Larry, Arlene, Ken, Jen, Sam, Scott, Joe, Liz, Bonnie, Vin, Sally, John, Bill, WendySue, and two new folks, Larry's neighbors Mary and Maureen were here to play the songs of BOB DYLAN.

1. You Belong to Me (Ken)

We did a slightly different version than the famous original by the Duprees (1962).

2. Quinn the Eskimo (Mighty Quinn) (Dan)

Manfred Mann had a hit with this in 1968.

3. It Ain't Me Babe (Dan)

This was a Turtles hit in 1965. An unusual version is one in which the English actor Sebastian Cabot (he played the butler, Mr. French, on TV in Family Affair) reads this as a poem as music plays in the background. My brother-in-law told me this was a subtle protest song against the war. "Babe" refers to the Johnson administration. "You say you're lookin' for someone.....to protect you and defend you, whether you are right or wrong.....Someone who would die for you and more." Dylan is saying, "I won't do that for you. I reject 'America right or wrong.'" For years I accepted this and thought it profound. However, I never heard anyone confirm his theory. Wikipedia says it's about his girlfriend, Suze Rotolo. Maybe my brother-in-law was mistaken.

4. Mr. Tambourine Man (Jen)

In 1965, the Byrds took this to Number One. Can anyone make sense of these trippy lyrics?

5. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (Dan)

I didn't remember Peter, Paul and Mary's Top Ten from 1963. We had the 45 of a group called The Wonder Who? doing this (1965). It was actually Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in a more uptempo and light-hearted version than Dylan or Peter, Paul and Mary. It was also in falsetto. I bet Dylan hated it.

6. Like a Rolling Stone, 1965 (Vin)

Very easy to play, but not easy to sing the verses as a group. If ever you find yourself in a talent contest wherein you are tasked to do a parody of a Dylan song, with all its unpleasant nasality (is this a real word?) and irregular phrasing, pick this one.

In 1991, I took a beginner piano class at Freeport H.S. Adult Ed. Then I met a young couple, through a friend from college, who had recently learned the guitar. In their basement, they had an honest-to-goodness drum kit, amplifiers and microphones. Occasionally, they'd have informal jams. The first time they invited me down and let me sing into a microphone, accompanied by electric guitars, I felt like a rock star. I was in seventh heaven. I immediately went out and bought an amplifier of my own, plus a microphone, mike stand and electric-piano stand. I had to get in on the thrill and try to contribute. I was able to clunkily pound out the C, F and G7 chords whenever they came around, and this was enough to get through a simplified version of Like A Rolling Stone, which we played at every session. It became our unofficial signature song, as Bad Moon Rising is for our group. These three people were crazy about Bob Dylan and taught me a number of his less popular songs, all of which I had overlooked. Dylan hasn't got the smooth, fluid voice of Jerry Vale or Bobby Vinton and can be difficult to enjoy, but my new friends helped me to see past that and appreciate his great skill as a song writer.

7. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere, 1971 (Vin)

With just three easy chords, G Am and C, this is a good song for people just starting out to practice and build confidence. Everyone, even those who never heard this song before, played it well and smoothly.

8. Make You Feel My Love, 1997 (Jen)

Never heard this one. Adele had success with this in 2008. It's pretty.

9. If Not For You (Ken)

This was my favorite song of the night. The G D C at the end of each line sounded terrific. I knew this as a George Harrison song years before I ever heard Dylan's version, but it was only Olivia Newton-John who released it as a single. It's so much fun to play.

As this was an abbreviated session, ending 45 minutes earlier than usual, two people got gypped out of their songs. Sally picked Blowin' in the Wind. Scott picked Tangled Up in Blue, a fabulous song not well-known. Maybe we can get them in at the start of the next session.

For the next time, we're going with Bonnie's theme pick: songs by The Mamas & the Papas. This short-lived group had a half-dozen Top Tens in 1966 and '67. The four of them harmonized beautifully and Cass Elliot sang like an angel. She's on my Top Five All-Time Favorite Female Voices list.

-- Dan.