Today we submit our fourth episode covering the career of Bob Dylan.

This episode focuses on Dylan’s work in 1964, resulting in the album, “Another Side of Bob Dylan.” If there could be any such thing as a ‘typical’ Bob Dylan album, then perhaps this is a great example. Like most of Bob’s best work, “Another Side” is alternately frustrating, fascinating, brilliant and challenging, while defying all expectations. It also somehow manages to be controversial. This is the album that started the rift between Dylan and the New York Folk scene, a rift that soon became a ravine.

The New York folkies had very specific ideas of what constituted the ‘new folk’ movement, and most of those ideas were based on stylistic limitations – namely, topical songs that addressed the political agenda and social inclinations of that specific scene. The leaders of the folk scene felt that singer/songwriters were expected to address topics that suited the scene’s agenda, and for most of 1963, Dylan ‘s musical output exceeded their wildest expectations. As a result, he was perceived as a leader of sorts. Dylan himself had no aspirations to be a spokesperson for someone else’s agenda, so quite consciously, he made a move away from ‘finger pointing songs’ and searched inwardly for his inspiration.

His manner of expression also changed significantly. His interest in poetry now had a direct influence on his wordplay, and a surreal, impressionistic flow of words informed some of his best material from this era. The purists were downright rude in their assessment of Dylan’s inspired creativity, but an entirely new audience waited in the wings, an audience starving for something ‘different.’ “Another Side of Bob Dylan” does not convey a specific statement of purpose on Dylan’s part, but it definitely does convey a sense of independence. Here’s a list of songs from today’s show. All are by Bob, unless otherwise specified;

Lay Down Your Weary Tune

Lay Down Your Weary Tune (excerpt)– The Byrds

Tomorrow Is a Long Time

All I Really Want to Do (excerpt)

All I Really Want to Do – The Byrds

Spanish Harlem Incident

Spanish Harlem Incident (excerpt) – The Byrds

Chimes of Freedom

Chimes of Freedom (excerpt) – The Byrds

My Back Pages

My Back Pages (excerpt) – The Byrds

It Ain’t Me Babe

If You Gotta Go, Go Now