Dylan: Rough and Rowdy Ways (2020)

Finally, after Dylan's dive into standards (the Great American Songbook), he's back with a truly great record, his 39th. It has been rightly praised by critics. 

Bob Dylan: Shadows in the Night (2015)

As much as I appreciate digital downloads that come with some new vinyl pressings, I prefer the inclusion of the CD. This pressing, on 180 gram vinyl, includes the CD. I bought the whole package for under $10. Unlike some folks, I really like later Bob Dylan. Modern Times, Together Through Life, Love and Theft, parts of Tempest, etc. are all amazing.

I dropped the needle on this one a while back and my 14-year-old daughter made some sort of disparaging comment about it. She couldn't quite believe what she was hearing, and she meant it in a negative way. I gather that her opinion had more to do with the voice of the singer, rather than the production and music itself. Dylan's vocal performance is stellar. I preferred the direction he was taking on Modern Times and Together Through Life. But, it is interesting to hear his interpretation of these songs, all at one time recorded by Sinatra. In general, I like it very much, but the listening mood has to be the right one.

Bob Dylan: "Love And Theft" [AKD Love And Theft] (2001)

Why does Discogs record the title of this record as "Love and Theft" rather than simply Love and Theft? I mean, why aren't lower case titles recorded in lower case? The sam thing was done with Heroes, I mean "Heroes." This is stupid. 

On the other hand, this, his 31st album, is a fantastic record: Mississippi, Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum, Summer Days, High Water, etc, etc. This is incredible. 

Bob Dylan: Slow Train Coming (1979)

It's odd that I own a record that is overtly evangelical. I guess the born-again Dylan decided to become the unofficial voice of Jews for Jesus in the late 1970s. So, it's an odd record, to be sure. I think I can excuse Dylan for losing his mind for a while. Some of the songs, despite the delusional messages, are interesting. I guess this is a record for the devoted fans or for those seeking a spiritual awakening.

Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits (1976)

This is packed with hits. But, how could they leave out A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall? That is one of the top songs of the twentieth century, unquestionably. I rank it as Dylan's best. The poster is missing from my copy of this record.

Bob Dylan: Hard Rain (1976)

This LP was recorded during the second segment of the Rolling Thunder tour in 1976. It's not bad and much better than Allmusic claims.

Bob Dylan: Down in the Groove (1988)

It seems that everyone hates this record. Sure, it's nowhere near as good as most other Dylan records, but there are few good tracks here. Granted, Bryan Ferry's cover of Let's Get Together is much better than Dylan's. Weirdly, Dylan only wrote three of the tracks, one with a collaborator. Maybe that is the problem. The 80s were hard on many artists, including Dylan. 

Bob Dylan: Empire Burlesque (1985)

For a mid-80s record from an established artist, Empire Burlesque is pretty good. I wonder about the sound, from time to time, but the songs are good enough to keep me interested. It starts with the engaging Tight Connection to My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love?), which I think is not such a bad track. Clean Cut Kid is also not too bad. I do wonder about Allmusic's final sentence of its review: "All this makes Empire Burlesque seem more transient than it actually is, since -- discounting the production -- this is as good as Dylan gets in his latter days." [source] Latter days? Are they serious? 30 years later, Mr. Dylan is still active. Also, there are far better later Dylan records than this one.

Bob Dylan: Desire (1976)

When Dylan is on, he is really on, and this is a really good record. I know people who claim Desire to be his best record. I favour others for that title, but this really has something. I suppose the most famous song is Hurricane, his ode to Ruben "Hurricane" Carter, the boxer falsely convicted (and later exonerated) of murder, but not before he had spent 20 years in prison.

There are other great tracks here too, like Isis (a song title that would suggest a different meaning today), and Mozambique. Once again, good luck trying to find this track on the web.

Bob Dylan: Infidels (1983)

I would argue that Infidels was Dylan's best record since Desire. Part of that might have to do with the fact that Dylan seemed to have forgetten about god for a while, and he hired a veritable guitar god -- Mark Knopfler -- for this record.

The record contains some real classics, like Jokerman, Sweetheart Like You, Neighborhood Bully, Union Sundown...

Oddly, I have a UK pressing.

Bob Dylan: Street-Legal (1978)

I've read that this record has divided critics and fans for years. Perhaps that should be an indication that this is a good record? There are other examples of records that were dismissed by critics upon release but have gone on to attain seminal status. OMD's Dazzle Ships and Lou Reed's Berlin are two examples.

But, while this may be good, it is not a great record. I like it, but there are several better Dylan albums, in my humble opinion. One gets the sense that Dylan really isn't trying very hard, but who am I to say?

I could not find any appropriate clips on Youtube.

Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks (1975)

I'm lucky to have a near mint copy of the first US pressing of Blood on the Tracks. Did Michael Jackson steal this title and rejig it as Blood on the Dance Floor? In any case, there is a good argument to be made that this is Bob Dylan's best record. And, the Allmusic critic seems to agree with me:

"[It]'s an affecting, unbearably poignant record, not because it's a glimpse into his soul, but because the songs are remarkably clear-eyed and sentimental, lovely and melancholy at once. And, in a way, it's best that he was backed with studio musicians here, since the professional, understated backing lets the songs and emotion stand at the forefront. Dylan made albums more influential than this, but he never made one better." [source]

Here's the white-faced Bob in a live version of Tangled up in Blue. For some reason, Bob took to wearing some glam makeup, and only he knows why. Sorry, I just realized that my photo is a bit wonky.

Bob Dylan: Planet Waves (1974)

Planet Waves, the 14th record from Mr. Zimmerman, seem to have a subtitle, which reads: Cast-Iron Songs and Torch Ballads. The band on this record is The Band. I thin the record is better than the two preceding records, but it is not one o my favourites. I like it, but not s much as some other Dylan records.

Bob Dylan: Blonde On Blonde (1966)

Grandpa died last week
And now he's buried in the rocks
But everybody still talks about how
Badly they were shocked
But me, I expected it to happen
I knew he'd lost control
When I speed built a fire on Main Street
And shot it full of holes
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again

It's probably impossible to choose a favourite Dylan record. I change my mind frequently. Blonde on Blonde would be a contender. His first eight records are all excellent. I loved most of the next ten records, with a couple of exceptions. Blonde on Blonde is simply essential. I don't see how anyone can be a fan of western music and not know all of these tracks inside and out. You should be able to sing along to the entire record without missing a word.

One thing we can be sure of is that this was the first ever double LP. I wonder if anyone wlse woudl have thought of that had Dylan not done this. 

My copy is a later issue, probably after 1976.

Bob Dylan: Nashville Skyline (1969)

When I first heard this album, on CD, I thought Dylan had hired someone else to sing the songs, with Dylan providing the music. The credits did not bear this out and so I went online to find out what in the hell was up with this record. The other thing is that this is a stright up country record. Wikipedia says the following:

Building on the rustic style he experimented with on John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline displayed a complete immersion into country music. Along with the more basic lyrical themes, simple songwriting structures, and charming domestic feel, it introduced audiences to a radically new singing voice from Dylan, who had temporarily quit smoking—a soft, affected country croon. [source]

I still do not like this record, precisely because it's a country record and because of Dylan's affected voice, which I really hate. In truth, I don't mind a couple of tracks, but this is a record I rarely ever listen to.

Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume II (1971)

This is a double LP that collects dome of Bob's hits since the first collection of greatest hits. It commences with the previously-unreleased and truly cracking Watching the River Flow. It's an excellent collection of quality Bob Dylan tracks.

Bob Dylan: Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964)

Another Side of Bob Dylan, whatever that means, is a great Dylan record. In truth, I suppose the other side is the less political side. I was tempted to write that this is one of my favourite Dylan records, but I have so many favourite Dylan records, it would seem unfair to single this one out. Every song is a winner, like It Ain't Me Babe, Chimes of Freedom, I Shall be Free, Spanish Harlem Incident, etc.

This is a pristine US pressing that is still in shrink wrap.

As usual, I couldn't find any studio versions of tunes from this record on Youtube, but here is a live track:

Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited (1965)

Highway 61 Revisited was the first Dylan record I owned, and it was on CD. The whole album is genius. It's all the more interesting when I finally heard the earlier stuff, and understood how this (Along with Bringing it all Back Home) was different from his earlier more mellow stuff.

If there is any track that truly deserves the adjective epic, Like a Rolling Stone is it:

"One of the most self-righteous and eloquent indictments ever committed to wax, Like a Rolling Stone filters Bob Dylan¹s indignation for pseudo-bohemian sixties¹ scenesters through his legendary wit. If Dylan¹s first incarnation was as a protest singer, Like a Rolling Stone signals the era of Dylan as court jester/verbal assassin." [link]

(By the way, Allmusic has turned into a slow turd. Those obnoxious popup ads that show up on every single page make the site simply frustrating to use). Things better improve or I'll be seriously upset.

There are a number of unimpressive video clips on Youtube, but nothing that is good enough to post.

Bob Dylan: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963)

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan is probably my favourite Bob Dylan record, or at least my favourite from his early protest period. It's amazing to think that he was only 21 when this record came out. This album, unlike his debut, contains all originals, and they are amazing original songs: Blowin' in the Wind, Masters of War, Don't Think Twice, It's Alright, etc. Or course, the masterpiece on the record is A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall. That song is pure genius.

From Allmusic: " It's hard to overestimate the importance of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, the record that firmly established Dylan as an unparalleled songwriter, one of considerable skill, imagination, and vision" [link] I have to agree.

Bod Dylan: The Times They Are A-Changin' (1964)

I preferred the preceding record, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, much more. Still, this is still a fine record and it contains some classics, like the title track, With God On Our Side, Ballad of Hollis Brown, etc. You can't go wrong with early Dylan records.

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.