On this day (June 12) in 1965, Bob Dylan recorded “Like a Rolling Stone” in Columbia Records’ Studio A in New York City. When released as a single, the song was a hit for Dylan. However, its impact on the world of music far outweighs its initial chart success.
Videos by American Songwriter
Just over a month after recording the song, Dylan released “Like a Rolling Stone” backed with “Gates of Eden” as the first singles of his album Highway 61 Revisited. It was an international hit, reaching the top 10 in multiple counties, including Canada, Australia, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
[RELATED: For a Certain Someone: The Star Bob Dylan Wrote “Lay Lady Lay” For]
“Like a Rolling Stone” showed radio programmers and record executives that songs that didn’t fit the pop mold could be successful. At the time, singles rarely went over three minutes. At the same time, hit songs had fewer and more repetitive lyrics. Clocking in at more than six minutes with four longer-than-usual verses, Dylan’s first big hit flew in the face of pop music conventions and opened the doors for future artists to do the same.
One of the most memorable parts of “Like a Rolling Stone” is the Hammond organ riff, played by Al Kooper. At the time, Kooper was primarily a session guitarist. However, Dylan liked what he played on the Hammond, according to Songfacts. He would go on to be a session player on albums for the likes of The Rolling Stones and Rita Coolidge and form the group Blood, Sweat & Tears. Kooper also had a long career as a producer that included working on multiple Lynyrd Skynyrd albums. However, he says the organ part on “Like a Rolling Stone” is his finest musical accomplishment.
Bob Dylan’s Possible Inspirations for “Like a Rolling Stone”
The title of “Like a Rolling Stone” had nothing to do with The Rolling Stones. The now-legendary band released their self-titled debut album in 1964 in the United Kingdom. There’s a chance that Bob Dylan heard the band’s debut. However, he got his inspiration for the title from a much older source: Hank Williams’ song “Lost Highway.”
In the song, Williams sings, “I’m a rolling stone, all alone and lost.” Both Williams’ lyrics and Dylan’s title are plays on the old phrase, “A rolling stone gathers no moss.”
While there is no real evidence to support the theory, many believe that Dylan wrote “Like a Rolling Stone” about Edie Sedgwick. The two had a brief affair, and Sedgwick split her time between Dylan’s circle and Andy Warhol’s Factory artist collective. Those who subscribe to the theory believe lines like Ain’t it hard when you discover that / He really wasn’t where it’s at / After he took from you everything he could steal, are about Warhol.
Featured Image by Shutterstock
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.