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A man that changed his name and in turn truly changed the world. If you live in LA you can now finally get a closer and more intimate look at the world's most prolific songwriter. We don't need to espouse much about Bob Dylan that hasn't already been said, we're just sayin that you've got to check out the Skirball presentation of Bob Dylan's American Journey, 1956-1966. It's got all that you have ever wanted to see from the first ten years and a little bit more.

Thanks in large part to Paul Allen and Seattle's Experience Music Project (it really is nice to see what one of the world's richest men does with all that Microsoft dough), the exhibition takes an honest human look at what one man can do with the power of song.

The exhibit features more than 160 artifacts, including an opening wall with a spectacular collection of vintage 45s and 100 cover versions of "Blowin' In The Wind". Dylan's handwritten drafts of classic songs, his high school yearbook and Woody Guthrie's legendary Martin guitar etched with "This machine kills fascists" are also shown. This intimate portrait houses five exhibition films featuring rare performance and interview footage of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, The Byrds, John Cohen, Pete Seeger amongst others. There's a viewing station featuring excerpts from two Dylan documentaries: "Don’t Look Back" and "Eat the Document". Other highlights include a never-before-released recording of Dylan’s first concert, at Carnegie Chapter Hall and there are dozens and dozens of photos by legendary photographers. Taking it all in might require multiple visits.  The exhibit is running now through June 8, 2008.

Thank you for being Bob Dylan.  Check out a great live version of "Hey Mr. Tambourine Man" at the Newport Folk Festival above.  And click here for a great classic video interview with Time Magazine.