John Lennon – Dylan Period
The Beatles Unravelled #46
After discovering Dylan’s Freewheelin’ album, John Lennon’s songwriting included his “Dylan period” – John Lennon Dylan Period.
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Bob Dylan Influenced The Beatles
The Beatles discovered Bob Dylan during their three-week, 16 January to 4 February 1964, residency at the Olympia Theatre in Paris, France.
The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
A French DJ gave Paul a copy of Bob Dylan’s second album, The Freewheelin’. The Mop Tops loved the album and played it over and over. They also bought Dylan’s first album, Bob Dylan. In the Beatles Anthology book, John says, “I think that was the first time I ever heard Dylan at all”. ”And for the rest of our three weeks in Paris we didn’t stop playing it”. “We all went potty on Dylan”.
Released in mid-1963, Freewheelin’ is one of the most collectable albums of all time. This is because CBS withdrew the original release almost immediately. As a result, the re-released album had a different track listing. Instead of the original track-listing, Rocks and Gravel, Let Me Die in My Footsteps, Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Willie and Talkin’ John Birch Society Blues. The re-released album replaced these tracks with, Girl of the North Country, Masters of War, Bob Dylan’s Dream and Talking World War III Blues.
The album also introduced the seminal protest song, Blowin’ in the Wind, to an unsuspecting world.
The album’s front cover depicts Dylan and his girlfriend, Suze Rotolo, walking down West Fourth Street in New York.
Dylan came to the UK
Dylan played his first formal UK concert at The Royal Festival Hall, London. Reputedly, John Lennon sent a note to Dylan requesting a meeting. Sadly, this never happened.
This was not technically his live British debut. On 13 January 1963 he appeared in the BBC Radio play The Madhouse on Castle Street. During his brief stay in London he made the occasional impromptu appearance at a London folk club or two.
Moreover, the Beatles did get to meet Dylan on 28 August 1964. Famously, at this time, he introduced the Liverpool lads to the joys of herbal cigarettes.
During this time, the Beatles were halfway through their first American tour. They met Dylan at their hotel, after a gig at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in New York. In the words of Paul McCartney, “One thing that he did introduce us to was pot”.
John Lennon’s Dylan Period
John was particularly influenced by Dylan. Although there was no definitive start date, John referred to developing songwriting style as his “Dylan period”.
I’m A Loser on the Beatles for Sale album, was one of the first songs in this developing style.
As well as being influenced by Dylan, there was also another landmark in John’s songwriting development. John met Kenneth Allsop, a journalist and interviewer on BBC’s Tonight programme. When they met, Allsop encouraged John not to hide his true songwriting feelings behind “he loves her, she loves him” lyrics.
Allsop also suggested that he should write something more autobiographical, based on personal experience.
