Michael Hacker has given us a beautiful piece of work on Bob Dylan. It is insightful and enhanced by how deeply personal it is. If you know a lot about Dylan it’s great but would also be a great starting point for someone with only a little knowledge.

What is Bob Dylan? If you are a Dylan nut like me or just just interested in Bob Dylan for what ever reason. This Podcast is a must listen. Michael has a very different look at the career of Dylan than anything I have come across in years. Like Michael, I stumbled onto Dylan in the early 70’s. Although I actually had heard more Dylan than I thought at the time. Yes I missed the very early Dylan but my than Girlfriend’s Uncle who was just a little older than I was at the time took me onto a very deep dive into Dylan’s work. I was hooked to say the least. This Series of Podcast cast takes you into a History if I may into Dylan. I have been listening for days and hopefully there is more to come. Great work Michael!

From my first concert in 1965 at 16 to seeing him over the years and awaiting a new show next month - I am listening to everything I can find This is wonderful… thank you so so much ! Obviously I know and appreciate the man a lot !

Both a pr-eye-mer and a primer, this series came at a most unique time in history-dedicated to an impossibly unique artist, laureate and entertainer that voices a love, a respect and an awe of the talent of an individual that himself has expressed he is no different than you or I. Thank you Michael & Associates

2020 was shaped up to be my “Year of Dylan.” Even before the zeitgeist defined itself by the events of the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter Movement, I found myself pulled towards Dylan. Clairvoyance or coincidence, it turned out to be a saving grace. It is no exaggeration to say that my yearlong obsession with Dylan was one of the few crutches that allowed me to limp across the 2020 finish line. This is not a new found obsession. Rather, in the spirit of Kierkegaard, I find myself returning to Dylan in an act of “repetition”. As a boy, I was obsessed with the protest songs and the 60’s albums where Dylan first “plugged in.” In my 20’s, I gravitated to some of Dylan’s more exotic material—such as “Desire.” Now in my 30’s, I’m immersed in everything he’s done since the return to the profane marked by “Infidels”. The World of Dylan is really a universe. I had my five albums, my Hohner Marine Band Harmonica, my houndstooth scarf and my fussed up hair and I thought the heaven’s spun around me. But now that I’ve taken a mature effort to understand the man, I realize I am staring into a blackhole. I’m not a fan. I’m an extraterrestrial who picked up Subterranean Homesick Blues on a radio station a million light years away. There are a lot of great Dylan podcasts out there, but Michael Hacker’s is the best I’ve heard. Hacker’s podcast places Dylan’s career in the larger context of musical and cultural history it is both a part of and has helped to shape. The unity of narrative and sequence of episodes raises the podcast to the heights of an “audio documentary”. Hacker manages to present his material in a way that is both objective and deeply personal by placing himself as a listener in the same larger historical and cultural context that he places Dylan. Hacker is profoundly aware of the influence of history and technology on our lives. Some of my favorite passages from the podcast come when he steps back to meditate on the implications our technology has on our ability to appreciate our cultural heritage and properly remember the events and artifacts that comprise our past. Probably the most endearing aspect of Hacker’s podcast is the charity he offers in his interpretation of Dylan’s work. A survey of Dylan podcasts shows that some of Dylan’s biggest fans are also some of his biggest critics. Hacker is never sycophantic or fawning in his treatment of Dylan. Rather, he seeks to break through the “screen memory”— hackneyed, boilerplate— interpretations of Dylan’s catalogue. He listens to every album with new ears as though he had never heard another person’s opinion. He provides wonderfully original interpretations of Dylan albums that have traditionally been dismissed by others. Hacker convincingly establishes a continuity to A career that is most often summarized as “disjointed” and referred to in phases and periods. Hacker is “revealing” where others interpret. He is interested in understanding Dylan’s music as personal and historical acts, not words or notes to be compared or analyzed. He allows Dylan’s work to speak for itself while simultaneously expressing his appreciation for how Dylan has influenced his own life in significant ways. Hacker opens each episode by asking: What is Bob Dylan? When the distinction between the artist and culture dissolves, the beauty of art reveals the truth of history. And perhaps, in some sense, this is what “Bob Dylan” is.

I came to this podcast with a great appreciation for Dylan’s iconic works, and I hoped to leave with more appreciation for his lesser known and under appreciated works. I was not let down. A truly terrific exploration of Dylan’s life and art, this podcast has me listening to Tempest, Street Legal, and Empire Burlesque for the first time. Can’t wait to keep going. Thank you!

Maybe, bringing it all back home refers to the last 4 songs. The album starts out full on band and finishes with the 4 more typical and basic guitar and singer songs?

Research is well done!

Such a well done show. Thoroughly enjoyed every episode.

Great subject, but also very well done. From audio quality to content. It does exactly what it sets out to, be a primer on an amazing artist.

Excellent podcast. Each episode built upon the previous one. My ears simply went along willingly with the flow of the host’s voice. Loads of background info regarding Dylan. Want music snippets? Make your own “music”. Pause. Go to YouTube, hear whatever song referred to in the episode. Get involved. Make this rare gem of an experience engaging. But don’t complain there’s no or very little song samples. A lean mean presentation is exactly what give these episodes muscles. Host speaks too fast for your liking? Well duh uh simply hit the speed clickie thingy and slow the speaking down. Or—concentrate. Focus. Rewind. Reheat. WANT to keep up. Allow yourself to be happily pulled forward with every morsel of Dylan historical tidbit. Dance with Havker. Sooooooo no music? Host speaks too fast? No excuse. This podcast is informative. Get in there & listen. Enjoy. Learn. And, yes, the host comes across as fanatically but that’s what makes the episodes work well. Hacker balances his respect and admiration for Bob Dylan fairly.

These programs are modest in their goals but splendid and informative in their execution. I only wish there were more material. The website and resources offered are excellent as well. I’ve loved Dylan for years but learnt so much. I would recommend this podcast to new fans and old.

I discovered this podcast in the midst of a last-minute (and first-ever) trip to the Woodstock area, which was every bit as magical as I knew it would be. After visiting some key locations, I needed to hear some background, and this fit the bill. Listen to it with your eyes closed and headphones on for best experience.

I guess he can’t play songs? The balance between discussion and music feels off, so I unsubscribed. Also, needs to tone done idolizing Bob. I love Dylan, but he’s put out as much so-so stuff as good stuff, more good stuff than great stuff. Still, the dozens of great songs are enough!

These are like drug fixes and it’s difficult to sustain the down periods. We need more Primer!

this is the best dylan podcast i’ve heard BY FAR. great for everyone from those who haven’t listened at all right through aficionados.

I came into this podcast knowing very little about Bob Dylan. I haven’t really understood his popularity or what makes him great. But I’ve listened to the first three episodes now, and my appreciation is growing. You’d be hard pressed to find a more knowledgeable Dylan fan than creator/narrator Michael Hacker. It’s fascinating to hear his perspective and insight into Dylan. The episodes are also full of detail about what was going on in the country and in music at each point in Dylan’s career adding important context to his story. This is a rich, thoughtful, first-rate podcast. I highly recommend it!

If you're curious about Bob Dylan (and who isn't?), this podcast will reward. Excellent research and narration by Michael Hacker, accompanied by top notch sound design - each episode highlights Dylan's incredible talent and complexity. Subscribe!

This was fascinating! I didn’t know what I didn’t know!

I’m sorry, this has such great promise, but I simply can’t keep up with the rapid, machine gun fire of the narrator. Disappointed

A first-rate first episode. If this episode is any indication, A Bob Dylan Primer podcast looks to be a winner. It's got a balanced dose of folksy, interesting history sprinkled with a good sense of humor. Having enjoyed this first podcast, I look forward to continuing my Dylan re-education on the next one, and the ones after that.

Episode one was fantastic. I can’t wait to hear more. I’ll also be heading to the website to donate!

I’ve only made it through the first episode thus far, but I’m happy to report that this is a well researched, linear introduction to Bob Dylan. There is something for the newbie and something for the fanatic, all bundled in very welcomed shorter episodes that don’t require hours of your time and focus. I look forward to the rest of the series.