This study of Bob Dylan’s art employs a performance studies lens, exploring the distinctive ways he brings words and music to life on recordings, onstage, and onscreen. Chapters focus on the relationship of Dylan’s recorded performances to the historical bardic role, to the American popular song tradition, and to rock music culture. His uses of both stage and studio to shape his performances are explored, as are his forays into cinema. Special consideration is given to his vocal performances and to his use of particular personae as a performer. The full scope of Dylan’s body of work to date is situated in terms of the influences that have shaped his performances and the ways these performances have shaped contemporary popular music.

"This is a worthy addition to the ever-growing mountain of research on Dylan. Nainby (communication, California State Univ., Stanislaus) and Radosta (English, Milton High School) have drawn on a wide range of primary and secondary sources, including song lyrics (which they quote extensively), offering a nuanced, scholarly exploration of Dylan’s performance styles. Chapter 2, “Dylan and the Popular Song Tradition,” explores the amazing range of folk and popular songs with which Dylan is familiar. Chapter 3 jumps to the rock tradition with an analysis of his vocal gymnastics and complex lyrics. In chapter 4 the authors switch to the bardic tradition, observing that "as a performer, Bob Dylan often dons the mantle of the bard, the keeper of civilization’s stories and wisdom.” The authors often contrast Dylan's live performances and his recorded legacy, as songs and styles have come and gone in his repertoire over 60 years. In chapter 6 they observe that "a hallmark for fans of Dylan’s live performances is the knowledge that they are likely to hear an entirely different rendition of a song—likely all of them.” The discussion of Dylan’s films is particularly insightful. Including a lengthy bibliography and discography, this book is intended for academic readers rather than fans.



Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty." - CHOICE