Alvin Dahn: the strange story of a crypt salesman who dreamt he was the next Bob Dylan
The whole point of any piece of art is to make us feel something, even if that feeling is confusion. In that sense, the work of Alvin Dahn is perfect. However, in a much more real sense, it’s terrible. And then, in another also real sense but slightly distorted, it’s so unique that it’s tough to turn away from. This is the story of the man who thought he was the next Bob Dylan.
Alvin Dahn was a former college custodial engineer and mausoleum crypt salesman. His passion wasn’t in the crypts but was buried deep within him, as Dahn had a massive affinity towards music, its production and the art of songwriting. He felt a solid connection with music, so much so that he believed he was destined for great things. Tipped in his mind to be the next Bob Dylan, John Lennon or Elvis, Dahn decided to leave the crypts behind and pursue his passion.
What qualified or possessed Dahn to go down this route remains a mystery. He claimed to be proficient in over 50 instruments and backed himself so much that he borrowed a large amount of money to work with top producers and session musicians. However, when he got into the studio, what unfolded was, to cut it short, a mess. There was no clear direction on genre or style, as Dahn jumped from rock to disco to pop to classical.
Granted, not adhering to a genre isn’t new; in fact, many modern bands who don’t allow themselves to be restricted are credited for it. That being said, those bands embraced chaos and revelled in blurring those lines; it was clear in Dahn’s case that the lack of genre came from being completely clueless about what kind of music he wanted to make. The plan was to be bigger than Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and Elvis; how he would do that remains completely unknown.
One of the engineers who worked on the album said, “He was pretty confident that he was the next John Lennon, and his music was gonna top the charts. I don’t think I’ve met a less musical person in my life, but he was convinced he was ‘the bomb’.”
Some music was recorded, but by the time it was ready to go out, Dahn had completely run out of money. He could not distribute the music properly, so it was never formally released. However, some of the songs are available on YouTube, and despite them sounding like ill-produced mess with bland vocals, they have managed to develop a cult following. Something about the optimism with which they were made seems infectious to those who listen to them.
“At first it was torture working on the project,” said that same engineer, but it seems even they were impacted by the earnest nature of the songs. “After a while, I began to realise just how special these performances were.”
It seems the engineer developing an affinity towards the songs is a shared attitude as rock tracks like ‘You’re Driving Me Mad’ and more composed pieces like ‘Don’t Throw Your Dreams Away’ are enjoyed by many who initially turned their noses up at them. The rationale behind this following is difficult to understand, but some of the best art is. In trying to dissect what makes a piece of art great, you nullify its impact; as such, the best way to enjoy Dahn’s music, if you do, is just to enjoy it.
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