SONGWRITERS SERIES

Five essential albums

For an overview of Dylan's evolution as an artist, try these five albums. All are on Columbia Records.

April 4, 2004

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1. "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" 1963. Dylan's second album showcases his early blossoming as a songwriter. Highlights include and

2. "Bringing It All Back Home" 1965. He was still primarily a folk singer but making his move toward rock. Highlights include and "Love Minus Zero/No Limit."

3. "Highway 61 Revisited" 1965. This is widely hailed as one of the half-dozen most influential rock albums ever made, a collection in which Dylan almost single-handedly turns rock from a forum for youthful rebellion into a genuine art form. Highlights include and "Desolation Row."

4. "Time Out of Mind" 1997. It's hard to leave out a masterpiece such as "Blonde on Blonde" (1966) or a work with the confessional aura of "Blood on the Tracks" (1975), but this Grammy winner is essential because a mature Dylan looks back at some of the same questions he explored as a young man, and the differences are illuminating. Highlights include: "Not Dark Yet" and "Highlands."

5. "Love & Theft" 2001. This may be the first time since "Highway 61 Revisited" that the music in a Dylan album captures you before the words. It's a warm, witty celebration of rock's pop, country, folk and blues roots. Highlights include: "Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum" and "Summer Days."

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