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Band:Bob Dylan DVD:Dylan Speaks Released by:MVD Writer: Dr. J- Media: MySpace Click Album Cover To Buy Now

Those familiar with the typical BOB DYLAN interview, consisting of mumbling and rambling, with find this a drastic change to any preconceived notion. “Dylan Speaks” highlights and interview that took place on December 3, 1965, where DYLAN is humorous, engaging, and even animated at times. Surprisingly, this was the only DYLAN interview filmed from this era.

Arranged by Ralph J. Gleason, described as a pop-music critic, the event takes place in a studio at KQED TV in San Francisco. What is crucial about this time period in DYLAN’s career is that earlier in the year, DYLAN had released “Bringing It All Back Home”, which was the first time he had moved wayward of his folk music roots. Later in the summer, the rock and roll album “Highway 61 Revisited” was released, from which “Like A Rolling Stone” moved up to #2 on the U.S. charts. If that didn’t surprise people enough DYLAN emerged onto stage at the Newport Folk Festival with an electric guitar, which drew more than a few no-so-positive comments from a many in the crowd. It was with all these events transpiring in 1965 that this infamous DYLAN interview was conducted.

After doing a bit of research, it seems this interview has historically been fairly difficult to obtain in whole. Many DYLAN bios have featured bits and pieces, but not the entire interview. “Dylan Speaks” provides the entire event, restored in black and white, and left in the original sound (mono) format.

Though DYLAN looks a little worn, he never seems to miss a beat and the quotable quotes are numberous. Despite the seriousness, or ridiculousness, of the question, DYLAN engages them all. The infamous quote, “I think of myself as a song and dance man”, actually comes early in the interview after being asked if he thinks of himself as more of a singer or a poet. When Bill Graham asks who he thinks has done the best covers of his songs, DYLAN answers, “Manfred Mann”. I was surprised. Anther interesting quote comes from his description of folk music as, "a constitutional replay of mass production." I’m sure many DYLAN fans are still trying to figure that one out.

Perhaps the most impressive is DYLAN’s essential casualness concerning his own success. When another asks him, repeatedly, about his popularity, Dylan dignifies indifference and more or less states he really doesn’t know why. That’s a quality he’s adorned throughout his career and it’s nice to hear the artist himself say it.

This DVD is recommended to anyone a fan, interested, or simply curious about DYLAN. The production is done well, while still retaining the vintage quality. The interview presents some insight to the artist’s career at the time, as well as provides a side of DYLAN rarely seen.

Band:Bob Dylan DVD:Dylan Speaks Released by:MVD Writer: Dr. J- Media: MySpace Click Album Cover To Buy Now

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