Bob Dylan, explored
‹ Going Electric
Cover of Bringing It All Back Home

1965 · a landmark

Bringing It All Back Home

Going Electric · 1965–1966

Listen to the album

Why it matters

Dylan split the record into an electric side with a rock band and an acoustic side of long, image-packed songs. It was the first album where he plugged in, and it showed his writing moving from topical protest toward surreal, personal poetry.

Recorded in New York in January 1965 with Tom Wilson producing, this album took only a few sessions, with Dylan often teaching the band songs on the spot. One side features electric guitars, bass and drums, with guitarist Bruce Langhorne among the players; the other is mostly Dylan with acoustic guitar, joined by Langhorne's shimmering electric lines on "Mr. Tambourine Man". The electric songs are fast, funny and sly, drawing on Chuck Berry and the blues, while the acoustic side holds some of his longest and darkest visions of society and self. It was released in March 1965, and that summer the Byrds took "Mr. Tambourine Man" to the top of the charts, helping launch folk rock as a genre. The album drew a clear line under his protest years and set the stage for his electric set at Newport a few months later.

Track list · 11 songs

  1. 1Subterranean Homesick Blues
  2. 2She Belongs to Me
  3. 3Maggie's Farm
  4. 4Love Minus Zero/No Limit
  5. 5Outlaw Blues
  6. 6On the Road Again
  7. 7Bob Dylan's 115th Dream
  8. 8Mr. Tambourine Man
  9. 9Gates of Eden
  10. 10It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
  11. 11It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

Where its songs lead

She Belongs to Me · Covered byShe Belongs to MeRick Nelson · 1969Rick Nelson's 1969 country-rock version was his first chart single in years.Maggie's Farm · Borrowed the tune ofDown on Penny's FarmThe Bentley Boys · 1929Dylan modeled the song on the old farmhand's complaint Down on Penny's Farm.Maggie's Farm · Covered byMaggie's FarmRage Against the Machine · 2000Rage Against the Machine recorded a heavy version for their 2000 covers album Renegades.Mr. Tambourine Man · Covered byMr. Tambourine ManThe Byrds · 1965The Byrds took a shortened electric version of the song to number one in the US in 1965.It's All Over Now, Baby Blue · Covered byIt's All Over Now, Baby BlueJoan Baez · 1965Joan Baez recorded the song in the same year Dylan released it.It's All Over Now, Baby Blue · Covered byIt's All Over Now, Baby BlueThem · 1966Them, fronted by Van Morrison, released a recording of the song in 1966.

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