I've been reading the Clinton Heylin "Double Talk" biography of Dylan. (The first volume goes up to the motorcycle accident; the second hasn't been published yet). There's a fun passage describing McCarthy's first (and subsequent) reactions to Bob's first album:

"As with most musical trends, McCartney had the jump on Lennon, who gamely admitted, 'Paul had heard of him [Dylan] before, but until we played Freewheelin' his name did not really mean anything to the rest of us.' Macca could well have brought the album with him to Paris, having 'borrowed' it from his brother, Mike McGear, who who had borrowed it from a girl he had been (vainly) trying to impress, someone hip enough to own an import copy. McGear's first reaction on hearing Freewheelin' at her place - or so he claims - was 'This guy can't sing.' But he was real keen on this Liverpool gal, so he persevered; to the extent that he eventually asked to borrow the album to listen to at home, where he was caught in flagrante by his brother, who opined, 'What is this shit? This guy can't sing.' Mike replied, 'It kinda grows on you.' Fast-forward to January 1964. Mike has come to raise the siege of George Cinque [A hotel in Paris referred to earlier], only to be stunned to hear, upon entering the boys' palatial suite, Dylan's dulcet tones. He challenges Paul. 'Hey, I thought you said he couldn't sing.' The remark engendered a slightly sheepish, 'It kinda grows on you.' "

I wonder which Freewheelin' songs Macca considered "dulcet." Or maybe "dulcet" is meant sarcastically.

On Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 9:20:30 PM UTC-4, Willie Williams wrote:
> I've been reading the Clinton Heylin "Double Talk" biography of Dylan. (The first volume goes up to the motorcycle accident; the second hasn't been published yet). There's a fun passage describing McCarthy's first (and subsequent) reactions to Bob's first album:
>
> "As with most musical trends, McCartney had the jump on Lennon, who gamely admitted, 'Paul had heard of him [Dylan] before, but until we played Freewheelin' his name did not really mean anything to the rest of us.' Macca could well have brought the album with him to Paris, having 'borrowed' it from his brother, Mike McGear, who who had borrowed it from a girl he had been (vainly) trying to impress, someone hip enough to own an import copy. McGear's first reaction on hearing Freewheelin' at her place - or so he claims - was 'This guy can't sing.' But he was real keen on this Liverpool gal, so he persevered; to the extent that he eventually asked to borrow the album to listen to at home, where he was caught in flagrante by his brother, who opined, 'What is this shit? This guy can't sing.' Mike replied, 'It kinda grows on you.' Fast-forward to January 1964. Mike has come to raise the siege of George Cinque [A hotel in Paris referred to earlier], only to be stunned to hear, upon entering the boys' palatial suite, Dylan's dulcet tones. He challenges Paul. 'Hey, I thought you said he couldn't sing.' The remark engendered a slightly sheepish, 'It kinda grows on you.' "
>
> I wonder which Freewheelin' songs Macca considered "dulcet." Or maybe "dulcet" is meant sarcastically.
Er, second album.

On Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 6:20:30 PM UTC-7, Willie Williams wrote:
> I've been reading the Clinton Heylin "Double Talk" biography of Dylan. (The first volume goes up to the motorcycle accident; the second hasn't been published yet). There's a fun passage describing McCarthy's first (and subsequent) reactions to Bob's first album:
>
> "As with most musical trends, McCartney had the jump on Lennon, who gamely admitted, 'Paul had heard of him [Dylan] before, but until we played Freewheelin' his name did not really mean anything to the rest of us.' Macca could well have brought the album with him to Paris, having 'borrowed' it from his brother, Mike McGear, who who had borrowed it from a girl he had been (vainly) trying to impress, someone hip enough to own an import copy. McGear's first reaction on hearing Freewheelin' at her place - or so he claims - was 'This guy can't sing.' But he was real keen on this Liverpool gal, so he persevered; to the extent that he eventually asked to borrow the album to listen to at home, where he was caught in flagrante by his brother, who opined, 'What is this shit? This guy can't sing.' Mike replied, 'It kinda grows on you.' Fast-forward to January 1964. Mike has come to raise the siege of George Cinque [A hotel in Paris referred to earlier], only to be stunned to hear, upon entering the boys' palatial suite, Dylan's dulcet tones. He challenges Paul. 'Hey, I thought you said he couldn't sing.' The remark engendered a slightly sheepish, 'It kinda grows on you.' "
>
> I wonder which Freewheelin' songs Macca considered "dulcet." Or maybe "dulcet" is meant sarcastically.

My feeling from what you quote here is that it was sarcasm.

Willie Williams wrote:
>
> I've been reading the Clinton Heylin "Double Talk" biography of Dylan. (The first volume goes up to the motorcycle accident; the second hasn't been published yet). There's a fun passage describing McCarthy's first (and subsequent) reactions to Bob's first album:
>
>
>
> I wonder which Freewheelin' songs Macca considered "dulcet." Or maybe "dulcet" is meant sarcastically.

didn't Dylan stole mostly everything? isn't he just a crook?? a con
artist..

--
The Starmaker -- To question the unquestionable, ask the unaskable,
to think the unthinkable, mention the unmentionable, say the unsayable,
and challenge
the unchallengeable.

On Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 2:25:34 PM UTC-5, The Starmaker wrote:
> Willie Williams wrote:
> >
> > I've been reading the Clinton Heylin "Double Talk" biography of Dylan. (The first volume goes up to the motorcycle accident; the second hasn't been published yet). There's a fun passage describing McCarthy's first (and subsequent) reactions to Bob's first album:
> >
> >
> >
> > I wonder which Freewheelin' songs Macca considered "dulcet." Or maybe "dulcet" is meant sarcastically.
> didn't Dylan stole mostly everything? isn't he just a crook?? a con
> artist..
>
> --
> The Starmaker -- To question the unquestionable, ask the unaskable,
> to think the unthinkable, mention the unmentionable, say the unsayable,
> and challenge
> the unchallengeable.
He writes some, he steals some, he buys some, and others give him some...
https://dylagence.wordpress.com/

On Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 12:25:34 PM UTC-7, The Starmaker wrote:
> Willie Williams wrote:
> >
> > I've been reading the Clinton Heylin "Double Talk" biography of Dylan. (The first volume goes up to the motorcycle accident; the second hasn't been published yet). There's a fun passage describing McCarthy's first (and subsequent) reactions to Bob's first album:
> >
> >
> >
> > I wonder which Freewheelin' songs Macca considered "dulcet." Or maybe "dulcet" is meant sarcastically.
> didn't Dylan stole mostly everything? isn't he just a crook?? a con
> artist..
>
> --
> The Starmaker -- To question the unquestionable, ask the unaskable,
> to think the unthinkable, mention the unmentionable, say the unsayable,
> and challenge
> the unchallengeable.

He started off as a Woody Guthrie wannabe.

Elliot Mintz is his PR rep, which is never a good sign.

There's a great Dylan parody about a minute and a half into Frank Zappa's song "Flakes."