• The Moment in 1965 When Rock and Roll Becomes Art

  • Words + Music | Vol. 15
  • By: Steve Earle
  • Narrated by: Steve Earle
  • Length: 1 hr and 21 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,643 ratings)
The Moment in 1965 When Rock and Roll Becomes Art  By  cover art

The Moment in 1965 When Rock and Roll Becomes Art

By: Steve Earle
Narrated by: Steve Earle

Publisher's summary

“This is a story about an idea that I have,” Americana legend and self-proclaimed “recovering folk singer” Steve Earle states early in his enthralling Words + Music performance. “This job of mine becomes an artform spontaneously in 1965 - when Bob Dylan wants to be John Lennon, and John Lennon wants to be Bob Dylan, whether either one of them would admit it or not - and in that moment, rock and roll becomes art."

Recorded in 2021 at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village, New York City, listen to the gravelly voiced consummate storyteller speak and sing from his beloved, adopted neighborhood - the birthplace of a musical revolution. Hear this rambling man map his personal journey through bluegrass, country, folk, and rock and roll alongside new recordings of Steve Earle favorites and never-heard-before renditions of songs by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and more. Of himself and his heroic influences, he says, “We weren’t there to write hits, though a few of us accidentally did. We were there to create art.”

©2021 Steve Earle (P)2021 Audible Originals LLC

About the Creator and Performer

Steve Earle is one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of his generation. A protégé of legendary songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, he quickly became a master storyteller in his own right, with his songs being recorded by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, The Pretenders, and countless others. In 1986, his record Guitar Town was released and shot to number one on the country charts. It’s now regarded as a classic of the Americana genre. Subsequent releases, like The Revolution Starts...Now (2004), Washington Square Serenade (2007), and TOWNES (2009), received consecutive Grammy Awards. Restlessly creative across artistic disciplines, Earle has published both a novel (I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive) and a collection of short stories (Doghouse Roses); produced albums for other artists, such as Joan Baez and Lucinda Williams, and acted in films, television (including David Simon’s acclaimed The Wire), and on the stage. He currently hosts a radio show for Sirius XM. In 2009, Earle appeared in the off-Broadway play Samara, for which he also wrote a score that The New York Times described as "exquisitely subliminal." Earle wrote music for and appeared in Coal Country, a riveting public theater play that dives into the most-deadly mining disaster in US history, for which he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. His 2020 album Ghosts of West Virginia was named as one of "The 50 Best Albums of 2020 So Far" by Rolling Stone. Earle was recently (November 2020) inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and released his 21st studio album, J.T., in 2021 as a tribute to his late son, Justin Townes Earle.

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What listeners say about The Moment in 1965 When Rock and Roll Becomes Art

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An intimate hour

I’m sure I would bought and read this if it was a book, but what a treat to have Steve read it to me.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Great Prrformance

Steve Earle & T Bone Burnett did a terrific job with recreating the early days of Folk Music in Greenwich Village in the ‘60’s. Very enjoyable experience.

Thanks Audible Originals. Great job.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Reminder that he is one of the greatest storytellers of our time

If you’re not already a fan of his songs and the views from his eyes, then you are in for a treat.
If you are a fan, then settle in for more pholosophizing and romanticizing.
And some choice songs from influences.
In addition to being able to rock it out, he IS a folk singer, a real humdinger (to borrow the words of our beloved John Prine, RIP) If you loved this, find his “story and song” shows.
He is a powerful force and face of some liberal causes, and we are lucky that he gets it out there.
He’s missed in Nashville, but we appreciate his visits.
(You should do another one of these. Can’t wait to see what’s next. And to hear it too.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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great oral chronicle of history and insights

a great oral interpretation of rock music, social change and societal influences delivered under the guise of Steve Earle's life journey from Texas to Nashville to Greenwich Village.

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I never heard of Steve Earle But...

I have listened to a few of these words + music audiobooks because they're free and I pick this one up for the same reason I've never heard of him before but he is a phenomenal storyteller I would definitely pay to hear him tell another story.

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very good stuff

I thought this would just be real old country stuff. However, this was a surprise treat about how a folk artist transformed over a lifetime. He has a real talent for teeling a story and he made it big in my favorite time of music with Hendricks and Lennon and beetles.

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  • 12-11-21

a must read for baby boomers

great story good look back to a different time, great to remember that decade

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Fantastic production! Listen to it now!!

Steve Earle has such a great storytelling way about him. he really pulls you in to this one! Along with his versions of great songs, this unique production is not to be missed! perfect length for a short drive.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Acoustic background on Dylan and friends

Most enjoyable way to fill in some gaps in "the rest of the story" concerning the lead up to arguably the most creative period in rock n roll.

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A magnificent Story Teller

Steve Earle would be worth listening to and a shining star in an evening of story tellers … even if he had nothing to say…
However this treatise has a lot to say, and a lot to think about … people, music and a major cultural marker … all in delightful story-telling style.

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