The Jokermen Starter Pack

A curated collection of greatest hits

Ian Grant

and

Jokermen

Feb 6, 2023

Since its inception in June 2020, Jokermen Podcast has grown far beyond its initial focus on the mid- and late-career albums of Columbia recording artist Bob Dylan. With a back catalog of over 250 episodes, we thought it would be helpful to offer new listeners a curated selection of greatest hits that illustrate the many dimensions of the show. If you see it here, just put it on—it’s Good Podcasts.

One note: while many of our best episodes are available exclusively on Patreon, this collection is limited to free episodes. If you’re paying, you’re enough of a head to figure it out on your own.

Bob

At Budokan (SIDE A // SIDE B)

A joyous celebration of joyous music, and the first episode that began to challenge conventional wisdom with a sense of purpose. Jokermen Mindset was born here, as was the fan-favorite “What mustard is this album?” segment. The perfect litmus test for determining whether or not this is your kind of shit.

Dylanology with John Semley

A big-picture talk about the phenomenon of talking about Bob Dylan on the occasion of Dylanologist par excellence Clinton Heylin’s latest Bob biography, about which John wrote a thoughtful review.

**Shot of Love Revisited with Matt Farley**

A vital reconsideration of a vital Bob Dylan album with World’s Greatest Songwriter Matt Farley, and the beginning of the Jokermen tradition of revisiting previously-discussed material and completely disowning all previous takes.

Street-Legal Revisited with Matt Krefting & Josh Builder (SIDE A // SIDE B)

A definitive conversation about a record that has become a definitive piece of the Jokermen canon with two of the best Jokermen guests. Just an all-around great time.

Shadows In The Night (SIDE A // SIDE B)

A classic Jokermen chat about a classic album, one of the very best in Bob’s entire discography. Advocating for the American Standards period has been a Jokermen passion from day one; these conversations make good on that mission.

**Desire Revisited with Tim Heidecker (SIDE A // SIDE B)**

A grand old time with a fan favorite guest. Come for Tim’s “Mozambique” rendition, stay (or don’t) for all the “Joey” talk.

Trouble No More with Know Your Enemy

An assessment of conservative Christian recording artist Bob Dylan with scholars of the conservative movement Sam Adler-Bell and Matthew Sitman. Big takes, big themes, big bangers—dig that “Caribbean Wind.”

More Blood, More Tracks with Jake & David Longstreth (SIDE A // SIDE B)

An odyssey into the outer limits of the art of Bob Dylan podcasting with the Brothers Longstreth. The final regular episodes of the Bob era of Jokermen, and the apotheosis of everything the show is about.

Lou/John/VU

John Cale: Paris 1919

An appreciation of an undeniable classic from an artist who still hasn’t gotten his due despite all that he’s achieved over the past sixty years. John Cale does not have the same cultural cachet as Bob or Lou; these conversations aim to change that.

The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground (1969)

A reckoning with the amorphous, ever-changing entity known as The Velvet Underground or: How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Doug Yule.

Lou Reed: Street Hassle with Tom Scharpling

An unflinching look at an unflinching album with a guy who knows his shit. Includes an important Lulu digression that will surely be expanded upon in future episodes.

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