Wednesday 2 October 2024

Bob Dylan's 40 Albums (updated)

It's a whole 4 years since I last checked in on what my favourite Bob Dylan albums are. A lot's changed in 4 years (well, not a lot, but a bit). So, here's the old list, https://101songs.blogspot.com/2020/04/bob-dylans-albums.html here's the new list. 

Basically, I'm looking at which ones have given me the most pleasure in the last four years.

1. Blood on the Tracks

No change there.

2. The Times They are a Changin'

No change there.

3. Time Out of Mind

There's an alternative version released in the last few years which is more Dylan's own idea of what he wanted it to sound like. Can't say I have a preference, i just love the album either way.

4. Street-Legal

The big climber. Just a wild album, underappreciated when it came out. Dylan's last pre-Christian album, his last album, imo, of full, roaring, voice. Quite seedy. Quite thrilling.

5. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

6. Oh Mercy

Have come to really love this one. One of the most albumy Dylan albums. Daniel Lanois' production really gives it a mood. The songs are, in their essence, pretty simple, woebegone and lost.

7. Blonde on Blonde

Could have been the Greatest Album of All, without the handful of slightly rubbish songs.

8. Modern Times

9. Rough and Rowdy Ways

This gave me a lot of pleasure four years ago, and still does.

10. New Morning

Another big climber. Just a whole different mood from any other Bob Dylan album. This easy-going guy.

11. Desire

The thing about Desire is the live versions are nearly always better. And Joey is terrible. But sometimes I think the Desire sound is the absolute best Dylan sound.

12. Bringing It All Back Home

13. Shadow Kingdom

The "live" album from a couple of years ago, which is such a lovely thing.

14. Another Side of Bob Dylan

Used to be one of my favourites.

15."Love and Theft"

Has two of my all-time favourites, in 'Mississippi' and 'Po'Boy'.

16. Highway 61 Revisited

According to Apple Music, the 14th Greatest Album of All Time, but also the only one of his in the Top 100 Albums of All Time. I mean, honestly, these people ...

17. Infidels

Turns out to be great. Wish it had Blind Willie McTell on it though.

18. John Wesley Harding

Again, used to be an all-time favourite, but others have overtaken it.

19. Planet Waves

A subtly dark, unhinged album. You can really see the direct line between New Morning and Blood on the Tracks with this one.

20. Shadows in the Night

21. The Basement Tapes.

I've truthfully, always ben more interested in the Basement Tapes than actually enjoyed listening to them.

22. Tempest

23. Nashville Skyline

24. Slow Train Coming

25. Shot of Love

I saw Dylan say for a few years after this came out that he thought it was one of his best albums. But it's not. 

26. Bob Dylan

27. Christmas in the Heart

28. Together through Life

29. Empire Burlesque

Genuinely have started to really enjoy parts of this one. 

30. Saved

Has Solid Rock, which is one of the most rocking for Jesus songs of all time.

31. Under the Red Sky

This is almost the only Dylan album where you feel he's really trying to still be Bob Dylan,  but just has forgotten how to wrote good lyrics. Still, there are some decent songs.

32. Fallen Angels

33. Down in the Groove

34. World Gone Wrong

35. Knocked Out Loaded

Rumour has it it has this title because he knocked it out when he was loaded.

36. Dylan

37. Self Portrait

38. Pat Garret and Billy the Kid

39. Good as I Been to You

My favourite thing about this album is the title. It's a great title

40. Triplicate. 

Just have never really listened it it all the way through, and don't intend to.

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