There is a lot of information included in this book. It is an excellent reference book to Bob Dylan's Albums. I enjoyed the behind the scenes more than all the technical information. I found if I read too much in one sitting everything blended together. This book is best enjoyed in small doses while listening. Enjoy

A mammoth undertaking, this second edition of The Bob Dylan Albums is a monumental reference for serious Dylan scholars and collectors, as well as for genre music aficionados.

While I grew up admiring Dylan’s talent and music, the sheer amount of detail in this volume was overwhelming to me as a “casual listener.” Other similar fans may likewise find it so. Additionally, some may question the author’s opinionated analyses of each album. However, overall the discussions, discography, and Dylan bibliography provided valuable and interesting information.

A very interesting, thorough, and detailed insight's of Bob Dylan's discographies. It's written chronologically, make it easier to pinpoint the evolution of his works. Recommended for all music fan to read!

THE BOB DYLAN ALBUMS: SECOND EDITION by author Anthony Varesi is a historical account of the recordings of Bob Dylan that includes a complete discography at the end of the book after having covered the legendary artist’s career in sections where each lists the period of time covered, and albums (studio, live, & previously unreleased or bootleg) that resulted from that particular time period.

Well put together in a way that combines biographical information with references to recording data, and done in a way that works well with listening to the recordings as they are being read, which with the majority of the recordings being available on Spotify, made it possible to create a playlist for each section, as this really made the information covered easier to absorb, and made me appreciate this book as an important reference source that I’ll want to keep on hand for future reading.

Bob Dylan, being an elusive figure, presents a challenge for anyone who endeavors to gain information on his life and career, and this is often complicated by misinformation given by the artist himself, who has been very successful in keeping much of his personal life protected, which after the experience he had in the mid-‘60s with the crazy threats and reactions from zealous fans objecting to his decision to “go electric” (something I’ll never completely understand) must have made him cautious and protective in the lives he & his family.

I really like this book, and something to be expected in such a book is that the opinion of the author is reflected in the dissemination of the material covered, which is true of this book, although I found myself in agreement with much in the description of the time periods and recordings within.

One thing that made me decide to put together the playlists to accompany this book was that the plethora of albums and compilations both live and studio make Dylan’s extensive career a challenge to piece together and comprehend – something that is no fault of the author as he’s done a solid job of putting together a valuable reference for fans of the artist himself, and an account of the impact Dylan’s presence has made on the history of music from the early years up to to the present time.

5 stars.

The Bob Dylan Albums
Second Edition
by Anthony Varesi
Pub Date 01 Nov 2022
Guernica Editions
Biographies & Memoirs | Entertainment


I am reviewing a copy of The Bob Dylan Albums through Guernica Editions and Netgalley:


Bob Dylan has a body of work he created that is unparalleled in popular music. As a songwriter and as a singer, Dylan expanded the boundaries for song. Anthony Varesi analyzes the massive Dylan canon through a detailed discussion of each of the artist’s officially released albums, in this substantially updated second edition.



The Bob Dylan Albums follow Bob Dylan's career chronologically from 1962’s Bob Dylan through to 2021’s Bootleg Series release Springtime in New York. All of Dylan’s studio albums, live albums, collections and archival releases are examined in the text and in the detailed, annotated, cross-referenced discography, as are Dylan’s notable soundtrack contributions, side projects and benefit concert appearances.


The Bob Dylan Thomas Albums explores the reoccurring themes in Dylan’s songs, the influence of other artists on Dylan’s music, and the ongoing relevance of Dylan’s work. In the process.


I give The Bob Dylan Thomas Albums five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

There hasn't been a more invaluable, informative and wholly entertaining book regarding Dylan's legendary recordings since...well, since the first edition of this essential contribution to the history of American music was introduced back in 2003.
-- The Minderbinder Review of Books: The Premiere Resource for the One-Sentence Book Review

A thorough guide to the recordings of Bob Dylan. I am going to come back to this guide as I listen through Dylan's recordings. If you are a limited Dylan fan looking for a helpful guide to a greater appreciation of his overall work, this resource will serve you well.

Great chronological layout of the man himselfs life. Detailed with no BS mixed in. Great for any music fan to add to their book collection.

An interesting in depth analysis of the albums of Bob Dylan, although I didn’t think it brought too much new thought to the vast Dylan oeuvre. Hardly surprising given the amount written on the subject.

A comprehensive and meticulously detailed tome that will delight Dylan fans and music aficionados alike. This is, without doubt, the go-to reference guide for an artist whose musical career has spanned six decades. It pays homage to one of the legendary greats – a talented musician/poet/singer-songwriter whose insightful, contemplative, rebellious, eye-opening lyrics are cross-generational and have the same appeal today as they did 60 years ago.

My digital edition didn’t contain images. There is, however, an accompanying 70-page discography!

My thanks to NetGalley and Guernica Editions for granting this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.