Why Does Bob Dylan's Vocal Style on 'Nashville Skyline' Sound Different?

Bob Dylan's Nashville Skyline album, released in 1969, marks a significant departure from his earlier works and later career. This shift in his vocal style is influenced by various factors, including vocal techniques, musical context, artistic evolution, production choices, and personal changes. This article explores these elements to explain why the song on Nashville Skyline sounds 'way different.'

Vocal Technique

The vocal performance on Nashville Skyline is characterized by a unique reverb effect that is notably different from Dylan's earlier and later works. This reverb significantly alters the sound and perception of his voice, making it more polished and ethereal. The level of reverb used is evident in the smoothness and fullness of the vocal delivery, which is quite different from the frantic and raw sound of his earlier recordings. Some accounts suggest that this reverb might have been applied during the studio processing. This transformation in voice was not just a temporary adjustment, but a deliberate and significant change in his vocal technique.

Musical Context

The musical context of Nashville Skyline is rooted in country and folk influences, reflecting the Nashville sound of the late 1960s. This genre often emphasizes softer and more polished vocal performances. The track on the album exemplifies this, with Dylan's delivery adopting a more contained and refined approach. The country and folk influences of the time were characterized by a smoother, more spacious sound, which is evident in Dylan's performance on Nashville Skyline.

Artistic Evolution

By the time of Nashville Skyline, Dylan was experimenting with his sound and persona. This marked a departure from the folk protest songs of the early 1960s and embraced more traditional country music. The vocal style on this album is a reflection of his artistic evolution, moving away from the fiery, protest-driven sound of earlier works to a more mellow and introspective tone.

Production Choices

The production choices for Nashville Skyline played a crucial role in the vocal style. The use of a studio reverb effect was a deliberate choice by Dylan and his producers. This production technique not only altered the sound of his voice but also contributed to the album's overall aesthetic. The reverb effect creates a rich, reverberated sound that enhances the emotional depth of the lyrics and adds a certain artistic quality to the performance. Additionally, the decision to lower his vocal register might have been influenced by both artistic choices and personal changes, such as quitting smoking.

Personal Changes

Personal changes, such as life experiences and emotional states, can significantly impact an artist's vocal style. The late 1960s were a time of significant change for Dylan both personally and professionally. These changes likely influenced how he chose to present his voice. Quitting smoking is one possible reason cited for the altered vocal style, as smoke could have affected his ability to sing. Another factor could be the influence of his earlier musical heroes, such as Little Richard and Woody Guthrie, whose styles he incorporated and eventually transformed into a unique sound.

Listening to very early recordings of Dylan in high school, one can hear a similar voice, although sometimes shouting to emulate his vocal hero at the time, Little Richard. After discovering Woody Guthrie and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Dylan took on a more distinctive Okie sound heard on his earlier records. In the mid-1960s, he gravitated towards a beat poet cadence, which can be heard in earlier recordings like Lay Lady Lay. The voice you hear on Nashville Skyline was a brief but transformative period, appearing from 1968 to 1969. Dylan's use of this style can be heard at the Isle of Wight concert and at the Woody Guthrie memorial concert with The Band.