Bob And Friends

I just read Sean Wilentz's Bob Dylan In America.  Wilentz, a decent writer who sometimes lets his enthusiasms get the better of him, has come up with a quirky book.  Those looking for a survey of the singer's life or music, go elsewhere.  This work is more about moments in Dylan's long career that Wilentz strongly relates to. (With its lacunae it's somewhat reminiscent of Dylan's own Chronicles: Volume One.)

In fact, the book is only partly about Dylan--much of it deals with the "In America" concept.  Wilentz, an historian, sets up Dylan's career with a chapter on the Popular Front and another on the Beat Generation (and there are only eleven chapters).  Later sections often look back to his influences.  While some of this history is colorful, Wilentz is at his best when dealing directly with his subject.

The highlight of the book comes fairly early, in chapter three, when Dylan is making his transition from folkie hero to rock star.  Wilentz goes into Dylan's Halloween '64 performance at Phiharmonic Hall, which he personally witnessed.  It's riveting.  Wilentz's dad ran a bookstore in Greenwich Village at the time and was hooked into the world that welcomed Dylan to New York.  Wilentz was a kid then, but it's fascinating to hear the older man looking back to those days.

I know Dylan's early days have been written about extensively, but its too bad Wilentz didn't set his whole book then. "Bob Dylan In New York"--that's the title I'd like to see.