Bob Dylan’s 115th Voice
For the rest of the night we just kept asking, "what the hell was that voice?," and "what was that growth on his face?"
Bob Dylan happens to be a brilliant singer and it is his singing that affects people as much as his words. That is why his versions of his songs are more moving than other people's versions. Only a great singer can do that. And Dylan really can sing, and I'm going to use the most preposterous example as proof.
"Spanish Is The Loving Tongue" on the Dylan album. He hits the notes easily and effortlessly in what a lot of people believe is his "natural voice." The "Karen Wallace Tapes" recorded in May 1960 bear this out. It freaked me out totally first time I heard them and then saw the date. Singing old folk songs in the "Nashville Skyline" voice!! The only people who knew about that voice were people in Minneapolis and his mom. But in the more typical "Bob Dylan voice," say "One More Cup of Coffee." Just even try, try to do what he does with his voice on that track.
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