Billy 4

The story behind

The piece Billy 4, with its duration of 5:03, emerges from the soundtrack that Bob Dylan composed for the film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. This production, released in 1973 by Columbia Records, includes not only incidental music but also vocal tracks that dialogue with the visual narrative. Dylan himself immersed himself in the film's universe by playing the character "Alias", which undoubtedly nourished the sonic atmosphere captured on the album. The music, largely instrumental, was conceived to complement the scenes, capturing the essence of the West portrayed in the film. The recording of this work was engineered by Dan Wallin, under the production of Gordon Carroll. The album, which also houses the transatlantic hit Knockin' on Heaven's Door, reached number 16 in the United States and 29 in the United Kingdom, achieving gold certification by the RIAA. The film's screenwriter, Rudy Wurlitzer, already knew Dylan and asked him to contribute some songs for the project. This is how Dylan presented the track Billy to director Sam Peckinpah, who was impressed. The music of Billy 4, like other pieces on the record, was created in the context of the filming, seeking to capture the atmosphere of the story.