15 episodes

A Bob Dylan Primer is a series of broadcasts dedicated to the work and life of Bob Dylan. The first season consists of 12 episodes, appearing approximately once a month, and covering the time period from Dylan’s youth in Minnesota and early days in New York City up to the release of Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind in 1997. I’ve attempted to combine a detailed account of Dylan’s life with my own personal observations about Dylan’s creative output and place in our world. It’s my hope that A Bob Dylan Primer will be embraced by a wide range of people, from Dylan fanatics to those who are just trying to understand what all the fuss might be about.

A Bob Dylan Primer The FM Podcast Network

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    • 4.8 • 128 Ratings

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A Bob Dylan Primer is a series of broadcasts dedicated to the work and life of Bob Dylan. The first season consists of 12 episodes, appearing approximately once a month, and covering the time period from Dylan’s youth in Minnesota and early days in New York City up to the release of Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind in 1997. I’ve attempted to combine a detailed account of Dylan’s life with my own personal observations about Dylan’s creative output and place in our world. It’s my hope that A Bob Dylan Primer will be embraced by a wide range of people, from Dylan fanatics to those who are just trying to understand what all the fuss might be about.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    16 - Nothing but Affection

    16 - Nothing but Affection

    A small departure, this episode traces my personal journey with Dylan’s work and music. Highlights include watching Dylan’s house get built in Malibu, seeing The Last Waltz in person, getting the weakest handshake of all time from the man, and several trips to the new Dylan mecca in Tulsa, Oklahoma.



    Episode links:
    Bob Dylan – Live from the Ryman Auditorium – Nashvile – March 23, 2022
    Bob Dylan – Incredible 2020 Interview with Jann Wenner
    Bob Dylan – November 3, 2021 – Chicago – complete concert



    We're a proud member of The FM Podcast Network along with PodDylan - Dylan.FM - The Dylantantes - and more.

    • 59 min
    14 - Modern Times, Olden Times

    14 - Modern Times, Olden Times

    40 years after showing up in New York, Dylan propels himself headfirst into the 21st century with a quartet of ferociously strong albums and a sweet book that tells more than the most telling tell-all.




    Episode links:
    Dylan – A Change is Gonna Come – 2004
    Victoria’s Secret Ad – Love Sick
    Dylan – Must be Santa
    Dylan – Duquesne Whistle
    Dylan – NPR Radio Interview Re Chronicles

    13 - Time is in the Mind

    13 - Time is in the Mind

    Never a dull moment for Mr. D, he contracts a serious infection of the heart, sings for the Pope, and releases his strongest album in 20 years.



    Episode links:
    Not Dark Yet – Dylan with Eric Clapton
    Love Sick – Dylan at the Grammys – SOY BOMB!!! – 1998
    Time Out of Mind – Dylan – Complete Album/Different Live Versions
    The Sounds of Silence – Dylan with Paul Simon – 1999
    Sugar Baby – Dylan – live May 5, 2002
    Sugar Baby – Dock Boggs
    The Lonesome Road – Gene Austin
    The Lonesome Road – Fank Sinatra

    12 - Beginning the Next Beginning

    12 - Beginning the Next Beginning

    Dylan somehow stops his creative slide at the end of the 1980s and turns it all around, again.

    Episode links:
    Dylan Live – 1993 TV Special – Hard Times
    Dylan – Live in Paris – February 23, 1993 – Simple Twist of Faith
    Dylan – Live w/Orchestra – Nara, Japan – May 22, 1994 – Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
    Dylan – Live at Woodstock II – August 14, 1994 – Complete Concert
    Dylan – Live at Stratford-on-Avon – July 14, 1995 – Tears of Rage
    Dylan – Live from Prague – 1995 – Shelter from the Storm
    Bob Dylan Meets The Pope 1997
    Dylan – November 12, 1996 – Dubuque, Iowa – Craziest Show Ever

    11 - Synthesizer Dylan

    11 - Synthesizer Dylan

    Few who lived through the nineteen-eighties would claim the decade as their greatest era. Dylan is no exception.

    Episode links:
    Dylan 1985 – Dylan rehearses We Are The World (very entertaining)
    Dylan 1986 – Press Conference – Sydney, Australia
    Bob Dylan with Tom Petty – Live in Australia 1986
    Dylan & The Dead – The Times They Are A-Changin’ – July 4, 1987

    10 - A Voice in the Wilderness

    10 - A Voice in the Wilderness

    Twenty years into his career, Bob Dylan unleashes his most shocking transformation

    …and finds religion.



    Episode links:
    Bob Dylan – June 1978 Live – Like a Rolling Stone
    Bob Dylan 1980 Toronto – Pressing On
    Bob Dylan – long intro about the Bible 1980
    Bob Dylan – Jesus Met the Woman at the Well
    Bob Dylan – What Can I do for You?

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
128 Ratings

128 Ratings

OhSister ,

A Bob Dylan Primer

Michael Hacker has given us a beautiful piece of work on Bob Dylan. It is insightful and enhanced by how deeply personal it is. If you know a lot about Dylan it’s great but would also be a great starting point for someone with only a little knowledge.

ponchobear ,

A Bob Dylan Primer

What is Bob Dylan? If you are a Dylan nut like me or just just interested in Bob Dylan for what ever reason. This Podcast is a must listen. Michael has a very different look at the career of Dylan than anything I have come across in years. Like Michael, I stumbled onto Dylan in the early 70’s. Although I actually had heard more Dylan than I thought at the time. Yes I missed the very early Dylan but my than Girlfriend’s Uncle who was just a little older than I was at the time took me onto a very deep dive into Dylan’s work. I was hooked to say the least. This Series of Podcast cast takes you into a History if I may into Dylan. I have been listening for days and hopefully there is more to come. Great work Michael!

zpic ,

Yay great podcast

From my first concert in 1965 at 16 to seeing him over the years and awaiting a new show next month - I am listening to everything I can find
This is wonderful… thank you so so much !
Obviously I know and appreciate the man a lot !

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