Access All Areas: Barbara Charone’s Baker’s Dozen | Page 3 of 14 | The Quietus

Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

2. Bob DylanBlonde On Blonde

I was a Dylan-holic, I absolutely love Dylan. I could have picked any one of eight albums, but I particularly loved Blonde On Blonde. I also loved the movie Don’t Look Back, Pennebaker’s documentary about his UK tour. I kind of knew it by heart, particularly the scene with a press conference. Dylan was so in control with the media, and that had a massive impact on me in terms of wanting to be a writer. I loved his lyrics. There have been a lot of great singer/songwriters since, but lyrically just the sheer breadth of what Dylan covered was like nothing else. I mean, for some reason when I was in university and had a few too many glasses of wine I used to recite all the lines to ‘It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)’ which has like, a million verses.

I never worked with Dylan, but once I was visiting Keith in a hotel and someone knocked on the door. I answered it and Dylan was standing there with a woman who was wearing a leopard skin pillbox hat. And I could hardly speak, because all I kept thinking in my head was that song.

PreviousNext Record

Don’t Miss The Quietus Digest

Start each weekend with our free email newsletter.

Help Support The Quietus in 2025

If you’ve read something you love on our site today, please consider becoming a tQ subscriber – our journalism is mostly funded this way. We’ve got some bonus perks waiting for you too.

Subscribe Now