Bob Dylan was born Robert Zimmerman on May 24, 1941. He was born in Duluth, Minnesota, but his family moved to Hibbing. His parents are Abe and Beatrice Zimmerman. When Robert was young, his mom would let him and his friends practice and play music in the garage. Abe bought his sons pianos in hopes they both liked music. As the legend goes, Robert had run away about 6 times, and on his last time, he went to New York and stayed there. He said he wanted to have free reign. Instead of attending college, he played songs in a pizza place.
I will talk about how his life has changed through the years with each album as they are all directly correlated with the events in his life.
In 2016, Bob Dylan became the first singer/songwriter to win a Nobel Prize. He’s also won a Pulitzer Prize. He’s won many awards for music that I will also talk about with each album.
I would love to talk about his work with The Traveling Wilburys but I still haven’t spoken about all the band members yet, and apparently I set that goal for myself…
March 19, 1962
Label: Columbia
Producer: John H. Hammond
Right before the recording sessions for this album, he was really into folk music. A lot of his close friends played folk music. That was how he got the idea to record a folk album.
May 27, 1963
Label: Columbia
Producer: John Hammond, Tom Wilson
The girl on the cover of this album is named Suze. Her parents were American Communists and while she was in high school, she was working as an activist for the Congress of Racial Equality and for the anti-nuke group SANE. During his recording of Freewheelin’ he was invited to play Carnegie Hall. After the success of this album, he sparked up a romance with Joan Baez. His girlfriend, Suze (the one on the cover of HIS album) found out about their afair, told him she was pregnant, and she immediately wanted to terminate the pregnancy. It was also about this time that Dylan won a Tom Paine Award from the Emergency Civil Liberties Committee
January 13, 1964
Label: Columbia
Producer: Tom Wilson
This was his first full political album with the exception of two love songs for Suze. This solidified his identity. He talked of civil rights, economic inequality, the travails of mine workers, etc. He stood up for the working man (“Because that’s who I am, and that’s who I care about” Tommy Boy).
August 8, 1964
Label: Columbia
Producer: Tom Wilson
This album is the first of a few that strays away from his folk sound, and his fellow folk singers were disappointed with the change. People started calling this the first album that people considered a sell out and manufactured. This album went gold in 1965. During the production of this album, Dylan was also working on a novel and a play. A lot of publishers were interested in signing a contract with Dylan. It would be a while before the poem book was published, but it featured a 6 line poem about JFK’s assassination (which in 2020 he would release an 18 minute song about it) and would be featured in the song “Chimes of Freedom.” During the writing of this album, Dylan and some of his friends were on a trip across America looking for inspiration.
March 22, 1965
Label: Columbia
Producer: Tom Wilson
This album features the first time he uses electric backings. He started rebelling against what he used to rebel against by changing his sound and his overall look. Around this time was when he met the Beatles for the first time, and as the story goes, this was the first time that the Beatles were exposed to weed, and thus, began a new era for the Beatles. The album reached #6 on Billboard’s Pop Albums chart. Him and Tom Wilson were working on a folk-rock mix.
August 30, 1965
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Johnston and Tom Wilson
Highway 61 is actually the American highway that connected his hometown, Duluth, to St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans and the Delta blues areas of Mississippi. On the way, he passed the birthplaces of people like Muddy Waters, Son House, Elvis Presley, and Charley Patton. More notable events that happened on this highway is that the “Empress of the blues,” Bessie Smith, died in a car accident on this highway, and Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at this highway’s intersection with Route 49. Despite the history of this highway, Dylan says that he feels a special connection with this highway. The album reached #3 on the US Billboard 200 and #4 on the UK Albums chart.
June 20, 1966
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Johnston
This album was recorded with the Hawks as his backing band. This is recalled by most as one of the best albums of all time. This album was released as a double album, one of the first double albums released in history and went double platinum. The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
So, in the English language (not sure if this was intentional or not, but) the spelling “blonde” is used when referring to a female with golden hair. Knowing how Dylan thinks, I wonder if he meant something cryptic when naming the album, but also knowing how Dylan thinks, he would want you to think that he meant something by it, but in reality he just used this spelling for no reason.
December 27, 1967
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Johnston
Named after Texas outlaw John Wesley Hardin, this was his “comeback” album. It was his return to that folksie and acoustic sound. This is also one of the first albums that he recorded with the group the Band. The album went to #2 on the US charts and topped the UK charts. This was actually really good especially considering the fact that Dylan told Columbia not to promote or publish the release of the album. The album went gold, and the track “All Along the Watchtower” became one of his most popular songs after Jimi Hendrix covered it in 1968.
Okay, I had no idea that Bob Dylan did “All Along the Watchtower” first. I’ve always loved this song but I had only ever heard Hendrix’s version, now that I’m listening to it from Dylan, I still love it honestly.
April 9, 1969
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Johnston
While recording this album, Dylan temporarily quit smoking and introduced a new singing style for him. This was also his first full country album instead of dancing with folk music. This went #3 in the US and it was his fourth UK #1. During the recording of this album, the political tension in the US was really high. Martin Luther King Jr and Robert F. Kennedy were both assassinated. Riots had flared, Nixon was sworn in office in January 1969, and the Vietnam War were also occurrences during this time. After the release of this album, he became a massive culture figure known for his social commentary during the 1960s. The essence of the album was referenced in a rap song by Public Enemy in their 2007 song “Long and Whining Roadm” “Fans, if it’s not for you, there’d be no PE/ From the Nashville Skyline, to the homeboys and girls of South Country.”
June 8, 1970
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Johnston
Self Portrait is the first double album released Dylan since Nashville Skyline. Despite the negative reception of this album, it went gold, hit US #4 and UK #1. Dylan says that this was supposed to be a serious release, but people thought it was released as a joke.
October 21, 1970
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Johnston
New Morning was received much better than the last album released. It quickly went to gold, and was another country album. It reached #7 in the US and this was his last #1 in the UK. This album was originally recorded with George Harrison on the album.
July 13, 1973
Label: Columbia
Producer: Gordon Carroll
Bob Dylan wrote this album for a movie that he was in, which I think is awesome. He also moved his family to Mexico to film while they are filming.
November 16, 1973
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Johnston
This album is actually full of outtakes from past albums. It’s not technically a compilation album because it’s original songs, just songs that were originally for previous albums that didn’t make it to those albums. There are 6 cover songs and 3 traditional songs. While the initial reception of the album wasn’t great, it did make it to 17 on the Album charts in the US and certified gold. This is also the first album not to chart in the UK.
January 17, 1974
Label: Asylum
Producer: Rob Fraboni
Planet Waves also features the backing group, the Band. The tour right before this album (also with the Band) was very successful, and this album made it to #1 on the US Billboard chart, which was the first #1 in the US, and #7 in the UK. The track “Forever Young” on this album was actually written by Bob Dylan for his song, Jakob (I read that in Life’s issue about Bob Dylan).
January 20, 1975
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan
Blood on the Tracks was also recorded with the Band. During the recording of the album, Dylan started a relationship with an employee at Columbia Records, Ellen Bernstein, which was the beginning of the end of his marriage with Sara. While the initial reaction to this album was mixed, it has been deemed as Bob Dylan’s most acclaimed album of all time. The album goes through all tensions and aspects of his life. It is known as his “truest, most honest account of a love affair from tip to stern ever put down on magnetic tape.” BUT Dylan denies that this album is autobiographical. BUT Jakob Dylan (his son with Sara) said that this whole album is basically his parents talking. The album went to #1 on the Billboard 200 charts in the US and #4 on the UK Albums chart. The album went double platinum, and in 2015, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
June 26, 1975
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan and the Band
So, the vocals for this album began about 8 years prior. This was during his time with the Hawks. Production was paused because Dylan was in a motorcycle accident in July of 1966. While Dylan was out of the public eye, him and the Hawks recorded 100+ songs together. There were covers, traditional tracks, and originals.
January 5, 1976
Label: Columbia
Producer: Don DeVito
Desire was co-written by Jacques Levy. The backing musicians are Rolling Thunder Revenue. A lot of the vocals on the tracks are Emmylou Harris and Ronne Blakely. Just about every track on this album is a “story-song.” They are long tracks that all tell a story about something. Desire reached #1 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart for 5 weeks, went double platinum, and is one of Dylan’s best selling albums of all time. It also went to #3 in the UK. “Hurricane” is about Rubin Carter (a professional boxer), who was framed for murder. Bob Dylan actually played this song at the penitentiary that Rubin Carter was at, for Rubin Carter. The song “Joey” was about gangster Crazy Joey Gallo.
I always considered this album my favorite of his. I always liked the violin on the tracks. I thought the violin complimented his voice and his whole aesthetic pretty well. I also liked that each of the songs told a story.
September 13, 1976
Label: Columbia
Producer: Don DeVito and Bob Dylan
Peaking at #17 in the US and #3 in the UK, Hard Rain eventually earned gold.
June 15, 1978
Label: Columbia
Producer: Don DeVito
This album along with Blood on the Tracks and Desire were deeply personal, inward-looking records with some of the most emotionally moving songs he ever wrote. It was considered a pop-rock album including female backing vocals. During the recording of this album, Elvis Presley passed away, and it really affected him in a negative way. He didn’t talk to anyone for a week, and he paused production and recording.
August 20, 1979
Label: Columbia
Producer: Barry Beckett and Jerry Wexler
Slow Train Coming is the first album released after Dylan’s conversion to Christianity. The songs either discuss personal faith or stresses the importance of Christian teachings and philosophy. The song “Gotta Serve Somebody” was his first hit in about 3 years and won Dylan the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1980. The album peaked #2 on the UK charts, and went platinum in the US, reaching #3.
June 23, 1980
Label: Columbia
Producer: Barry Beckett and Jerry Wexler
While the songs weren’t the best, the shows were mystifying and revelatory. Saved expanded on themes of Christianity. The album went to #3 in the UK and #24 in the US.
August 12, 1981
Label: Columbia
Producer: Chuck Plotkin, Bob Dylan, and Bumps Blackwell
The 21st album released by Bob Dylan, and the third of the trilogy of the Christian albums. The album reached #6 in the UK and #33 in the US.
October 27, 1983
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfier
Infidels was his return to secular music. While he wasn’t singing about religion, he was still practicing it. This album was more focused on his personal love and loss and politics. The album reached #20 in the US, earned a gold certification, and #9 in the UK. Mark Knopfier, known for being the lead singer of Dire Straits, produced the album. David Bowie, Frank Zappa, and Elvis Costello were all approached before Dylan hired Knopfier.
June 10, 1985
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan
The album made it #33 in the US and #11 in the UK. The album featured musicians from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers like Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, and Howie Epstein.
July 14, 1986
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan
The album peaked #53 in the US and #35 in the UK. There were 3 cover songs on this album and 2 solo compositions.
May 30, 1988
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfier
Down in the Groove was another collaborative album. He collaborated with the Grateful Dead for most of the album.
September 18, 1989
Label: Columbia
Producer: Daniel Lanois
The 26th studio album by Bob Dylan. Oh Mercy made it #30 on the Billboard charts in the US and #6 in the UK.
September 10, 1990
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan, Don Was, and David Was
Bob Dylan actually helped produce this album, but it was credited as Jack Frost. Not sure why, it’s not like he hasn’t produced albums of his own before, it’s not like we don’t know who Bob Dylan is… I’m not sure. Each track on the album was inspired by a nursery rhyme, and had features like Jimmie Vaughn, Slash, Elton John, George Harrison, David Crosby, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Bruce Hornsby.
November 3, 1992
Label: Columbia
Producer: Debbie Gold
Good as I Been to You reaches back to Dylan’s roots as a musician. The album has a more folk sound. The album went to #51 in the US and #18 in the UK. According to Micajah Ryan (engineered and mixed the sessions for this album), Debbie Gold and Bob Dylan were very close friends. Dylan trusted her and consulted her with every take.
October 26, 1993
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan
World Gone Wrong is the second consecutive album to have the traditional folk sound on it, recorded with only an acoustic guitar and a harmonica. It won a Grammy for the Best Traditional Folk Album. The album peaked at #70 in the US and #35 in the UK.
September 30, 1997
Label: Columbia
Producer: Daniel Lanois
This is Dylan’s 30th studio album. Wow. This album also earned Dylan his first solo Grammy. He actually earned 3 Grammys for the album.
Kingdom Blow
September 11, 2001
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan
Love and Theft went to #5 on the Billboard charts and earned a Gold certification.
August 29, 2006
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan
Modern Times went #1 and it was his first #1 since Desire. It made Bob Dylan the oldest recording artist ever achieve that goal (he lost the title to Tony Bennett who was 85 and wrote a #1 album) .
April 28, 2009
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan
His 33rd album he put out, and went to #1 again. The album featured Mike Campbell again, from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
The next album was a Christmas album, whether or not they were original, what else is there to say about a holiday album??? Nothing interesting, so I am skipping it.
September 11, 2012
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan
Tempest was acclaimed for its traditional music and Dylan’s dark lyrics. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart. This was also his last full album to feature original songs until 2020.
February 3, 2015
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan
Shadows in the Night is an album of Frank Sinatra covers, primarily. The album reached #1 in the UK making Dylan, officially, the oldest male to reach #1 in the UK. At the 2016 Grammys, it was nominated for the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
May 20, 2016
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan
Another album that consists of classic American covers. At it’s core, these songs were also all once recorded by Frank Sinatra, except Skylark, that was Aretha Franklin.
March 31, 2017
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bob Dylan
This is actually a 3-disc release. It’s more covers of American classics. It made it to #37 on the Billboard 200 and #17 on the UK Albums chart.
June 19, 2020
Label: Columbia
Producer: NA
The album is a 2 disc feature, the second disc is literally one song. An almost 17 minute long song about the murder of JFK. It peaked to #1 in more than 10 countries and #2 in Australia and the US.
I can tell that Bob Dylan is not going to stop putting out albums, I strongly believe that even after he’s gone, he’s still going to release music, I mean when he was on bed rest after a motorcycle accident in 1966 he recorded over 100 tracks…we are bound to see at least 5 more Bob Dylan albums.
Oldies but Goodies 
Was never a Bob Dylan fan, but there’s some very interesting info here!
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