| "Obviously 5 Believers" | |
|---|---|
 Danish single picture sleeve | |
| Song by Bob Dylan | |
| from the album Blonde on Blonde | |
| Released | June 20, 1966 |
| Recorded | March 10, 1966 |
| Studio | Columbia Studio A, Nashville[1] |
| Genre | Blues |
| Length | 3:36[2] |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter(s) | Bob Dylan |
| Producer(s) | Bob Johnston |
| Audio | |
| "Obviously 5 Believers" on YouTube | |
"Obviously 5 Believers" (also known as "Obviously Five Believers"[3]) is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, which was released as the last track of side three of his double album Blonde on Blonde (1966), and was the B-side to the single release of "Just Like a Woman" for releases in America and some other countries. The song was written by Dylan and produced by Bob Johnston. It was recorded at Columbia Music Row Studios, in the early morning hours of a March 9–10, 1966 session. Four takes were recorded, although the first two were incomplete. It has been interpreted as a blues song about loneliness, with critics noting similarities in melody and structure to Memphis Minnie's "Chauffeur Blues". Dylan's vocals and the musicianship of the band on the track have both received critical acclaim, although the track has been regarded as insubstantial by some commentators.
In 2010, the song was included on The Original Mono Recordings. Take 3 was included on the deluxe edition of The Bootleg Series Vol. 12: The Cutting Edge 1965–1966 (2015), and all four takes were included on the Collector's Edition of that album. Dylan first performed "Obviously 5 Believers" live in concert in Palm Desert, California on May 15, 1995. In all, he has played the song in concert 40 times, most recently in 1997.
- ^ Sanders 2020, p. 99.
- ^ Margotin & Guesdon 2022, p. 238.
- ^ Trager 2004, p. 462.