Bob Dylan’s "Positively 4th Street" was recorded in New York City on July 29, 1965 and released as a single by Columbia Records on September 7, 1965.

The song was released as the follow-up to Dylan's hit single "Like a Rolling Stone" and was not included on an album at the time. The song's title does not appear anywhere in the lyrics and there has been much debate over the years as to the significance or which individual(s) the song concerns.

As with most of Dylan’s work, the song has been analyzed and dissected since its release. Dylan has never specifically identified any specific person or persons as being the object of his ire; however, many critics believe that Dylan was speaking to all the folk purists who had been his earliest champions but who had begun to criticize him for his departure from traditional folk styles towards the electric guitar and rock music.

New York City's 4th Street is at the heart of Greenwich Village, where Dylan once lived and the area was central to the burgeoning folk music scene of the early 1960s, which centered around Dylan and many other influential singer-songwriters.

The studio band featured Bobby Gregg (drums), Harvey Brooks (bass), Paul Griffin (piano), Al Kooper (organ) and Mike Bloomfield (guitar), with the song initially being logged on the studio's official recording session documentation under the working title of "Black Dalli Rue".

Various Sources

From a visual perspective, I thought the worn nature of the record complemented the monochromatic map and mat.