[joveski]

i asked the question on dylanpool and these were some o0f the replies that dylan fans have:

1) bob was first

2) so many reasons, the border (and the amount of radio airplay) being prominent among them.
talent being another (love Gord, don't get me wrong, saw him three or four times in the 70's). asking why another singer/songwriter is not as famous as bob is like asking
why another soccer player isn't as famous as Pele, or why another boxer isn't as famous as ali.
popular culture is a fickle whore. no explaining why the Tragically Hip aren't a monster band either.

3) Bob Dylan was an American in the middle of the action. He wrote protest songs that were covered by famous groups and he was right there at the march on
Washington, etc. When he went electric, he WAS the action.

During the most explosive phase of his career, Dylan was seen as a rebellious rocker. In those days, that translated into mass appeal.

Since that era, Dylan's music has covered a lot of territory. Even if it hasn't always worked, he's been bringing in new fans elements just as old ones have dropped off.
And don't forget the voice, which brought him so much attention, not always for the right reasons. Lots of people hated him at first, but somewhere along the line, it just
clicked. Perhaps that's also increased his popularity - as an aquired taste, people have had to put in more work to like him and therefore are less likely to let go.

Gordon Lightfoot is, of course, brilliant. He's an incredible songwriter and, when his voice was in its prime, it was one of the great voices of twentieth-century popular
music.

But, by nature, he's much more unassuming (I don't want to get into Canadian stereotypes here). He's a cautious writer and performer who obviously values comfort of
surroundings and styles. He's a craftsman. He's not rebellious and he doesn't "rock" (a few songs on Salute were as close as he got).

One of the most common complaints about Lightfoot is that it all sounds the same. While there's nothing wrong with staying in a certain vein and doing it exceptionally
well, it doesn't translate into massive audiences over a long time.

Around the time of Sundown, Lightfoot had hits and could have gone with much larger halls, but probably never gave it much thought.

By inclination, and by style, mass popularity across generations was never in the cards for Gordon Lightfoot. So what's he left with? Critical respect, a decent-sized and
passionate following, solid album sales and concert attendance, and the commensurate financial remuneration.

4) This reminds me of Dylan's quote about Randy Newman--he's a good songwriter but he's not gonna knock you out from the first row or something like that.
Dylan's appeal to me is undefineable. If it was just the voice, then why doesn't that voice make me enjoy hearing weak songs like Man Gave Names.... or whatever ? If
it's just the songs then why do I not like hearing other people's versions ? I can't explain exactly what it is.
Really though it's no different than me wondering how so many more people can like Aerosmith or Garth Brooks or whoever instead of Bob. Who cares ? Everybody can
listen to whatever they want, it's no big deal.
Gordon has has lots of acclaim, he ain't hurting for attention I don't think.

5) I love both artists... but I'll sum it up like this... Bob has more depth in his catalog. I have Biograph and Songbook (Gordon's Box Set) and the range of styles on Biograph
stretches a lot farther than Lightfoot's. I know that both sets are small snapshots of their expansive career. Not that Lightfoot's stuff is bad, it just isn't on the same level,
and I think you can only compare acoustic work. Bob is definitely a bit more rockin'...

6) Three-Chord Gord, as he's known

7) God knows I love Gordie - I've met him more than once and just love his stuff - but I also love a good Lightfoot story. On the theme of "all sounds the same," back in the
late '60s a friend of mine was in the studio when Lightfoot was recording. The engineer on the session usually did classical music and didn't hesitate to show his disdain
for Lightoot. There was quite a bit of tension. Lightfoot did what he felt was a strong take and, to defuse the situation a little, very sweetly asked the engineer what he
thought. The engineer replied, "Great, Gordie, great. I love that song...every time you write it."

8) "asking why another singer/songwriter is not as famous as bob is like asking why another soccer player isn't as famous as Pele, or why another boxer isn't as famous
as ali."

well said

9)
Mongrel Dog wrote:
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> "asking why another singer/songwriter is not as famous as bob
> is like asking why another soccer player isn't as famous as
> Pele, or why another boxer isn't as famous as ali."
>
> well said

Well said, but it doesn't hold water. Why isn't Paul McCartney as famous as Bob Dylan? Why isn't Elton John as famous as Bob Dylan?

10) True, but it does apply to that particular instance. And Paul was a great songwriter, too, not as good as Bob, or a few other people, but The Beatles were a great band.

I'm still trying to figure out the Elton John thing. I think it has something to do with his glasses.

11) Neither Paul McCartney nor Elton John are known really for being "singer-songwriters" in the same sense as Dylan and Gordon. Both Paul and Elton were half of great
song-writing duos, Paul was a member of the most famous band on earth. Elton is much more famous for being a "showman" than anything else. Gordon and Dylan
really do fall into the same category. Trouble is, Dylan is the original in that category. Like Warren Zevon said, "he invented what I do".

12) >Why isn't Paul McCartney as famous as Bob Dylan?

I might not think he's as good as Bob (otherwise I'd probably hang around a Macca website), but there is no way Paul isn't at least as famous. He was a Beatle. How
much more famous can you be than that?

13) As for Gord, he's great. But he hasn't written nearly as many good songs as Bob. Another reason Bob is more famous is that he's probably (with the exception of
Lennon/McCartney) the most covered songwriter of the last 40 years. Think of all the different musicians who have recorded his songs and the many music genres
they've been recorded in.

14)
Gord is nice but Bob towers over him in every way. Gord can't tie Bob's shoes as a writer. Or a singer. Bob has a thousand voices, Gord has one.

And Bob rocks. Gord...doesn't.

15) Bob's Picasso. Gord's Gainsborough.

Bob's James Joyce. Gord's Jane Austen.

Bob's Bach. Gord's Telemann.

Bob's Einstein. Gord's Eddington.

Bob's Napoleon. Gord's Charles XII.

I could go on, but it's probably clear by now.

16)
a_quiet_place_instead wrote:
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> Gord is nice but Bob towers over him in every way.

Untrue.

> Gord can't tie Bob's shoes as a writer.

Untrue.

> Or a singer.

Untrue (up until mid-70s)/true (ever since)

> Bob has a thousand voices, Gord has one.

True.

> And Bob rocks. Gord...doesn't.

True.