Chronicles: Volume One Simon &
Schuster
By Bob Dylan

Reviewed by Adam D. Miller

After more than forty years of recording and performing music professionally, legendary songwriter Bob Dylan has finally released the first volume of his memoirs.  Chronicles: Volume One is an easy-to-read account of several phases in Dylan’s career. At the ripe age of sixty-three, Dylan can finally reflect on the years behind him, and while the messages in his songs have often been covered in metaphors and puzzles, the writing in this book is plain and simple.  Dylan tells us his story as if we were a close friend or younger relative.

Rather than simply being a chronological account of Dylan’s life and career, the first volume of the Chronicles focuses on several important parts of his life.  The first section of the book focuses on Dylan’s arrival in New York City prior to being signed by John Hammond for Columbia Records.  Dylan speaks candidly about his attempts to break into New York’s folk scene, including finding venues where he could perform, and meeting several of his musical idols.  He gushes about meeting folk heroes like Dave Van Ronk and Woody Guthrie, and offers thorough descriptions of the people he stayed with and the places he visited.  Dylan’s descriptiveness offers both satisfaction and frustration, as while he shares many private details of his personal encounters, he still manages to remain mum on certain areas of his life. Of course, one will have to wait and see what future volumes reveal.

Throughout the following chapters, Dylan focuses on various stages in his life, commenting on his feelings towards his fans and music at the time.  Chapter two focuses on the late 1960s, a period when Dylan felt ready to retire, wanting to focus more on his family and private life.  It was during this period that he released Nashville Skyline and New Morning, two albums that found him doing exactly what he wanted to do, whether the critics appreciated it or not.  The following chapter takes us to the late 1980s, when Dylan would tour with The Grateful Dead and record Oh Mercy.  The final section returns to the early 60s again, when he was simply Robert Zimmerman from Minnesota.

Bob Dylan is one of the most written about songwriters of the 20^th century.  Scores of books are currently available about Dylan and his music.  Some are good, some are great, and some are not so good.  This is a must-read for anyone who considers themselves a Dylan fan.  He’s definitely got some interesting stories to tell, and while he is selective in the information he shares with the reader, it’s nice to finally hear what he has to say about his massive influence and his fascinating career. And for someone who has rarely offered a reflection on his music or personal experience, that’s a pretty big deal.

Comments? Click here to let us know what you think.

Jump Back To Top