Greatest song of all time?! LIKE A ROLLING STONE [Bob Dylan] - BLOW UP the SONG, Ep. 6

[@SteveRockstein2]

Dude, on so many levels, this may be the best content I've seen on YT. Thanks. Subscribed. I remember exactly hearing 'Rolling Stone' for the first time. It was during the summer of '65. I'm 16, riding in the front seat of my 'older' buddy Skippy's '58 Chevy Impala. It's raining outside and the convertible top leaks. Skippy's got his hands on the wheel and his feet on the pedals. His long-time girlfriend, Nancy, sits between us. They've been together so long that they breath as one, He steps on the clutch. She shifts the Hurst 4-speed like a pro. My job is to hit one of the five the buttons on the AM radio the instant a commercial aired. We came to a light. We were listening to some Beach Boys, maybe Surfer Girl, not sure. But the light turns green, the songs ends, I hit the button and - BAM - from this crappy little 5" speaker comes that snare hit then Kooper's organ and the cat with the most urgent voiced I've ever heard want to know how it feels. Holy shit. I remember nothing else from that night, except we got pizza. Next day I took the bus down to Colony Records and bought Bringing it all Back Home. Wore it out. Been following him closely ever since. He has inspired me as a singer/songwriter/performer/artist. They're still waiting for the next Bob Dylan. Well. guess what?

[@RobertCassard]

Damn, Steve. Love the way you told that story! So glad you found my channel, too!

[@SteveRockstein2]

Thanks. Me too. I’ll be checking out your other offerings.

[@davidlambert4831]

Love the Al Cooper story. I heard him tell it 20 or so years ago in an interview on NPR. No better proof that great music doesn’t need to be perfectly played.

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks, David. This whole song and performance is evidence that playing with intention and heart often beats perfection...

[@averagejoe2853]

In the many many different versions of this song nobody comes close to Bobby Greggs drum track . He rumbles in just the right places. Impossible to duplicate. Great analysis and video !

[@RobertCassard]

Gregg’s performance is above average, averagejoe! LOL. Thanks for watching and saying hi

[@MichaelWilliams-he2wz]

Had a garage band summer ‘65 in Middletown, Ohio. My younger brother, 14 at the time, had to learn all the lyrics to Like a Rolling Stone and remember them all during our live performances. An amazing feat looking back. He did. We had an organ player, bass, rhythm guitar, drummer. I handled lead guitar. We had no idea what the song was about but it didn’t matter. It felt right.

[@RobertCassard]

Great memories. And you got to be Mike Bloomfield. Such fun guitar parts, right?

[@cliffbarber6058]

Great take on this song. First heard in it 65 and it still moves me in 2024. Al Kooper and the Hammond B3 , in my humble opinion, really put this song over the top.

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks, Cliff. Kooper being there and pushing his way in on organ is one of those great moments of musical serendipity. I can't imagine the song any other way.

[@muhammadburhan400]

In my opinion, Bob Dylan is the best song writer of all time just look at his poetic lyrics no wonder they gave him the Nobel Prize

[@RobertCassard]

As a body of work, it’s truly monumental!

[@HomeopathicDana]

I had the total pleasure to see Dylan perform at the Stanford Ampitheater on October 14, 2019. At the not-so-tender age of 79, he danced and pranced and rocked around the stage with nimbleness, grace, and brilliant musical art. He spanned various styles of his music...and it was clear that he was not near any age of retirement. And THAT is to our supreme benefit!

[@RobertCassard]

They say music keeps you young, and he’s proving it. (Of course, homeopathy helps, too!)

[@imannonymous7707]

You didnt miss a moment, you kept my attention engaged throughout. Im a Huge dylan fan, and im hoping you cover more dylan stuff. Funny thing is , is that i knew most of the lore of this track, and yet somehow you brought more to the table. So glad i subd this channel

[@RobertCassard]

Love having you here, annonymous. I have the same sense of discovery while I make these videos. I think I know a piece of music or recording well, and then my mind gets blown by going deeper.

[@doctrot]

Dylan was (is) cool, critics that say he didn't have a good voice never did get his delivery. Nice to hear you play some of his stuff....thank you.

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks doctrot. His delivery is an acquired taste. To some degree, it carries forward the beet poet tradition and pre-dates modern Rap

[@adamokolicsanyi4774]

I just discovered this song. Very enjoyable explanation, thank you!

[@RobertCassard]

Glad you enjoyed it, Adam. I hope you’ll check out my other song blow-ups!

[@normsaunders4980]

Enjoy your discovery. I'm willing to bet it will stay with you, and improve, for the rest of your life.

[@u2acrobata]

lovely stories ...

[@RobertCassard]

Thx acrobata!

[@thetrevorosborne]

really enjoyed youre warm friendly presentation and analysis of possibly my favourite song .Thankyou.

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks so much, Trevor. I’m glad you found my channel!

[@scottstetzer]

Excellent breakdown, thank you!

[@RobertCassard]

Glad you enjoyed it, Scott

[@hitsonacousticguitar]

Robert, you deserve way more subs. Great video.

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks for that vote of confidence, HOAG! Please help me by passing videos along to your musician friends. Your Likes and Comments help, too!

[@peppinodagostino]

Good job Robert!

[@RobertCassard]

Thank you so much, Peppino. I’m honored to have you here on my channel! I hope you find some other videos to enjoy.

[@davidteeters626]

What a delight, and I have never been much of a Dylan fan. At the time, I was listening to jazz, with side trips into the Beatles and blues - Butterfield, Mayall. You’ve done for Dylan what I’ve long fantasized being able to tap into for certain works by Beethoven, Mahler, etc..

[@RobertCassard]

Dylan is an acquired taste to certain ears. Thanks for bringing up Beethoven and Mahler. I hope to grow the channel enough to branch out and blow up some Jazz and Classical stuff. Beethoven and Mahler symphonies BURN to be analyzed, because I love them so much! I see a direct correlation between the number of staves on an orchestral score and the number of tracks on a multi-track recording. The composer layers instruments and parts exactly the way a producer layers tracks. I did a video called “Guitorchestration” showing how I loosely apply this concept to Cosmic Spin’s recordings. You might enjoy it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYCpmGWjicihbZo

[@tbeau6663]

Outstanding video. I'm ashamed to be late in appreciating Bob's songs.....I've only liked them for 40 years!

[@RobertCassard]

LOL. I always loved his songs, but didn’t appreciate him as a singer. That is, until 1982. My boss at the time sent me home with the 3 LP Biograph set. After listening all the way through, I “got” Bob as a singer and have never looked back…so yeah, 42 years in my case!

[@tbeau6663]

@@RobertCassard Have you listened to the 'Chronicles' set?

[@RobertCassard]

@@tbeau6663 I thought Chronicles was only a book? I realized that Biograph was a 5 LP set first released in 1985. It had both released and previously unreleased stuff.

[@tbeau6663]

@@RobertCassard Ha, I didn't even know it was a book!! I borrowed a cd set....which must've been the audiobook version. Bob's narration was by Sean Penn. It's an excellent listen.

[@RobertCassard]

@@tbeau6663 Cool. I'll look for the audiobook.

[@volache]

I 've just discovered your video, wow thanks a lot for your 'job' your enthusiasm, your tips on the melody the chords everything you are precious thanks again jm

[@RobertCassard]

You're very welcome @volache! Thanks for the positive feedback.

[@mattinnj2561]

Love this.

[@RobertCassard]

Thank you, MattinNJ!

[@jacklincoln7786]

Makes total sense when you mention the “Spanish feel”. I recall Dylan saying that Ritchie Valens song La Bamba’s C F G progression inspired him to be put in this song Like A Rolling Stone

[@RobertCassard]

I've never heard Dylan make the La Bamba connection, Jack. So many songs are I-IV-V (C-F-G). But the first note of La Bamba is that sus4 F (in the key of C)! "How does it feel para ballar la bamba?!" 😀

[@matcoffidis1135]

Mike's part sounds great. I agree. Spontaneity is great. There's something about tbe studio that brings out great performances. Really interesting to see how the song evolved. Glad he didn't go with 3/4 time. And those isolated tracks are so cool. Especially seeing how they all fit together... I knew some of the backstory, but you filled in the gaps. Thanks man...✌️

[@RobertCassard]

My pleasure, Mat. I have fun and make all kinds of discoveries when I do these blow-ups. I glad you're enjoying them.

[@gregmullanax4986]

Great video. Outstanding.

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks so much, Greg. please share it with any Dylan fans (or Dylan skeptics!) you know…

[@crisslastname9417]

Iconic.

[@RobertCassard]

Indeed.

[@kevincarey2467]

Very enjoyable...great memories...great song...

[@RobertCassard]

@@kevincarey2467 thanks, Kevin!

[@unitivity1082]

I arrived hitch hiking to New York when it came out on the radio same time as light my fire with the doors. It made New York a new town with the mothers of invention playing live down the block. Tin Pan Alley was on 🔥

[@RobertCassard]

Must’ve been an incredible time in NYC. You can hear the Tin Pan Alley in Griffin’s piano part!

[@unitivity1082]

@@RobertCassard never heard of metal tacks in piano knockers. Globs of radiation all. Everythinging goes 186,000 miles a second only the radius’s change to make it all I call UNITIVITY.

[@georgescannelli3814]

Another great one. Did not recall Mike Bloomfield on the track. That is great! I also do recall Dylan Going electric, but I was a little young to remember the blow back from that. Also, did not know it was a 4 track. Interesting. Thanks for talking about the cutting edge. Did not know about that. Another great blowing up the song video. What I love the most about these , is learning things I never knew. The isolated mike Bloomfield track was sweet- very tasteful..I have his “ Essential Blues CD. (1964-69). Sorry for getting off on a tangent. The keyboards were also really good. Can’t believe all these isolated parts were actually part of the song. It’s amazing that when you hear the song as a whole, it’s hard to distinguish, but it comes together great. Al’s organ rif is iconic.. Lastly , you told some great facts about the players themselves. Wow so much the everyday person (musician or not), probably never knew. Another great one.

[@RobertCassard]

These are fun, right George? I was 4, going on 5, when this song came out. Like you, I was too young to know the backstory. But I was lucky enough to have older brothers. One of them bought the single, and one of my earliest memories is that red Columbia label with 6:00 stamped on it. When I was little and couldn't read yet, I memorized the labels of every 45 my brothers owned by the colors, designs and the way the words looked. S&G's Sound of Silence and Like a Rolling Stone looked very similar and the song length was how I could tell them apart! LOL

[@normsaunders4980]

Tangents are wonderful. They help us learn.

[@brendonleary]

That was absolutely brilliant. You certainly exploded the song for us. The way all the different styles of the individual tracks have come together into a cohesive whole has always intrigued me... truly is a magical moment. I couldn't begin to explain how much Bob has meant to me over the decades. He is definitely a constant in my life. We have all been blessed to have lived in his era.

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks so much, Brendan. I was amazed by the musical diversity of the performances. Glad you liked my explosion and analysis!

[@jfarinacci0329]

Really good content. Thank you.

[@RobertCassard]

You're very welcome!

[@ShmeffShmusic]

I’ve watched a lot of music related videos over my decade plus of using KZbin as a type of music school for myself. I truly mean it when I say this is one of my favorite videos I’ve ever watched. What an inspiring thing to hear such an in depth analysis of this song!! I cannot wait to enjoy some more from this blow up the song playlist. Thank you so much for doing what you’re doing! It means a lot to see a video made so well and with such an earnest enthusiasm for the song. The then teaching about it is a whole other beast, so THANK YOU!!

[@RobertCassard]

Hey Shmeff. Can't tell you how much I appreciate your kind words. These videos are a labor of love so it means everything to know that people like you are enjoying and appreciating them!

[@IsisMusic]

Great video. Thanks

[@RobertCassard]

Glad you like it, Isis.

[@mojotabledancers]

A bunch of mine too! Amazing songwriter. This video is fantastic.

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks for listening, Mojo!

[@mojotabledancers]

@@RobertCassard Anytime! Really loving this series!

[@RobertCassard]

@@mojotabledancers Thanks so much. Please pass them along and help me spread the word. I'd really appreciate it.

[@rabukan5842]

Robert, once again, you really did your homework. I had the original 45 (flip side Gates of Eden,) and the albums Help, and Sounds of Silence. I was only 7 years old, but had already been playing guitar for 2 years, inspired by The Beatles, Dylan, Simon, later Hendrix, Santana, Page... It was an amazing time to be buying records and albums to learn off of. Getting older brings its rewards through its memories. Great video here!

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks so much, r. Sounds like you’re just a couple years older than I am. And you beat me to playing guitar by a couple years, too. Such an amazing period for music. And the relative simplicity of record production back then made everything feel more inspirational and attainable.

[@strollingjamesbeano2181]

Firstly, I have just come across your channel and really enjoy your knowledge and talent but just to set the years correct. 'Don't Look Back' film was his 1965 tour in Britain, I was there ...fantastic. 1966 was the year he introduced his electric set. I was at the Free Trade Hall gig (in '66) when the infamous 'Judas' shout was said and also went to the Liverpool gig. Love it or hate it Bob Dylan has produced a tomb of songs that have influenced more musicians than anybody else. Looking forward to celebrating his 90th,,, hopefully!

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks so much for correcting my dates...and for watching. Must have been amazing to be there!

[@strollingjamesbeano2181]

Certainly was and I meant tome not tomb... Doh. Keep up the great work Robert.

[@RobertCassard]

@@strollingjamesbeano2181 I knew exactly what you meant!

[@johnfrewin7717]

Once again you really opened the lid and showed me the inner workings of one of my favourite tracks 👍 thanks so much, I took Blood on the Tracks with me when I first left home ,as one of a half dozen cassette tapes that could fit in my backpack, I don’t think my life as a musician and guitarist would have been anything like the same if Dylan’s music hadn’t been there at the start👍🇬🇧🎸

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks, John. I can say something similar. It’s easy for me to forget how seminal Dylan songs and lyrics were to my early love of music and poetry. Part of that is because I came to Dylan primarily through the music of The Byrds. I was scanning through videos last night and got almost tearful about how painfully beautiful their Dylan interpretations were...from Mr. Tambourine Man to Chimes of Freedom to My Back Pages and more. And there was The Turtles’ version of It Ain’t Me Babe. Dylan’s own versions were more raw, but had their own gritty beauty. Just amazing. So thankful I’ve lived during these times!

[@IsisMusic]

Ok, now you are into the C major scale.. I´m writing while listening

[@RobertCassard]

Very straightforward...but ingenious.

[@donaldphee1651]

While I know it's one of his iconic songs it is not one of my personal favorites from Hiway 61. But as kid I dug it. I had relatives heavily into folk and country music who introduced me his music and I recall them debating the merits of Dylan going electric of course I was to young to understand what they were getting on about. I really enjoyed your breakdown of the tracks on this song because I'd always assumed he was a one or two take guy and you showed that this song took awhile to evolve. Its a shame Mike Bloomfield got short shifted on this record. I saw him back Bob at Newport and he was truly mesmerizing and some of BB's licks would not have Hurt much...

[@RobertCassard]

I’m with you on the Bloomfield thing, Donald. Underutilized on this song. LARS was never in my Top 5 Dylan songs, but today I appreciate it more than ever, and recognize its pivotal role in the music and culture of 65 and beyond. Cheers and thanks so much for insights.

[@michaelgao8621]

Hi Robert, do you actually use GarageBand? I use GarageBand as much as often when I do Acoustic Guitar, drums and Electric Rock Guitar.

[@RobertCassard]

It looks like GarageBand, but it’s Logic Pro, GB’s big brother!

[@benkelly415]

Are you sure that is a Sus4 chord that Blomfield is playing before and after each chorus? I think it is a Sus2 chord? Nice video really enjoyed it.

[@RobertCassard]

Absolutely correct Ben! Must not have been conscious of the words coming out of my mouth. Do as I do, not as I say…!

[@benkelly415]

Thanks Robert

[@benkelly415]

Can anyone tell me what the chord is the pianist is playing at 12.24 in this video? In the original song the lyric is “vacuum” when that chord is played.

[@RobertCassard]

Hey Ben, he's sort of "scooping" from a Dm7 to a Dm. It's part of the descending chord progression F, Em, Dm, C. I hope that helps.

[@benkelly415]

@@RobertCassard thanks Robert I’m trying to learn this song and incorporate some of the more non-standard parts/chords that really contribute to the whole song

[@pamelabrown202]

I play this C-dm7-C-F-G-G7 sometimes to incorporate some of Bloomfield’s fills.

[@GingerWaters]

According YT-documentaries, Marianne Faithfull’s life, after Rolling Stones years, led her to the street life.

[@RobertCassard]

That’s sad to hear… she had such a cool sound.

[@GingerWaters]

Well, somebody taught her how to live on the streets, and she survived back to concert stages. Buy the way, I was just noodling around the intro. The chords goes: C, Csus, C,Csus… May be it’s hidden prayer call or something. I left wellpayed job in maritime industry 2015, and started to survive on the streets with acoustic guitar at 2017. Because I wanted to know how does it feel, if you make it on your own… …and not a one night I went sleep cold or hungry.. …and once covid started, the collection of different mystery tramps guided me to abandonned house, in which I could start gardening and transcribing more complicated music than in the parks, or caves, or tents, or squats.

[@RobertCassard]

@@GingerWaters your street life must have been an interesting experience, it sounds like your positivity attracted the right guidance. I had a similar experience when I spent a month in a string of jails while being extradited from one state to another. The whole time, I just reminded myself to make the best of every situation. While in a federal facility for 10 days, I auditioned my way into the inmates’ music class just so I could have access to a guitar. The music teacher and warden had been hoping to record a CD of the class choir for all inmates to send home to loved ones. We were granted privileges to rehearse as much as we wanted (felt like a miracle). A guy nicknamed Billy Blue and I even wrote a pair of original songs. As fate would have it, we recorded the whole CD on a Sunday. On Monday, they shipped me off to the next jail. After my case was ultimately dismissed, I went back to the jail to get a copy of the CD. I still have it!

[@ScarecrowsDream1977]

When you got nothing...

[@BobbyGeneric145]

Where did he get these stems?

[@RobertCassard]

This particular set of stems is from the publicly released album I mention in the video.

[@BobbyGeneric145]

@@RobertCassard thanks, Id love to sample that organ on my sp404mk2!

[@IsisMusic]

I love your video but I really don´t understand when you are saying the muscians can´t follow the tune. It´s all in a C major scale. How can they not know?

[@RobertCassard]

It’s because Dylan was working it out with each take. They weren’t sure how long he’d hold certain chords.

[@snazz2]

Perfection can be seriously boring, there are many thousands of old songs, that if dissected should never have made it to vinyl

[@RobertCassard]

Agreed, Steve! It’s a vital lesson for musicians who’ve grown up in the digital, grid-based 🌎 world. The emotional POWER of rawness and imperfection. Life isn’t perfect, why should music be?

[@IsisMusic]

Its so funny he made song out of just playing the whole C major scale: C Dm Em F G (no Am and B but pretty simple to get if you are a musician)

[@RobertCassard]

Interesting that more songwriters haven’t climbed and descended the scale like that…

[@adolfo695]

Bla.. Bla... Bla...

[@RobertCassard]

Sorry you didn’t enjoy this, @adolfo695. There are many more videos on my channel for you not to enjoy. 😉

[@IsisMusic]

Stick to analyze the music, not the lyrics. The lyrics are for everyone. Noone can say what its about

[@RobertCassard]

I always try to look at the source and circumstances….

[@pamelabrown202]

He’s entitled to his own opinion and he mentioned several interpretations.

[@cbrend22]

No, not even a good song and he can’t sing a lick. Most overrrartist of all time..appeals to pretentious types who think they’re deep and artistic.

[@RobertCassard]

You inadvertently coined a new term by saying he's the most "overrrartist" of all time. Of coursem I knew what you meant. At one time, I wasn't so far from your opinion. I always liked Dylan's songs, but didn't appreciate him as a singer and interpreter of his own stuff. Pretentions will only carry people so far in their love of an artist. Why do you think so many people are such big fans? Why do you think his 600-song catalog sold for somewhere between $300 and $400 million? If your theory holds, there must be a LOT of pretentious people out there!

[@darylboggs2917]

@@RobertCassard Robert, I rate you very high at thinking inside the box. I would suggest you get out of that but you probably never will and do not even know what that means.

[@RobertCassard]

@@darylboggs2917 Whether in or outside the box, I only wish my own music were a small fraction as popular as Dylan's. I wish the same for you!

[@jacklincoln7786]

The F note. Thank you

[@RobertCassard]

YES. The sus 4 in the melody - over and over. The ache!