Bob Dylan - Murder Most Foul

Obviously during these dark days, there was little new music, the only solace from stripped down home concerts. But when we needed him, Bob Dylan stepped up, as he entered his 80th year, releasing his best song and album of the 21st Century (admittedly not the highest bar).

On March 27 as the virus raged, he suddenly posted on Youtube a new sprawling 16 minute epic, with  thanks for his fans' support.. An unexpected surprise, as Dylan had not released any original songs for eight years (just three standards albums).  And even better, it was superb !  

"Murder Most Foul" incorporates a host of shared cultural references, inviting comparisons to "American Pie" (or even Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire"), but also Walt Whitman's free verse poetry (pretty appropriate for a Nobel laureate).

The main focus is on President Kennedy's assassination in 1963, and he pulls no punches ("Being led to the slaughter like a sacrificial lamb"). Heart-broken, shocked and appalled, Dylan obviously endorses the conspiracy theories ("Greatest magic trick ever").

But this is just a jumping off point, as he invokes the DJ, Wolfman Jack,  with "American Pie" references to the Beatles ("they're gonna hold your hand"), Altamont and Woodstock. He see-saws back to Dallas, its traumatic impact on Dylan and the country ("The place where faith, hope, and charity died"), before widening his roll call to songs (NPR found over 70), performers, movie stars, gangsters and even Shakespeare. He even combines both themes, with Oswald's quote allied to an immortal country singer ("I’m just a patsy – like Patsy Cline"). 

There is a real joy for any Dylanologist in poring over the lyrics. "Wake Up Little Suzie", a clear Everlys reference, but is it also for 60s girlfriend Suzie Rotolo ? The more cryptic "Play it to Carl Wilson too / Looking far down Gower Avenue" refers to his backing vocals on a Warren Zevon track. Hours of fun during the lockdown.

The backing is low-key, but effective, guided by the piano, with dashes of strings and cymbals. Dylan sounds wonderful -  warm, solemn, sometimes speaking, sometimes crooning, often chilling.

"Murder Most Foul" was rapturously received, even giving him his first US number 1. The album "Rough and Rowdy Ways" followed shortly, equally acclaimed, and again containing multiple cultural references. Definitely one of his finest in the last 40 years (along with "Time Out of Mind" and "Oh Mercy").

I had always envisaged finishing my blog with all-time favourite "Hallelujah", but Bob Dylan provided an allegorical extravaganza to help us through the apocalypse.  A song we didn't know before the pandemic, but was my essential sound of the quarantine.

Hear Now -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NbQkyvbw18

Hear Next -  "Rough and Rowdy Ways"


** The book of "Song from a Quarantine" is now available  on all Amazon sites in paperback and ebook formats - https://tinyurl.com/y43mbr2b