How Bob Dylan’s ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ Revolutionized Music and Changed Culture Forever

The Not Old - Better Show

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show on radio and podcast, I’m your host, Paul Vogelzang. Today, we’re turning back the clock to the summer of 1965, a time when music wasn’t just entertainment—it was a revolution. A single song hit the airwaves on July 24th of that year and changed everything. That song, of course, is Bob Dylan’s ‘Like a Rolling Stone.’ Whether you remember hearing it for the first time or are discovering it today, there’s no denying its power and influence.

To help us dive into this groundbreaking moment in music history, we have a very special guest:Scott G. Shea. Scott is a leading music historian and author of the best-selling book, ‘All the Leaves Are Brown: How the Mamas Came Together and Broke Apart.’He’s here to share his insights on how ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ shattered conventions, pushed boundaries, and paved the way for the folk-rock movement in America. We’ll explore how this six-minute masterpiece managed to captivate a nation and why its impact still resonates nearly 60 years later.

Scott brings a wealth of knowledge not only as an author but also as a longtime radio producer, currently working onSiriusXM’s ‘Seize the Day’ with Gus Lloyd. His expertise will give us a unique perspective on why ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ was more than just a song—it was a cultural moment. So, sit back, relax, and let’s take a trip down memory lane to the time when Bob Dylan turned the music world on its head.”

My thanks to Scott Shea for all his work and expertise. You’ll find out more about Scott on our website via the links, but I love to talk to Scott because he’s a preserver and lover of vintage music from the 1940s through the 1990s. Scott will join us again soon. My thanks to the Smithsonian team for all they do to support the show. My thanks to you, our wonderful audience here on radio and podcast. My thanks to Executive Producer, Sam Heninger. Miranda Heninger our team admin we thank profusely for helping us stay on task! Please be well, be safe, and Let’s Talk About Better™. The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview series on radio and podcast, thanks everybody and we’ll see you next week.

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