Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
The Mayor of MacDougal Street cover art

The Mayor of MacDougal Street

By: Dave Van Ronk, Elijah Wald
Narrated by: Sean Runnette
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Buy Now for £15.99

Buy Now for £15.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

Hear the memoir that served as inspiration for a major motion picture written and directed by the Coen brothers.

Dave Van Ronk was one of the founding figures of the 1960s folk revival, but he was far more than that. A pioneer of modern acoustic blues, a fine songwriter and arranger, a powerful singer, and one of the most influential guitarists of the ’60s, he was also a marvelous storyteller, a peerless musical historian, and one of the most quotable figures on the Village scene. 

The Mayor of MacDougal Street is a firsthand account by a major player in the social and musical history of the ’50s and ’60s. It features encounters with young stars-to-be like Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, and Joni Mitchell, as well as older luminaries like the Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, and Odetta. Colorful, hilarious, and engaging, The Mayor of MacDougal Street is a feast for anyone interested in the music, politics, and spirit of a revolutionary period in American culture.

©2005 Elijah Wald and Andrea Vuocolo (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“In Greenwich Village, Van Ronk was king of the street, he reigned supreme.” (Bob Dylan)
“A wise and very funny book.” ( New Yorker)
“A hulking raconteur and iconoclast, [Van Ronk] fondly captures the spirit of the times.” ( Q)

What listeners say about The Mayor of MacDougal Street

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    31
  • 4 Stars
    10
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    30
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    28
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Understanding that USA 60s music time

This was a recommended freebie from Audible and I am glad I listened to it. Dave Van Ronk was not an artist I had heard of and to be honest have now only added a few of his tracks to my playlists. Both jazz and folk tracks. What makes this stand out is in its' way a history of the "Greenwich" village folk times as well as Dave's life. It is easy to just say Bob Dylan and other famous names that actually came to something that foundations had already been laid. If you are fascinated by those times, the music and want a different take on it then this is for you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

wit, insight, anecdote and overview

Not a thing to dislike here. Van Ronk is self aware enough to know how much of his own quirks will give a story warmth and interest whilst still giving a balanced overview of a scene and it’s time with consideration for other players’ points of view. He gives the feel of day to day life in another time that I always hope for from biographies but am not often so rewarded with. The reader was excellent too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Capivating tale read brilliantly

It feels like Dave is sitting opposite you in his house, leisurely but with passion and engagement, regaling anectdote after anectdote and informed opinion after amazingly vivid memories.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great tale

terrific,,felt like I was there,,a spectator on a wonderful Time ,in the legend that is Greenwich Village

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Inside Greenwich Village

The reality of the bohemian dream and the closest we can get to it. A paeon to a halcyon era from the only one who should be telling it. Long live Dave Van Ronk and all the shooting stars in this great book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

conversational and enjoyable memoir

Any additional comments?

Conversational style, van ronk has a refreshing philosophical stance on his past even things others may be bitter about. He is able to laugh at himself while also puttImg his point of view across. His development as a musician is fascinating as are the stories about Dylan, Phil Ochs, Rev Gary Davis and Mississippi John hurt. Well narrated and for fans of inside llewyn Davis it is interesting to see what the Coens pulled from it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!