In 1964, David Crosby found a singer he thought he was better than, only for him to admit he was dead wrong

David Crosby initially dismissed Bob Dylan’s singing when he first heard him in New York, even wondering why people did not prefer Crosby. After seeing Dylan perform, he changed his mind, recognising the strength and depth of the songs; the encounter illustrates how Dylan’s songwriting could win over listeners who were unsure about his voice.

Crosby later described Dylan as having “a good three dozen” classic songs, praising the steady run of strong material. The article places Dylan’s impact in the context of his willingness to push rock beyond simple love songs, with works such as “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” offering listeners ideas to consider.