The Golden Years 1962 - 1978 is actually a two DVD collection that takes us through two different phases of Bob Dylan's career. The first phase is his life beginning with his childhood in Minnesota and takes us to the near fatal motorcycle crash in 1966. The second phase begins with the motorcycle crash and finishes in 1978; around the time of his religious experiences.

DVD 1 is entitled Tales from the Golden Age: Bob Dylan 1941 – 1966. This is the shorter of the two disks; running 86 minutes and it seems to have to reach the most to uncover information from the early days in Hibbing Minnesota. It was here the young Robert Zimmerman learned about Rock and Roll music and began playing it.

Even here Dylan worked under a non de plume using the name Elston Gunn; this was taken from the TV show Peter Gunn, according to the documentary. He had a high school band that he sang so loud in the principle had to cut off the microphone. He was also said to sing like Little Richard. In this DVD, they interviewed childhood friends and acquaintances as well as his High School English teacher.

The DVD then takes us through Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota on to New York where he cut his first Columbia Album Bob Dylan in 1962. We learn about his rise into the folk world and subsequent turmoil he created with the infamous 1966 world tour where he began his electric phase. It ends with the motorcycle crash that left him laid up in bed for 8 months with a broken neck.

DVD 2 is called Bob Dylan 1966-1978: After the Crash. This documentary picks up with Bob Dylan recuperating and hiding in Woodstock, New York. Here it is revealed through journalist and long time friend Al Aronowitz as well as with Nigel Williamson, The Rough Guide to Bob Dylan; and Clinton Heylin, Behind the Shades; that the motorcycle accident served as a wake up call to Dylan. He realized that he had to stop the roller-coaster.