Recorded in New York in the summer of 1965, Highway 61 Revisited was captured in just six days of sessions at Columbia’s Studio A. Dylan was at a creative peak, writing and rewriting on the spot, while the studio atmosphere was electric, chaotic, and full of improvisation. Producer Tom Wilson began the sessions, but Bob Johnston soon took over, giving Dylan more freedom to experiment, keep long takes, and trust the looseness of the musicians.
Several key players shaped the sound:
- Mike Bloomfield (guitar) – Dylan specifically asked for Bloomfield after hearing him with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Dylan told him: “I don’t want you to play any of that B.B. King stuff, just the raw blues.” Bloomfield’s fiery Telecaster lines became the album’s backbone.
- Al Kooper (organ) – Kooper wasn’t even supposed to be there. He showed up as a guest guitarist, but during the Like a Rolling Stone session he quietly sat down at the Hammond organ, despite not being an organ player. Dylan loved the accidental, off-beat swells he added and insisted they stay in the final mix.
- Harvey Brooks (bass) and Bobby Gregg (drums) – Their tight but flexible rhythm section kept Dylan’s often erratic cues grounded.
- Charlie McCoy (guitar on Desolation Row) – Visiting from Nashville, McCoy picked up a guitar in the studio and laid down the Spanish-tinged flourishes that give the closing track its haunting beauty. This chance contribution foreshadowed Dylan’s later pivot to Nashville for Blonde on Blonde.
Track by Track with Session Notes
1. Like a Rolling Stone
- Session anecdote: The song began as a rambling 20-page poem Dylan wrote after a period of frustration and creative block. He condensed it into lyrics and brought it to the studio. At first, they tried it as a waltz (!) before settling into the iconic rock backbeat. Kooper’s “unauthorized” organ playing became central—he wasn’t even plugged in during the first run, but by the time Dylan heard him faintly, he said: “Turn the organ up!”
2. Tombstone Blues
- Session anecdote: Dylan pushed the band to keep the tempo fast and relentless. Bloomfield later said: “I was sweating bullets. He just wanted more and more speed.” The surreal torrent of words demanded equally frenzied accompaniment, and the final take almost sounds on the edge of collapse—which is exactly what Dylan wanted.
3. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
- Session anecdote: Early takes were much faster and rockier, nicknamed “Phantom Engineer.” Dylan suddenly slowed it down mid-session, instructing the band to lean back into the groove. The result was a lazy, bluesy shuffle that fit his phrasing far better.
4. From a Buick 6
- Session anecdote: Recorded quickly, almost like a jam. Johnston later recalled Dylan giving minimal instructions, just telling the band: “Play it like it’s breaking down.” That ragged quality, full of distortion and loose timing, was intentional.
5. Ballad of a Thin Man
- Session anecdote: Dylan was fed up with clueless reporters asking him what his songs “meant.” The song became a biting revenge piece against those who tried to intellectualize him. In the studio, Dylan kept emphasizing the sinister piano riff, saying: “Slower, slower — it has to crawl.”
6. Queen Jane Approximately
- Session anecdote: Unlike the harsher tracks, this one came together with a lighter touch. Kooper’s organ added a gentle cushion, while Bloomfield pulled back from his aggressive style. The sessions reveal Dylan in a rare cooperative mood, almost crooning compared to his snarling delivery elsewhere.
7. Highway 61 Revisited
- Session anecdote: The opening police whistle was Dylan’s idea, but it was Al Kooper who physically blew it into the microphone. Dylan reportedly laughed after the take, saying: “That’s it, leave it in.” It was a playful, irreverent touch that set the tone for the absurd vignettes that followed.
8. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
- Session anecdote: Recorded in multiple takes, Dylan kept altering his phrasing. Musicians later recalled him slumping in the vocal booth, tired but insistent on getting the weariness just right. The descending guitar/piano figure matches his drained delivery, and Dylan refused to do another “energetic” version.
9. Desolation Row
- Session anecdote: One of the few songs tracked fully acoustic. Dylan initially tried it with the electric band, but it didn’t work—the lyrics were too dense. When Charlie McCoy picked up a guitar and started weaving Spanish-style lines, Dylan’s face lit up and he immediately cut the acoustic take. This spontaneous decision gave the album its haunting, poetic finale.
Legacy and Studio Impact
The sessions for Highway 61 Revisited were as radical as the music itself: fast, improvised, and full of accidents that turned into brilliance. Dylan thrived in chaos, giving only cryptic directions to the band, but his instincts shaped one of the greatest rock albums ever recorded. Behind the scenes, it was less about polished perfection and more about capturing lightning in a bottle—something Dylan and Johnston achieved with extraordinary success.
Here are two solid resources that go deeper into the making and legacy of Highway 61 Revisited:
- Highway 61 Revisited – Wikipedia: A detailed overview of the album’s background, recording sessions, personnel, and critical reception. It also covers the historical context of Dylan’s shift from folk to electric rock.
- American Songwriter – Bob Dylan Recorded ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ in Under a Week, and It’s Been Thrilling Audiences for 60 Years: An anniversary feature that explores the fast-paced studio sessions, Al Kooper’s legendary accidental organ part, and how Dylan reshaped rock music with this record.
Here are two engaging video resources that offer vivid insight into the making of Highway 61 Revisited and its cultural legacy:
This short documentary explores Dylan’s origins in Hibbing, Minnesota, and journeys along the iconic Highway 61. It provides a great historical and musical context for the album and its symbolic title. YouTube
A more recent feature that revisits the album’s cultural impact and context, revisiting the transformative period when Dylan fully embraced electric rock. YouTube
Quick Overview of These Videos
| Video | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Tales of Rock ’N’ Roll: Highway 61 Revisited | Focuses on Dylan’s hometown, hometown influences, and the storied route that inspired the album’s name, blending archival footage with commentary. |
| Highway 61 Revisited – Bob Dylan: Episode 61 | Offers a retrospective look at Dylan’s artistic evolution, spotlighting the album’s role in redefining rock music and its electric sound. |