All three merit attention for even casual fans of Minnesota’s most revered musical icon.

“Positively Main Street: Bob Dylan’s Minnesota” by Toby Thompson; University of Minnesota Press ($15.95)

Toby Thompson was - not necessarily in this order - a Dylan fan, an aspiring journalist and one crazy dude from Washington, D.C. In 1968, the 25-year-old set out to discover Dylan’s roots, so he drove his VW all the way to Hibbing - twice.

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By Jordan Levin/McClatchy Newspapers

Sergio Mendes found fame as part of an era, symbolized in the name of his first band, Brasil 66, inventing a smooth, jazzy bossa nova pop sound that’s the very essence of the cooled-out ‘60s. Later versions of the group in subsequent decades - Brasil 77, Brasil 88 - didn’t have nearly the same impact.

But 40 years after he first became a star, Mendes has found new success by leaving dates behind. “Timeless,” released in 2006 and produced by Black Eyed Peas leader will.i.am, was chockfull of young urban stars like Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Erykah Badu and India.arie guesting on updates of Mendes classics like “Mas que nada.” It was a surprise hit that brought the 67-year-old musical legend back to life for a new generation of fans.

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