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    Chronicles: Volume One
    Chronicles: Volume One
    Chronicles: Volume One
    Audiobook (abridged)5 hours

    Chronicles: Volume One

    By Bob Dylan

    Narrated by Sean Penn

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    WINNER OF THE NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE

    The celebrated first memoir from arguably the most influential singer-songwriter in the country, Bob Dylan.

    “I’d come from a long ways off and had started a long ways down. But now destiny was about to manifest itself. I felt like it was looking right at me and nobody else.”

    So writes Bob Dylan in Chronicles: Volume One, his remarkable book exploring critical junctures in his life and career. Through Dylan’s eyes and open mind, we see Greenwich Village, circa 1961, when he first arrives in Manhattan. Dylan’s New York is a magical city of possibilities—smoky, nightlong parties; literary awakenings; transient loves and unbreakable friendships. Elegiac observations are punctuated by jabs of memories, penetrating and tough. With the book’s side trips to New Orleans, Woodstock, Minnesota, and points west, Chronicles: Volume One is an intimate and intensely personal recollection of extraordinary times.

    By turns revealing, poetical, passionate, and witty, Chronicles: Volume One is a mesmerizing window on Bob Dylan’s thoughts and influences. Dylan’s voice is distinctively American: generous of spirit, engaged, fanciful, and rhythmic. Utilizing his unparalleled gifts of storytelling and the exquisite expressiveness that are the hallmarks of his music, Bob Dylan turns Chronicles: Volume One into a poignant reflection on life, and the people and places that helped shape the man and the art.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateOct 5, 2004
    ISBN9780743544702
    Author

    Bob Dylan

    Bob Dylan has released thirty-nine studio albums, which collectively have sold over 125 million copies around the world. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature and has been awarded the French Legion of Honor, a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor. His memoir, Chronicles: Volume One, spent a year on the New York Times bestseller list.

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    Reviews for Chronicles

    4/5

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    • 5/5
      The narration by Sean Penn was brilliant and perfect to capture the essence of Dylan’s thoughts and emotions.
    • 3/5
      This book is an interesting look at Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan and I am looking forward to volumn two. Just one thing would have made it better and that would have been some photo's. I like my biographies to have at least a few, lets see a bit of the history you've made, please.
    • 5/5
      This book is poetry, literature, philosophy and a personal monologue all at once. This soliloquy is as deep as the center of the earth. Astonishingly, it is fresh and cool as a sea breeze. Reading this will clear up any doubts on legendary status of “Bob Dylan”.

      Some takeaways lines that will stay with me for a long time to come:

      "If I didn't exist, someone would have to have invented me"

      "He has an angelic voice, so good that it can redeem a lost soul"
    • 4/5
      Really interesting with lots of facets of Dylan's life. He was quite the family man and wasn't all that happy in Woodstock. Who knew he owned a sailboat and sailed the Caribbean with his family.
    • 3/5
      Well, I waited nearly twenty years to read Bob Dylan's so-called memoir, CHRONICLES: VOLUME ONE. (Was there ever a Volume Two?). I picked it up used at a Good Will store. Turns out I didn't miss anything, because he doesn't really tell you all that much that's very personal. Instead he gives you endless pages of (sometimes ungrammatical) purple prose filled with famous names he's met along the way. Indeed, it seems he has met nearly everyone who is anyone. And I have a pet peeve about the proper use of "lie" vs. "lay," and he consistently gets it wrong every time. I probably shouldn't be surprised, since one of his best songs, back around 1969 was "Lay Lady Lay" (and where are the commas?) from the NASHVILLE SKYLINE album. Turns out I don't mind poor grammar in a song lyric, but in a book? Like nails on a chalkboard. Here's the thing. I've been a Dylan fan for nearly sixty years, ever since my brother brought home his first LP. I have loved most of his many albums. Played BLONDE ON BLONDE nearly to death. So I was vastly disappointed by his recent coffee table book, THE PHILOSOPHY OF MODERN SONG, which seemed to me little more than a money-grubbing ripoff. CHRONICLES was, I believe, a more serious attempt at autobiography, but it's still pretty thin, and often exasperating. Here's a sample -"There was a missing person inside of myself and I needed to find him. Now and again I did try a few times, tried hard to force it. In nature there's a remedy for everything and that's where I'd usually go hunting for it. I'd find myself on a houseboat, a floating mobile home, hoping to hear a voice - crawling at slow speed - nosed up on a protective beach at night in the wilderness - moose, deer, bear around - the elusive timber wo!f not so far off, calm summer evenings listening to the call of the loon ... "I mean, huh? I'm sorry, Bob, but this is just awful stuff that gets quickly tiresome and left me skimming whole pages looking for something of real substance. Oddly, it wasn't until the final section, "River of Ice," that Dylan finally opened up just a little about his boyhood and beginnings as an unknown singer in New York City, and even gives a brief nod to his first girlfriend there, Suze Rotolo, who appeared with him on the cover of his FREEWHEELIN' album (and wrote her own memoir covering those years, which was, by the way, a much better book than this one).Dylan admits that he struggled in school, was not a very good student. I'm not surprised. Again, while I am a longtime admirer and fan of Bob Dylan as a singer-songwriter, as an 'author' he just does not shine. The Nobel Prize people should be embarrassed. Then again, maybe it's just me. After all, CHRONICLES was a monster bestseller and called "one of the best books of 2004" by numerous sources. Alas, for me, it was "just okay." (Sigh.)- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER
    • 2/5
      Holy moly. Turns out Dylan is a way better lyricist than author. So much meandering and so little actual information!
    • 3/5
      This book was published in 2004 and so far it is the only volume of Chronicles that I am aware of. Dylan has always told stories and one could never believe them, so I am pretty sure that even though he tells his story now he remains an unreliable narrator. Dylan's music was an important element of my musical interest, but his later material has only infrequently had my attention. Nevertheless, if I made a list of my 25 favorite albums of my life Dylan would have three, maybe even four albums in it. I think Blood on the Tracks is one of the best albums ever created by anyone. So Dylan's greatest work - does it get a mention here? Uh, no. But I coulda missed a clue somewhere. Some mysterious signs and portents somewhere.Dylan landed in New York City in the dead of winter when he was just 20 years old. That is where the Chronicles begins. Dylan tells a story like one of his songs. Reading this unusual memoir was easy and very interesting much of the time. It was also hard. Wikipedia etc became my friend. There is a lot of stuff missing here and at times the manner of telling is odd. He becomes incomprehensible to me at times when describing things like some new singing or musical technique. Is he flimflamming me the reader? He does not dwell on negative stuff other than the impact that being famous had on him trying to have a family life with an increasing number of children. and unnamed wives frequently referred to as "my wife" who I think was Sara in most early references. Who he seems to have adored. What happened? Never says. There is a lot of stuff about Dylan in here I never knew about, particularly concerning his long absences.His discussions and observations on things can be very interesting. Overall entertaining if a bit unsatisfying at times. Ultimately I was bothered by his slapdash handling of almost everything. For example he completely ignores the creation of his greatest albums. In fact he ignores the creation of a lot of things and when he does give one like the 'New Morning' album it is seriously lacking. For example, he discusses Charlie Daniels at some length and mentions Russ Kunkel on drums but he makes no mention of George Harrison being there and the recording of the most popular song from the album, "If Not For You". The song was ultimately re-recorded several times and the version with Harrison didn't come out until 1991 with the first Bootleg Series box set (a release of such great material that it revitalized my personal interest in Dylan's music and history).He does go into great detail over the creation of one of his albums. An entire (the longest) chapter, one of five, is spent in New Orleans with Daniel Lanois and the creation of an album I don't recall ever listening to: "Oh Mercy"The last chapter is perhaps the best one in the book. It should have been the first chapter, but that isn't how Dylan tells this story.
    • 3/5
      Pus a half star. I enjoyed the book more as I went along, and the more I read the better I liked the early parts. I enjoyed the voice of the author and either he kept diaries or he has a cutting memory or a lot of it is more poetry than autobiography. I think the writing is great and fits the subject. One thing is certain - he was very young when he hit New York and it gave me a feel for his toughness and vulnerability.
    • 4/5
      Bob Dylan is perhaps the best popular American songwriter/poet in the past century. Dylan, as he admits in this memoir/autobiography, was not the best student in high school, but he taught himself how to write by imitating the lyrical and musical work of the best folk artists of the day.

      Although Dylan is known for his social conscience, in this work, he eschews that he ever aspired to dabble in contemporary politics. He claims - over and over - that he only wanted to be a true folk artist. Although he was popularly known for running away from the public spotlight, he claims that the press forced him to live this life. In so doing, he claims his persona is false - or at the very least, misguided.

      Dylan would not be the first artist to claim that popularity hurt his/her life. I'm sure there is a solid nugget of truth in that claim. Nonetheless, Dylan appears to have nurtured this persona in his public portrayal of himself in pursuit of his artistic vision.

      Either way, Dylan's passion for songwriting comes through in this work. Most of this book dwells upon how Dylan's unique and brilliant style came about through the deep study of others' poetry and lyrics. Songwriters and poets will find it well worth the time to read, muse, and develop their own styles from Dylan's brilliance.
    • 3/5
      This is part memoir and part description of how he became the poet and singer we know him to be now. He describes how he came up with some of his songs, where and with whom he recorded them. He describes his travels around America and here he especially demonstrates his writing talent in the simple descriptions of trees in fall colours or vistas seen from an automobile or train.He outlines who were the important influences on his music with Woody Guthrie being the dominant force.
    • 4/5
      Each phrase comes at you from a ten-foot drop, scuttles across the road and then another one comes like a punch on the chin.

      So goes Dylan on the marvel of Pirate Jenny, the haunting number by Brecht/Weill in their Three Penny Opera. Apparently seeing this performed life indelibly changed Dylan's approach to songwriting. I bought myself G.W. Pabst's film version of TPO for this recent Christmas and I was absolutely riveted by Lotte Lenya's performance of the song, she's so cold , so decisive, much like Thomas Mann's Naphta. I was not a stranger to the song, having been moved for years by Nina Simone's rendition. My first encounter, however, happened years before when I was vacationing in Rome. Foot-sore, yet exhilarated, we had been walking all day and came across publicity posters for an Italian performer scheduled to play that evening the songs of Brecht/Weill in both German and Italian. For the life of me, I can't remember the name of the young woman -- but she owned the songs and all of us in attendance. One of the documentaries on the Three Penny Opera relates Brecht's penchant for appropriation, "he stole, but with genius." I've heard many similar references to Picasso and it is simply coincidence that Dylan next speaks of Guernica and Pablo P after his rumination on Pirate Jenny. How better could one loop the wonky arc of Chronicles than to situate the book (and its legion of complains of plagiarism) alongside such earlier masters of Love and Theft.
    • 3/5
      Chronicles Book One by Bob Dylan 2004 Simon and Schuster 3.8 / 5.0I have been a fan of Bob Dylan's lyrics and songs for decades. He has been the voice and inspiration for so many, and is greatly respected by many, very diverse people. I enjoyed the easy free flow of this memoir, the influence other musicians and people had on him and his respect for the roots and style of early folk musicians. It was surprising at times.From his own roots in Minnesota, playing the Purple Onion, to his move to New York in 1961. How he chose his "acting" name; why he chose family over career are pivotal moments in his life and discussed with surprising candor in this book. His move to Woodstock and the energy it took for him to have any privacy was amazing. The loss he felt when he injured his hand, and was in a cast up to his elbow and unable to play. The crossroads of his career, when Lonnie Johnson taught him a system of guitar playing that Dylan believes helped revitalize his career. He sailed the entire Caribbean with his family in a 63 ft sailboat. It's all here. Plus more.What strikes me most is how close he stayed to his roots in music and life, and it gives this book much depth. Dylan says he was put in the position of being a voice of his era, all he every really wanted was the privacy to raise his kids with his wife. Recommended.
    • 5/5
      You can tell by reading this book that Dylan is a great writer. With imagination and candor he takes us on a journey with him through his life.
    • 4/5
      Whether or not all of the facts are correct is irrelevant; this book was a good read and it was interesting to see how Zimmy set down his own legendary past in narrative form.
    • 3/5
      Well, my mistake, but this was an abridged version. I can imagine what was left out, but one never knows! I found the editorial choice to have the story told as a circle an unusual one. I might not have found it quite as disconcerting had I been reading a print version.Their were few calendar notes to orient the reader/listener to what music was happening when. Although he has been married at least twice, one would not know this from the book. Or, perhaps, the time line only covered one marriage. It may be none of my business, but hey, he brought it up!He left out his "born again" experience, though again, it may not have corresponded to the time period covered.Sean Penn was an inspired choice for the narrator. His voice is not Dylan's, but it has the right quality.
    • 4/5
      A fresh and refreshing account of some legendary times by the biggest legend of them all. Disarmingly peppy and slyly witty.
    • 4/5
      “Chronicles

      by Bob Dylan Read by Sean Penn
      ----------
      I thought this was a poignant read;
      I finished and enjoyed listening.

      But, bear in mind, it is primarily early Dylan and it's slightly "unorganized" (not strictly chronological)

      But it is called Volume I (isn't it?) and we travel primarily through early to mid 60's

      That being said, we get to the book's focus.
      We see his roots and the development of his unique style as we meet people and places that left an indelible imprint on him.
      We could be in Manhattan, New Orleans, Minnnesota.....
      There are tidbits to be gathered everywhere.

      His poetic, passionate style is reflective of an important period in American musical history.

      His storytelling is unparalleled...

      He's the "real deal"
    • 3/5
      Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It was interesting to read about Dylan - his background, his early life, and where he got his influences and muses from. My issue with this volume, is that it is out of order, and an inordinately large portion (1/5)of the book is written about the making of one album, "Oh Mercy". That happens in Chapter 4, totally out of chronological order with the other chapters, and frankly, completely out of place in this volume. I felt like it should be in Volume 3 or later at most! It is interesting, but it is also jarring in the disruption of the flow from the other chapters. But all-in-all, this was a cool book to read!
    • 5/5
      Deep cold winter days, deep dark summer nights.
    • 5/5
      Great, great book. Dylan doesn't cover what the gossip columnists want to hear, instead giving readers a glimpse into the way he thinks and feels.
    • 4/5
      Fantastic to find out from Dylan, in his own words, that he was always surprised by and rejected the messianic adulation of some of his listeners. He never felt himself to be some great liberal.
    • 4/5
      This is a really intimate book, it is clear that Dylan gives it everything he's got to make it as truly auto-biographical as possible. As you would expect from Dylan it is stunningly written and occasionally makes you stop just to admire his ability to write even in this format. One thing is for certain, if you like Dylan's music and haven't read this you are doing yourself an injustice. Finally this book is responsible for introducing me to the music of Woody Guthrie and that really isn't any bad thing!
    • 3/5
      Book club selection. Was a very disjointed account of Bob Dylan's life... reading this, you'd think he was the epitome of the family man, just a little drink now and then. It jumps from experience to experience ... not exactly a chronological chronicle.
    • 5/5
      My daughter had me buy this book at a thrift store for her son, who is interested in music, but not pursuing it very systematically. I discovered that in fact I already had a copy, but never read it. My observations, which are a bit different is my facination with his descriptions. He loves to describe places and there are excellent descriptions . He also adds interesting tidbits...too bad no index...the sad life of Robert E Lee's father who was disfigured by lye and ended up in the West Indies, a description of trains " I'd seen and heard trains from my earliest childhoodand the sight and sound of them always made me feel secure" (I can identify with this, a train running near my house). His description of living as a young child through World War II rang true to me, as I did too. "If you were born around this time you could feel the old world go and the new one beginning" .(Yes, yes..it was really like that).He refers to the radio as "the sountrack of my life".Then his descriptions of libraries. He devotes 12 pages to a personal library he visits (Library thingers....what effect is your library having on others that you do not even know about ?). There is even a wonderful description of the New York Public Library, Too bad there is no index to this book. Once Dylan became well known he met a lot of famous people and has interesting observations...Archibald MacLeich, John Wayne and of course Joan Baez and other musicians.Excellent, excellent, a book to dip into from time to time.
    • 3/5
      This book is rich with references and lesson in American history and pop culture and literature. Bob Dylan may not be formally educated, but his depth of knowledge is fascinating. From this book I learned that Bob Dylan is a down-to-earth man who, during his life and career, just wanted to play his music. Nothing more, nothing less. I also learned that Spike Lee's father was a professional bass player.
    • 2/5
      I love Bob Dylan. This is an amazing memoir, whether or not you're a big fan of the music.
    • 3/5
      enjoyed it. i think he dictated it in a series of interviews. it's fair to say just about anything dylan does is interesting. i liked the way little of it seemed to be about him and a lot about what was going on around him at the time. a gemini trait no doubt. wasn't really what i expected. for his life story you'll have to ask someone else, he's too busy living it to write it.
    • 5/5
      This is an excellent autobiographical chronicle of Bob Dylan's young life and early career. I found his prose to be enjoyable and extremely informative. The book reveals a Bob Dylan who was totally different from his “voice of a generation” image.
    • 4/5
      As I started this book I was wondering, "Why the buzz?" It seemed to be rambling nonsense. That sensation, however, did not last long. Suddenly it became a wonderfully chaotic chronicle of an incredible time in music and beyond. No straightforward timeline here. Dylan jumps around and skips a few steps, but in the end the insertion of the Oh Mercy sessions into the mix absolutely fits - and gives one a greater appreciation of his journey and that album. It is a magnificent reminder of his genius - and of his unique take on the world. If you are a Dylan fan, it is a must read.
    • 5/5
      It's the surreal tangents and the anecdotal glimpses into Dylan's humility that I most love in this book. The mini-essay on Thucydides that goes on for several pages, the observations on Machiavelli (and where he went wrong), and the description of how - during the recording of Oh Mercy - he worried that he was stretching producer Daniel Lanois' patience and asked him, "Are we still friends, Danny?"