I must admit that I find claims as "No one else ever said what Bob was saying," the claims that he invented the protest song and that he somehow had a finger on the pulse of some Jungian Collective Consciousness like no one else exaggerated at best, and a great insult to singers like Billy Holiday, Sam Cooke and even white singers like the Carter Family. That being said, I find it impossible to brush aside Dylan's ability to express himself in a variety genres and the legacy he leaves, all without possessing a great deal of musical ability. It was stunning to see Dylan state on the Steve Allen Show that he had been only writing songs "for two years." Dylan seemed about as surprised as Allen at his own accomplishment.

B