Hard Rain & Slow Trains: Bob Dylan & Fellow Travelers Daniel Mackay

In October of 1963, Bob Dylan performed one of his great shows on the stage of one of the great venues, he finished recording his third album, he performed in concert halls in Pennsylvania and Michigan, he dueted with Joan Baez in Los Angeles, he wrote a poem to Baez, he gave two interviews, and he was publicly humiliated by a weekly national magazine in an article that would mark a pivot in how he interacted with both his audience and the press. Take a “Highway of Diamonds” back 60 years to the pivotal developments of Bob Dylan's professional life in October of 1963. In "20 Pounds of Headlines," we bring you news from the world of Bob Dylan, both in October of 1963 and in February of 2024. In "Who Did It Better?" we ask you to vote and tell us who did "Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right" better: Bob Dylan on the stage of Carnegie Hall on October 26, 1963 or Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers on that same Carnegie Hall stage 724 months later on February 26, 2024. Listen to the episode, then go to our Twitter page @RainTrains to vote!

In August and September of 1963, Bob Dylan began appearing as a special guest at Joan Baez concerts; he had three recording sessions for THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN', his third album; he sang before a quarter of a million people at the March for Jobs and Freedom in Washington, D.C.; he recorded more demos for his publisher M. Witmark and Songs; and he accepted Baez’s invitation to return with her to Carmel for a retreat away from the world and some time to compose new songs. In "20 Pounds of Headlines," we bring you news from the world of Bob Dylan, both in August and September of 1963 and in 2023. Happy new year, everyone!

In July of 1963, Bob Dylan traveled to Greenwood, Mississippi, final resting place of Robert Johnson, to perform at a Voter Registration Rally, traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico to perform for Columbia executives, and traveled to Minnesota to perform for friends, he recorded a television performance that would air the following month, but above all he performed at the Newport Folk Festival. He performed at Newport and, as Robert Shelton wrote, “he left a star.” Take a “Highway of Diamonds” back 60 years to the pivotal developments of Bob Dylan's professional life in July of 1963. In "20 Pounds of Headlines," we bring you news from the world of Bob Dylan, both in July of 1963 and in 2023. In "Who Did It Better?" we ask you to vote and tell us who did "Only a Pawn in the Game" better: Bob Dylan from the Newport Folk Festival in 1963 or Morrissey for his 2019 album California Son. Listen to the episode, then go to our Twitter page @RainTrains to vote!

In May and June of 1963, Bob Dylan performed his first concert in California (where he sang his first duet with Joan Baez), walked off the set of THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW, and finally saw his second album, which he had been working on for a year, appear in record stores. Take a “Highway of Diamonds” back 60 years to the pivotal developments of Bob Dylan's professional life in the late spring of 1963: May and June. In "20 Pounds of Headlines," we bring you news from the world of Bob Dylan, both in May and June of 1963 and in 2023, which includes the passing of two towering musical figures. In "Who Did It Better?" we ask you to vote and tell us who did "Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chancer" better: Bob Dylan from THE FREEWHEELIN' BOB DYLAN or Earl Scruggs. Listen to the episode, then go to our Twitter page @RainTrains to vote!

50 years ago, Bob Dylan recorded the soundtrack to PAT GARRETT & BILLY THE KID, helped some friends in the studio, including producing the only non-Bob Dylan album he ever produced, began rehearsing with The Band for an anticipated concert tour, signed with a new record label after 11 years with Columbia, and went into a studio and recorded his only studio album with The Band. All of this occurred against a changing cultural background that inaugurated the cultural decade of the Seventies. It's the golden anniversary of the birth of the Seventies, so we are pausing half-way through our own calendar year of 2023 to travel back 50 years to hear the music that Dylan was making and, in "20 Pounds of Headlines," to hear the news from the world of Bob Dylan as it was in 1973, as well as 2023. In "Who Did It Better?" we ask you to go to our Twitter page @RainTrains to vote for who did "Tough Mama" better: Bob Dylan and The Band in 1973 or the Jerry Garcia Band? Listen to the episode, then go to our Twitter page @RainTrains to vote!

In April of 1963, Bob Dylan showcased his own songs to his largest audience yet, he finished recording for his second album, and he returned to the stages of coffee houses and clubs…until he became too big for coffee houses and clubs. Take a “Highway of Diamonds” back 60 years to the pivotal developments of Bob Dylan's professional life in April of 1963...60 years ago to the month. This episode is exceptionally long (the longest ever) as it attempts to showcase Dylan’s repertoire in April of 1963 by selecting different performances from that month. In "20 Pounds of Headlines," we bring you news from the world of Bob Dylan, both in April of 1963 and in 2023. In "Who Did It Better?" we ask you to vote and tell us who did "Seven Curses" better: Bob Dylan on the stage of Town Hall on April 12, 1963 or Joan Baez accompanied with Bob Weir 60 years later in 2023. Listen to the episode, then go to our Twitter page @RainTrains to vote!