Talkin’ Bob Dylan: Daniel Lanois on ‘Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands’

We're paying tribute this week to the life and work of Bob Dylan, who is celebrating 50 years of revolutionary recordings in 2012. His critically acclaimed 35th studio album, Tempest, is out Tuesday, Sept. 11, and he tours Canada extensively in October and November. We asked a variety of musicians about their all-time favourite Dylan songs and will post their responses every day for the rest of the week.

Here’s noted musician, producer and previous Dylan collaborator Daniel Lanois on the epic treasure “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands,” which first appeared on the 1966 LP, Blonde on Blonde.

“I’ve always loved ‘Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands.’ It’s a very long tale and I never get tired of listening to it. It’s in 6/8 and I can tell that he was in a room that really cared about him and it really comes through in the recording. That song gets under my skin every time. I wish I had made it but maybe it’s better that I didn’t. That way I can just enjoy it.

“I never think about production. I just think about how I feel when I hear something. I think they just got it right. It’s a captured moment and they’re hard to get. I’ve captured a few myself along the way and many that I have not captured. When I hear someone’s best work and I get the sense that they really caught the moment, it humbles me and I’m an admirer of such a masterpiece.”

With files from Mike Miner.

Keep checking CBC Music's Bob Dylan page for more thoughts on the man and his songs this week.

Join the conversation. What's your favourite Bob Dylan song? Please tell us what it is and why.