Expecting Rain

I'm listening to shows around this time, trying to pin it down, but somewhere in 2003 or so Bob's voice changed and what you might call the modern "wolf man" tone was introduced. His voice was never quite the same after this. I wonder, what brought about this change?

It's obviousl that Bob's voice has changed literally every year of the NET
A mixture of smoking, bad technique (shouting out words, sounds great to these ears!) and just the amount of shows he does.

I always think it must be interesting from Tony's point of view, he must have noticed the changes looking back on years and hearing recordings but from night to night the voice won't change that much, so for Tony to be at every show has Dylan's voice ever changed to him?!

Like if you see your parents/kids everyday, they don't age (unless you look back at photographs/video's etc)

this rare footage from his in between tour vacation should explain alot!

in february he's in Australia - in march he cancelled a tour in Japan. I think he went to New Delhi instead and brought a little gift back to Texas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_plI0XlrY9Q

I think each year 2003, 2004 and 2005 were all different. listen to those England shows of 05. He sounds so different from 2003. I think after 2007 is when it becomes more noticeable.

You know I hear this "reason" suggested all the time. I have, unfortunately, smoked for around 30 years and though I'm not a singer I don't sound like a singing frog either(sorry Bob).
Besides how does anyone even know how much Bob smokes. Or if he even still does. I haven't seen ANY recent pic of Bob smoking. I'm not saying it doesn't contribute but I've always thought it's as much to do with how much he USES that voice and at a stenuous level that's caused "the change"

I agree - bad (incorrect) singing technique has left his voice damaged, although lifestyle choices (smoking of various substances, cocaine, booze) can certainly accelerate the destruction.

I remember being very disappointed wth how he sounded starting off 2001 after seemingly going back in time for several years to arrive at the beautiful, flexible instrument we saw on display in 2000. It seemed to suddenly go south. I also remember seeing him in 2002 and thinking "gee, where there used to be a note only this bark sound comes out" and by 2003/2004, of course, that bark was his whole voice. Then he developed a bark on top of the bark...but that's another story.

You know all the arguing that goes on hear about his voice, and I love Bob as much as anyone. I've seen him 3x. 1994, 2000, 2001 and luckily I don't remember his voice being a problem but I've seen videos where I just cringe. It made me sad. I know some people here hate hearing that but it's my opinion. Watching these videos made me think this legend is embarrassing himself and to wonder how HE couldn't hear it. It made me sad to think that it was once such a magical instrument.
Age, smoking, drugs etc. doesn't cut it with me. Van doesn't sound like that. Bowie doesn't sound like that. McCartney doesn't sound like that.
I will still go and see him if I have the chance and hope for the best just because that's how much I respect the man

And for those who might want to attack what I've said I'm not bashing I'm just saying what I feel. Respectfully.

I used to watch the videos and think the same, but then I went to see him live last year and found out he sounds much better in real life. Keep in mind all the recent shows you listened to were recorded by phones.

not sure how it happened, but it's a shame.

The few years before 2003, I was catching 30-50 Dylan shows/year.

I think I've only seen about 20 since and I wish that wasn't the case.

Most of the shows I've seen in recent years have been good, but not.... 2000 good.

throat infection from them summer days

I had posted before after hearing about the surgery that Adele had if this was a possibility for Dylan. Anybody know exactly what proceedure she had.

P.S. As I speculated above I wonder what BOB thinks on this subject(the state of his voice). I mean he must hear the odd recording. I would think that would be a better way to judge than hearing himself through the monitors at a show.

Unhealthy singing.

I thought his voice sounded in great shape from 1998-2000. And then started getting rougher in '01. In the spring of 2002 in Europe he really begins relying on much more up-singing to compensate for lost range (listen to the February shows in the south USA 2002 to hear what caused some of this loss of range--he's growling and shouting all over the place, especially right off the bat in Orlando, Sunrise, Tampa--exciting stuff, but he pays the price--you don't hear that in the Europe shows a month later). Then in 2003, sounds to me like he said "screw it" and decided to shout through it. I love how he sounds in 2003, but it's not vocally healthy. In 2004 he continues shouting through it all--it's a vocal mess--but still sometimes thrilling to my ears. He's much softer in '05-'06--relying again on up-singing. And then rapid deterioration. In short, he shredded his cord in 2003.

can't help but think he is doing it on purpose. This seems to be where he feels comfortable... i think he probably heard himself this way in his head long ago.

That'd be my guess.

I believe so as well, but there are many people that detract the validity in that statement, perhaps denial.

His live singing hasn't been delicate on the vocal cords... in '74 he was shouting... Rolling Thunder had some moments when he sang fairly well. Hard Rain strained him (along with use of drugs around that era). I think since '74 he's pushed the voice beyond what was wise... going on nearly 40 years and couple that with the drug and alcohol abuse earlier and a lifetime of smoking...

The change from 2003 to the Spring 2004 was stark. Spring 2005 didn't seem too bad, not a noticeable deline from 2004 to my ear but 2006 was an OMG what happened moment... Significant shock and then the circus organ...

Don't even get me started on that...

As Mr. Stetson says, in 2003 he took off the gloves and let all hell break loose. He went out with a breathtaking bang in the "tour of London" shows (November gigs at Brixton Academy, Hammersmith Apollo, and Shepherd's Bush). He sings in those 3 shows like a demon possessed. This might have been his Robert Johnson moment when the devil got his voice, instead of his soul. Truly, the passion of these performances is extraordinary. Was it worth it? I don't know, but it sure would be nice to have it captured more professionally in a Bootleg Series box set.

" A bark on top of a bark" made me literally laugh out loud hahahaha.

The article about Adele's vocal surgery in Rolling Stone Magazine, is actually titled something like, "Adele's doctor can make Bob Dylan sound like he did in 1963." Now wouldn't that be wonderful! Honestly though, I don't think Dylan would like it. His voice has always matched whatever period of his life he was in. I'm just not really a fan of the constant barking. I will say though, that it almost seems like he has taken a rolling thunder vocal approach, but it comes out as barking instead of shouting.

I think that tendency begun in 1997. Maybe with his illness that year? Just listen to something just before that and just after that.

Someone suspend his medical license before he does that!

Nothing happened to Bob's voice in 2003 . Or rather , of course it changed but it is very different almost every year of the net . One might say though that it has changed less after 2003 .

Surgery? Should Bob Dylan sound like Adele? Or should we complain about his hair getting grey - he should perhaps colour it green?