Rainy Day Women Nos 12 & 35

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some wild vibes as The Zoo Crew spins "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" by Bob Dylan from his iconic album Blonde on Blonde. This track, recorded on March 10, 1966, at Columbia Studios in Nashville, is a raucous, Salvation Army-style romp that had the studio buzzing with high spirits. Legend has it Dylan insisted the musicians get intoxicated to capture the song’s loose, party-like feel. According to Howard Sounes’ biography Down the Highway, a studio employee was sent to fetch "Leprechaun cocktails" from a nearby bar, and some musicians, including Wayne Moss and Hargus "Pig" Robbins, smoked a hefty amount of marijuana, though others like Charlie McCoy stayed sober. The result? A track that sounds like a "stoned marching band," with Dylan’s laughter breaking through as he sings, “They’ll stone you when you’re trying to go home.” Producer Bob Johnston recalled Dylan belly-laughing, marching around the studio, and jokingly calling the song “A Long-Haired Mule and a Porcupine Here” when asked for its title.

The song’s title, “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” has sparked endless speculation. One story, noted in American Songwriter, suggests two women ducked into the studio out of the rain, and Dylan guessed their ages as 12 and 35, inspiring the name. Another theory ties it to a biblical reference from Proverbs 27:15, comparing a contentious woman to a rainy day, aligning with the song’s theme of societal judgment. Dylan himself fueled the mystery in a 1984 interview, saying the title had “great significance” but he couldn’t recall why, as shared by a user on X. The refrain “Everybody must get stoned” led to its reputation as a drug anthem, but Dylan clarified in a 2012 Rolling Stone interview that it’s rooted in the Book of Acts, referencing biblical stoning as a metaphor for criticism he faced, like going electric at Newport in 1965. Fun fact: multiplying 12 by 35 equals 420, a nod to cannabis culture that fans love to point out, though Dylan never confirmed this.

Despite its popularity, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, the song has divided fans. A 2013 Rolling Stone readers’ poll ranked it the third-worst Dylan song, with some calling it a “borderline novelty tune” that pales against Blonde on Blonde’s masterpieces like “Visions of Johanna.” Yet, others, like fans on Reddit, embrace its goofy charm, with one user noting it’s “a delightful stroke of lunacy.” Dylan has performed it live 963 times, more than any other Blonde on Blonde track, including a memorable 1994 rendition with Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen at Roseland Ballroom. The song’s recording was a one-take wonder, with Charlie McCoy on trumpet and Wayne Butler on trombone, summoned at 4 a.m., adding to its chaotic energy. Al Kooper, playing tambourine, recalled Dylan demoing it on piano before the band turned it into a brassy, high-spirited anthem.

Bob Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941, in Duluth, Minnesota, began his musical journey in the late 1950s. Growing up in Hibbing, Minnesota, he was drawn to rock ‘n’ roll, forming bands like the Golden Chords as a teen, inspired by Elvis Presley and Little Richard. While attending the University of Minnesota in 1959, he immersed himself in the Dinkytown folk scene, adopting the stage name Bob Dylan, influenced by poet Dylan Thomas. By 1961, he moved to New York City’s Greenwich Village, playing coffeehouses and soaking up the folk revival. His big break came when producer John Hammond signed him to Columbia Records, leading to his 1962 debut album, Bob Dylan. Blending folk, blues, and protest songs, he became a voice of the ‘60s counterculture, with hits like “Blowin’ in the Wind” cementing his status. His shift to electric rock in 1965, starting with Highway 61 Revisited, redefined his career and rock music itself.

Dylan’s influence spans over six decades, earning him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016 for his poetic songwriting. Zoo Freaks can connect with him through his official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans also gather on sites like The Bob Dylan Project, which catalogs his songs, and Expecting Rain, a hub for news and discussions. On Facebook, groups like “Bob Dylan Fans” share memories and updates, while Reddit’s r/bobdylan offers lively debates. Whether you’re grooving to the “stoned” chaos of “Rainy Day Women” or diving into Dylan’s vast catalog, The Zoo Crew knows this track is a perfect vibe for our free-spirited listeners!