update: Bob Dylan [ tickets ], who picked up nominations in three Grammy categories last week, continues to flesh out plans for his early 2002 tour of the southern U.S., which gets underway at the end of January.

The singer-songwriter is scheduled to visit 17 cities in less than a month as he continues to tour behind "Love and Theft" (Columbia), his critically acclaimed 43rd album. Tickets are on sale now for many dates; other on-sales will begin soon. Details are in the itinerary below.

"Love and Theft" recently earned Grammy nominations for Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Folk Album. Dylan was nominated for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for the album's track "Honest With Me." The Grammys will be awarded at a Feb. 27 ceremony in Los Angeles.

On "Love and Theft," Dylan was backed by members of his touring band: Larry Campbell (guitar, violin, banjo, mandolin), Charlie Sexton (guitar), Tony Garnier (bass), David Kemper (drums) and Augie Meyers (vox organ, Hammond B3 organ, accordion).

The Dylan classic "Blowin' in the Wind" appears on the compilation CD "God Bless America" (Columbia). A portion of the proceeds from the sale of album will be donated to the Twin Towers Fund, which aids the families of police, fire and other New York City employees involved in rescue efforts following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Editors at liveDaily and its sister site Citysearch.com chose "Love and Theft" as the best album of 2001.