Bob Dylan--Too much of a Woody Guthrie imitator?

Sure he went too far in his Woody worship, but to Dylan's credit, I think he figured that our pretty quickly. And once Bob moved on, he rarely looked back to the Guthrie influence.

By the way, I love Dylan's cover of "Pretty Boy Floyd" from 1988.

 

Maybe with his first few albums (IMO) but he quickly becaume a unique artist with some true classics

 

I read a quote from one of Guthrie family (woody's wife?) in which she said that she wished Bob hadn't coppied Woody's vocal drawl as the afffect was merely a byproduct of the Huntington's Disease Woody suffered from later in his career.

 

...he was just idolizing him IMO...and carrying on his tradition...after all, he lets us all know on the first album with his Song To Woody of his true feeling for Woody...I don't believe he was hiding anything...he sure blossomed into an amazing songwriter.

 

I don't know...he listening to Woody's early recordings long before his disease set in.

 

Yep--we never sang these verses in my elementary school music class!

 

Have you seen No Direction home yet, Steve? They talk about Dylan meeting him at great length in that doc. It's no secret.

 

Someone like Dylan has an enormously powerful imagination. It's to be expected he would begin by living out a fantasy, in this case one 'embodied' by Guthrie. Of course his own unique interior life soon took dominance.

I'm familiar with those "This Land Is Your Land" lyrics and think of them from time to time.

 

As with the Beatles, it's good to be reminded that these giants of the 60s didn't just come out of nowhere.

 

Almost, but his own considerable talent came through and he developed a "Dylan" style. The comparison sure takes the heat off Donovan for being "too Dylan" in his early years.

 

I think lots of musicians have gone further in their Dylan worship than Dylan did in his Guthrie worship.

 

Hi SH,

Nope. If Bob had been more Woody like he would have never plugged in, turned on, and dropped out.

Take care,
Jeffrey

 

I guess the subtext for this is are questions regarding the "Authenticity" of Mr. Zimmerman. The guy's smart---real smart. He knows all about creating an image---then changing it and then changing it again. After that, he sold copies of his playbook to Elvis Costello and Madonna (two other artists where even the name is made up and then supposed to impress you). Like the man said "I like to think of myself as a 'Song and Dance' man", and he is, of course. When Bob Dylan first emerged, he brought in a pre-existing image in order to create the aura of "Authenticity". After his debut, he crafted his image to reinforce that image of "Authenticity". But I do think he is a great songwriter, and will be remembered mainly for that gift.

 

Sorry, double post.

 

Are we supposed to be impressed by Costello or Madonna's names?

 

I first heard the "Dust Bowl Ballads" by Woody Guthrie in 1973. I borrowed a copy of the RCA Victor LP from the library, and when I listened to it the similarities of style between what Guthrie was doing in 1940 and what the early Dylan records were like was immediately striking. Too much of an imitator? I would say that if Dylan would have stuck to this style and not written all those brilliant songs, yes.

Early in his career, Sibelius was said to be heavily influenced by Tchaikovsky. That's probably true, but he also went on to write strikingly original music. Ernest Tubb started out as a Jimmie Rodgers imitator, and ended up (thanks partially to having his tonsils removed) as one of the most distinctive voices in Country Music history. He also (of course) wrote some excellent songs. Everyone great artist has to start somewhere, and it apparently doesn't hurt to have a hero to worship (and inspire one to greatness.)

 

If Bob Zimmerman had to imitate Woody Guthrie (and Ramblin' Jack Elliott) for a year in order to become Bob Dylan, that's okay by me.

 

I came from a civil rights background. I may not have read those extra lyrics, but I've heard those lyrics, and the lyrics of "Pastures of Plenty", "Do-Re Mi", and the lyrics of other "Woody Guthrie Imitators", like Pete Seeger, the Weavers and their progeny.

 

Early Beethoven was clearly influenced by Haydn. What the hell happened?

 

Well, maybe "impressed" is the wrong word, but...

Re-naming yourself "Elvis" in 1977 was nothing if not bold, no? It did get some attention, as I recall.

 

Silly me, all these years I've been impressed by their music without giving their names a second thought.

 

No, I don't think Dylan went too far with his Woody imitation. He was young and excited to meet his idol, so of course Woody's style rubbed off on him. Besides, this style helped him get attention in the folk clubs early in his career. It was also a very short part of it.

Not to threadcrap, but maybe a more interesting question would be has someone like Ramblin' Jack Elliott gone too far with his Woody imitation. He made a whole career out of it.

Steve