Bob Dylan‘s first new book in 18 years, titled, The Philosophy Of Modern Song, will be published on November 8th, according to Rolling Stone. The new non-fiction work follows his 2004 autobiography, Chronicles: Volume One — but will not be the longg awaited second volume of memoirs, but instead will feature 60 essays featuring Dylan’s musings on other popular musicians — including Stephen Foster, Elvis Costello, Hank Williams, and Nina Simone. Dylan has been working on the manuscript for the past decade.
According to the book’s official press release:
Bob Dylan analyzes what he calls the trap of easy rhymes, breaks down how the addition of a single syllable can diminish a song, and even explains how bluegrass relates to heavy metal. These essays are written in Dylan’s unique prose. They are mysterious and mercurial, poignant and profound, and often laugh-out-loud funny.
And while they are ostensibly about music, they are really meditations and reflections on the human condition. Running throughout the book are nearly 150 carefully curated photos as well as a series of dream-like riffs that, taken together, resemble an epic poem and add to the work’s transcendence.
Jonathan Karp, the President and CEO of publishers Simon & Schuster said in a statement, “The publication of Bob Dylan’s kaleidoscopically brilliant work will be an international celebration of songs by one of the greatest artists of our time. The Philosophy Of Modern Song could only have been written by Bob Dylan. His voice is unique, and his work conveys his deep appreciation and understanding of songs, the people who bring those songs to life, and what songs mean to all of us.”
During a chat a while back with CBS’ 60 Minutes, Bob Dylan was asked why he continues to write, record, and tour: [“Well, it goes back to that destiny thing. Y’know, I made a bargain with it, y’know, a long time ago, to get where I am now. I’m holdin’ up my end.”] SOUNDUE (:11 OC: . . . up my end)
- Bob Dylan tour dates (subject to change):
March 10 – Irving, TX – Toyota Music Factory
March 11 – Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre
March 13, 14 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre
March 16 – Austin, TX – Bass Hall
March 18 – Shreveport, LA – Municipal Auditorium
March 19 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre
March 21 – Montgomery, AL – Montgomery PAC
March 23 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
March 24 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre
March 26 – Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theatre
March 27 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston PAC
March 29 – Columbia, SC – Township Auditorium
March 30 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
April 1 – Greensboro, NC – Steven Tanger Center
April 2 – Asheville, NC – Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
April 4 – Chattanooga, TN – Tivoli Theatre
April 5 – Birmingham, AL – BJCC Concert Hall
April 7 – Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre
April 9 – Memphis, TN – Orpheum Theatre
April 11 – Little Rock, AR – Robinson Center
April 13 – Tulsa, OK – Brady Theatre
April 14 – Oklahoma City, OK – Thelma Gaylor Performing Arts Theatre
TL: DR
- Bob Dylan‘s first new book in 18 years, titled, The Philosophy Of Modern Song, will be published on November 8th.
FAST FACTS
- In January, Sony Music Entertainment (SME) acquired Bob Dylan’s entire back catalog of recorded music, as well as the rights to multiple future new releases.
- The deal rumored to be worth up to $200 million, “comprises the entirety of Bob Dylan’s recorded body of work since 1962, beginning with the artist’s self-titled debut album and continuing through 2020’s highly acclaimed and successful Rough And Rowdy Ways.”
- The label will carry on with Dylan’s groundbreaking and celebrated Bootleg Series, which over the past 30 years has issued 16 historic vault releases.
- Back in 2020, Bob Dylan sold his entire music publishing catalogue to Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) for an estimated $300 million — although the tally could be as high as $400 million. The catalogue of over 600 songs spans a full 60 years up through Dylan’s most recent album, 2020’s Rough And Rowdy Ways.