Virtual Memories Show 659:
Ron Rosenbaum
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“I’m always looking beyond the surface of the words to deeper meanings. Or sometimes shallower meanings.”
One of my fave writers, Ron Rosenbaum, returns to the show to celebrate his amazing new book, BOB DYLAN: Things Have Changed (A Kind Of Biography) (Melville House Press). We talk about how his lifetime fandom of Dylan led to this book, why he opted for a biographical meditation over strict biography, the week he spent with Dylan in the ’70s for a Playboy interview, what our response to Dylan’s songs say about us, and how he got over his sense of betrayal when Dylan joined a Jesus-cult for a few years. We get into his insight into Dylan’s Nobel acceptance and the Rosebud-moment therein, the question of theodicy (radical evil) and Dylan’s argument with God, Ron’s experience falling in love with someone to Dylan’s songs, and how Dylan’s post-Jesus songwriting methods became a reflection of his One-Mind consciousness. We also discuss authenticity vs. sincerity, the discontinuity of being, the impact of Salinger & Dylan on American language and outlook, Ron’s top 20-ish of Dylan’s songs, the 4+-hour movie Dylan made in the ’70s and how it may have led to his crack-up (and why Ron thinks it should be reissued), and more. Give it a listen! And go read BOB DYLAN: Things Have Changed!
“I probably wouldn’t have found my way so deep into his songs if they hadn’t found their way so deep into me.”
“I felt it was a badge of honor to be insulted by Dylan.”
“The combination of Salinger and Dylan changed American language.”
Enjoy the conversation! Then check out the archives for more great episodes!
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About our Guest
Ron Rosenbaum is the author of seven books, among them Explaining Hitler, A New York Times best seller, and The Shakespeare Wars, which Cynthia Ozick called “Electrifying — a spectacular book.” David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, called Rosenbaum “one of the most original journalists and writers of our time.” He’s been a Dylan fan since he was a teen and a guest here several times.
Listen to our 2013, 2014, and 2023 conversations.
Credits: This episode’s music is Fella by Hal Mayforth, used with permission from the artist. The conversation was recorded at an undisclosed location on a pair of Blue enCORE 200 microphones feeding into a Zoom PodTrak P4 digital recorder & interface. I recorded the intro and outro on a Heil PR-40 Dynamic Studio Recording Microphone feeding into a Zoom PodTrak P4. All processing and editing done in Adobe Audition CC. Nice photo of Ron by Nina Roberts; double-selfie by me. It’s on my instagram.