Olof Björner (26 November 1942 – 12 September 2023) was a Swedish researcher who specialised in documenting the live performances and recording sessions of American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.[1] In addition to operating bjorner.com, a website featuring detailed listings of Dylan's live concerts and studio recordings from 1956 to 2020, Björner authored a 13-volume set on these subjects, called Olof's Files: A Bob Dylan Performance Guide, issued by UK publisher Hardinge Simpole.[2]
Commenting on the quality of Björner's publications and his website, Dylan critic Michael Gray has written, "The detail is extraordinary, and the level of accuracy phenomenal."[2]
Biography
Björner was born in Stockholm in 1942, and obtained a computer science degree in 1967. He first worked as a computer consultant and later became a management consultant specializing in internet technology strategies for the healthcare industry. In 2003, he and his wife Agneta bought a bookstore in Filipstad, a small town in the Swedish countryside.[2] He became interested in Dylan in 1963. His first work on the recording artist, Words Fill My Head, Written, Spoken, Sung by Bob Dylan was self-published in 1989.[2] Björner died on 12 September 2023, at the age of 80.[1]
Works
- Björner, Olof (2002). Olof's Files: A Bob Dylan Performance Guide 1958–1969 Volume 1. Hardinge Simpole. ISBN 1-84382-020-X.
- Björner, Olof (2003). Olof's Files: A Bob Dylan Performance Guide 1970–1977 Volume 2. Hardinge Simpole. ISBN 1-84382-036-6.
- Björner, Olof (2003). Olof's Files: A Bob Dylan Performance Guide 1978–1979 Volume 3. Hardinge Simpole. ISBN 1-84382-038-2.
- Björner, Olof (2003). Olof's Files: A Bob Dylan Performance Guide 1980–1985 Volume 4. Hardinge Simpole. ISBN 1-84382-040-4.
- Björner, Olof (2004). Olof's Files: A Bob Dylan Performance Guide 1986–1988 Volume 5. Hardinge Simpole. ISBN 1-84382-042-0.
- Björner, Olof (2002). Olof's Files: A Bob Dylan Performance Guide 1989–1990 Volume 6. Hardinge Simpole. ISBN 1-84382-026-9.
- Björner, Olof (2002). Olof's Files: A Bob Dylan Performance Guide 1991–1992 Volume 7. Hardinge Simpole. ISBN 1-84382-028-5.
- Björner, Olof (2002). Olof's Files: A Bob Dylan Performance Guide 1993–1994 Volume 8. Hardinge Simpole. ISBN 1-84382-030-7.
- Björner, Olof (2003). Olof's Files: A Bob Dylan Performance Guide 1995–1996 Volume 9. Hardinge Simpole. ISBN 1-84382-032-3.
- Björner, Olof (2003). Olof's Files: A Bob Dylan Performance Guide 1997–1998 Volume 10. Hardinge Simpole. ISBN 1-84382-034-X.
- Björner, Olof (2002). Olof's Files: A Bob Dylan Performance Guide 1999–2000 Volume 11. Hardinge Simpole. ISBN 1-84382-022-6.
- Björner, Olof (2004). Olof's Files: A Bob Dylan Performance Guide 2001–2002 Volume 12. Hardinge Simpole. ISBN 1-84382-044-7.
- Björner, Olof (2002). Olof's Files: A Bob Dylan Performance Guide 1958–2000 The Index Volume. Hardinge Simpole. ISBN 1-84382-024-2.
- Leyser, Brady J., and Olof Björner (2006). Bob Dylan Live in Canada: A Concert History, 1962–2005. Trafford Publishing. ISBN 1-4120-8372-9.
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Notes
References
- Gray, Michael (2006). The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia. Continuum International. ISBN 0-8264-6933-7.