Bob Dylan: Behind the Shades Revisited Paperback – Illustrated, 29 April 2003

Great product

Heylin's updated chronicle of Dylan is in a word comprehensive, this work is probably the most complete and accurate account of the life of the great man around. The author goes a long way to cut through the often layers of mystique and innuendo that surround the life of Bob, the early days in Hibbing and New York, the post bike-crash times in Woodstock and the Christian years. The book is crammed full of detailed accounts of which song was written where, the in?s and outs of the recording of every album and who Bob played with and where on tour.All good stuff for the committed Dylan fan, nevertheless I couldn?t help feeling that the detail in which events were catalogued became rather dry. Personally I feel that the in its mission to be as historically accurate as possible the book lost site of the more interesting side of Dylanology. The effect that the songs were having on music community and society at large at the time, his legacy to music today, and the roots of the truly revolutionary work he was producing. To me the works of the likes of Greil Marcus provides a lot more interesting insights into what we are all most interested in, the music of Bob Dylan.I would still recommend those of us who have something of a Dylan obsession, and if you?re interested in 1980?s and 90?s Dylan. However if it?s your first venture into Dylan literature it may prove grueling, maybe something lighter and/or philosophical would suit better (Scaduto and Gill have good works on early Dylan).

Heylin's updated chronicle of Dylan is in a word comprehensive, this work is probably the most complete and accurate account of the life of the great man around. The author goes a long way to cut through the often layers of mystique and innuendo that surround the life of Bob, the early days in Hibbing and New York, the post bike-crash times in Woodstock and the Christian years. The book is crammed full of detailed accounts of which song was written where, the in?s and outs of the recording of every album and who Bob played with and where on tour.All good stuff for the committed Dylan fan, nevertheless I couldn?t help feeling that the detail in which events were catalogued became rather dry. Personally I feel that the in its mission to be as historically accurate as possible the book lost site of the more interesting side of Dylanology. The effect that the songs were having on music community and society at large at the time, his legacy to music today, and the roots of the truly revolutionary work he was producing. To me the works of the likes of Greil Marcus provides a lot more interesting insights into what we are all most interested in, the music of Bob Dylan.I would still recommend those of us who have something of a Dylan obsession, and if you?re interested in 1980?s and 90?s Dylan. However if it?s your first venture into Dylan literature it may prove grueling, maybe something lighter and/or philosophical would suit better (Scaduto and Gill have good works on early Dylan).

Clinton heylin has surely written the most all encompassing study of rock music's most elusive genius.Covering his entire career the author correctly points out the inferior times both in recording and in concert,and succeeds in giving us a picture of the true dylan.Sometimes the endless paragraphs about making albums are a bit much for the casual reader and i would have like to have known more about his relationship with his grown up children.Though these are minor faults in a biography unlikely to be bettered.

I just finished this book and I must say that it is the best Dylan bio on the market. I've read many, but this is by far the most comprehensive. What I enjoyed most was that Dylan's personal life was examined, but not in a tabloid style. The narrative is such that the author's love of Dylan's music really comes through.