Bigot: Hello Bob! 

Dylan: Yeah. 

Bigot: Where are you calling me from? 

Dylan: I'm calling you from Detroit. 

Bigot: Yeah, you are gonna play there tonight? 

Dylan: Tonight. 

Bigot: Yeah, and how is the tour going? 

Dylan: Oh, it's going pretty good. 

Bigot: Bob, we are used to watch you perform in very different styles with every new tour, never trying to promote your next album, so what's the mood of this tour? 

Dylan: Well, I usually tour, you know, between albums, and I've been touring between albums over here for the past few years. You know, we've kind of been on tour for the past two years. You'll be seeing the result of the shows from the past two years and a few new things, a bunch of other things that nobody's heard before. 

Bigot: Okay, so who are your musicians? Who are with on this tour? 

Dylan: Well, it's the band I've been working with in the past few years. Jim Keltner playing drums, Tim Drummond, who's playing bass, on guitars I've got Fred Tackett and Steve Ripley, and then on the keyboards a guy that goes by the name of Willie Smith. And I have four backing singers, one girl was with me last time I was there, her name is Carolyn Dennis. Then I've got some other girls you haven't seen before. 

Bigot: You have written a lot of new songs lately. When can we expect a new a new album? 

Dylan: Well, very very soon, in fact very soon, maybe in the next few weeks, I hope anyway. 

Bigot: So you've already recorded it? 

Dylan: Yes, it's already been recorded and mixed and pressed I believe and it should be out as soon as they can get it to the stores. 

Bigot: And who produced it? 

Dylan: A guy named Chuck Plotkin and myself. 

Bigot: Blood On The Tracks was the last album you produced yourself? 

Dylan: Yes, exactly. That's the last album I did produce by myself and this the next one. 

Bigot: Yes and the sound was very very good on that album. What do you use producers for, when you use them? 

Dylan: Well, the past two albums I used producers to organize everything in the studio for me and to come up with some ideas and hire the musicians to use. And to help me sort out the songs and make some sense out of what I do. Just when I come in with a bunch of songs - somebody who come in and oversee that and puts it together, and come out with an album. And they'll be responsible for the sound of it. And this time I wanted to do it by myself. 

Bigot: You were always interested in different rhythms on your last albums and on your last tour when you came into Europe you used reggae, salsa, and even funk rhythms. Are you very interested in the last developments lately of .... 

Dylan: Well, sure. I just use about any kind of rhythm that I feel, you know, that I wanna play. Mmm, yeah I use a lot of different types of rhythms. some songs are just old hill-billy kind of rhythm you know, and some songs have like, I guess a 12 bar blues type of rhythm. Between them it's just about anything that happens to find its way into the song. I kind of use all kinds of rhythms just to keep it different. 

Bigot: So that means you're not especially interested in the musical form but rather in the rhythm that you feel is best related to the spirit or sensibility of a song?

Dylan: Yes. if I can feel it I'll play it. If I can feel it I'll do it that way. 

Bigot: Some people who study behavior say that each of us is only expressing one unique thing through his entire life that we wanted to express when we were 17; I think you have proved them wrong over your career. so regarding yourself, what was your continuous concern during your career? 

Dylan: That I stayed honest, that I tried to be true, and didn't lie to myself or nobody else. 

Bigot: Do you believe in fate or in destiny? 

Dylan: Mmm - I do, sure. 

Bigot: Do you think all was written in advance, or are we responsible for each choice we do, even if things seem planned? 

Dylan: I do believe that things are planned for everyone of us. But I also believe that we have the will to change it at one time or another, although I'm not so sure about changing the end result. 

Bigot: Do you feel the same as when you were a child, or do you feel you have changed? 

Dylan: Well, you know it's like the French say: Everything changes but it stays the same. 

Bigot: Three years ago, you said something that touched me very deeply, you said that one has to be vulnerable in order to be able to feel reality. Did your faith change your mind about this? 

Dylan: Aha - I still believe that - yes, I do that. 

Bigot: You don't feel stronger now? Or do you still feel that you have to have a certain label of sensitivity? 

Dylan: Well, .... [obviously not understanding this, which like the other questions, is asked in broken English with a heavy French accent on this rather noisy telephone line] .... I think that's correct, yeah. 

Bigot: Bob, you are a Gemini, and I am a Gemini myself, and maybe that's one of the reasons why I was, you know, touched so much by your movie Renaldo & Clara and by the album Street Legal. And you talked very much about personality, about the difference between "that enemy within" as you call him and ... Can you tell me a little bit about that? Was it really the theme of the movie? 

Dylan: I think so. I think it was like identity. I think you'd say that. 

Bigot: But do you think this duality is the cause of negative things? Maybe not evil itself, but things like violence? 

Dylan: I do think that, yeah. Sure, when one side takes over another side, one side is feeling stronger at that moment. 

Bigot: Yes, isn't this the source of paranoia when someone isn't the one he would want to be? 

Dylan: Sure, it's extremely dangerous. 

Bigot: Did it ever happen to you? 

Dylan: Oh sure, just about every day. (laughs) 

Bigot: And wasn't Renaldo & Clara about all this? 

Dylan: Yes! It was!! 

Bigot: Bob, don't you feel like doing some kind of Rolling Thunder Revue again, with that incredible atmosphere? 

Dylan: No, you won't see that again. 

Bigot: Why? Once is enough?

Dylan: Well, yeah, I think so. You know things just couldn't go on that way. 

Bigot: Maybe times have changed also? 

Dylan: That's right. Well, you know, anything's possible, it could happen again. Yeah it could happen. I doubt it would, but it could. 

Bigot: Are you going to do another movie someday?

Dylan: I would like to. I would really like to do that Yves. I just don't have - I haven't found, what do you call it? A script or something. 

Bigot: How was the experience of doing Renaldo & Clara? 

Dylan: Oh, it was invaluable, an invaluable experience. 

Bigot: Tell me, in France you are going to perform in stadiums, it's not the first time is it? 

Dylan: Oh, sure I've played stadiums before. 

Bigot: Colombes will certainly be one of the hugest concerts for us. 

Dylan: I hope so. I hope it will be that way. 

Bigot: I saw you watch Bruce Springsteen perform at the L.A. Sports Arena. I think you were impressed.

Dylan: Oh sure, I was. Listen Yves, I've a show to do tonight and I've got to get on the bus, otherwise I won't have any way to get there. 

Bigot: Okay, Bob. I thank you very, very much much for this interview and for your time and for everything you did. And we are looking forward to welcoming you to France. 

Dylan: Alright, well maybe I'll get to see you, get to meet you. 

Bigot: Okay, so do I. Thanks a lot and have a good concert. Goodbye Bob.

Dylan: Bye. 

Transatlantic telephone conversation between Bob Dylan in Detroit and Yves Bigot in Paris. Broadcasted by Radio Europe 1, Paris, June 22 & June 23. 

Sources: Tape.
Transcription published in Fourth Time Around #2.