Bob Dylan Gets His First No. 1 Single with "Murder Most Foul"

For the first time in his nearly 60-year career, Bob Dylan has a No. 1 hit. His recently released 17-minute track about the JFK assassination, “Murder Most Foul,” has landed atop Billboard’s Rock Digital Song Sales chart, giving the legendary singer-songwriter his first No. 1 single under his own name on any chart.

While he’s never topped a chart before, he’s come awfully close. “Like a Rolling Stone” and “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” both reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 (in 1965 and 1966, respectively), and in 2000, “Things Have Changed” reached No. 2 on the Adult Alternative Songs chart. Other artists have had No. 1 hits with songs penned by Dylan as well: Peter Paul & Mary reached No. 1 with their version of “Blowin’ in the Wind” in 1963, and The Byrds topped the charts with their take on “Mr. Tambourine Man” in 1965.

“Murder Most Foul” was reportedly downloaded 10,000 times between its surprise March 27 release and April 2. “Greetings to my fans and followers with gratitude for all your support and loyalty across the years,” Dylan wrote on social media at the time. “This is an unreleased song we recorded a while back that you might find interesting. Stay safe, stay observant and may God be with you.” It marks his first new original material since 2012.

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