Originally posted by Chris Knipp
I get your point, but I think Dylan's voice is haunting and inseparable from his songs, like Johnny Cash's from his, only more so. You don't have to have a good singing voice to be a folksinger. It's not about operatic quality (which opera or lieder require) or sexy delivery (which rock or pop may require). It's about authenticity. And he has that. Clearly from films he could be a riveting performer at times. I would always think somebody else singing his songs would water them down. Joan Baez did some of them beautifully, but it sounds plastic compared to him. But I'm not sure all this has to do with the Scorsese documentary compilation exactly. I'd like to go beyond my own personal recollections of Dylan in my life (a slim volume indeed) and see what new information is there.
I agree. Although his performances later in his career tended to be lacking, his early concerts were mesmerizing.