https://www.reddit.com/r/bobdylan/comments/1ifyvwy/song_recommendations_for_somebody_who_only_likes/
created by agenderschmaygender on 02/02/2025 at 14:54 UTC
24 upvotes, 40 top-level comments (showing 25)
I'm going to be so honest: I've never really gotten why everyone goes so gaga over Bob Dylan. However, I have always been insanely, head over heels in love with Ballad of a Thin Man. Something about that song just really clicks for me in a way no other Dylan song has.
Personally, I go for the music over lyrics, which might be a key point in my inability to find more of his songs I enjoy. But, do people have any recommendations?
Comment by kassandra_k1989 at 02/02/2025 at 15:00 UTC
57 upvotes, 1 direct replies
If you like the sound of Ballad of a Thin Man, give a listen to the whole Highway 61 Revisited album.
Comment by porter_engle at 02/02/2025 at 15:30 UTC
17 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Things Have Changed
Comment by gsp137 at 02/02/2025 at 15:08 UTC
17 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Gates of Eden to me has the same dark vibe
Comment by J3dr90 at 02/02/2025 at 16:29 UTC
9 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Blind Willie McTell
Comment by WorkSecure at 02/02/2025 at 14:59 UTC
15 upvotes, 1 direct replies
The Time Out of Mind album or Oh Mercy might be up your musical taste alley.
Comment by hekbcfhkknv at 02/02/2025 at 15:47 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
If you can handle his older voice you could try Can’t Wait from Time Out of Mind
Comment by cvspharmacy98 at 02/02/2025 at 16:25 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
give a listen to Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) from Street Legal
Comment by Salty-Committee124 at 02/02/2025 at 21:04 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Just listen to Ballad of a Thin Man I guess
Comment by SachinVK at 02/02/2025 at 15:27 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
maybe positively 4th street
Comment by Admirable_Gain_9437 at 02/02/2025 at 15:02 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
How extensively have you sampled the rest of his catalog? Or even the rest of Highway 61 Revisited (the album where Thin Man appears)? There's a possibility he may just not be for you, which is okay. I'm not sure I can pinpoint another song that sounds like that - he tends to change styles to some degree from album to album and I'm not sure what exactly about BoaTM appeals to you.
New Morning (album) has a lot of piano work, but it's not the same sound. The rest of Highway 61 Revisited has the same vocal approach.
Comment by Innisfree812 at 02/02/2025 at 15:04 UTC*
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Some of these might strike your fancy:
Watching the River Flow
Changing of the Guards
New Pony
The Groom's Still Waiting at the Alter
Foot of Pride
Series of Dreams
Brownsville Girl
Comment by kateinoly at 02/02/2025 at 16:03 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Have you listened to the *Basement Tapes*?
Comment by Dylan_tune_depot at 02/02/2025 at 16:13 UTC*
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
It sounds like you're more of a melody person. If you like Ballad, the most obvious suggestion is to check out the whole album, Highway 61 Revisited. But honestly? I think "Desire" is the album with the most "pop" sounding songs, if I can even use that to describe Bob's work. It's the album that got me into him at a time when I listened mostly to Mariah Carey (back in the 90s). Also try Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again- very catchy, and the first song that made me pay attention, though Desire was the album that I got into.
Also Mr Tambourine Man- a lot of people I've met who don't really love Dylan somehow click with that song.
Comment by MorningDewHoney at 02/02/2025 at 17:41 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Isis
Comment by aviationinsider at 02/02/2025 at 17:56 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Do we really need to be told about what music to like, has this what the world has come to?
Discover what you like, make your own decisions. Good luck.
Comment by wienerdog362 at 02/02/2025 at 15:20 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I get what you mean but there are no other songs like that in his catalog, at least in my Opinion. I recommend you to listen to the Albert hall live bootleg(the one from the official release) and freewheelin back to back, preferably on great speakers or headphones and just really really listen, if it does nothing for you I’d stop trying and move on and maybe give it a shot in a year or so
Comment by grahamlester at 02/02/2025 at 15:58 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Scarlet Town is the closest, IMHO
Comment by Serious-Process2668 at 02/02/2025 at 15:59 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Po' Boy, from Love & Theft 2001.
Comment by Maccadawg at 02/02/2025 at 16:29 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Maybe something off the Nashville Skyline album: "Country Pie" or "Lay Lady Lay"
Or the "Desire" album: "One More Cup of Coffee"
My favorite is the live version of "Shelter From the Storm" -- a little something for everyone there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12rUOLtbQDk[1][2]
1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12rUOLtbQDk
2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12rUOLtbQDk
Comment by originalachelous at 02/02/2025 at 17:00 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Ain't Talkin'
Comment by Jean_Genet at 02/02/2025 at 17:12 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Have you tried the "Christmas In The Heart" album?
Comment by Lazy-Fate at 02/02/2025 at 16:30 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I guess you like songs with catchy melody, so I recommend the following ones. There are other great songs that he more or less borrowed melody from other songs due to his folk background, so I left them out here, but those I recommend are completely original melodies of his and they are brilliant.
And make sure to read the lyrics while listening. It's a completely different experience with vs. without lyrics. Great melodies are not rare, but Dylan's lyrics can lift great melodies to profound soulful masterpieces.
My Back Pages (30 anniversary version is the best)/ Man in the Long Black Coat / Blind Willie McTell / Workingman Blues #2 / One More Cup of Coffee / License to Kill / Changing of the Guards / Senor / Brownsville Girl / Dirge / Spirit on the Water / Born in Time / Sara / North Country Blues / Abandoned Love / Dark Eyes / Ring Them Bells / Love Is A Four Letter Word / To Fall in Love with You (unfinished) / One Too Many Mornings / I Threw It All Away / Not Dark Yet / Seven Days / I Can't Leave Her Behind (unfinished) / It's All Over Now, Baby Blue / Make You Feel My Love / Standing In the Doorway / Mother of Muses / What Good Am I? / 'Cross The Green Mountain
Moonshiner (Studio Outtake - 1963) is also a GREAT melody of his. It's an old folk song but his version's melody is 80% his own to my ears unless someone can point to me which version is very close to his.
Comment by Puzzleheaded_Way8099 at 02/02/2025 at 16:49 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Desolation Row maybe
Comment by OpeningLetterhead840 at 02/02/2025 at 16:52 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Go back and ease yourself into Bob Dylan - there’s a lot there! Try planet waves and then his popular tracks. Dylan is an acquired taste with his voice then go desire& blood on the tracks albums … if that’s not your style / taste that’s ok. Check his top tracks instead.
Comment by napoleoninrags98 at 02/02/2025 at 17:12 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I found the title of this post really funny. It's maybe my favorite tune of his. Glad to hear there are people appreciating it, even when they don't like the rest of his catalogue!