Dylan, Bob
Highway 61 Revisited
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

1970 Stereo Reissue. Released in August 1965, Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited marked a radical transformation in both his own career and the landscape of popular music. This was Dylan’s sixth studio album, but the first on which he fully embraced electric instrumentation, moving further away from his folk roots. The album’s title references the legendary U.S. highway that stretches from Dylan’s native Minnesota down to New Orleans, a symbolic route through the heart of American music tradition. Highway 61 Revisited features a fusion of blues, rock, and surreal lyricism, most notably in its opening track, “Like a Rolling Stone,” widely regarded as one of the greatest songs in rock history for its innovative sound and biting commentary. The album’s significance lies not only in its musical experimentation but also in its lyrical ambition. Dylan’s writing on Highway 61 Revisited is elliptical, bold, and evocative, pointing toward the possibilities of rock as a vehicle for serious artistic expression. Songs like “Ballad of a Thin Man” and “Desolation Row” pushed the boundaries of what song lyrics could achieve, drawing on literary and cultural references while addressing the complexities and contradictions of contemporary society. The critical and commercial success of the album helped redefine the expectations of songwriting and influenced a generation of musicians, securing Dylan’s place as a central figure in the evolution of rock music.