[1][3] Authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon wrote that Highway 51, which extends from the suburbs of New Orleans, Louisiana, to Hurley, Wisconsin, "has a special place in the history of American Music" due to being the route used by many African-Americans moving to the north.
(It was common for credits to be assigned on the basis of a title, without checking the actual recording, and if Dylan learned the song from a tape, it is very possible that he did not know the name of its original performer.
)[6] Dylan used lyrics and vocal phrasing from McClennan's recording and a repeating guitar figure from "Wake Up Little Susie" by The Everly Brothers (1957).
[13] Paul Williams felt that "Highway 51" was one of several songs on the album to "give hints of Dylan's rock and roll sensibilities".
[14] The album's liner notes by "Stacey Williams" (a pseudonym for Shelton[15]), say: "A diesel-tempoed "Highway 51" is of a type sung by the Everly Brothers, partially rewritten by Dylan.
However, Gray gives a positive assessment, arguing that the "speed, energy and attack" of Dylan's vocal and instrumental performances "show how fresh and excellently 'unprofessional he was".
[15] Shelton wrote about the song in his biography, No Direction Home, The Life and Music of Bob Dylan: The simple guitar work supplies the equivalent of a full rhythm section, with interweaving stresses that suggest jazz drumming.