OBVIOUSLY 5 BELIEVERS

On my way to the office this morning, I was listening to Outlaw Country on my satellite radio. The first song I heard was Bob Dylan's Obviously 5 Believers. Now some people might think: What is Dylan doing on Outlaw Country? It makes perfect sense to me. Bob has always been an outlaw and he has played country music for a long time (see my post from Jan 4). 

In fact, if it wasn't for Bob, most modern country songs would sound like Mell Tillis wrote them. Without Dylan, there are no country songs by Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson, Robert Earl Keen or a host of others. Many a would-be country song writer would be asking: "Would you like fries with that order?"

Obviously 5 Believers is the last cut before the Sad-Eyed Lay of the Lowlands epic on the fourth side of the classic double album Blonde on Blonde. It is one of the hardest rocking songs on the album. 

The guitar talent of that mathematical genius Robbie Robertson is well demonstrated on this song. From the opening slash of Robbie's guitar, this song is propelled along by the excellent Nashville rhythm section of  Kenny Buttrey on drums and Joe South on bass. If any song on the album gives a hint of what was to come on the 66 World Tour, it is Obviously 5 Believers.

Hearing this song got my day off to a great start. If it is not on your playlist, it should be. Available on iTunes and from Amazon.