dylan brought distortion, defiance, and lyrical mysticism. He didn't just go electric-he electrified a generation. And with Highway 61 Revisited, he turned rebellion into an art form.
Praise for Bob Dylan and Highway 61 Revisited:
The most influential rock album ever recorded. - Rolling Stone
A poetic, political, and musical revolution. - Mojo
Without this album, there's no Springsteen, no Patti Smith, no punk, no hip-hop as we know it. - NPR
Perfect for readers who love:
Classic rock and 1960s counterculture
Deep dives into iconic albums and artists
The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Neil Young
Rock biographies and behind-the-scenes music history
Longform music journalism from Uncut, Mojo, and Rolling Stone
Whether you want to better understand Dylan's genius, explore the turbulent world of the mid-1960s, or simply fall in love again with one of the most powerful albums ever made-this book is your backstage pass.
Join author Richard Ward as he explores the poetry, rebellion, and electric thunder of Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited-an album that didn't just play music, it changed the world.Also from
Ward, Richard
Iconic Album John Lennon The Double Fantasy Era (1980): A Track-by-Track Journey through Love, Rebirth and Return
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums Queen The Queen Era (1973): A Track-by-Track Through the Birth of a Legend
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums Electric Light Orchestra The ELO 2 Era (1973): A Track-by-Track Journey through Expansion and Ambition
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums - The Beatles White Album Era (1968): A Track-by-Track Journey Through a Double Album Classic
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums Genesis The Trespass Era (1970): A Track-by-Track Journey through Ambition and Adventure
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Actors Sean Connery: A Definitive Study of Film, Persona and Influence
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums Phil Collins No Jacket Required Era (1985): A Track-by-Track Journey Through Intimacy and Invisibility
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums - The Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums - A Hard Days Night Era (1964): A Track-By- Track Journey Through A Cinematic Classic
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums - The Beatles - The Let It Be Era (1970): A Track-By-Track Journey Through A Bittersweet Farewell
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums The Beatles With The Beatles Era (1963): A Track-by-Track Journey Through a Breakthrough Record
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums John Lennon The Imagine Era (1971): A Track-by-track journey through dreams and reflections
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums John Lennon The Rock 'N' Roll Era (1975): A Track-by-Track Journey Through Roots, Rebellion and Return
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums - The Beatles' Early Years: A Track-By- Track Journey Through The Red Album Era
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums - The Bealtes Later Years (1967-1970): A Track-by-Track Journey Through the Blue Album Era
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums - The Beatles Help Era (1965): A Track-by-Track Journey Through a Cinematic Classic
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums - David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums Genesis The Abacab Era (1981): A Track-by-Track Journey Through Experimentation and Edge
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums Phil Collins The Face Value Years (1981): A Track-by-Track Journey through Heartbreak and Confession
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Iconic Albums Genesis The Genesis Era (1983): A Track-by-Track Journey Through Darkness and Identity
Ward, Richard
Paperback
Also in
Musicians
Smash!: Green Day, the Offspring, Bad Religion, Nofx, and the '90s Punk Explosion
Winwood, Ian
Hardcover
A Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown with Soundgarden and Beyond
Tepedelen, Adem
Thayil, Kim
Hardcover
Where the Music Had to Go: How Bob Dylan and the Beatles Changed Each Other--And the World
Windolf, Jim
Hardcover
Mahalia Jackson, Moving on Up a Little Higher: The Story of an American Civil Rights Pioneer
Williams, Mary D.
Tyson, Timothy B.
Hardcover
The Little Guide to Dolly Parton: It's Hard to Be a Diamond in a Rhinestone World
Hippo! Orange
Hardcover
P Fkn R: Bad Bunny Y La Música Como Un Acto de Resistencia / P Fkn R: How Bad Bunny Became the Global Voice of Puerto Rican Resistance
Díaz, Vanessa
Rivera-Rideau, Petra R.
Paperback
Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days
Whitfield, Bill
Beard, Javon
Hardcover
David Bowie and the Search for Life, Death and God: A Spiritual Meditation on His Music and Creativity
Ormerod, Peter
Hardcover
Dolly Parton Songteller: My Life in Lyrics: My Life in Lyrics
Parton, Dolly
Oermann, Robert K.
Hardcover
A Life in Lyrics: The Official Creative Legacy of Freddie Mercury
Austin, Mary
Mercury, Freddie
Hardcover
What Do You Do When You're Lonesome: The Authorized Biography of Justin Townes Earle
Bernstein, Jonathan
Hardcover
With a Little Help from Their Friends: The Beatles and the People Who Made Them
Maconie, Stuart
Hardcover
Ain't Nobody's Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton (Large Print Edition)
Ackmann, Martha
Hardcover
Is This It: The Never-Ending Rise and Fall of the Strokes (and Rock 'n' Roll)
Hyden, Steven
Hardcover
Bust a Move: Matt Dike, Delicious Vinyl, and the Hip-Hop Hits That First Conquered Pop
Relic, Peter
Hardcover
It's No Wonder: The Life and Times of Motown's Legendary Songwriter Sylvia Moy
Christian, Margena A.
Hardcover
Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm
Charnas, Dan
Paperback
Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles
Emerick, Geoff
Massey, Howard
Paperback
3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool
Kaplan, James
Paperback
Little Book of Elvis Presley: Inspirational Quotes from the King of Rock 'n' Roll
Croft, Rod
Hardcover
The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership That Rocked the World
Guralnick, Peter
Hardcover
Where Are Your Boys Tonight?: The Oral History of Emo's Mainstream Explosion 1999-2008
Payne, Chris
Paperback
What Happened to Your Hair?: How We Played Loud... Loved Proud... and Never Backed Down... Together
Nelson, Matthew
Nelson, Gunnar
Hardcover
The Silver Snarling Trumpet: The Birth of the Grateful Dead--The Lost Manuscript of Robert Hunter
Hunter, Robert
Paperback
Keep It Beautiful: Inside the Funkyverse of Shock G and Digital Underground
Jacobs, Gregory E.
Mbassa, Alexis Wolfe
Hardcover
Burning Down the House: Talking Heads and the New York Scene That Transformed Rock
Gould, Jonathan
Hardcover
Puccini Without Excuses: A Refreshing Reassessment of the World's Most Popular Composer
Berger, William
Paperback
Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel's Messiah
King, Charles
Paperback
Elvis and Me: The True Story of the Love Between Priscilla Presley and the King of Rock N' Roll
Presley, Priscilla
Harmon, Sandra
Paperback
Loud and Clear: The Grateful Dead's Wall of Sound and the Quest for Audio Perfection
Anderson, Brian
Hardcover
Beethoven's Hair: An Extraordinary Historical Odyssey and a Scientific Mystery Solved
Martin, Russell
Paperback