ISIS MAGAZINE LIMITED

Woodstock Publications

by Dave Henderson (Black Book Company, 1999)

Paperback only, from Q/Mojo journalist Dave Henderson. Covers Dylan's career right up-to-date from the point of view of those who have crossed paths with Bob both professionally and otherwise. Plentiful illustrations of memorabilia and related items, quotes from many unexpected sources. Provides a fascinating view of Dylan's career via his interactions with colleagues in the business, friends, and others 

Edited by John Bauldie (Wanted Man 1993-1996)

The last remaining stocks ever of The Telegraph, the Wanted Man magazine lovingly assembled and edited by John Bauldie. Far too much to list, but each one is a book in its own right, usually exceeding 100 pages (mostly up to 150) with an amazing range of colour photos, with in depth features, analytical articles, big name interviews and much more.

by Greil Marcus (Faber & Faber, UK 2006)

Not just a study of a popular song & an historic era, but an examination of the heroic status of the American visionary artist. Marcus locates Dylan's six-minute masterwork in its fullest context, capturing the atmosphere of the recording studio in 1965 as musicians & technicians clustered around the mercurial genius at the height of his powers. Details of every one of 22 takes over 2 days, with studio outtake banter. Marcus shows how, "Like a Rolling Stone" is rooted in faraway American places & times, tracing the song's roots back to Robert Johnson & Hank Williams. "Like a Rolling Stone" never loses its essential quality, which is directly to challenge the listener: it remains a call to arms & a demand for a better world. 40 years later it is still revolutionary as will & idea, as an attack and an embrace.

by Patrick Humphries (Omnibus, 1995)

Patrick has been a regular writer on Dylan for many years in the mainstream and music press and has produced the Dylan volume in this Omnibus series. Billed as a CD guide to the music of Bob Dylan, it's based on the official releases. Patrick has gone back and listened to the CD's and reviews Dylan's career from that viewpoint, covering the entire released catalogue (including retrospective releases, live albums and compilations)

by ISIS editor Derek Barker

550 songs over 512-page, lavishly illustrated with 230 images.

 

ISIS is very pleased to be able to announce that Derek Barker’s book “The Songs He Didn’t Write: Bob Dylan Under The Influence” was voted as one of the ten best music books of 2009 by UNCUT.

Barker's book was also chosen as the third best music book of 2009 in Record Collector magazine.  “Songs...” was the only Dylan book to make either of the above charts.

 

Monumental chronicle of the songs which made Dylan tick and the ultimate Theme Time Radio Hour companion ... This marvellous exercise is testament to Barker’s dedication and knowledge of his subject ... revealing more about its illusive subject’s ways and workings than a shelf-load of variations and theories on the well-trodden story ... Indispensable. *****  Kris Needs – Record Collector

 

A well-researched, endlessly entertaining and Fascinating book **** Allan Jones – Uncut

 

Eighteen months in the making, “The Songs He Didn’t Write” contains detailed information about the 550 songs which Dylan has covered either in the studio or in concert from his early party gigs through to the present day.

Each entry catalogues when and where the song was performed, the year of the tour and the date and venue of the first and most recent performance. Also included is the background to the song, from whom Dylan might have learned it, and in most cases a short biography of the artist in question. Much more than just another Dylan book.  All Reviews

Reduced Prices

by Bob Dylan (Simon & Schuster, UK, 2004)

The only complete and up-to date-collection of Dylan’s lyrics from 1962 to 2001. The definitive collection of lyrics brought right up to date to 2001. Dylan himself has had hands-on involvement with this project and personally commissioned the cover. 610 pages, large format hardback. 

by C.P.Lee (Helter Skelter, 1998)

Subtitled Bob Dylan and the road to Manchester Free Trade Hall, C.P. explores the background to to Dylan's legendary 1966 show in Manchester now officially released, looking in depth at the show and the audience reaction through numerous concert goers. A fascinating insight into a part of history and an interesting overview of the phenomenon of the 1966 tour

by Clinton Heylin (Helter Skelter/Labour Of Love, 1999)

183 page paperback looking at the history of the song recorded by Dylan as 'The House Carpenter'. Tracing the history of the song through the ages and looking at how Dylan came to record the version he did. A lot about the song and less about Dylan, but nevertheless an insight into how a modern folk song comes about

edited by Jeff Bench and Ty Silkman ( Reynolds & Hearn, US 2008)

Covering Dylan's entire career, Rex Collections: Bob Dylan is an up-close portrait of the Garbo-esque superstar who has nevertheless been a constant target for some of the world's greatest photographers. Ranging from Dylan's first trips to London in the early sixties right up to the 2006 Katrina concert and the publicity surrounding the release of the acclaimed Modern Times, Rex Collections: Bob Dylan is an extraordinary record of Dylan's evolving public persona. As changeable as Dylan's music, Rex Collections: Bob Dylan presents some 200 different views of one the greatest cultural icons of the last fifty years. Rex Features is London’s no.1 picture library for the performing arts, and was a source for many colour pictures of Dylan in the 60's. 192 page large format hardback featuring 200 colour illustrations.

An American Journey 1956 - 1966 by Bob Dylan (Simon & Schuster, 2005)

Published to tie in with the Scorsese Documentary, described by the publisher as the highly collectable illustrated biography of Dylan's life during the 1950s and 60s. Created in association with Bob Dylan, crammed with features including rare photographs, facsimiles of handwritten lyrics and rare memorabilia. The text includes interviews with Dylan and his friends and fellow musicians to form a uniquely personal view of the greatest singer songwriter of his generation. A special bonus audio CD contains sixty minutes of early interviews and a rare performance. An altogether handsome slipcased hardback with over 100 photographs and illustrations, and is guaranteed to delight every Dylan fan’. 64 pages, slipcase edition only. 

by Barry Feinstein (Omnibus, 2009)

A collection of photographs by Barry Feinstein of Dylan, spanning performances, rehearsals, back-stage downtime, and various moments captured over ten years from 1964 to 1974.

Most of the shots are taken with Dylan unaware that the moment was being recorded, and gives a rare insight into the life of one of the most influential American singer-songwriters. Review

by Howard Sounes (Doubleday, 2001/2)

The much heralded new biography. New information with access to friends, family and neighbours. Many never before revealed aspects of Dylan’s personal and business life. Adds a great deal to previous biographies, concentrating less on musical associates and more on others. ‘An intimate portrait of the private individual’. 527 pages, with colour and b&w pictures

by Paul Williams (Omnibus, 1994)

The first volume of Paul's acclaimed writings on the music and performance of Bob Dylan. In depth analysis of Dylan's work on stage and in the studio. Out of print for some years in the UK, now available once again. Paul of course has written and talked extensively on Bob, having guested at two of our Conventions, and previously written extensively and interviewed Dylan in 1966 and 1979.

by Paul Williams (Omnibus, 1994)

Second volume, continuing where the first volume left off, now published in the UK as a large format paperback sister volume to the first. Subtitled 'The Middle Years', more extensive analysis, with more live performances to take into account from first hand experience.

by Jenny Ledeen (Peacebury Press, US, 1995)

US only paperback publication, 241 pages. A fairly academic volume, described by the author as a study of Bob Dylan's work from 1961 to 1967, comparing his use of enigma to teach ethics, and comparing him to Dante Aligheri and other poets. However, it raises some interesting points (describing Shelton for example as 'a treacherous witness and interpreter').

by Clinton Heylin

Who saw the future of rock and roll and called it Bruce Springsteen? Which great rock writer learned everything he needed to know from one record by Little Richard? And who called rock the "ultimate populist art form"? The reader can find the answers and the words themselves in this book - a treasury of rock and pop writing, from the early days of Elvis, through the pop boom of the Sixties, the punk explosion of the Seventies and the advent of stadium rock in the Eighties. The selection of British and American writing provides an overview of the major shifts of over 35 years of rock & roll. Part history, part literature, part reference, this book is a tribute to one of the great creative achievements of this century.

A Guide To Tarantula by Robin Witting (Exploding Rooster Books, 1995) Revised Edition

Described by one reviewer as a “Michelin Guide” to that most impenetrable of books, Dylan’s great unacknowledged masterpiece, Tarantula. Originally published in 1994 and revised and updated in 1995, “The Cracked Bells: A guide to Tarantula” (Revised Edition) is an excellent quality large-format A4, 185-page book by author and Tarantula obsessive Robin Witting. This outstanding piece of work – a feast for Tarantula buffs – has been out of stock for a number of years; this is your chance to grab one of the remaining copies before they all disappear.

Pocket Tarantula by Robin Witting (Exploding Rooster Books, 1996)

Originally published in 1996 and out of stock for a number of years, “The Meaning of an Orange: Pocket Tarantula” is a small A5-format, 60-page booklet by author and “Tarantula expert” Robin Witting. Robin describes this publication not as a “feast” (as was “The Cracked Bells”) but as a “packed lunch”. “The Meaning of an Orange” looks a “slices” of Dylan’s wonderful orange; amplifying aspects covered in “The Cracked Bells” as well as discussing fresh facets of Dylan work that have been revealed by Witting’s ongoing research in to “Tarantula”.

by Robin Witting (Exploding Rooster Books, 2005)

Nicely produced A5 booklet analysing the complex work that is Tarantula. "A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma - but perhaps Witting has found the key". 72 pages

A Guide To John Wesley Harding by Robin Witting (Exploding Rooster Books, 1997)

Robin has dug up new information regarding Tom Paine and The Wicked Messenger and also has managed to track down a lot of interesting facts on gunfighter Hardin, including a copy of an original newspaper report on the life and death of this notorious gunfighter. Apparently, after killing some 40 men Wes Hardin eventually fell foul of a somewhat shady lawman by the name of John Selman. Hardin met his fate in of all places the Acme Saloon, the headlines read: "Wes Hardin is Killed - This Noted Character Dies by John Selman's Pistol - The Fate Of All Bad Killers". 102 pages - A5

The Music That Influenced Bob Dylan

This fascinating programme tells the story of the music and artists that have influenced Bob Dylan throughout his career. Although his reputation as a songwriter stands supreme, Dylan has often covered tracks from vintage blues, folk and country performers or incorporated elements from them into his own material. Down The Tracks explores the lives and work of many of these artists and how Dylan interacted with them through archive performances. The DVD features the music of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Hank Williams, Mississippi John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davis, Leadbelly and more.

TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 95 MINS. APPROX. More Details

Bob Dylan-In performance is an analysis of Dylan’s music and behind the scenes stories from Rob Stoner. Evaluations from published Dylan experts Andrew Muir, Mike Marqusee and others.

The second DVD features full TV & Film performances of: 'Blowin' In The Wind', 'Man Of Constant Sorrow', 'Hollis Brown', 'Hurricane', 'Simple Twist Of Fate', 'Oh Sister', 'Serve Somebody', 'I Believe In You', 'When You Gonna Wake Up', 'My Back Pages', 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door', and 'Rainy Day Woman'. Please note: This second DVD from the set has already been released as Bob Dylan Live. More Details

20 YEARS OF ISIS

Due to the ongoing demand for the hardback edition of the new ISIS Anthology "20 Years Of ISIS", we have made available a second batch/edition of hardback books. These will NOT, however, be part of the special limited edition collectors' release. Not signed and numbered.

20 YEARS OF ISIS

As the title suggests, this bumper 368-page book is published to celebrate the 20th anniversary of ISIS magazine (in September 2005) and has been compiled with a view to satisfying the needs of casual fans and Dylan obsessive alike.