The first of two volumes, this companion to every song that Bob Dylan ever wrote is by far the most comprehensive book on the words of America’s greatest songwriter. Here you’ll find not just opinionated commentary or literary interpretation, but facts, first and foremost. Clinton Heylin is the world’s leading Dylan biographer and expert, and he has arranged the songs--including a number that have never been performed--in a continually surprising chronology of when they were actually written rather than when they appeared on albums. Using newly discovered manuscripts, anecdotal evidence, and a seemingly limitless knowledge of every Bob Dylan live performance, he has uncovered a wealth of information about the songs, leaving no stone unturned in his research.
Here we learn that the middle verse of “Blowin’ in the Wind” was written much later than the first and third verses; that “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” was based on a complete distortion of the facts of the case; that “Mixed Up Confusion,” despite being Dylan’s first single, was composed later than many of his early masterpieces; that “Fourth Time Around” was a direct response to John Lennon’s “Norwegian Wood”; and much more.
Reading this volume will fundamentally change how you hear Dylan’s songs and will make you want to revisit the man’s lesser-known masterpieces. This is an essential purchase for every true Bob Dylan fan--and perhaps your most essential purchase, for, as a guide to the man’s work, it will never be surpassed.
Revolution in the Air: The Songs of Bob Dylan, 1957-1973 (Cappella Books) Reviews:
Pretentious and boring 
2009-11-25 - I agree with the others here who have pointed out that this book is a disappointment.
The author's massive ego gets in the way. In addition, he manages to take an interesting topic and make it very boring.
Save your money.
Academic and dull 
2009-09-30 - Dylan certainly wrote some of the most fascinating music of our time. But Heylin's treatise is so soaked in detail about the first performances and other technicalities that there appears to be little passion for the music itself. Other reviewers take Heylin to task for being factually incorrect; I do not know enough to judge that. I take him to task for making what should be a fascinating subject very dull and academic. After reading the book, I wondered, did Heylin actually like any of these 300 songs? If he did, I sure could not tell from this book.
Interesting background on Dylan songs 
2009-08-12 - Clinton Heylin has written a lot of books on Dylan, his best-known of them being "Bob Dylan: Behind the Shades", and now comes this book, the first of a promised two, in which Heylin purports to collect and comment on every single song (excluding intrumentals) that Dylan has written, and in the chronological order that they were written.
"Revolution In the AIr: The Songs of Bob Dylan, 1957-1973" (492 pages) starts off with several introductory chapters, about 30 pages in all, in which the author provides context of what he is trying to set out to do (and dishing a lot of other Dylan reviewers along the way). I picked up something that was never clear to me, whether Dylan writes the lyrics before the music, or the other way around (it's the latter, by the way). Then comes the song-by-song analysis, and I found it generally quite fascinating, to be honest. Just a few examples: writing about "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)": "It seems he had finally got around to reading Sartre and Kirkegaard, for here is the first evidence of an existential strain that suffused much of what he would write about in the coming year." Commenting on "Like a Rolling Stone": "[It] was his first song to condense the whole story of a Miss Lonely down to just four verses". (There is a lot more on who that Miss Lonely actually might be.) Commenting on "Forever Young", referring to this being a reply of sorts to Neil Young's hit at the time (Heart of Gold): "And yes, that is a pun in the title. Though it has passed most folks by, he was doing a Dylanesque Young, forever." Hilarious! On and on, and I found myself turning the pages.
I read some of the other reviews here, from several Bob Dylan fanatics/connaiseurs (which I am not, even though I am a pretty big Dylan enthousiast), in particular as to certain specific items that may or may not have been correct in a book. I have no idea if it is true or not, but in a 500 page book, it is bound to happen and it never bothered me as I was reading this. Myself, I'm looking forward to the next volume of this 2 book set, covering the post-1973 years. I've seen Dylan many times over the years, most recently last month on the Never Ending Tour, and I never fail to be fascinated by the man. Meanwhile, "Revolution In the Air" is enjoyable reading for most of us Dylan fans.
Five stars but I can see two as well 
2009-08-12 - Mr. Heylin's previous works on Dylan (three that I know of and own) are quite wonderful, despite what reviewers accurately point out as his arrogant, occasionally over-opinionated observations. This work is consistently informative, enlightening, and arguable. I like his use of language and the organization he's used here is especially conducive to examining BD's work as a songwriter. The factual lapses, which really aren't numerous, don't present an issue for readers. Heylin's knowledge and passion are unquestionable, as is his scholarly approach. The rather condescending comments he makes about other critics do not contribute in any positive way to Mr. Heylin's voice as a writer but they also don't seriously mar the the content of this study. He also has a habit of being rather nasty to musicians who Dylan himself holds highly and I do have a problem with that. I do wish that Mr. Heylin (and this goes for each book he's authored on Dylan) would curtail his comments a bit on The Grateful Dead, who he just doesn't get. (Even though almost no one holds the 1987 collaboration to any high estimation). Van Morrison, too. I also am puzzled at Mr. Heylin's negative feelings about Theme Time Radio. He doesn't really explain himself regarding that wonderful radio show. But these are minor quibbles in a work that is a brilliant critical canvas, covering the songs of the major artist of our time. I do look forward to Mr. Heylin's next volume, warts and all. It deserves five stars but I can understand readers who might be furious enough to give it two.
Revolution with the facts
2009-07-16 - I got to page 41 and had to put this book down. I find it hard to believe Clinton Heylin who wrote Behind The Shades actually wrote this. Page 28 he misquotes "Song To Woody." Page 35 he erroneously states that Dylan wrote three songs on Bob Dylan (the first album, and he never identifies the third song). On pages 40 & 41 he credits Dylan with writing "Just As Long As I'm In This World" including lyrics about fiery fingers and a fiery band straight from Reverend Gary Davis' "I Am The Light Of This World", a well known blues song. Heylin has lost all credibility by page 41 so why would I waste my time on the rest of the 482 pages. I am extremely disappointed!
