"One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)" is a song written and recorded by
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
.
It is the fourth track on his 1966 album ''
Blonde on Blonde
''Blonde on Blonde'' is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released as a double album on June 20, 1966, by Columbia Records. Recording sessions began in New York in October 1965 with numerous backing musicians, ...
'', and was released as the album's first single that February. The song is an emotional confession of misconnects and apologies from the singer to a young woman he regrets having mistreated. As a single, it peaked at No. 33 in the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
,
but only reached No. 119 on US ''
Billboard's'' Bubbling Under chart.
Background
According to Jonathan Singer, it was
Paul Griffin who played the piano section on "One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)".
Musically, the track is typical of the album: a treble single coil guitar adds a base to the song with the acoustic and bass while organs and pianos take the lead in forming the song. Jazz style drumming is used effectively. According to ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'', it took nine hours and 24 takes to complete the song.
Reception
''
Cash Box
''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...
'' described the single as a "raunchy, low-down romantic lament essayed with plenty of feeling."
Other versions
The organ part varied on the Blonde On Blonde album depending on whether it was the mono or stereo mix. An outtake of the song appeared on ''
The Bootleg Series Vol. 12: The Cutting Edge 1965–1966'', while the deluxe version of the album included multiple other versions of the song. According to Dylan's official website, as of 2018 Dylan has performed "One of Us Must Know" 60 times in concert, with all performances occurring between 1976 and 1997.
Covers
English singer-songwriter
Mick Hucknall covered the song on the 2012 charity
compilation album
A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...
''
Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International''.
Old Crow Medicine Show covered the song on their live Dylan tribute album, ''
50 Years of Blonde on Blonde
''50 Years of Blonde on Blonde'' is a live album by Old Crow Medicine Show. It is a track-for-track tribute to Bob Dylan's landmark 1966 double album ''Blonde on Blonde''.
Production
''50 Years of Blonde on Blonde'' was recorded live at the CMA ...
''.
References
Songs written by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan songs
1966 singles
Song recordings produced by Bob Johnston
Columbia Records singles
1966 songs
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