"Blonde on Blonde" is the seventh studio album by Bob Dylan, released on June 20, 1966, by Columbia Records.
Recording for "Blonde on Blonde" began in New York City in October 1965, but after limited success, producer Bob Johnston suggested relocating to Nashville, Tennessee. There, sessions with top-notch Nashville session musicians proved more fruitful, resulting in the completion of the album by early 1966. The album's sound combines rock with elements of folk and blues, enhanced by the skillful musicianship of the Nashville players.
Critically acclaimed, "Blonde on Blonde" completed Dylan's trilogy of rock albums that began with "Bringing It All Back Home" and "Highway 61 Revisited," both from 1965. Critics often highlight its poetic and narrative lyrics, which blend visionary themes with colloquial language, reflecting Dylan's evolving artistic maturity.
Commercially, the album peaked at number nine on the Billboard Top LPs chart in the US and reached number three in the UK. It achieved double platinum certification in the US over time. The album produced two notable singles: "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" and "I Want You," both of which charted in the top twenty in the US.
Songs from "Blonde on Blonde," such as "Just Like a Woman" and "Visions of Johanna," are often cited as some of Dylan's greatest compositions and have been featured prominently in critical assessments and "greatest songs" lists. The album's innovative use of the double LP format in rock music also set a precedent for future artists.
In recognition of its enduring influence and artistic significance, "Blonde on Blonde" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and consistently ranks among the greatest albums of all time, including placing 38th on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list in 2020.
