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Retrospective revisits Dylan’s 1965 blues construction
Observation Blogger published a June 26 retrospective on Bob Dylan’s “It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry,” recorded in 1965 and released on “Highway 61 Revisited.” The review frames the track as one of the album’s blues pieces and emphasizes how Dylan combined lines from older blues songs with his own writing. It also highlights the recorded arrangement, including Paul Griffin’s barrelhouse piano, Bobby Gregg’s shuffle feel, Harvey Brooks on bass, Mike Bloomfield on electric guitar, and Dylan’s closing harmonica.
Why it matters
The day’s Dylan signal is light, but the piece adds newly published interpretive context around a major mid-1960s recording.
Sources & driving stories
OBSERVATION BLOGGER
Observation Blogger coverageWorth noting
WORTH NOTING
Earlier Phantom Engineer version noted
The review points to “Phantom Engineer” as a faster earlier version with different lyrics, underscoring the song’s evolution before its “Highway 61 Revisited” release.
WORTH NOTING
Steely Dan title connection resurfaced
The article notes that a Dylan lyric from the song was later borrowed for Steely Dan’s 1972 debut album title, “Can’t Buy a Thrill.”
Still unclear
OPEN QUESTION
Is today’s Dylan coverage mostly archival?
The available signal contains a single retrospective review rather than new reporting on releases, performances, filings, or announcements.