Bob Johnston
Who is Bob Johnston?
To fully appreciate the creative genius of legendary record producer Bob Johnston, read what musician Bob Dylan wrote in his autobiography, Chronicles, Volume One: “Bob Johnston had fire in his eyes. He had that thing that some people call ‘momentum.’ You could see it in his face and he shared that fire, that spirit. Columbia’s leading folk and country producer, he was born one hundred years too late. He should have been wearing a wide cape, a plumed hate, and riding with his sword held high. Johnston disregarded any warning that might get in his way. His idea for producing a record was to keep the machines oiled, turn ‘em on and let’er rip. There was no telling who he’d bring to the studio and there was always heavy traffic, and yet he seemed to have a place for everybody. If a song wasn’t going right or things were fluttering, he’d come out into the studio and say stuff like, ‘Gentlemen, we just have too many men on the floor.’ That was his way of sorting things out. Johnston lived on low country barbecue, and he was all charm.” (Bob Dylan, Chronicles, Volume One)
As the head of Columbia Records’ Nashville office, Johnston produced Bob Dylan’s album, Highway 61, and Blonde on Blonde, rated as the best rock album of all time. Additionally, Johnston is credited for producing what many Dylan fans believe are some of the songwriter’s greatest albums: John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline, New Morning, Self Portrait, and Bob Dylan Live 1966. Johnston's largest contribution to Dylan's sound was when he suggested that he record in Nashville rather than New York, and use several of Nashville's top session musicians. His close relationship with Dylan is evidenced by Nashville Skyline's "To Be Alone with You," which leads off with Dylan asking the producer, "Is it (the tape) rolling, Bob?"
In Robert Shelton's Dylan biography No Direction Home, Johnston is quoted as claiming, "I don't really 'produce' his albums, but just do my best to make
To fully appreciate the creative genius of legendary record producer Bob Johnston, read what musician Bob Dylan wrote in his autobiography, Chronicles, Volume One: “Bob Johnston had fire in his eyes. He had that thing that some people call ‘momentum.’ You could see it in his face and he shared that fire, that spirit. Columbia’s leading folk and country producer, he was born one hundred years too late. He should have been wearing a wide cape, a plumed hate, and riding with his sword held high. Johnston disregarded any warning that might get in his way. His idea for producing a record was to keep the machines oiled, turn ‘em on and let’er rip. There was no telling who he’d bring to the studio and there was always heavy traffic, and yet he seemed to have a place for everybody. If a song wasn’t going right or things were fluttering, he’d come out into the studio and say stuff like, ‘Gentlemen, we just have too many men on the floor.’ That was his way of sorting things out. Johnston lived on low country barbecue, and he was all charm.” (Bob Dylan, Chronicles, Volume One)
As the head of Columbia Records’ Nashville office, Johnston produced Bob Dylan’s album, Highway 61, and Blonde on Blonde, rated as the best rock album of all time. Additionally, Johnston is credited for producing what many Dylan fans believe are some of the songwriter’s greatest albums: John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline, New Morning, Self Portrait, and Bob Dylan Live 1966. Johnston's largest contribution to Dylan's sound was when he suggested that he record in Nashville rather than New York, and use several of Nashville's top session musicians. His close relationship with Dylan is evidenced by Nashville Skyline's "To Be Alone with You," which leads off with Dylan asking the producer, "Is it (the tape) rolling, Bob?"
In Robert Shelton's Dylan biography No Direction Home, Johnston is quoted as claiming, "I don't really 'produce' his albums, but just do my best to make