Bob Dylan by Fern Schrader

Bob Dylan Chronicles: Volume 1 Historical Investigation

By Fern Schrader

Primary Source:

This is a photograph of a city on the cover of the book. I chose this photograph for my primary source, because it shows Bob Dylan’s view on his travels and early life. It shows this because as the author he had the right to pick the images for the book, and he chose one representing a city, which shows that was a significant part of his life that he appreciated.

This photograph is connected to the book because it is the front cover and was chosen to represent the book.

Secondary Source: I chose an article going into further detail about Bob Dylan’s life as my secondary source. I chose this because it went into further detail about his musical career and his childhood. As well it talked about the facts of his life, some of which may not be present in his autobiography I read. Also, the article connected his childhood and musical career by talking about when he learned how to play instruments, for example the article says “he acquired his first guitar in 1955 at age 14” This shows how he was a dedicated musician, and how he chose a path that could have been difficult. This article connects to the book because it goes into more detail and is more factual than Bob Dylan’s autobiography.

Summary: Chronicles: Volume one is the first part of Bob Dylan’s autobiography. The book tells the story of his early musical career. It tells the story starting from when he left home to go to New York, and continues from there. Along the way it tells about his recording contract, his friends, his enemies and his idols, such as Woody Guthrie.

Review: I enjoyed reading “Chronicles: Volume One” because it told an intriguing story of the beginning of Bob Dylan’s rise to fame. In the beginning his personality came through when he said that he lied about how he got to New York, saying he came in a freight car, when he came in a car, on page eight he says “I came across the Midwest in a four door sedan, straight out of Chicago.....” I found it interesting to hear his opinions about it rather than just the facts. My favourite part of the book was reading about the path his music took and how his career started off. As well I especially liked learning about his friendship with Woody Guthrie. I would recommend this book because it is written from the point of view of a famous musician. Also, it is entertaining to read about how a musician started his career and who he gained inspiration from.

A Reluctant Performance I'm proud to say I knew Bob Dylan. I knew him at the beginning, before his rise to fame and legend. It was him who inspired me to play music for audiences. At first I was scared, scared of other artists opinions mostly his own though. I first encountered him on January eighth, in 1961. He had just come to Greenwich, I didn’t know from where. Our first encounter was after I heard someone performing in the park. It was a male voice, I recognized that, and it was accompanied by a guitar.

Back then he didn't write his own songs, but his music was different. Folk music wasn't exactly popular or often played. As I listened to him play I was delighted with the sometimes simple, sometimes complex melodies and lyrics, played on a guitar and accompanied with a low baritone. Afterward I walked up to him and asked “Where did you learn to play like that?” He seemed surprised at my question, and after taking a seat of the stone bench replied “I’ve been hearing folk music ever since I can remember, I took an interest in performing and taught myself the guitar” I gazed at him admiringly, and finally spoke, “You taught yourself, that’s amazing!,” He smiled and peered at me thoughtfully, “Do you play an instrument?”

I did, I played the piano but I had no confidence in my skills, though others told me I had a talent with it.

“No”, I replied abruptly, “I don’t”

The next few times he performed, it was all over the place but Greenwich was a fairly social place so I asked around. He performed to an audience of few people, me included. I always went out of my way to find time to hear Bob play. As he got more popular I didn't think he remembered me. I would see him in cafes or at the park, but we would never stop to talk. I decided to try the piano again, not to play publically but to play for fun. That was my intention at least until my family heard I had taken up the piano again. They insisted I at least perform once. My father owned a café and set me up to play there. I couldn’t get out of it so I learned new songs and reviewed ones I already knew by heart. . I found a place where they sold sheet music. It took about two months to learn three songs.

My father would ramble on about how delighted he was that I was performing, once, when I asked him who else was performing He replied with “The usual crowd, though there’s this kid that’s been around for a while, Bob Dylan I think? I’m not sure but he’s playing for the first time.”

That was how I found out Bob Dylan played at the same place I was being forced to play in. I mentally cursed my father, but I knew it wasn’t his fault, he didn’t think of him as being different from everyone else, to him he was just another artist. It was too late to back out, and anyway my father wouldn’t have let me, When the day of my performance came I walked inside, sat down on one of the wooden chairs, ordered a cup of tea and waited until it was my turn. Bob Dylan went before me; he played Erie Canal, an age old folk song, on his guitar and sang. When he finished some of the audience seemed slightly bored but the majority of them were clapping and smiling in appreciation. It was my turn. I got up onstage; my palms were sweaty; and breath seemed momentarily sucked out of me. I was nervous and scared.

Scared of everyone’s opinions even my own, most especially his though. I took one long breath and sat down to reach the pale, ivory keys of the piano. I took yet another shaky, breath and allowed my fingers to dance across the keyboard, soon with my voice joining in. After I finished I looked into the audience, most specifically at Bob Dylan, whose face still held a slight expression of surprise, searching for approval. He smiled and as I stood up to acknowledge the applause I knew that I had nothing to be afraid of.

Bibliography: 1. "Dylan, Bob." EBSCO Host. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=695a6bf7-bf37-46c4-a261da3f7ac9a950%40sessionmgr13&vid=1&hid=15&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWNvb2tpZSx pcCx1aWQmc2l0ZT1laG9zdC1saXZl#db=mih&AN=32408912>.

(Secondary Source (Article)) 2. Dylan, Bob. Chronicles: Volume One. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004. Print. (Book) 3. Chronicles: Volume One. N.d. Photograph. New York. (Primary Source)