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Dylan Week: Bob Dylan Battles Callers On WBAI Radio In 1966
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 27, 2012
Modified May 27, 2012
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By
Ben Yakas
Published May 27, 2012
Modified May 27, 2012
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We've been celebrating Bob Dylan's 71st birthday with a series of posts this week. Because as mercurial as Dylan has always been, there is one thing we do know: for as long as Dylan has been writing songs, he has been writing to, for and about New York City.
So far, we've listed our favorite Dylan covers, looked at the Freewheelin' album cover art, explored songs written about Robert Zimmerman, seen how Dylan has been depicted in comic books, explored his love affair with NYC, and listed the worst Dylan covers ever.
We've taken a look at his New York life through video, songs, and story, and we've traced that story through a walking tour. We've flipped through the NY Times' back pages to highlight 14 vintage articles on Dylan from the 1960s and 1970s. And now, we'll listen to Dylan on the radio:
Bob Dylan became friends with Bob Fass in the early '60s, before Fass became a radio legend as the host of "Radio Unnameable" on WBAI in NY. Fass later recollected: “We went out to dinner in the Village and played poker at Dylan’s apartment over The Music Inn on W. 4th Street. When I started the show, he listened and occasionally I could squeeze a suggestion out of him. He turned me on to Lightnin' Hopkins.” In 1963, Dylan previewed Freewheelin' ont he show, and did comic improvs with Suze Rotolo and John Herald because he didn't want to take callers. Dylan was back on the show in January 1966, and this time he did take callers—and listening to the clips below, you can understand why he didn't want to the first time!
It's pretty hilarious (and sometimes a bit cringey) listening to Dylan deal sometimes patiently, sometimes not, with the array of bizarre callers. One man says he's on a "psychedelic trip"—Dylan responds, "I hope you get where you're going, and don't get robbed or anything on the way." Another person asks directly:
Mr. Dylan, I was just wondering why you all sit around there—and pardon me if this sounds nasty—sit around there putting down every phone caller, when in fact all you have to be is sweet lovable Bob Dylan and everyone will go crazy and ecstatic.
If you've ever wanted to hear Dylan sarcastically sneer, everybody's KIDS love me, then this is your chance. Here's our favorite exchange from the tapes:
Caller
: Mr. Dylan, I think your writing is real great, and you play the kazoo and guitar real great— Fass: The kazoo...? Caller: But it would be real greater if you could sing a little bit better. Dylan: ...I appreciate that. [laughter] Caller: You know what I mean? Dylan: I was looking for some good solid rock bottom foundational criticism, and that just sends it right in. Fass: Not everybody has the courage to tell Bob the truth. Dylan: Not everybody has the courage to sing like I do.
Here's an interview with fellow WBAI host Billy Faier in which he talks about what it was like interviewing Dylan. For some context: the same month that Dylan was battling with callers on WBAI in 1966, he was in the studio with The Hawks trying to record what would become Blonde On Blonde. Most of those sessions were scrapped, but one song survived: "Most Likely You'll Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine." Listen to a live version with The Band below.
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bob dylan
dylan week
Music
rock
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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