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A nearly 60-year-old piece of music history has fetched a staggering $508,000 at auction. The original lyrics of Bob Dylan’s iconic song “Mr. Tambourine Man” were sold recently, marking an event that underscores the enduring significance of Dylan’s work in popular culture.
The auction took place through Julien’s Auctions, alongside various other items connected to the legendary artist. These included a signed oil painting and an array of original artworks that once belonged to the late journalist Al Aronowitz. Aronowitz is recognized not only for his contributions to music journalism but also for his pivotal role in introducing Dylan to The Beatles, as well as being the inaugural manager of The Velvet Underground. An original article by Aronowitz detailing his relationship with “Mr. Tambourine Man” was also part of the auction.
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Reflecting on a pivotal moment, Aronowitz recounted the night Dylan composed “Mr. Tambourine Man” at his home in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. He provided a vivid narrative of Dylan’s creative process, describing how the artist tapped away at a typewriter amid the smoky atmosphere, inspired by the music of Marvin Gaye playing in the background. “Bob got up from the typewriter each time the record finished to start it over,” Aronowitz recalled, creating a scene that captures the synergy of artistic inspiration and musical influence.
Aronowitz further noted the discarded drafts scattered in a wastebasket, revealing a glimpse into Dylan’s developmental process. He saved these crumpled pages, appreciating the beauty in their chaotic creativity. “I still have them somewhere,” he mentioned, underscoring the mixture of nostalgia and reverence for the artistic journey.
The auctioned lyrics included three distinct drafts across two pages of yellowed paper, showcasing the evolution of Dylan’s songwriting as he crafted what would become a timeless classic. These drafts were believed to originate from March 1964, giving fans insight into the early stages of the song’s development.
Dylan began performing “Mr. Tambourine Man” in private settings in 1964. It was formally recorded during a session on January 15, 1965, and subsequently featured as the opening track on Dylan’s fifth studio album, Bringing It All Back Home, released that April. While another track from the same album, “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” marked Dylan’s initial success on the Billboard Hot 100, “Mr. Tambourine Man” would achieve significant acclaim when The Byrds released their cover as their debut single, propelling it to the top of the charts.
The recent sale of the lyrics coincides with a broader resurgence of interest in Dylan’s legacy, amplified by the release of James Mangold’s biopic titled A Complete Unknown. This film has reinvigorated the public’s fascination with Dylan, contributing to a remarkable uptick in streaming activity for his music, with 11.6 million on-demand streams recorded in a single week post-release.
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