"He Calls It Passion, I Call It Crazy" Engineer On Working With Bob Dylan

[@davidfinn3362]

Isn,t Mark Howard speaking about Daniel Lanois when he talks about passion, craziness, and anger at the start of this interview? In the incident mentioned Dylan is being laid-back and Lanois smashes a dobro. ‘He has a temper’ is talking about how Lanois lost it with Dylan, not vice versa. The banner heading is midleading.

[@Mooseman327]

Yes, he is talking about Lanois and yes, the banner heading is quite misleading. This guy didn't even listen to his own interview or he's click-baiting us. In either case, not a good look.

[@mjk45]

That's what confused me at first since I had read chronicles and Bob mentioning the smashed dobro and the trainee girl crying, but this made it seem like it was about angry Bob causing trouble, then when you watch the video you realise Mark is talking about Lanois and the heading is just clickbait.

[@cavewaller]

That’s what it sounded like to me too

[@OutOnTheTiles]

Yes he talking about Lanois. The title isn’t misleading at all.

[@user-nq9gz4xf7f]

Hey Daniel was being real and professional and he got a great record out of Bob ...one of his last greats. Give him credit. He had to get Bob's respect and attention. Bob is a weird cat but Daniel dealt with him to make a great record.

[@wonder6789]

Everybody always talks about Dylan as lyricist, which is totally justified, but for me he is an equally fantastic musician. There's an originality, depth and weatherworn melodic beauty to his music and voice (at least the first 15 years or so) that is a delight and which EVERYONE has tried to emulate in one way or another.

[@anotherjoshua]

if all artists were as crazy as dylan, the world would be overflowing with talent.

[@rogerwilliams5382]

Dylan crazy like a fox. I don't think Bob is concerned about others opinions. He's the greatest songwriter ever. Get over it!

[@Baci302]

Think of all the idiots Dylan's had to deal with throughout his career. Also, we don't know what transpired between the record company and Dylan about who was going to produce the album. Maybe Bob wanted someone else and the record company forced Lanois on him?

[@kiekko673]

@@Baci302 Can’t imagine that happening. I mean, he’s Bob Dylan and he sure as hell gets to choose, who will produce his album. Yes, the record company may have some suggestions, but they won’t force him to pick anyone. He’s the maestro. ✌️

[@BillMcGirr]

@@rogerwilliams5382 Townes VanZandt and John Prine have entered the chat.💬

[@bglrj]

My sister worked with Bob Dylan and said that although many other stars acted like they didn't want you around, he acted like he didn't want any human beings around whatsoever.

[@thomcarr7021]

What would a million+ people who wanted to meet him say ? I'd guess almost the same thing. Solitude keeps famous, creative artists sane.

[@mns8732]

Who could blame him?

[@ZootZinBootZ]

Reading Tarantula gives an epic description of what Bob would be like. Transparently obscure clarity.

[@gabyactualities]

Dylan didn’t write the times they are a-changing 10 years before it came out! That would mean he was 12 years old when he did. At that time he was busy studying for his Bar -Mitzva. Dylan is one of the best songwriters that ever lived. Not just lyrics, SONGS!

[@1DaTJo]

Well said. The sound guy is a bit annoying…

[@RobHollanderMusic]

Yes, Mark was off the mark on that one. And what he was suggesting was ludicrous even aside from the obvious fact you brought up; why try to deny that Dylan wouldn't write a topical song? He used to do it all the time.

[@ocan1033]

Little known fact .. While memorizing the Torah passages for his Bar Mitzvah, the young Zimmerman, in a trance-like state, also penned "Times They Are A-Changing" and, even more remarkably, "Tempest" (which he sat on for some 60 years before releasing on album of same name.) He cranked out some early metal work as well .. a welded miniature of the Titanic which helped inspire the latter songwriting effort. And he got a haircut.

[@ThomasSarantos]

I think he meant that he wrote that song a long time (i.e. ten years) before the times actually changed.

[@goodtimefolkrock]

dylan himself propagates many of these myths ....he once said that he wrote boots of spanish leather when he was 13 years old but everyone knows it was actually written about Suze Rotollo whom he dated in his greenwich village days circa 62 -64........dont blame the guy telling the story he only heard that from dylan's own mouth and he seems to not really be a big Dylan fan

[@Ian-bq7gp]

I luv Bob, a truly babacool geezer. What a great artist and he is brilliant with his fans and how he tolerates some jerks like some of the horrible journalists he had to put up with. I heard he was in India near Almora for a while when he disappeared after his bike accident . I spent a good few years there on and off since early 1994 to 2012 when we were stuck there in minus 15c in the worst winter in India in 200 years from before climate records began. He may have seen the old BSA M20 there or even ridden it when it ran. I was lucky it was running and I'm a big BSA fan having had a 1949 rigid A7 and a 1955 golden flash A10.

[@Baci302]

Thank you John and Mark. Another great interview. "Listen Up! Recording Music with Bob Dylan" by Mark Howard. I'm definitely going to buy this book. John, you're the best! Back in the 70s, you would've had your own TV show, showcasing new music and interviewing icons from the industry. If MTV or VH-1 were on their toes, they'd be offering you a gig.

[@TheWorld_2099]

Thank you for repeating the book title, it wasn’t mentioned at the top or end of the interview, and I was having a hard time finding it.

[@andrewSUN17]

Great Interview! I used to work with Mark and Daniel in the Los Angeles studio and it was always interesting and entertaining...great people!

[@SuperSoFlow]

It seems ole Bob liked testing people because he could get away with it. Rob Stoner has lived quite an interesting life, and has endless stories to tell.

[@1DaTJo]

If Dylan spent his time and attention pleasing everyone who wanted something from him, he’d be sucked dry and never get any work done. I think he just needs to keep people away from his personal space sometimes. I met him and did a show with him in Australia in the 80s and he was very kind and generous to me and to others around.

[@a2zme]

So, Bob Dylan doesn't like cheerleaders, eh?.. shocking developments! :) ps: Oh Mercy is an absolute masterpiece, IMO

[@insider_english1594]

so what's the story behind the final song of the recording 'Hearts Of Fire' sessions at Townhouse studios, London UK , August 17 & 27, 1986? "to fall in love with you"

[@bjsmith621]

@@insider_english1594 A beautiful track even in its unfinished state. Probably gives a good look into Bob's process. Or one of them, at least. Kinda like the "I'm Not There" of the 1980s. Bob can sing dummy/placeholder lyrics beautifully. Shows what a great singer he really is, how the performance is full of meaning even without literal meaning, not much at least, in the actual lyric. However much there was on paper for that one.

[@kevduff7416]

He’s bob dylan he can do what he wants the man’s a genius ffs

[@wworden3868]

Thanks again! Great listen. I was hanging with people near to Peter Himmelman, but we never got any nearer to Zimmy. Lucky to have seen half a dozen great shows over the years.

[@robertrosenberg8965]

Terrific story-teller! Thanks for sharing this interview

[@kirpalani-griffin3706]

A great story. Intriguing, lovely and inspiring. Thanks.

[@DarylBark]

Another great interview John, love listening to Mark tell his stories. Peace

[@garytrew2766]

Thank you John, very interesting interview. I like anyone who worked or had a Dylan experience. Happy new year to you and Shannon .

[@1DaTJo]

You might like the substack newsletter, Flagging Down the Double EEs by Ray Padgett. It’s all about people who have done concerts and recordings with Dylan over the years.

[@RickyConnelley]

Would loved to hear more of this interview! Made me subscribe!

[@stevea6307]

I ran into Mark's brother Chris outside Abbey Road studios in Oct. 2019 (the 50th anniversary of the release of the Beatles' Abbey Road). He struck up a conversation and it turns out that he and Mark had lived in my hometown of Hamilton, Ont., Canada. Very nice guy. I bought a copy of "Listen Up" from him. Great book, contains the Dylan stories recounted here plus many more about other artists. Highly recommended.

[@zyxmyk]

being a little crazy probably makes an artist better cause he makes different neural connections than most people which makes his stuff unexpected and therefore interesting. I liked this guy. Interesting stories. he doesn't sound like he's from down South.

[@bzalon]

He said that Bob went riding by himself. I wish you asked him if Bob really went on that motorcycle ride with his wife that he wrote about in Chronicles.

[@lostagain6518]

Good glove save ! Yup.

[@MrThermostatic]

I don't see why he couldn't have done both.

[@harima36]

It’s called creativity and don’t get in its way!

[@rede5426]

Sounds like lanois crazy and childish. breaking up a dobro. anyone with first understanding of dylan knows he prefers live and he views his best work in that setting. he is not a headphone, knob twiddler.

[@eximusic]

You don't need Daniel Lanois to record a great Dylan album.

[@littlewing6231]

Which he proved with Love and Theft and onward. 😎😃 I don’t like however how Bob has minimized Daniels involvement as producer on Time outta mind over the past 2 decades. I have hundreds of bootlegs and have been to 8 shows starting in 1986 so I love him but have been bothered by this because Daniels involvement with Oh Mercy resulted in his best overall album in the 80’s next to infidels had it been released with Foot of Pride and Blind Willie McTell and then Bob steadily went backwards til Time out of mind save for his two cover albums of blues standards almost 8 years later again thanks to Lanois involvement. Bob had great material on Oh Mercy and TOOM but without direction it wouldn’t of been the success had it not been for his production. Bob was an astute pupil as he went on to produce his own stuff after Time out of mind with great results having learned a lot from Daniels producing style. Bob should write more on Daniel if he ever gets around to releasing another volume of his Chronicles memoir because if you think Dylan deep down doesn’t credit him for steering him to brilliance since Time outta mind you would be fooling oneself.

[@sribaba5633]

All you have to know is that after Time Out Of Mind Bob Dylan used another producer on all his other records. A guy by the name of Jack Frost, who in my humble opinion, is one of the greatest producers in the last 23 years.

[@johnc206]

IIUC, that's Dylan, nipping at your nose.

[@peteormond3565]

Jack Frost is a pseudonym for Dylan himself

[@markaugustine2839]

The title of this video is misleading. It turns out the "passion/crazy" comment was in reference not to Dylan (as implied in the title) but to producer Daniel Lanois, who apparently -- for no good reason that I can discern from this interview -- smashed a valuable piece of musical equipment merely because he didn't like the way Dylan was strumming a guitar. Probably telling that Dylan never worked with Lanois again after Time Out of Mind.

[@GordonCaledonia]

Bob's great genius lies in his total and utter dedication to being the weirdest person ever in showbiz which is filled with copycats and hacks.

[@gavinnaylor786]

Dylan probably tests people because when you challenge someone they'll show you what they're really about. Those little games he was playing probably told him exactly who was there to serve his creative whims and who was there to direct a Bob Dylan album. Mark Howard followed him around trying to keep the mic on him and Lanois had a tantrum. Says it all really.

[@interested2119]

What a gem of a channel

[@philovance1940]

Apparently Dylan is like that. I’ve heard many stories of Dylan’s idiosyncrasies in the studio from David Bromberg, GE Smith, the Nashville Cats, Mike Bloomfield, Ron Wood The Band. I don’t remember any of them smashing a guitar out of frustration. Sounds like Dylan wasn’t impressed with Daniel Lanois’ resume and Dylan wanted him to know that. Sounds like a battle of egos. Personally ‘Oh Mercy’ is an album I rarely listen to.

[@sgommerable]

Mark is an amazing guy

[@dogfase515]

The album lanois did with willie,teatro sounds awesome

[@tracedehaven2190]

I wish more youtube creators would be mindful of keeping a consistent volume in their videos. I am hearing impaired and use headphones for everything. Most of the time the sin involves starting soft and then going loud (causing me to rush and turn the volume down). You started out strong, but then when you got to the interview, the volume was significantly lower, forcing me to reset the volume louder. The difference in volume between the content and the advertising can be very significant as well, but I know you can't control that.

[@scottjackson163]

Fascinating information.

[@converse1762]

Bobby can do whatever he wants to do.

[@Chesterton7]

Fascinating.

[@ahyaok100]

Bob Dylan deserves all the credit he gets but you know he has a reputation for testing people. Just because you're a genius in one area of life doesn't make you a genius at everything. It's not a necessary thing to do. Usually you'll get respect if you don't put up with people's nonsense.

[@alexknightma]

Thanks for a great interview!

[@fransbuijs808]

Can't blame him. Three grand pianos and only one stool?

[@thomasminarchickjr.7355]

I’m surprised nobody has slugged Lanois over the years. I’d never let him scream at me like that

[@mcnallyaar]

Great conversation! Thanks for the tidbit. Will Subscribe.

[@9921moo]

very interesting to hear about Bob and the video itself was light, nice`easy....very enjoyable.....thanks....Canada

[@subg8858]

He was clearly referring to Daniel Lanois when he said that quote

[@nozecone]

Could be that Dylan was just being a jerk - or it could be that he wants to find out if people will be honest with him or just suck up ... ? Lanois talks about, early on, walking up and taking away some guitar or amp that Dylan was insisting on using, but that he was finding intolerable. No small ego there, either, btw ... !

[@mjk45]

Yeah some Producers Like Bob Johnston set the sound and felt their job was basically to ensure that what came into the booth sounded good and left the music side to Bob and the musicians with the engineers in the middle, but the problem here especially early was Lanois was different and he had a compulsion to be part of the action and a need for the product to have his signature sound.

[@timothydrumm2846]

Bob Dylan influenced the BEATLES...

[@richieboy6825]

Thx sergeant obvious !

[@airmark02]

That's why Dylan eventually went electric... ( to influence the Beatles ) 😉😆😅🤣😂

[@OutOnTheTiles]

Happy New Year John. Keep up the great work. Cheers ✌️❤️🇨🇦

[@stevefaure415]

Great, great interview. These are some wonderful stories. Thanks!

[@chrissmurray255]

I've been a Bob Dylan fan for decades, and I love to hear these kinds of stories about him. So, he tests people around him - that's a way of finding out the best from the 'pretty good', and I reckon most of the top stars do that. And he can be an asshole too... can't everybody? I've subscribed to this channel, and I'm looking forward to more content like this. Keep up the good work.

[@stewartcohen-jones2949]

Oh Mercy is a gem of an album . The first time I could listen to a Dylan album from start to finish since Desire. It was a long wait but worth it. Dylan’s fear of being over produced is understandable but sometimes an overseeing eye knows best.

[@OldHenryLee]

If someone is the best at something why would anybody figure that person is normal or regular?? Love & Theft sounded GREAT, BTW 😉. ... - Thanks fellas. ... Interesting stuff 🙏👍😃

[@kilroyjones7786]

He's a perfectionist.

[@caseymcbridemusic8321]

Love Teatro!

[@danielricci8034]

First time I seen Rock History Music,Enjoy it Looking forward to seeing more interviews ,Happy New Year

[@joycefolsom130]

When did this happen? I don't think that Dylan even remembers this guy, and this day

[@tresero641]

Than, youloved it

[@patrickcavanagh9591]

You have worked with Dylan, breath it in.

[@zenhaelcero8481]

8:02 That bit about 'The Times' is fascinating.

[@jimshier2901]

Great stories!

[@jerryakbar6147]

I think that hair dye is crazy man.

[@no59do56]

Oh Mercy ??

[@mapp4751]

Its amazing that musicians of such stature would play such childish games?

[@nozecone]

Sounds like one of those people who wants to work with people who will stand up to him - and will push them until they do ... or don't.

[@stephenedgecock]

i bet you any money Dylan has no recollection of this dude... lol

[@benmeltzer]

No, in his autobiography Chronicles Vol. 1 Dylan writes extensively about the Oh Mercy recording experience.

[@eternallearner8185]

In his book Chronicles he did refer the this bloke with the Harley and that the bloke organised getting a Harley for him to ride during that time, Bob said it was a Panhead Harley but this feller states a later 66 Shovel Head, but then Bob is not known for historical or technical accuracy, he tells it as he likes to see it.

[@robertnewell5057]

Probably not, Benjamin's comment notwithstanding. In Chronicles (2004) Dylan mentions Mark on one occasion, as having gotten him a motorbike, but that's the lot in over 40 pages on Oh Mercy. The motorbike itself gets a fair few mentions, and Dylan is very positive about Lanois. Mark's track record as an engineer speaks for itself, though.

[@lucasoheyze4597]

Maybe, but my dad met Dylan briefly in Glasgow 1966 and had a short conversation and met him again in the early 2000s and Bob not only remembered him, he described the shirt my dad had been wearing.

[@martincvitkovich724]

When does Bob have time to ride?

[@margiesplace259]

Bob is a one take guy! If you have done any research on Dylan you would know that??

[@Anthony-hu3rj]

He mic'd Dylan up. Well.

[@zazzleman]

FFS patience. I would have walked out.

[@janetwebb1507]

. "Follow Me.. In n t Pied Piper"

[@kshepard52]

Mark's book is pretty good. But... Dylan wouldn't wear a helmet? Is this the same Bob Dylan who had that bad motorcycle accident in 1966? Couldn't be because Dylan the famous musician didn't actually have an accident in 1966. He claimed the sun off the windshield blinded him, but it doesn't happen that way on a bike, and once you've had a bad accident on a bike... you wear a helmet. Ask Gary Busy.

[@larsjorgan7964]

Good songwriter but never liked the look of the guy. Kinda slippery shifty mildly creepy looking. Hasn`t really improved with age, either.

[@Vampiracho]

Dylan is a talented shithead.

[@ili626]

No helmet? C’mon Bob!

[@deja75m]

Bob has admitted to being possessed by satan..he said he sold his soul to satan for fame..gee that sounds like most successful entertainers?

[@johnburman966]

It's funny how if you say for example he was behaving like a prick the whole world and his cousin will come down on you.....I used to be a believer...used to be...then I stopped. Cohen on the other hand until the day he died.

[@martinlawrence8427]

Fascinating insight...love both those albums, but The Big D sounds like a bit of a T**T!

[@mpista7182]

That's why he's an engineer not an artist, and maybe shoulda been a used car salesman

[@bebopkirby]

Heard so much about Dylan’s ways from other famous people over the years. He seems a bit like Lennon or Elvis. One minute a nice enough guy, the next a real nasty SOB.

[@Bob_Cats]

🤣🤣

[@zooksings]

The more l learn about Dylan and his behaviors the more l dislike him, and he rarely gets properly called out on it, including here.

[@readlots9983]

Great songs, but I think he's a jerk.

[@paulschnyder938]

I bet he’ll be worried about that.

[@timfoley6718]

anybody else notice that Josh Kranski lead singer from the band Greta Van Fleet looks just like young bob dylan

[@peterbustin2683]

Like a rolling stone...💩💩

[@deja75m]

Satan?

[@dw9034]

Bob Dylan...(yawn)...no thanks

[@tomstiel7576]

really ????

[@mjk45]

So why are you here.

[@paulschnyder938]

KC .....(yawn) ..... I’ll give it a miss

[@philovance1940]

That’s funny. I say the same thing about U2.

[@1DaTJo]

He doesn’t think much of you either.

[@pkpapers]

"Oh Mercy" was a crap album.

[@classygary]

Sort of a jumbled mix of not too bad tracks . I dig Political World and Broken cuz there movers Bells for the poetry but certainly not a great Lp especially next to the rest of his stuff . TOOM and Rough N Rowdy are very good Modern Times not bad Tempest basically abysmal production and performance wise

[@roberteckert]

Dylan is a punk… 3 chords ..horribly affected ego.