MIND THE GAP: BOB DYLAN

Right now, my Bob Dylan collection stops in 1976 with Desire and Hard Rain and then picks up again with 2001's Love and Theft. I like most of his 21st century output (although Tempest is the last one I actually bought), but my favorite period is still probably '65-'7o. Any of his albums I'm legitimately missing out on from the 24 years in-between Hard Rain and Love and Theft?

 

Nothing. Unless you count 24 years of Dylan?

Tim

 

I'm personally not a big fan of it, but many Dylanologists would say Street Legal, and they will also point out that Bob's artistic comeback actually started with Time out Of Mind (1997).

And oh yeah, don't forget The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 album.

 

Time Out Of Mind (1997), for sure. That's classic 'late' Dylan.

 

Oh Mercy!!!!!!!

 

Edited my original post, but I guess that's the real question: Am I truly missing out on that 24 years of Dylan, or are there albums I should give a chance? (Or another chance, in some cases.)

 

Most definitely. That and "Oh Mercy".

And I also really like "World Gone Wrong" and - to a lesser extent - "Good As I Been To You".

 

This is also my least favorite Dylan period, but I would start filling that gap with Oh Mercy and the two folk and blues records World Gone Wrong and Good As I Been to You. Those are real highlights.

 

I actually completely forgot about Time Out of Mind. Got it. Love it. Have the first Wilburys, too.

Street Legal is one I need to reassess, maybe.

 

Well.... the four I've mentioned, you need to check them out.

Apart from them there are some decent albums ("Street Legal", "Infidels") and some okay ones. And "Down In The Groove".

 

Infidels is one I've been recommended a few times. Will add that the list.

 

It also has a great sleeve. Sits well next to "In Your Mind" (Bryan Ferry) and "Street Hassle" (Lou Reed)

 

Definitely World Gone Wrong and Good As I Been to You.

 

Street Legal
Slow Train Coming
Infidels
Empire Burlesque
Oh Mercy
Good As I Been To You
World Gone Wrong
Time Out of Mind

 

My recommendations would be:

• Slow Train Coming
• Infidels
• Oh Mercy
• Time Out Of Mind

 

Also, Greatest Hits Vol. 3 has a nice selection of some of the highlights from albums of that era that you might not initially be sure about.

 

Seems to be some general agreement on everything but Slow Train Coming and Empire Burlesque so far. Also not seeing any immediate recommendations for Saved, Knocked Out Loaded, or Red Sky, which I'm assuming means they're best avoided?

 

I'll play the devil's advocate here:
Dylan hasn't been worth listening to, since Desire...

 

A minority view.

 

They have some good tracks, but are inconsistent as a whole.

 

Put it this way, Dylan's entire body of work is well worth checking out. It's only a question of in what order.

 

If we are applying brutal honesty, and you have and love Time Out Of Mind, Oh Mercy is the only one you need.

 

This. You could piece together a great comp with the few gems on albums such as "Shot of Love" (the wonderful "Every Grain of Sand") or "Knocked Out Loaded" (the fantastic "Brownsville Girl").

Great consistent albums as a whole are IMO the aforementioned "Time out of Mind" and "Slow Train Coming". Bob never sang better than on that album IMO, and it has great songs, top notch musicians and a great production.

 

If you are asking, will I like any of that material, nobody 'cept you can answer.

If you are asking, does anyone like any of that material, then sure, many people do.

Street Legal, Slow Train Coming, Shot of Love, Infidels, Oh Mercy, Under the Red Sky, World Gone Wrong, Time out of Mind are all within this period, as are many superlative, transcendant live performances. And there are things to like on the albums I have not mentioned to. I cannot imagine, for myself, why I would want to skip over such a wonderful body of work.

But that's just me.

Tim

 

I would say Street Legal is the most serious omission from your collection and one you should repair immediately. It isn't much loved in America or Canada but sometimes I can believe it's his best album. It's certainly my most listened-to!