Warning: This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for A Complete Unknown!
A Complete Unknown’s soundtrack features the cast singing iconic folk music that defines the genre, focusing predominantly on Bob Dylan’s early folk and folk-rock songs. The musician Bob Dylan is one of the most influential and groundbreaking musicians of all time, but he’s developed a public perception as an enigma.A Complete Unknowntries to unpack this perception, delving into Dylan’s early career leading up to the controversial 1965 Newport Folk Festival. Because the movie is aBob Dylan biopic,A Complete Unknownhas an understandably enormous soundtrack packed with music from the early to mid-1960s.
In an exclusive Q&A during the AMC early access showing ofA Complete Unknownon December 18th, for which Screen Rant was present,Timothée Chalamet revealed that they planned to pre-records of the cast, but they threw out the recordings in favor of recording the songs live.This makes the soundtrack even more impressive, showing off the skills of theA Complete Unknowncast, who really sing their characters’ songs. Even viewers with no knowledge about Bob Dylan and the 60s folk scene will walk out of the theater as fans of the singers.
“Song to Woody”
“Girl from the North Country”
“House of the Rising Sun”
“Fixin’ to Die”
“Blowin’ in the Wind”
“Masters of War”
“There But for Fortune”
“Highway 61 Revisited”
Bob Dylan
“It Takes A Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry”
Bob Dylan and Joan Baez
“All Day and All of the Night”
“Maggie’s Farm”
When Every Song On The A Complete Unknown Soundtrack Plays In The Movie
A Complete Unknown Features 26 Bob Dylan Songs
“Dusty Old Dust” by Woody Guthrie:This song plays over top of the opening credits for A Complete Unknown. Pete Seeger sings it a few scenes later when Bob Dylan comes into Woody Guthrie’s hospital room.
“This Land Is Your Land” by Pete Seeger:The Seeger version of this classic folk song is sung by the character Pete Seeger on the courthouse steps after being charged with contempt of court.
“Song to Woody” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan plays this song for Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger in Guthrie’s hospital room.
“Girl from the North Country” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan plays this song while Pete’s wife and kids start eating breakfast. Pete Seeger comes into the room and watches him play. Bob stops when he realizes he’s being watched.
“Wimoweh (Mbube)” by Solomon Linda:Pete Seeger instructs the audience on different parts of the song they’ll sing while he sings the main lyrics. Then, they all sing together.
“House of the Rising Sun” by Joan Baez:Joan Baez sings this song onstage at open mic night and looks over at Bob Dylan.
The actual writers of most folk songs, including “House of the Rising Sun,” are unknown because they were passed down through oral tradition.
“I Was Young When I Left Home” by Bob Dylan:Joan Baez starts to walk out of the bar but stops to listen, and she smiles. The label guy and agent talk about how good of a singer Bob Dylan is.
“Fixin’ to Die” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan sing this song in the studio and plays his guitar. He’s stopped because he keeps turning his head away from the mic. They start recording a second time.
“All Over You” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan plays this song on the stage at Riverside Church.
“Walk On” by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee:Bob Dylan talks to Sylvie while watching the singers, and he offers her a peanut.
“Silver Dagger” by Joan Baez:Bob Dylan is in a record store and sees a news report about the civil rights movement.
10 Bob Dylan Movies To Watch Before A Complete Unknown
Across documentaries, feature films, and experimental releases, there are plenty of great Bob Dylan movies to check out before A Complete Unknown.
“Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan plays his iconic song for Woody Guthrie until a man who works at the hospital stops him, saying that he’s disturbing Mr. Guthrie’s roommate, who is in a coma.
“Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash:Bob Dylan watches Johnny Cash singing on the TV.
“Masters of War” by Bob Dylan:Joan Baez rushes down the street but stops walking when she hears Bob Dylan singing this song. She goes into the dive bar where he’s performing and watches him sing.
“Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan and Joan Baez:Bob Dylan plays this song on the guitar, and Joan Baez comes over to sit next to him. She starts harmonizing with him and looks at his face while they sing together.
“Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” by Bob Dylan:This song plays during a montage of scenes. Bob Dylan sings the song while playing the guitar, and then he cuddles with Sylvie. Joan Baez sings the song onstage, which then shifts to her singing it on the radio. Sylvie and Bob then talk about Joan covering his songs, making Sylvie upset. He then rides his motorcycle to Joan’s house.
“House of the Rising Sun” by Bob Dylan:Bob plays this song on his guitar.
“Song to Woody” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan and Joan Baez sing this song together on stage at the Newport Folk Festival.
“A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” by Bob Dylan:A montage plays during this song, showing Bob Dylan singing onstage and singing at the Civil Rights March. It continues as fans bang on the car door, he writes back and forth with Johnny Cash, and he sings on stage again.
“There But for Fortune” by Joan Baez:Joan Baez sings this song onstage while Bob Dylan stands offstage. He looks over and sees his idol and pen pal, Johnny Cash.
“Big River” by Johnny Cash:Johnny Cash starts his performance onstage.
“Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash:Johnny Cash finishes his performance onstage.
A Complete Unknown Sound Team Details The Challenges Of Recreating Bob Dylan Songs & Recording Live Performances
The A Complete Unknown sound team reveals the challenges of recording live performances and details the collaboration with director James Mangold.
“The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan sings this song after announcing it’s new. Pete Seeger looks thrilled, Sylvie cries, and the crowd goes wild when listening to it.
“When the Ship Comes In” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger sing together at the party, and the song continues as he leaves.
“Irish Rover” by Santiano:Bob Dylan goes to a bar to see Bobby Neuwirth play this song, but people recognize him. When he refuses to give someone attention, they punch him in the face.
“I’ll Keep It With Mine” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan plays this song on the piano, types out the lyrics, and blows his whistle.
“Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan plays this song on his guitar in his apartment.
“Subterranean Homesick Blues” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan plays this song in the studio, and his agent says the song is going to piss people off.
“Highway 61 Revisited” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan records this song in the studio with his band, using his whistle during the recording.
“It Takes A Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan sings this song with Delta Blues singer Jesse Moffette, and Pete Seeger joins in on the banjo.
“It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” by Bob Dylan:Joan Baez wakes up to Bob Dylan playing the guitar and writing the lyrics to this song.
“All I Really Want to Do” by Bob Dylan:Joan Baez and Bob Dylan play and sing this song together on a stage in front of a large audience.
A Complete Unknown Review: Timothée Chalamet Captivates As Bob Dylan In A Fascinating Yet Frustrating Biopic
I walked away from the film feeling distant from Bob Dylan. That seems to be by design but it’s no less frustrating from a storytelling point of view.
“Railroad Bill” by Bob Dylan:Bobby Neuwirth and Bob Dylan sing this song together in the recording studio.
“Mr. Tambourine Man” by Bob Dylan:This song plays as Sylvie and Bob Dylan ride on his motorcycle to the Newport Folk Festival.
“Farewell, Angelina” by Joan Baez:Joan Baez sings this song onstage at the Newport Folk Festival.
“It Ain’t Me Babe” by Bob Dylan and Joan Baez:Joan and Bob sing together on the stage while Sylvie looks sad and runs out of the festival.
“Mama, You’ve Been On My Mind” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan and Joan Baez play this song when Sylvie tells her friend that she’s leaving.
“All Day and All of the Night” by The Kinks:The festival board comes up to Bob Dylan’s room to ask if he’s going to play the old music or the electric music, and he storms away.
“Maggie’s Farm” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan sings this song onstage and gets booed. Everyone backstage gets mad that he’s playing electric and they get into a fistfight.
“It Takes A Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan plays this song while the festival board tries to stop the music. Pete goes to unplug the instruments, but his wife blocks his way.
“Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan:Some of the audience boos as Bob Dylan plays this song, throwing things at the stage and starting fights. However, other members of the audience get excited.
“It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” by Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan sings this song as an encore rather than playing “Blowin’ in the Wind.”
“Dusty Old Dust” by Woody Guthrie:This song plays when Bob Dylan returns the harmonica to Woody Guthrie. He then watches through the window as Bob drives away.
Where To Listen To A Complete Unknown’s Soundtrack
A Complete Unknown Will Be Available In Digital And On CD And Vinyl
After watchingA Complete Unknown, viewers may want to enjoy the songs all over again, whether that be the versions from the movie –featuring Timothée Chalamet’s singing– or the originals. Luckily, both the movie versions and the originals are widely available. Most of the movie songs featuring the actors are available on the official soundtrack album.The album can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music, Pandora, Tidal, Deezer, Soundcloud, Qobuz, and the CineMagic channel on SiriusXM.
TheA Complete Unknown Soundtrackcan also be purchased digitally on Amazon and Apple Music. For people who prefer a physical version of the soundtrack, a CD and vinyl version of the soundtrack will be released in 2025, with the vinyl having only 16 songs instead of 23. The original versions of the songs are also widely available on streaming platforms, making it easy to enjoy some of the greatest folk music of all time after watchingA Complete Unknown.
