The late 1970s and 1980s saw Bob Dylan release some records that were well received, and others less so. It was during this period that the musician of Jewish origin decided to convert to Christianity and gospel. But in 1989, he returned to more familiar lands with Oh Mercysometimes considered the pinnacle of his career. The album was recorded entirely at night, which explains its shimmering production and whispered vocals; it sounds like the soundtrack to a quiet, neon-lit bar at two in the morning, and contains such timeless classics as “Man in the Long Black Coat” and “Most of the Time.”
The Bootleg Series Vol 4 (1998)
Given the number of studio albums that our man has released, it is generally considered that his recordings live and its compilations are reserved for the most die-hard fans… Except for The Bootleg Series Vol 4. It must be said that this record kills two birds with one stone: it is both a release of the famous Bootleg Seriesand an album live. More precisely, it is a recording of a concert given in 1966 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, at a time when Bob Dylan's electric sound (in the second part of the concert) was still new enough to shock his audience. Many early classics are performed here with the kind of authentic sound that you simply can't get in the studio.
Rough and Rowdy Ways (2020)
Bob Dylan was 59 years old at the turn of the millennium, but his career did not end there. Released in 2006, Modern Times is very popular with fans, but his best record of 21e century is certainly Rough and Rowdy Waysreleased in 2020. Here, we are treated to old-fashioned Bob Dylan, in the sense that he delivers cryptic lyrics, full of characters and allusions. The difference being that these are interpreted by a voice that has spanned the decades, which gives them an authentic resonance. The penultimate track, “Key West (Philosopher Pirate),” is a timeless classic, a melancholy, accordion-infused meditation on mortality and everything in between.
-Originally published on British GQ
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