The Dylanologists

*Disclaimer: Vol. 1 was covered here & Vol. 2 was covered here.*The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3—a first of its kind collection—is a box set of rare and unreleased material by Bob Dylan. It was the very first installment in Dylan’s official Bootleg Series, comprising material spanning the first three decades of his career, from 1961 to 1989. It was first released to the public on March 26, 1991.Volume 3 is primarily comprised of studio session outtakes from albums that rounded out Dylan’s career up that point. And while this particular set of songs is far from the strongest we’ve seen in the Bootleg Series, there are a few diamonds in the proverbial rough (ahem, Blind Willie McTell). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedylanologists.substack.com

Released on February 10, 1964, The Times They Are A-Changin’ is Dylan’s third studio album, but his first to feature only original compositions. By it’s release, Dylan was already seen as a folk music icon and a burgeoning protest singer—even the voice and spokesperson of a generation—and Times didn’t do him any favors in changin’ public opinion. Despite his discomfort with these imposed titles, the same narratives persist to this day…Instead of falling into the same tired tropes, we attempt to strip away the baggage often associated with this era of Dylan’s career. We consider how much the casual fan actually recognized or understood who Dylan was at the time the album was released, while offering our thoughts on what Times is actually all about. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedylanologists.substack.com

"Volume 2" of The Bootleg Series Vols. 1-3 is primarily comprised of studio session outtakes, and easily covers more ground in Dylan’s career compared to Volume 1, but arguably has the best set of songs yet (and perhaps of any stretch of the Bootleg series to date!).On this episode we consider which alternate takes are superior to the versions that showed up on studio albums, debate which outtakes are the craziest to leave off their respective albums, and discover something neither of us knew about Dylan from 1965 (specifically related to “If You Gotta Go, Go Now”).If you gotta go, go now… or else you have to listen to the entire episode in one sitting. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedylanologists.substack.com

What else can be said about Bob Dylan’s incredible sophomore album? Apparently enough to create a 75 minute podcast episode.-What’s with “Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right” having accompaniment credits in the liner notes?-Should “Down The Highway” have been on the record? -Why doesn’t Dylan get more credit for his musicianship?These questions, and more, are pondered this week. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedylanologists.substack.com

Many these days take for granted the access that we have to Dylan’s vast discography. However, for Dylanologists in the early-90’s, this release was a revelation—a proverbial goldmine.This week, we explore “Volume 1” (or disc 1) in this collection, which essentially covers the first two years of Dylan’s now-storied career. We discuss the absurdity that some of these songs were kept in a vault for 30 years, share our standout favorites, and ponder what it was like to be around for the original release of this collection.*Disclaimer: Vols. 2 & 3 will be discussed over the next two episodes for paid subscribers.* This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedylanologists.substack.com

The moment you’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived—the first official studio album episode of The Dylanologists!Here, we discuss the dark cloud that hangs over the songs, contemplate the idea of appropriation, and share a brief story about a strange email we received from a different dylanologist. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedylanologists.substack.com

Adam and Jens are back!What is happening with The Dylanologists? Tune in to find out.-Bob Dylan 2025 — Year in Review-Plus our favorite albums of the year. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedylanologists.substack.com