I doubt that he will ever sound like that again on an album. I believe he was doing homage to Hank Williams at that point, Hank having been a very big influence on the young Bob Dylan, before he got into the Little Richard phase. That was back when Bob was in his early teenage years. He had a very pure vocal sound then, like a choirboy, according to people who heard him at the time.

He had also briefly quit smoking before doing Nashville Skyline in '68, and that had some notable effect on smoothening his voice. But mainly, I'd say, it was a deliberate attempt to evoke an old time country sound...and at the time he was quite pleased with the results.

Bob's voice is like a chameleon's skin...it has gone through a lot of changes. I've heard of live concerts where he deliberately sang in just about every voice heard in his whole catalog of albums...that must have been pretty intriguing! He's been more consistent than that when I've seen him live.

I consider Nashville Skyline, well...okay...but it's one of his weaker albums, all things considered, and I don't much miss that sound.

- LH