Bob Dylan All the Songs

Starred review from November 15, 2015

This tome is a work of art and a labor of love covering nearly all of Bob Dylan's studio songs (originals and covers), a total of 492, from the early 1960s through 2015. Not included are many of the 138 takes on The Basement Tapes Complete (2014). The book is arranged chronologically by album. Each album has an introductory essay (two to six pages long), and most of the songs are covered in a page of description. Major creations (e.g., "Blowin' in the Wind," "Mr. Tambourine Man," "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right") get more space. A typical summary offers information on the musical production, its "genesis and lyrics," and further details. Boxes labeled "For Dylanologists" contain obscure or trivial facts and "In Your Headphones" documents voices or odd sounds heard on the songs. The compilers seem to run out of steam near the end; the last few albums don't receive as much space. Beautifully illustrated with many rare and familiar photos, the book concludes with a brief glossary of musical terms and a densely packed index. Margotin and Guesdon (All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Beatles Release) gathered information from published interviews with Dylan and others; books; articles; and websites. VERDICT A Dylan fan could live inside this book for weeks. Hard-core enthusiasts will be enthralled by the details of the many outtakes.--Thomas Karel, Franklin & Marshall Coll. Lib., Lancaster, PA

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2015
Margotin and Guesdon team up again, after 2013's All the Songs: The Story behind Every Beatles Release, and give Bob Dylan the same treatment. This hefty tome catalogs every recording released by Dylan, in chronological order of album release. Every album gets a nice spread with narrative information about the record cover, the recording sessions, and technical details, including the instruments used. Each song entry features the credits for the recording, a section on the genesis and lyrics of the song, and a brief narrative on the production. There are additional entries for people important in Dylan's career, such as talent-scout John Hammond and folksinger Woody Guthrie. Side boxes of additional trivia ( For Dylanologists ) are posted throughout, and a plethora of photographs fill the book. A short glossary of technical and musical terms, an index, and a bibliography round out the work. Comprehensive and entertaining, this is a good reference source of music trivia suitable for the circulating collections of most public and academic libraries. It's a must for Dylan fans and those who enjoy folk music.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)