From album
Blowin' in the Wind
Bob Dylan · 2022 · Track 12
Details
TonalidadF#
Compás4/4
Tempo109 BPM
Duración3:53
ÁlbumBlowin' in the Wind
Año2022
ISRCUSSM16501140
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The story behind
This song, *Positively 4th Street*, was a singular release that appeared right between two major albums by Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde. It did not end up being part of either of those works, despite having been recorded during the same sessions that produced the material for Highway 61 Revisited. The main recording took place in New York on July 29, 1965, being the last track addressed that day, after Dylan and the session musicians had already completed other songs like It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry. The song's title, curiously, does not appear anywhere in the lyrics, which has generated debate about who or what the mention of "4th Street" refers to.
The single went on sale on September 7, 1965, through Columbia Records. It was well received, reaching number 1 on the charts in Canada, number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and number 8 in the United Kingdom. The band that accompanied Dylan on this recording included Bobby Gregg on drums, Russ Savakus on bass, Frank Owens on piano, Al Kooper on organ, and Mike Bloomfield on guitar. The producer of the session was Bob Johnston. Despite its style being close to that of Highway 61 Revisited, it was decided to release it as a standalone single. There was even an initial pressing of 17,000 copies that came with a pressing error, featuring a version of Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? on the A-side. Critic Dave Marsh described it as a "chilling hipster put-down session," highlighting Dylan's sharpness. Later, this song would appear on compilations like Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits. Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell has mentioned that listening to Positively 4th Street was a revelation for her, showing her that one could write about anything in songs.
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