Bob Dylan – Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues (Album Version)

The album version of “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” is a song by Bob Dylan. It was first released on the album Highway 61 Revisited in 1965.

Introduction

Bob Dylan – Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues is an album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on October 28, 1965 by Columbia Records.It was recorded during the sessions for the Highway 61 Revisited album and features several musicians who would later become members of The Band.

The album peaked at number 33 on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified a gold record by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Bob Dylan – Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues (Album Version)

Bob Dylan – Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues is a song from Bob Dylan’s fifth studio album, Highway 61 Revisited. The song was written in May 1965 and was inspired by an account of Mexican bandits Dylan heard on the radio. It was released as a single in August 1965 and peaked at number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has been covered by a number of artists, including Johnny Cash, who recorded it for his 1967 album, With His Hot and Blue Guitar.

Background and composition

According to Clinton Heylin’s book, Dylan wrote the song in mid-1965, inspired by an account of Mexican bandit and outlaw Jesus “Chucho” Lopez reading Edgar Allan Poe’s story “The Gold Bug” while on death row. The opening lines allude to Jack Kerouac’s On the Road.

Musically, the song is in 12/8 time with a slow shuffle beat. The playing is sparse (Dylan on harmonica and guitar, with Paul Griffin on electric piano) which highlights the harshness of the lyrics. Kevin J. H. Dettmar says that the effect is of a “down-home Robert Johnson”.

Dylan biographer Clinton Heylin describes “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” as “the most complex blues Dylan had written up to this point.”

Recording and release

Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues was recorded in New York City in May 1966, with Dylan and his band – Robbie Robertson (guitar), Garth Hudson (keyboards), Richard Manuel (piano), Rick Danko (bass) and Levon Helm (drums) – augmented by Al Kooper (organ) and Harold Blake (percussion).

The song was included on the album Highway 61 Revisited, released in August that year. The first single release was the live version from the Manchester Free Trade Hall concert, recorded on 17 May, which reached No. 33 in the UK singles chart in September. The studio recording of “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” was also released as a single in the US, peaking at No. 91 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Critical reception

Bob Dylan’s “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” was released as a single in 1966, and received mixed reviews from music critics. Some praised the song for its bluesy feel, while others found it too cynical and depressing. However, the song has since been acclaimed as one of Dylan’s best, and has been covered by numerous artists.

Conclusion

Dylan’s performance of “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” is electrifying, and the connection he makes with the audience is palpable. This is one of Dylan’s most popular live performances, and it’s easy to see why. His delivery is impassioned and intense, and the band is tight. The energy in the room is palpable, and Dylan is in top form. This is a must-see performance for any Bob Dylan fan.