It would prove to be Dylan’s magnum opus and, arguably, one
of the greatest rock and roll records of all time.

At 6:00, “Like A Rolling Stone” was nearly twice as long as the
average single, and its raw rock sound was way outside the
comfort zone of a label best known for artists like Andy Williams
and Johnny Mathis.        
        
        
        
        
        
         

Bob Dylan (Robert Allen Zimmerman) turned 85 on May 24th.
     

On July 9, 1962, folk singer Bob Dylan walked into a studio and
recorded the song that would make him a star: “Blowin’ In The
Wind.”

“This here ain’t no protest song or anything like that, ’cause I
don’t write no protest songs.” That was how Dylan introduced
one of the most eloquent protest songs ever written when he
first performed it
publicly. It was the spring of his first full year in New York City,
and he was onstage at Gerde’s Folk City in Greenwich Village,
talking about “Blowin’ In The Wind,” a song he claims to have
written in just 10 minutes.

Dylan’s recording of “Blowin’ In The Wind” would first be released
nearly a full year later, on his breakthrough album, The Freewheelin’
Bob Dylan.

Bob Dylan (84)

Bob Dylan (Robert Allen Zimmerman) turned 84 on May 24.

"Chattanooga Choo Choo" is a 1941 song that was written by
Mack Gordon and composed by Harry Warren. It was originally
recorded as a big band/swing tune by Glenn Miller and His
Orchestra and featured in the 1941 movie Sun Valley Serenade      
and received a gold record, presented by RCA Victor in 1942
(below) for sales of 1.2 million copies.  

(L to R) Paul Douglas, W. Wallace Early and Glenn Miller, February 10, 1942.        
    

Alton Glen "Glenn" Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944)

"Rock Around the Clock" was a Last-Minute Addition to
the recording session. 

On April 12, 1954, Bill Haley and His Comets recorded
“(We’re Gonna) Rock Around The Clock” at a Decca
recording session in New York City.

If rock and roll was a social and cultural revolution,
then “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around The Clock” was
its Declaration of Independence. And if Bill Haley
was not exactly the revolution’s Thomas Jefferson,
it may be fair to call him its John Hancock.

The song was chosen to play over the opening
credits of the film Blackboard Jungle, which is
how it became a pop sensation, selling a million
copies in a single month in the spring of 1955.

William (Bill) John Clifton Haley
(July 6, 1925 – February 9, 1981)