The song Tom Petty wrote for Bob Dylan
Although The Beatles are rightly hailed as the most significant artist to emerge in the 1960s, close behind them is Bob Dylan. A troubadour dedicated to changing the world in the mould of his heroes such as Woody Guthrie, the Duluth native would pen some of the most essential lyrical and musical palettes of the era.
A tireless creative whose career has oscillated between a changing of the times, Dylan continued to push himself into new areas following his breakout as the most famous protest songwriter of the early 1960s. He would later draw on areas such as hard rock, gospel and even a touch of reggae in creating his new sounds.
An exemplary force, despite his noted misfires, Dylan’s finest work is timeless. It’s certain that he, along with The Beatles and their other most consequential boundary-pushing peers, will still be discussed with fascination in centuries to come, just like the great classical composers of old.
From era-defining efforts such as ‘A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall’ and ‘The Times They Are a-Changin” to one of his most recent efforts ‘Murder Most Foul’, a heady trip into the past written by an ageing Dylan that has seen the world change beyond belief, his highlights reel is extensive. A masterful poet and composer, it is genuinely astounding what he’s achieved as just one man. Bringing this point into focus, The Beatles comprised four musicians, and he also had a transformative impact on the Fab Four too.
With that said, though, Dylan has relied on the talent of others to bring much of his work to life. This followed him forgoing using the acoustic guitar solely for more expansive musical backdrops as his reach expanded. Accordingly, his list of collaborators is lengthy and includes members of The Band as well as Al Kooper, Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash, Roger McGuinn, and many others.
What most people don’t realise is that even the late Tom Petty helped Bob Dylan on his way. The song in question is the often-forgotten ‘Got My Mind Made Up’ from the 1986 album Knocked Out Loaded. Although the album is one of Dylan’s worst, the track is one of its saving graces, with Petty and Dylan striking up artistic harmony that would no doubt pave the way for the supergroup Traveling Wilburys, which formed in 1988.
With its infectious groove and Dylan’s signature gravelly vocals, ‘Got My Mind Made Up’ stands as a testament to the artist’s ability to captivate audiences across generations. The song’s communicable energy is irresistible, and backed by a tight ensemble of musicians, it’s instrumentation is a testament to Dylan’s artistic evolution.
Listen to ‘Got My Mind Made Up’ below.
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