Words & Music:
Bob Dylan
How many roads must a man walk down,
Before you call him a man?
Yes and how many seas must a white dove sail,
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes and how many times must cannonballs fly,
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind
How many times must a man look up,
Before he can see the sky?
How many ears must one man have,
Before he can hear people cry?
How many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind
How many years can a mountain exist,
Before it's washed to the seas (sea)
HOw many years can some people exist,
Before they're allowed to be free?
How many times can a man turn his head,
Pretend that he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Recordingdate: 1966/02- Early 67, first released on: Platinum - A Life in Music (album)
Musicians
Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Blowin' in the Wind:
(guitar)
(guitar)
(piano)
(piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
Availability
Find available albums with Blowin' in the Wind.
Another missed oppurtunity. This version is basically a waste with Elvis just singing the bass harmony. While he was recording Datin professionally , he was actually doing these songs at home on his own. So sad.
The Platinum box set was supposed to be the answer to The Beatles successful Anthology set. It was a release that was all over the map in terms of content & didn't come close to the Anthology's success. With songs like this on it, it is no wonder. Elvis meant this to be private and it should have been kept that way. Hard to listen to in more ways then one.
The best ever version of this song has to be the Stevie Wonder and Clarence Paul duet.
Elvis sang over a pre-recording. I wonder who came up with the arrangements. Elvis should have done a whole Dylan album, like Odetta already did.
I am definitely not a Bob Dylan fan and I have to say that I don't like this song. Elvis did this at home maybe once and it was recorded. As he must have been singing a lot of other songs too, just for the fun of it and being a singer. Does that mean we have to hear it all? And should it be on this list. I don't think so. Anyway, I am sure that IF he had made a real effort at the time it would have been much better than other versions.
Yes a private recording just for the completists, evidencing Elvis exercising his voice to see if he could hit the bass notes and add to his vocal repertoire and range. A recording done for a bit of home entertainment that would never have seen the light of day if he had lived on a few more years.
This longtime unreleased Elvis home recording was a truly great find and I've never skipped it. This is easily one of the very best folk songs that's ever been written and I'm so glad that Elvis sang all of the lyrics of it in this home recording and I'm also so glad that this home recorded performance was a serious one. Comedy wouldn't mix well with this song at all. Sure, it would have been even better if Elvis had recorded a proper studio version of it, but that just wasn't meant to be.
This isn't the only box set that was spoiled for me by private, home recordings. I hit the skip button when these assault my ears. Yes, I understand that there are fans out there who must hear every little musical snippet.
I don't engage in "what if." I find it a waste of time.
Then it was a time when I was eager to listen everything Elvis recorded, even everything anyone recorded to Elvis, anything! Those were the days my friend... By now I'm almost fully satisfied with his masters and some special recordings (for me). In case of many of the 70's material I choose the undubbed masters. So, after preaching (hehehe), I say I don't care much for this "Blowin'"
Without these private telaleases we would never know what he was doing at home or in the army to keep himself busy or to know what he liked. I think they should do a box set of home recordings.