This list is for people who are like my friend Jo, who knows a little of Bob Dylan and asked, what songs I would recommend? He’s heard the uber-uber-famous works – such as Mr Tambourine Man, Knocking on Heaven’s Door and Blowing in the Wind - so I’ve left these off here. But beyond that, I have taken one or two of the very best from the first studio album (1961) to the last (2020).

I have ordered these by recording date and dodged the thousand trapdoors offered by alternative or unreleased takes. Of course, there are also the recordings of the live work but those who are already in that deep need no guidance from me.

Needless to say, I have left off a further 100 or so songs that I initially wrote down as “definite”. And I know devotees are bound to be incensed not to see their favourites here. But this list is for people like Jo – the Dylan-curious. And if you want to get started on the mighty 60-year work of the man, you won’t go too far wrong with these songs, each and every one full of Dylan’s enduring genius.

1. Song to Woody (1961)

2. Masters of War (1963)

3. Lonesome Death of Hattie Carrol (1963)

4. With God on Our Side (1963)

5. Restless Farewell (1963)

6. The Times They Are a-Changin’ (1963)

7. To Ramona (1964)

8. My Back Pages (1964)

9. Subterranean Home Sick Blues (1965)

10. Its All-right Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) (1965)

11. Maggie’s Farm (1965)

12. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (1965)

13. Like a Rolling Stone (1965)

14. Ballad of a Thin Man (1965)

15. Desolation Row (1965)

16. Positively 4th Street (1965)

17. Visions of Johanna (1965)

18. Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again (1966)

19. I Want You (1966)

20. All Along the Watchtower (1967)

21. I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine (1967)

22. Tears of Rage (1967)

23. This Wheel’s on Fire (1967)

24. Lay Lady Lay (1969)

25. I Threw it All Away (1969)

26. When I Paint My Masterpiece (1971)

27. Going Going Gone (1973)

28. Forever Young (1973)

29. Dirge (1973)

30. Tangled Up in Blue (1974)

31. Simple Twist of Fate (1974)

32. Idiot Wind (1974)

33. If You See Her, Say Hello (1974)

34. Shelter from the Storm (1974)

35. Abandoned Love (1974)

36. Hurricane (1975)

37. Isis (1975)

38. One More Cup of Coffee (1975)

39. Changing of the Guards (1978)

40. No Time to Think (1978)

41. Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) (1978)

42. Where Are You Tonight (Journey Through Dark Heat) (1978)

43. Gotta Serve Somebody (1979)

44. Slow Train Coming (1979)

45. When He Returns (1979)

46. The Groom’s Still Waiting at the Altar (1981)

47. Every Grain of Sand (1981)

48. Angelina (1981)

49. Jokerman (1983)

50. I and I (1983)

51. Blind Willie McTell (1983)

52. Tight Connection to My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love) (1985)

53. Brownsville Girl (1986)

54. Political World (1989)

55. Everything is Broken (1989)

56. Ring Them Bells (1989)

57. Most of the Time (1989)

58. What Was it You Wanted? (1989)

59. Series of Dreams (1989)

60. Born in Time (1990)

61. Handy Dandy (1990)

62. Not Dark Yet (1997)

63. Make You Feel My Love (1997)

64. Red River Shore (1997)

65. Things Have Changed (1999)

66. Mississippi (2001)

67. Cross The Green Mountain (2002)

68. Tell Ol’ Bill (2005)

69. Spirit On The Water (2006)

70. When the Deal Goes Down (2006)

71. Workingman’s Blues #2 (2006)

72. Ain’t Talkin’ (2006)

73. Huck’s Tune (2006)

74. Beyond Here Lies Nothin’ (2008)

75. Forgetful Heart (2008)

76. Scarlet Town (2012)

77. My Own Version of You (2020)

78. Mother of Muses (2020)

79. Key West (Philosopher Pirate) (2020)

80. Murder Most Foul (2020)

• This article was amended on 24 May 2021, to correct the title of Beyond Here Lies Nothin’.