I can't believe you have less than a 1,000 subs....this is some of the best album analysis on youtube. Street Legal has always been one of my Dylan faves.....maybe it's a Brit thing.
Thank you very much for your kind comment. I very much appreciate it. I do believe this album was indeed more successful at the time in UK rather than US. But like you, I absolutely love the album and my appreciation of it increases with each year. Thanks again, and cheers! Jeff
Agree! I simply love this album, in large part because of the lyrics. Thanks for your analysis/comments/vid Jeff! Btw, I always regarded Senor as a prayer of sorts. e.g. ‘The last thing I remember before I stripped and kneeled was a trainload of fools bogged down in a magnetic field’. Good God Bob is amazing in so many ways. -He’s had a HUGE impact on my life and I have seen him live over 100 times.
@@JS-pd4cp Oh, most definitely, JS. Thanks for your great comments. I really appreciate them. And yes, Dylan's art has been a genuinely unique blessing to so many of us, indeed. Cheers. Jeff
I love Street Legal.....as always Jeff a beautiful analysis of a classic record....I need to play this more often....its strange to think this was released the year I graduated from high school and I'm now retired.....it still sounds fresh!........sorry for so many comments lately......just enjoying tge videos
Hello from the UK. Just found your channel - 100 Fav Dylan songs was excellent, and funny! Love Street Legal, bought it on release as a 16/17 year old and thought it was great from the get go. Always loved the closing two tracks and thought they were always underrated. Thanks for such an informative and interesting video, will definitely be checking out the rest.
Hi Mark. Thanks for stopping by. I think Street Legal hit bigger in UK than in US at the time....or at least it felt that way here then. So it took me a bit of devoted listening to let it sink in. But I agree - it is a masterful album filled with superb music and lyrics. Hey, it's Bob Dylan! What else would it be? Haha. Thanks again, and I hope you enjoy all the Dylan videos I've had so much fun making over the last 3+ years. It has been an honor to express my avid enthusiasm over the finest performing artist and poet of our lifetimes. Cheers! Jeff
@@CalicoSilver, just ordered another copy, as I see my CD was the older version. Didn’t know about the better mastering on the later one. Sad story, I once had all Dylan albums from Bob Dylan to Knocked Out Loaded on vinyl. But I sold, lost or damaged them. I threw it all away. Over recent weeks and months I’ve been kicking myself. Very hard!
Thank you for making all of these Dylan album review videos (stumbled on the Empire Burlesque one initially ... one of my "go to" Dylan albums actually, despite the '80's production ... good songs) ... anyway, re Street Legal, [currently] my favourite Dylan studio album (I started here, plus Budokan, plus Slow Train ... all wonderful ... for me) ... excellent overview, many insights into each of the songs / themes / interpretations ... great album cover ... hit singles here in the UK ... and my entry into this wonderful catalogue ... saw him in 81, 89, 91, 93, 98, 06, 13 ... always interesting, evolving, changing ... off to listen to this album again ... and, thanks to your other videos, I'm going to re-visit Dylan and The Dead .. (was fortunate to see Dead and Co. with John Mayer at Hollywood Bowl in 2017 ... awesome ... an updated live show with Dylan and Bob Weir et al in 2024 would be worth hearing!) ... cheers, CMcG, Aberdeen, Scotland
Thank you for your well considered review, articulated comfortably with no fanfare! I absolutely love this album because it is so organic and authentic. Bob is facing probably his greatest challenge of heart and soul while having to deal with thoughts that are not average (given his genius). The pain is palpable and yet (a)"hope springs eternal" is weaving through it too. Bob would later say (b)"let's keep hope alive" in Murder Most Foul. This is my point about Bob and this album that is so remarkable and a testimony to his courage. Bob bravely soldiering through what was probably his darkest time, yet still so creative and intelligent about it; never losing his optimism or his abiding love despite the hell he going through. (a) “Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never Is, but always To be blest. The soul, uneasy, and confin'd from home, Rests and expatiates in a life to come.” Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man (b) "Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive! Keep hope alive! On tomorrow night and beyond, keep hope alive!" Rev. Jessie Jackson's speech from the "Democratic National Convention, Atlanta, Georgia - July 19, 1988"
Bravo Jeff! I saw Dylan back in 2009 and Señor was one song that stood out in my mind. Having recently stumbled your reviews I was curious to give this one a listen and I'm glad I did. Nice background and overview of what was going on in Dylan's life. As a Christian myself, I find it fascinating to hear about what led him there and what's spiritually influencing his lyrics. I'll look forward to discovering the rest of the album. Thanks!
Thanks, DeVore. Yes this is a marvelous album and seems filled with the expressed need for a change in his life, which he certainly pursued at this time. I am happy you enjoyed the review, and hope you enjoy the album also. Cheers! Jeff
Again wonderful analysis. I was around at the time and was lucky enough to see Bob for the first time at Earls Court and then again at Blackbushe Airdrome which was some experience. I brought the album and like you initially was not over enamoured. Subsequently I have come to love it, favourite tracks, Changing of the Guards, Senor and Where are you tonight.
Thank you, Ian. Great album indeed. You chose some of the best tracks as your favorites. That opener is a killer track. Someone asked me to post a video where I analyze the 2nd track, No Time To Think, so I did so (if you are interested). Thanks again for commenting. Jeff
Purchased it upon release, loved it straight off and still do. Saw him perform tracks off it at Earls Court, London in 1978. Shortly after I was also at Blackbushe, July 1978 where he performed six songs from the album.
I never realised how successful this album was, or the circumstances surrounding its creation. I had it in my collection for years without ever giving it much attention. When I finally got round to it (after seeing John Heaton's review) I was pleasantly surprised. I actually enjoyed the clean and sophisticated production - I guess Street Legal does have a bit of a Springsteen influence. I'm not a Springsteen fan at all though. I must admit the version I've mostly listened to is the first CD remaster. I'll have to go back and compare it to my original vinyl version. Nice work as ever, I enjoyed the thematic analysis as I don't always pick up on that in Dylan's work. It's interesting as I'm usually very much a lyrics person, but I often let Dylan's lyrics kind of wash over me as part of the musical picture. Cheers, James
Dylan is the whole package for me: I love his music, love his performance style and power, and love his lyrics. No one comes close. Thanks for the great comment as always, James.
Baby Stop Crying was the first Bob Dylan song I ever heard so someone of my young age in 1978 would have a very different view of Dylan than older people . It was quite a big hit here in the UK. It's still my favourite BD song and Is Your Love In Vain is probably my second favourite. There are a lot of very good songs on Street Legal.
Have loved this album since it first came out. To this day, sometimes I’m not sure if it’s what I want to hear but as soon as I hear “..... sixteen years”, I am hooked! Thanks for this analysis!! I love it.
Thanks, Claire. It took me a while but I came to love this album very much also. In fact, I've probably listened to this album the most out of Dylan's albums over the past 10-20 years. Not sure why, but I do, and like you said, once "sixteen years..." hits, I'm hooked also. Cheers. Jeff
Hi Jeff, great to hear your appreciation of this album, thanks. This has always been my "go to" Dylan album, with three of his very best songs (Changing, Senor, Journey), a dense musical sound, rich lyrical imagery and no "plodding" fillers, I always get pleasure from it. In fact, on my countdown of Dylan albums, it's without doubt my No. 1. Although there have been the remix / remaster albums, there haven't been many bootleg tracks from this album session made available - that I know about anyway. Perhaps for once he actually nailed an album. So many of his other albums could have been even better if they'd have included some of the omitted tracks or alternate takes. This one? Perfection. Cheers, Karl.
Thanks, Karl. Yes I agree that this is a fantastic album by Dylan, very unique in his discography, and it holds up well over the decades for its lyrical and musical freshness. When this album came out I listened to it many many times because at first I didn't like the horns and backing singers, but over the years it has become an album I very much love. Thanks again. Jeff
My brother and I were about 12 or 13 years old when we listened to this album incessantly while on our annual summer holiday on the Greek island of Cephalonia. As aspiring musicians I remember us befriending and inviting young tourists to my grandmother's holiday home and play for them this album right through - while we'd jam it for them, my brother on a type of plastic tennis racket (guitar) and me using my grandmother's beach sandals as drumsticks, with books and the bed for drums (hey I made do with what I had!) We'd sing with at times a rocker's mumble - singing what we thought were the words! They'd sit there freaked and amazed! For me the album is up there with any other when the mood permits. Excellent lyrical phrasing and rhyming, strong melodies and very creative, inspired and deep. The drumming patterns are good too - think, baby stop crying... My faves are where are you tonight? We better talk this over and I think, is your love in vain is a beautiful love song. I always wondered where he was on the album cover. Thanks for explaining that!
In 1978 I listened to Street Legal a couple of times and didn't like it except for Changing of the Guards. 42 years later while listening to Bob Dylan Tracks, there was Jerry Garcia's cover of Senor and I loved it. I went and got the CD and I really liked it and enjoyed listening to it. Now I listen to it often. I think if BOTT was not such an important and so highly regarded work that Desire and Street Legal would have been better received, just my opinion. Thanks again Jeff, I'm really enjoying your reviews.
Yep, I agree, Willard. I didn't like Street Legal and Budokan either back when they came out, but I love Street Legal today......and can listen to Budokan once a decade or so...haha! Thanks for your kind words. Jeff
Always loved this album. I agree whole heartedly with you that it's a great vocal from dylan. He seems to deliver each line perfectly. It's one of those overlooked albums by Dylan. But as your review shows, it's an album.of huge artistic merit and depth. Which prompts me to say what an incredibly thoughtful and detailed review. Perfect analysis and appreciation.
Wow, thanks so much, Paul. I really appreciate your taking the time to comment so nicely to my video. Yes, this is indeed quite an underrated album with, as you so well put it, "huge artistic merit and depth". Right on. Best regards. Jeff
I'm from the UK and I love this album and played it a lot. When i went to work i'd play some CD's and some co-workers my age and older, not necessarily Dylan fans, loved this album too. They hadn't heard this album before. Interesting. Then i was at a friend's house a few years back and i look at his vinyl collection and i spot Street Legal.
Great review! You know your Dylan, that is for sure. I love this album so much. It's no wonder to me that it was so popular in the UK when it came out. Great lyrics (like those by Dylan or Leonard Cohen or Al Stewart....) usually get a lot more attention and comprehension in the UK and in Europe (and even in Canada) than they do in the USA, and Street Legal is full of stunning lyrics. I would have liked some of Dylan's harmonica on some of the tracks too, that's for sure. Here's a little tip about something...there's a reference in "Where Are You Tonight?" to "a full-blooded Cherokee, he predicted it to me, the time and the place that we'd part" (or, in an alternate version..."the time and the place that the trouble would start"...referring to the breakup with Sara)...well I know who that Cherokee was. It was the Medicine Man Rolling Thunder, out in Nevada. Dylan visited him for awhile in '74 (a few weeks, I think?), and they reportedly got along great, and I have no doubt that that was the reason Dylan named his '75 tour the Rolling Thunder Revue. This has remained very much under the radar for most Dylan biographers. I spent a lot of time in 1977, 1978, and 1980 visiting out at Rolling Thunder's desert community near Carlin, Nevada, and he often spoke about Bob Dylan, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Joan Baez, and various other people on that tour and in that musical community. Rolling Thunder was a striking character, very intense, with a massive amount of charisma. He knew how to get people's attention, that's for sure. Quite the showman! I would have been fascinated to see him and Dylan bouncing ideas off one another...but, alas, I got there 3 years too late for that! Nevertheless, being out there remains one of the great adventures of my life. I was big into Native American cultural stuff of all kinds, and that's what led me out there at the time.
Wow, thanks so much for letting me know about Medicine Man Rolling Thunder!! That is fascinating stuff, and I have never heard or read about it (or if I did, I have completely forgotten it). Brilliant! I really appreciate your sharing this with me. As for that part of the country, I love it there too. I have always loved the desert very much and would move there in a heartbeat if my wife would tolerate it (she likes GREEN whereas I like desert, haha). We lived in Utah for 3 years and I loved it there also. Have you ever read Edward Abbey's book "Desert Solitaire"? It was one of the best books I ever read. You are so right, George. I have found that lyrics seem to be more appreciated abroad than here in USA, where the groove is what often matters most, haha. People here love to GROOVE. ;-) Cheers! (and many thanks again for your great comments) Jeff
@@CalicoSilver - Yeah, that's it. American audiences focus mostly on the beat..."the groove"...the riffs...the general sound. They are not so attentive to what the song has to *say*. The thing I loved about the folk music movement was that the audience was deeply attentive to what the song had to say. A folk song didn't even need the commercial forms (a chorus...a bridge...). It could simply be verse...verse...verse....verse..but it had to SAY something. A lot of Dylan's works are rooted in that folk form which goes back for many centuries, long before commercial radio music was ever thought of. I have not read "Desert Solitaire". Is it a novel? I'll have a look and see what I can find out about it online.
@@georgecoventry8441 "Desert Solitaire" is a non-fiction book written about Abbey's time living in the harsh but beautiful setting of the Utah (if memory serves) desert. Sort of like Thoreau's "Walden", except for the desert rather than for rural New England. (I am a nature nut, so I really like this kind of thing)
Great review! It's an underrated album with some good songs. However, by far the standout track on the album is Señor. It's one of his best songs up there with all the better known classics.
True, indeed. My only problem with "Señor" is that it is SO GOOD that whenever I hear it, or even if anyone mentions the song, I end up singing it in my head all damned day....thanks a lot, Nicholas! Hahaha. But seriously, thanks for the comment. Yes this is one heck of an album. Cheers. Jeff
Excellent review. I think that the album comes from a space of pain and confusion that no one would ever want to inhabit or visit again. And yet there is a relentlessness to it an absolute commitment to moving on to getting to something better. When the album first came out, I got a phone call from a friend who was going through a very painful divorce. It was painful for me as well in that (1) It presaged my own painful divorce (2) I dearly loved both my friend and his soon to be ex-wife. I went over to his place and we listened to the album together. The first song that really hit home..."I think we'd bettered talk this over...Maybe when we both get sober." My friend had to stop the record at that point and I'll never forget the look on his face. At this point, so many years later, I can only say that the album captures it's emotional moment perfectly. Small wonder that he never has revisited these songs very much in concert. Approaching the album in 2021 with a modicum of emotional equanimity, however, allows me to appreciate it very much.
Thanks so much for your great comment, Michael. I've not been divorced myself but I've had several friends and family members go through it and seen the range of emotions involved. This album just lays it all out.....that need to move on, the need for a change, and all the range of emotions that accompany those thought processes. I can only imagine how powerful the album must have been for your friend and you during that difficult time. One of the things that baffles me, Michael, is that I've met so many Dylan fans who claim to not have any idea about what the lyrics might suggest, and who seem to not really care to think about them.....they prefer to just let the lyrics flow by like a river. I guess that is fine, and I certainly do agree that only one person knows what those lyrics truly mean, but I can't fathom being a Dylan fan without thinking and pondering those lyrics more deeply than merely "words to a song". Anyway, thanks again for your kind comment. Much appreciated! Jeff
@@CalicoSilver I very much appreciate the intelligence behind both your review and your reply to my comment upon it. At this point, Dylan's works are as eternal as works of humans can be. That means that people can mature into them. The fans who simply let the lyrics flow by may find depths of meaning in those lyrics later in life when the vicissitudes of existence have left them hungry for an understanding of the human condition. Dylan's perspectives will be there for them and the fact that they have been fans and appreciated his work however superficially will mean that they are prepared for the deeper dive that people like you have already made. Indeed, your reviews can offer timely navigation. Shallowness is not necessarily permanent.
Im a fan of this album it was the first one to come out for me as a Dylan fan.There was a lot of media excitement at the time in the UK as Bob was coming to play at Earls Court for 6 nights. I even remember TOP OF THE POPS on TV featuring Baby Stop Crying !!!. Consequently I associate the Album with a lot of positive reviews in the press.I was really surprised when I found out how negatively it was seen in the states.I do agree that the original mix was pretty muddy but feel the 1999 remix greatly enhance the fine songs on here where the vocals are brought up in the mix to make the lyrics clearer. I think this is a real underrated album along with Planet Waves which should get more respect.Great melodies here as well as the deep lyrics. Cheers Jeff great review
I agree 100%. Although I really didn't like it back in '78, I absolutely love the album today. And yes the remix helped amazingly. I'm sure it must bother Dylan when he puts so much into an album (like Street Legal and Planet Waves) and people put it down.
It's Funny, I share your feelings about this album, sometimes it just doesn’t grab me, but at the same time I think is full of individual great song that somehow don’t work as an album.
When I started listening to Bob Dylan I thought that it was interesting that his voice basically changes in every album but then, when I discovered this album I was even more surprised. It's so weird/interesting how his voice changed from Planet Waves up to here. Some people don't like it but I sure enjoy how Bob's voice has changed. It's just a suggestion but you could make a video about how Dylan's voice changed throughout the years and why it happened or something like that. I'm still catching up with your reviews and they are great. Hope you are fine during these strange and tough times, take care 🖒🖒
Thanks, Dave. We are doing fine, thanks - I hope the same for you. Strange times, indeed. Thanks for the video idea suggestion. So many possibilities with an artist like Dylan. Thanks again. Jeff
I also always heard the photo was taken in front of rundown Studios, but if you check out a great site called pop spots, they show you exactly where it was located with the way it looks today. it's a couple of blocks off the beach in Santa Monica. not his Studio.
Wow, thanks for that info, MrThermostatic! And thanks for the heads-up for the pop spots site - I love stuff like that and will check it out right away. Cheers. Jeff
The Brits have good taste! Really inspiring listening to you interpretation. Señor (Tales of Yankee Power) always sounded to me like a song about Carlos Castaneda and his doubts about him ("Is there any truth in that, Señor?"). And "Is Your Love In Vain?" seems to be a reference to Robert Johnson's famous sad blues ballad "Love In Vain", covered by the Rolling Stones ("trad. arr.") on Let It Bleed.
Thanks for your nice words! Much appreciated. Yeah, I think of Johnson's Love In Vain when I hear Dylan's song too - I forgot to comment on that. Wow, interesting reference to Castaneda, about whom I know very little. I should check him out. Thanks! Jeff
I've always loved this album. I think the fact I'm a bit younger than you (was born the same year this one came out) meant that I didn't mind the sound as it's more in line with what I'd grown up hearing on the radio and so on so it was pretty accessible. It was the 60s albums that I had to work a little harder to get used to. Once I did there was no going back but it did take a few listens to get used to the sound of some of those early albums. No one I knew was listening to anything like Dylan when I was in my late teens and exploring music.
I was a college lecturer from the early '90s until just a few years ago, during which time I did notice that the number of students who would recognize the Dylan photo in my office decreased almost to none by the time I retired. It does not surprise me that young people would not recognize the man in the photo, but what surprised me most was that when I divulged the identity of that man in the photo, only a few recognized the name "Bob Dylan" by the time I retired. Haha!
@@CalicoSilver Sometimes I wonder if the decisions made to limit accessibility to his music on UA-cam and similar places might mean that his music unfortunately dies not long after he does. Real shame. Perhaps music (that isn't classical) has a shelf life.
Excellent scholarly analysis. You’re right: there is definitely a division between how this album is regarded in Europe and how it is (still) regarded in America. The 1978 tour was a big deal - the first time Dylan had toured in Europe since 1966 (which was basically just a big British tour with short trips to France, Ireland and Denmark) and the tour on which he is supposed to have given his single greatest live performance (Blackbushe Aerodrome). American reviewers were very ‘meh’ about it, though, and Dylan was accused of aping Springsteen because he hired a sax player. The band - I’d still say the best band he’s ever had - all had industry profiles of varying sizes, and one of them (percussionist Bobbye Hall) was virtually a star in her own right. ‘Alimony tour’ and ‘Vegas tour’ were two of the sneering epithets thrown at the ‘78 tour, but the band themselves referred to it as the ‘pimps and hookers tour’, in reference to their stage costumes (which none of them liked). I’ll stick my neck out and say I think Changing Of The Guard is Dylan’s greatest song. The lyrics are open to interpretation and I can believe it’s autobiographical but, really, they are so open to interpretation, it can mean anything you want it to mean. Oddly, my favourite bit is the wordless final verse on the ‘99 remaster - it’s just a perfect coda to what has gone before, allowing the listener time to catch up and just luxuriate in what the band is laying down. I think we hear the last of the ‘thin, wild mercury sound’ on Street Legal. It’s my favourite Dylan album overall (wasn’t always the case - and I emphasise ‘favourite’ rather than ‘best’) and - I’d argue - his last truly great one. I first head S.L.on a cassette tape I borrowed from the library. I thought it sounded so bad because the tape was buggered; but it turns out it was MEANT to sound like that! The ‘99 remix gave it a measure of clarity it needed while retaining a lot of the essential ‘murk’ (it’s a dark album, not a bright one)>.
Thanks, Richard. Great entertaining comment as always! Much appreciated. I absolutely love this album also. Yes, it surprised me a bit back in 1978 but to be honest my musical interests were migrating to other things at that time anyway. But yes, this album contains some of the best music and lyrics of Dylan's career, I agree. However I do think he's had some great albums since....in fact, I think there were many great ones. But then again, I am pretty much a fanatic about the guy, so..... Thanks again. Jeff
Great video as always! For some time I couldn´t get into Street-Legal, and thought that it was an overrated underrated album, if you know what I mean. I only liked Señor and Is Your Love In Vain?, because they didn´t have so much backing vocals. But recently I really got into it. I still can´t appreciate all of it, but tracks like Changing of the Guards, Baby Stop Crying, Where Are You Tonight? and We Better Talk This Over really grown on me! Where Are You Tonight? has become one of my favorite Dylan tracks, but I still don’t like New Pony, No Time to Think, and True Love Tends to Forget... Oh, and thanks to you I can´t get the dream of hearing Where Are You Tonight? in a simpler way (guitar, harmonica...) out of my head!
Haha, an "overrated underrated album"...yes I know what you mean by that. I don't think it applies to this album, personally, but I laughed out loud at the idea of an "overrated underrated album", haha. Good one. Yeah, I agree that this album is a "grower" for many fans - it certainly was to me. I didn't like it much when it came out, but love it today. Definitely a unique album in Dylan's discography, for sure. Thanks for your comment and for introducing me to the funny overrated underrated concept.
Hey Jeff, I know this is off the subject but I'm curious. How much time are you able to read and listen to music? For me, the only time that I can listen to my "weird artsy music" is when I'm driving alone or in the shower. Maybe 2 to 3 hours a week. The same with reading, I asked a couple of guys on here that have reading channels and say that they read for several hours a day and that their wives understand. Lol, well mine doesn't she says that she hates fighting with a book for my attention. I call the situation "fiction friction".
Hi Tony! I read your comment last night but am only now getting time to answer it. I LOVE this topic - it is worthy of a video response, but I will try here. As for listening to music, a majority of it is listened to on my iPod while walking each day (I used to ride my bike each day but now I live in the mountains with VERY narrow 2-lane roads that are steeply rolling up and down and curvy, so walking is the thing now. Every other night or so I listen to about 30-40 minutes (an album's worth) on my stereo in my basement "man cave", but most is via my iPod. I'd say I average about 2 hours of music listening a day, some days more and some less. When I was working at the university, I'd have music playing into my earbuds SEVERAL hours a day (whenever I wasn't lecturing or hosting office hours). As for practicing my classical guitar, I devote an hour a day for that. I used to religiously practice 4 hours a day, ever since I was 8 years old, but that took its toll on my aging hands several years ago, resulting in so much tendonitis that I could not play for 7 years! but I have recently physical therapied my way back to being able to play again, which makes me VERY VERY happy.....but I am very careful not to take it for granted, so 1 hour is usually my self-imposed max. As for reading, it is ironic that you ask about that now, because I've just recently prioritized my reading in that I set aside an hour a day to read (and it often extends to 2 hours if I'm lucky). Prior to that, it was sporadic and I really hated that I wasn't reading enough, so I put a priority on it, even if it results in less music listened to. It has been somewhat of a deficiency in my life that I've allowed reading to take a back burner for a long time, so I am trying to remedy that and enjoying it immensely. We just got our local library cards here and I've been pleasantly surprised at the selection of books for such a very small town. But for such a small town, there are a lot of highly educated retirees here, so that helps in that there is a demand for good books. Plus, Asheville is only 25 minutes away. As for the wife thing....thankfully my wife knows how much music means to me. She knew it when she met me. Yes there have occasionally been frictions about it, but very very rarely. She knows how much it means to me. But I am very careful to make sure I spend time with her each day, either walking (she lets me listen to music even as we walk together....I keep the volume low enough to hear her speaking if she wants to say something) or hiking in the mountains (no music there), or watching TV together (I've come to actually like the more romantic and feel-good TV fare, haha). All this goes out the window if I end up having to go back to work and come home tired and exhausted. Haha!
I really enjoyed this video. I get what you said about it: sometimes I love it and sometimes it's just ok. This may sound odd but I love listening to this album in spring as the days are warming up.
Where are you tonight (journey through dark heat) became my favorite Dylan song…doesn’t get enough credit as it turns into something extremely personal…
Hi. It kinda depends on your particular taste in music, because Dylan has put out classic albums in folk ("Freewheelin Bob Dylan", "The Times They Are A-Changin'", "Another Side of Bob Dylan") and '60s rock ("Bringing It All Back Home", "Highway 61 Revisited", "Blonde on Blonde") and country ("Nashville Skyline") and '70s rock ("Desire", "Planet Waves", "Street Legal" and the masterpiece beautiful "Blood On The Tracks"), as well as christian rock ("Slow Train Coming") and '80s rock ("Oh Mercy") as well as his most recent material. So, it kinda depends on what you might be more willing to start with first. Most fans consider his albums "Blood On The Tracks" and "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde on Blonde" to be at the top of his output, but many also think likewise about "Desire" and "Bringing it all Back Home" and other albums. Best to probably stream a few and see which spurs your interest. He is not for everyone, but if he "clicks" with you, you've got a lifetime of unbelievable music and lyrics to explore.
I love this album so much......My fave........I can do most of the songs on it vocally pretty decently.....Been practicing long enough, I guess.....Especially, Is Your Love In Vain?....and Where Are You Tonight?......Both questions, hmm......Kind of guy questions, I suppose.....but factors like that when sung by a woman can be quite compelling in their own way....
Thanks for your comment, Eden. Yeah, this album grew on me with repeated listenings until I came to absolutely love it also. I'd love to hear these songs sung by a woman, yes! Thanks again. Jeff
Hello English 1. I am sorry that I am just now seeing your post and question (unless I am mistaken...). To anyone new to Bob Dylan, I would recommend the following: (1) if you like singer-songwriter type music, then "Blood On The Tracks" is a marvelous start; (2) if you like a bit more upbeat pop-rock with a certain gypsy flavor, then "Desire" would be a good start; (3) if you like raw blues-country-rock then the classics of the '60s, "Highway 61 Revisited" and/or "Blonde On Blonde" might be a good start, or perhaps "Bringing it all back home" would be a good start with a mix of the blues-rock with singer-songwriter stuff; (4) if you are a folkie, then start with "Freewheelin' Bob Dylan"; (5) if you want to hear more recent Dylan, then "Time Out Of Mind" or "Love And Theft" might be good. Hope this helps.
My thoughts and feelings about this album are sort of strange. I enjoy several of the songs, but I prefer hearing them individually (surrounded by other songs perhaps even by other artists). Listening to the album is a bit too much for me. It becomes something of a chore. In short: I like certain songs but am not fond of them put together as a single album. This might NOT seem strange to a lot of people, but I really like albums. It isn't in keeping with my normal habits. I complain a lot about recent music because there doesn't seem to be many real albums anymore. We have gone back to collections of songs. Artists might as well release E.P.s instead because they would probably be better if fewer songs had been chosen... but I digress. -- I think that you are right. He needed to make the album. It was an important album for him, and it is clearly a transition between two very specific periods in his career. (Oddly, it falls between one of my favorite periods and one of my least favorite periods. However, I do tend to like the religious trilogy more than most people.) I enjoyed your thoughts and breakdown of the songs. Unfortunately, I own the older master.
I can understand what you mean.....this was a bit of a trudge-through when I first bought it back then also, but over time I came to really love this album from start to finish. the remasters have helped tremendously.
No time to think i think its the best lyrics on the album. Anyway it is very similar to the melody of Tickle Me, performed by Alan Price (Dylans friend) and written by Rand Newman (Dylan also has Newman as his top of songwritters).
@@CalicoSilver thanx your reviews are great and common sense.. I'd love a review of hard to handle dvd concert. I always loved it. How about sidetrack.. B sides compilation from boxset..
@@knockedoutloaded279 I love the Hard To Handle DVD also! It is great. Yes, I should review my Dylan DVDs. I don't have many, but Hard To Handle is one of them, because it is so good. Oh yeah, I'll eventually get to that box set B-sides thing too. Thanks for the idea!
Street Legal and Empire Burlesque had the same impact. I thought the songs were excellent but I hated the production so much. Thankfully the recent Bootleg series versions of Empire songs made them listenable. No 80s over the top production. I am hoping one day there will be a similar volume dedicated to Street Legal. I've heard the remastered versions and although there is some improvement I still have a hard time listening to it. From what I understand there is not much they can do to remix it because there was a lot of bleed amongst the instruments at Rundown because it was set up for a rehearsal for the tour. I wish I had a AI app that could Remove the sax Bring down the background singers Bring up Bob's voice
It was very sad, almost painful, both to listen to your review here, and to read descriptions of that period of time, and the making of this album and the tour. It's enough to drive the poor boy insane! I listened to "Changing of the Guards", and LOVED it! I had never heard it before. You know, It says something about how much I enjoy your vids, that I spent over an hour on watching this vid, when you add in the time I took looking up more info on the album, reading all the lyrics, and listening to several of his songs. By the way, wish me a Happy 66th Birthday! (Google wished me happy birthday on their homepage! Couldn't believe it, and not quite sure how to feel about it! Kind creepy, but kinda fun, as well!) Didn't you tell me that yours is on the 22nd? (I hope I remembered that right. I could have sworn I saved a not about it somewhere, but I can't find it. Anyway.............enjoyed the vid and the resulting side-trips!
Happy Birthday, MissAstorDancer (I don't know your real name, sorry). Mine is on the 23rd, in just 4 days. I'll be 58. Glad to hear you liked "Changing of the Guards". It is a great one, for sure. I think you'd like the entire album, probably. "Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)" is another one I bet you'd really like. Thanks so much for your kind comments and for taking the time to watch these Dylan videos and actually check out the music and lyrics!! It makes me proud that you do that. Cool! Again, happy birthday and all the best! Jeff
@@CalicoSilver Well, I must have not been paying close enough attention when I first asked you when your birthday was, because I pulled up the info for Cancer, and somehow determined you were on the last day of Cancer. But I guess the important thing is that we are both Cancer-Leo cuspers! Anyway, I also wanted to tell you that I was struck today hearing another Dylan song that I did not realize was a Dylan song, until today. I knew the song from the version that is on one of my favorite albums of the 90s (of which there were very few), Here is that song: ua-cam.com/video/vbytjEDQFYA/v-deo.html&ab_channel=pattorpey1 Now, I know that I must have known that Dylan wrote the song, because I am totally one who reads liner notes and credits. But I guess I had forgotten...... Anyway, so I listened to Dylan's version today, and WOW! LOVED IT! Would not have discovered it, if not for you, today!!! Oh, and btw - My name is Vickie.
@@MissAstorDancer Hi Vickie (if you'd prefer that your name be kept secret, just let me know and I'll edit this response). Yes, that song is from Dylan's excellent "Oh Mercy" album from 1989. And I love that Joan Osborne Relish album also! Played it quite a bit back then. Love her voice. (I've been working on a video I plan to make soon about my favorite female singers, in fact). I always figured I was a Leo, but yep, we're both right on the cusp.
@@CalicoSilver Oh, I am glad to hear you liked "Relish"! Great album, well produced, great musicians, not a bad song on it, and oh, my - her voice!!! And I can't wait to see your video on your fave female singers!
@@MissAstorDancer You've probably heard me say this already, but when I saw Terje Rypdal in NYC, I sat two seats away from Joan Osborne. I became even more impressed with her good taste in music! Haha. Yes, I am looking forward to making that favorite female singers video. Right now there are 47 singers on my list, and these are the ones I really LIKE! I'll either decide to whittle down the list somewhat, or I may just group the singers into different "types" of singers/voices. Or something....
There is no misogyny on this album. At least not in the ears of a thinking person. However, if anyone makes the choice to pretend to hear misogyny, so be it - they can wallow in their own self-imposed religion-of-grievance.
@@CalicoSilver My point was that people raised the question on the album's release. You are pretending that cultural criticism which points out this kind of thing is just a trendy new fad ( which you are pleased to dismiss wholesale with the lazy formulations of religion of grievance, political correctness etc ). Personally I don't think Dylan is misogynist when you dig deep. But I am not so much of a fan that I have to condemn anyone who raises an issue as " unthinking ". I call him Dylan. You call him Bob. Sorry, are you pals?
@@timwatkinson5632 I understood where you were coming from, Tim, and didn't think that you yourself were claiming that Dylan was being misogynist - sorry if my response sounded that way. My admittedly snarky comments were aimed at those who seem to be on the constant lookout for some offense to complain about.....and again, I didn't mean to suggest that you were one of those folks. Again, I understood what you were saying, that you were merely commenting on how even back in 1978 some folks were upset with the lyric....like you said, folks who do not dig very deep (i.e., don't think much about it...). No, I do not know Dylan....or "Bob", even. Thanks for your comment. Cheers. Jeff
@@CalicoSilver You're very gracious, Mr Silver, and sorry if I too was snarky. Otherwise I much enjoyed you're vid. How about a bit more musicology ( keys, harmonics etc.)? We don't get nearly enough of that in popular music analyses.
@@timwatkinson5632 The fault was all mine, Tim. I knew fully well what you meant in your first comment, and instead of responding to you, I went off on a little rant of my own, which was not very respectful to you. Anyway, thanks for your kindness also. As for musicology content, I am happy to hear that some folks enjoy that kind of thing! I do know that some folks would prefer I not do that because they do not understand it, but yeah I would like to do more, and I've tossed around the idea of doing song-specific videos after I'm done with the album reviews, in which there will be more musical content. So you are a musician also, then? Thanks again. Jeff
Do one on 1973 Joshua - God Spoke And Said album. Jesus Movement bands like this n Glass Harp n Resurrection Band (awaiting your reply song great. Woman sounds like Rush) were responsible for many converts to Christianity, including Dylan. My favorite is Micheal Omartain stuff. WOW. Even Steely Dan used him as keyboardist on songs. Omartain gave Christopher Cross his debute sound as a producer.
And it is an ‘S’ album! I’ve heard people refer to his so called ‘Religious Period’ as consisting of ‘S’ titled albums, (Slow train, Saved, Shot of Love). I say, how about Street legal?? I reject the notion that Bob has only 3 religious albums. Oh, and yes, the remastered version (99?) are so much less compressed. Part of that earlier compression could have been necessitated to fit on the vinyl as this is 54 (?) minutes. It is difficult to have high dynamic range (little compression) within the physical space available grooves on an album. Thanks!!
Wow, I completely forgot about this album being 54 minutes long! Yeah, that would definitely affect the sound on vinyl. And YES I agree wholeheartedly that Dylan's "religious" albums did not end with Shot of Love. Infidels was a very religious album in many ways, as have been pretty much all of his albums, to differing extents, ever since, as I've tried to explain on my Dylan reviews (to mixed reception, most likely, haha!) Thanks for your comments! Jeff
CalicoSilver My pleasure Jeff! I just discovered you and ‘subscribed’, and I look forward to more exchanges, posts, etc from/with you! Thanks again! John S
Whoops, I need to correct something I said. Street legal’s Duration is 49:26, not 54 minutes as I said earlier. - I just remembered that a long time ago I couldn’t make a copy of it fit on one side of a 45 (90 minute) cassette tape! :-) That’s still, imho, long enough to have possibly been a constraint (necessary to use of a lot of compression) in getting the tracks to fit on vinyl. Thanks Jeff!
Probably true for me too. I agree the remastered version is practically a whole new album, compared to the original mastering (which, believe it or not, some people actually prefer, I'm told).
@@sussibaki6503 That's why I never wanted to get too many viewers/subscribers, because I wouldn't want to get to the point where I couldn't have time to answer the kind folks who take the time to comment. Much appreciated! Jeff
Always struggled with this album. It’s the production I don’t like. Not a fan of most of the songs on it either. I do love Señor and Changing Of The Guards though.
I can't believe you have less than a 1,000 subs....this is some of the best album analysis on youtube. Street Legal has always been one of my Dylan faves.....maybe it's a Brit thing.
Thank you very much for your kind comment. I very much appreciate it. I do believe this album was indeed more successful at the time in UK rather than US. But like you, I absolutely love the album and my appreciation of it increases with each year. Thanks again, and cheers! Jeff
Love this album. Probably played it more than any of his albums. Changing of the guard, Senyor. Prophetic.
I play it a LOT also, Arthur. It just pulls you in for the entire length of the album.
Jeff, this is your best video ever. Your insights are accurate & thoughtful & thought-provoking! 👏
Thanks, Bob! I really appreciate your encouraging comment. Comments like these keep me going here. Cheers! Jeff
love the way you quote the lyrics.....such a powerful lyrical (and musical) album!!
Agree. Definitely an album about change, so well expressed and performed!
Agree! I simply love this album, in large part because of the lyrics. Thanks for your analysis/comments/vid Jeff!
Btw, I always regarded Senor as a prayer of sorts. e.g. ‘The last thing I remember before I stripped and kneeled was a trainload of fools bogged down in a magnetic field’. Good God Bob is amazing in so many ways. -He’s had a HUGE impact on my life and I have seen him live over 100 times.
@@JS-pd4cp Oh, most definitely, JS. Thanks for your great comments. I really appreciate them. And yes, Dylan's art has been a genuinely unique blessing to so many of us, indeed. Cheers. Jeff
I love Street Legal.....as always Jeff a beautiful analysis of a classic record....I need to play this more often....its strange to think this was released the year I graduated from high school and I'm now retired.....it still sounds fresh!........sorry for so many comments lately......just enjoying tge videos
Thanks!!
Hello from the UK. Just found your channel - 100 Fav Dylan songs was excellent, and funny!
Love Street Legal, bought it on release as a 16/17 year old and thought it was great from the get go. Always loved the closing two tracks and thought they were always underrated. Thanks for such an informative and interesting video, will definitely be checking out the rest.
Hi Mark. Thanks for stopping by. I think Street Legal hit bigger in UK than in US at the time....or at least it felt that way here then. So it took me a bit of devoted listening to let it sink in. But I agree - it is a masterful album filled with superb music and lyrics. Hey, it's Bob Dylan! What else would it be? Haha. Thanks again, and I hope you enjoy all the Dylan videos I've had so much fun making over the last 3+ years. It has been an honor to express my avid enthusiasm over the finest performing artist and poet of our lifetimes. Cheers! Jeff
@@CalicoSilver, just ordered another copy, as I see my CD was the older version. Didn’t know about the better mastering on the later one.
Sad story, I once had all Dylan albums from Bob Dylan to Knocked Out Loaded on vinyl. But I sold, lost or damaged them. I threw it all away.
Over recent weeks and months I’ve been kicking myself. Very hard!
@@SuperGrumpyDaddy Great! (I sold all my LPs loong ago too....way back in the '80s.... Who needs 'em? Haha!)
Thank you for making all of these Dylan album review videos (stumbled on the Empire Burlesque one initially ... one of my "go to" Dylan albums actually, despite the '80's production ... good songs) ... anyway, re Street Legal, [currently] my favourite Dylan studio album (I started here, plus Budokan, plus Slow Train ... all wonderful ... for me) ... excellent overview, many insights into each of the songs / themes / interpretations ... great album cover ... hit singles here in the UK ... and my entry into this wonderful catalogue ... saw him in 81, 89, 91, 93, 98, 06, 13 ... always interesting, evolving, changing ... off to listen to this album again ... and, thanks to your other videos, I'm going to re-visit Dylan and The Dead .. (was fortunate to see Dead and Co. with John Mayer at Hollywood Bowl in 2017 ... awesome ... an updated live show with Dylan and Bob Weir et al in 2024 would be worth hearing!) ... cheers, CMcG, Aberdeen, Scotland
Thank you, Calum. Cheers! Jeff
Thank you for your well considered review, articulated comfortably with no fanfare!
I absolutely love this album because it is so organic and authentic. Bob is
facing probably his greatest challenge of heart and soul while having to deal
with thoughts that are not average (given his genius). The pain is palpable and
yet (a)"hope springs eternal" is weaving through it too. Bob would later say
(b)"let's keep hope alive" in Murder Most Foul. This is my point about Bob and
this album that is so remarkable and a testimony to his courage. Bob bravely
soldiering through what was probably his darkest time, yet still so creative
and intelligent about it; never losing his optimism or his abiding love despite
the hell he going through.
(a) “Hope springs eternal in the human breast;
Man never Is, but always To be blest.
The soul, uneasy, and confin'd from home,
Rests and expatiates in a life to come.”
Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man
(b) "Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive! Keep hope alive! On tomorrow night and
beyond, keep hope alive!"
Rev. Jessie Jackson's speech from the "Democratic National Convention,
Atlanta, Georgia - July 19, 1988"
Thanks for your great comment, Nissi. Much appreciated. Jeff
Bravo Jeff! I saw Dylan back in 2009 and Señor was one song that stood out in my mind. Having recently stumbled your reviews I was curious to give this one a listen and I'm glad I did. Nice background and overview of what was going on in Dylan's life. As a Christian myself, I find it fascinating to hear about what led him there and what's spiritually influencing his lyrics. I'll look forward to discovering the rest of the album. Thanks!
Thanks, DeVore. Yes this is a marvelous album and seems filled with the expressed need for a change in his life, which he certainly pursued at this time. I am happy you enjoyed the review, and hope you enjoy the album also. Cheers! Jeff
Señor seems like a prayer to me.
Again wonderful analysis. I was around at the time and was lucky enough to see Bob for the first time at Earls Court and then again at Blackbushe Airdrome which was some experience. I brought the album and like you initially was not over enamoured. Subsequently I have come to love it, favourite tracks, Changing of the Guards, Senor and Where are you tonight.
Thank you, Ian. Great album indeed. You chose some of the best tracks as your favorites. That opener is a killer track. Someone asked me to post a video where I analyze the 2nd track, No Time To Think, so I did so (if you are interested). Thanks again for commenting. Jeff
Purchased it upon release, loved it straight off and still do.
Saw him perform tracks off it at Earls Court, London in 1978. Shortly after I was also at Blackbushe, July 1978 where he performed six songs from the album.
I never realised how successful this album was, or the circumstances surrounding its creation. I had it in my collection for years without ever giving it much attention. When I finally got round to it (after seeing John Heaton's review) I was pleasantly surprised. I actually enjoyed the clean and sophisticated production - I guess Street Legal does have a bit of a Springsteen influence. I'm not a Springsteen fan at all though. I must admit the version I've mostly listened to is the first CD remaster. I'll have to go back and compare it to my original vinyl version. Nice work as ever, I enjoyed the thematic analysis as I don't always pick up on that in Dylan's work. It's interesting as I'm usually very much a lyrics person, but I often let Dylan's lyrics kind of wash over me as part of the musical picture. Cheers, James
Dylan is the whole package for me: I love his music, love his performance style and power, and love his lyrics. No one comes close.
Thanks for the great comment as always, James.
Baby Stop Crying was the first Bob Dylan song I ever heard so someone of my young age in 1978 would have a very different view of Dylan than older people . It was quite a big hit here in the UK. It's still my favourite BD song and Is Your Love In Vain is probably my second favourite. There are a lot of very good songs on Street Legal.
Great album, indeed!
Have loved this album since it first came out. To this day, sometimes I’m not sure if it’s what I want to hear but as soon as I hear “..... sixteen years”, I am hooked! Thanks for this analysis!! I love it.
Thanks, Claire. It took me a while but I came to love this album very much also. In fact, I've probably listened to this album the most out of Dylan's albums over the past 10-20 years. Not sure why, but I do, and like you said, once "sixteen years..." hits, I'm hooked also. Cheers. Jeff
I dont remember how but someday I came across "where are you tonight". Booom. I just love the song. On of the favorites.
Indeed, what a great song!
Hi Jeff, great to hear your appreciation of this album, thanks. This has always been my "go to" Dylan album, with three of his very best songs (Changing, Senor, Journey), a dense musical sound, rich lyrical imagery and no "plodding" fillers, I always get pleasure from it. In fact, on my countdown of Dylan albums, it's without doubt my No. 1. Although there have been the remix / remaster albums, there haven't been many bootleg tracks from this album session made available - that I know about anyway. Perhaps for once he actually nailed an album. So many of his other albums could have been even better if they'd have included some of the omitted tracks or alternate takes. This one? Perfection. Cheers, Karl.
Thanks, Karl. Yes I agree that this is a fantastic album by Dylan, very unique in his discography, and it holds up well over the decades for its lyrical and musical freshness. When this album came out I listened to it many many times because at first I didn't like the horns and backing singers, but over the years it has become an album I very much love. Thanks again. Jeff
My brother and I were about 12 or 13 years old when we listened to this album incessantly while on our annual summer holiday on the Greek island of Cephalonia. As aspiring musicians I remember us befriending and inviting young tourists to my grandmother's holiday home and play for them this album right through - while we'd jam it for them, my brother on a type of plastic tennis racket (guitar) and me using my grandmother's beach sandals as drumsticks, with books and the bed for drums (hey I made do with what I had!) We'd sing with at times a rocker's mumble - singing what we thought were the words!
They'd sit there freaked and amazed!
For me the album is up there with any other when the mood permits. Excellent lyrical phrasing and rhyming, strong melodies and very creative, inspired and deep. The drumming patterns are good too - think, baby stop crying...
My faves are where are you tonight? We better talk this over and I think, is your love in vain is a beautiful love song.
I always wondered where he was on the album cover. Thanks for explaining that!
Thanks for that very interesting and enjoyable comment, Nick. I always like hearing about others' experiences listening to Dylan. Cheers. Jeff
In 1978 I listened to Street Legal a couple of times and didn't like it except for Changing of the Guards. 42 years later while listening to Bob Dylan Tracks, there was Jerry Garcia's cover of Senor and I loved it. I went and got the CD and I really liked it and enjoyed listening to it. Now I listen to it often.
I think if BOTT was not such an important and so highly regarded work that Desire and Street Legal would have been better received, just my opinion.
Thanks again Jeff, I'm really enjoying your reviews.
Yep, I agree, Willard. I didn't like Street Legal and Budokan either back when they came out, but I love Street Legal today......and can listen to Budokan once a decade or so...haha! Thanks for your kind words. Jeff
Always loved this album. I agree whole heartedly with you that it's a great vocal from dylan. He seems to deliver each line perfectly. It's one of those overlooked albums by Dylan. But as your review shows, it's an album.of huge artistic merit and depth. Which prompts me to say what an incredibly thoughtful and detailed review. Perfect analysis and appreciation.
Wow, thanks so much, Paul. I really appreciate your taking the time to comment so nicely to my video. Yes, this is indeed quite an underrated album with, as you so well put it, "huge artistic merit and depth". Right on. Best regards. Jeff
I'm from the UK and I love this album and played it a lot. When i went to work i'd play some CD's and some co-workers my age and older, not necessarily Dylan fans, loved this album too. They hadn't heard this album before. Interesting. Then i was at a friend's house a few years back and i look at his vinyl collection and i spot Street Legal.
Yes I think it did better in UK than in US at the time. Great album, indeed, even if it did take me years to realize it. Thanks for your comment. Jeff
Great review! You know your Dylan, that is for sure. I love this album so much. It's no wonder to me that it was so popular in the UK when it came out. Great lyrics (like those by Dylan or Leonard Cohen or Al Stewart....) usually get a lot more attention and comprehension in the UK and in Europe (and even in Canada) than they do in the USA, and Street Legal is full of stunning lyrics. I would have liked some of Dylan's harmonica on some of the tracks too, that's for sure.
Here's a little tip about something...there's a reference in "Where Are You Tonight?" to "a full-blooded Cherokee, he predicted it to me, the time and the place that we'd part" (or, in an alternate version..."the time and the place that the trouble would start"...referring to the breakup with Sara)...well I know who that Cherokee was. It was the Medicine Man Rolling Thunder, out in Nevada. Dylan visited him for awhile in '74 (a few weeks, I think?), and they reportedly got along great, and I have no doubt that that was the reason Dylan named his '75 tour the Rolling Thunder Revue. This has remained very much under the radar for most Dylan biographers. I spent a lot of time in 1977, 1978, and 1980 visiting out at Rolling Thunder's desert community near Carlin, Nevada, and he often spoke about Bob Dylan, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Joan Baez, and various other people on that tour and in that musical community. Rolling Thunder was a striking character, very intense, with a massive amount of charisma. He knew how to get people's attention, that's for sure. Quite the showman! I would have been fascinated to see him and Dylan bouncing ideas off one another...but, alas, I got there 3 years too late for that! Nevertheless, being out there remains one of the great adventures of my life. I was big into Native American cultural stuff of all kinds, and that's what led me out there at the time.
Wow, thanks so much for letting me know about Medicine Man Rolling Thunder!! That is fascinating stuff, and I have never heard or read about it (or if I did, I have completely forgotten it). Brilliant! I really appreciate your sharing this with me. As for that part of the country, I love it there too. I have always loved the desert very much and would move there in a heartbeat if my wife would tolerate it (she likes GREEN whereas I like desert, haha). We lived in Utah for 3 years and I loved it there also.
Have you ever read Edward Abbey's book "Desert Solitaire"? It was one of the best books I ever read.
You are so right, George. I have found that lyrics seem to be more appreciated abroad than here in USA, where the groove is what often matters most, haha. People here love to GROOVE. ;-)
Cheers! (and many thanks again for your great comments) Jeff
@@CalicoSilver - Yeah, that's it. American audiences focus mostly on the beat..."the groove"...the riffs...the general sound. They are not so attentive to what the song has to *say*. The thing I loved about the folk music movement was that the audience was deeply attentive to what the song had to say. A folk song didn't even need the commercial forms (a chorus...a bridge...). It could simply be verse...verse...verse....verse..but it had to SAY something. A lot of Dylan's works are rooted in that folk form which goes back for many centuries, long before commercial radio music was ever thought of.
I have not read "Desert Solitaire". Is it a novel? I'll have a look and see what I can find out about it online.
@@georgecoventry8441 "Desert Solitaire" is a non-fiction book written about Abbey's time living in the harsh but beautiful setting of the Utah (if memory serves) desert. Sort of like Thoreau's "Walden", except for the desert rather than for rural New England. (I am a nature nut, so I really like this kind of thing)
@@CalicoSilver - Great. I'll see if I can get a copy.
Great review! It's an underrated album with some good songs. However, by far the standout track on the album is Señor. It's one of his best songs up there with all the better known classics.
True, indeed. My only problem with "Señor" is that it is SO GOOD that whenever I hear it, or even if anyone mentions the song, I end up singing it in my head all damned day....thanks a lot, Nicholas! Hahaha. But seriously, thanks for the comment. Yes this is one heck of an album. Cheers. Jeff
Excellent review. I think that the album comes from a space of pain and confusion that no one would ever want to inhabit or visit again. And yet there is a relentlessness to it an absolute commitment to moving on to getting to something better. When the album first came out, I got a phone call from a friend who was going through a very painful divorce. It was painful for me as well in that (1) It presaged my own painful divorce (2) I dearly loved both my friend and his soon to be ex-wife. I went over to his place and we listened to the album together. The first song that really hit home..."I think we'd bettered talk this over...Maybe when we both get sober." My friend had to stop the record at that point and I'll never forget the look on his face. At this point, so many years later, I can only say that the album captures it's emotional moment perfectly. Small wonder that he never has revisited these songs very much in concert. Approaching the album in 2021 with a modicum of emotional equanimity, however, allows me to appreciate it very much.
Thanks so much for your great comment, Michael. I've not been divorced myself but I've had several friends and family members go through it and seen the range of emotions involved. This album just lays it all out.....that need to move on, the need for a change, and all the range of emotions that accompany those thought processes. I can only imagine how powerful the album must have been for your friend and you during that difficult time. One of the things that baffles me, Michael, is that I've met so many Dylan fans who claim to not have any idea about what the lyrics might suggest, and who seem to not really care to think about them.....they prefer to just let the lyrics flow by like a river. I guess that is fine, and I certainly do agree that only one person knows what those lyrics truly mean, but I can't fathom being a Dylan fan without thinking and pondering those lyrics more deeply than merely "words to a song". Anyway, thanks again for your kind comment. Much appreciated! Jeff
@@CalicoSilver I very much appreciate the intelligence behind both your review and your reply to my comment upon it. At this point, Dylan's works are as eternal as works of humans can be. That means that people can mature into them. The fans who simply let the lyrics flow by may find depths of meaning in those lyrics later in life when the vicissitudes of existence have left them hungry for an understanding of the human condition. Dylan's perspectives will be there for them and the fact that they have been fans and appreciated his work however superficially will mean that they are prepared for the deeper dive that people like you have already made. Indeed, your reviews can offer timely navigation. Shallowness is not necessarily permanent.
Im a fan of this album it was the first one to come out for me as a Dylan fan.There was a lot of media excitement at the time in the UK as Bob was coming to play at Earls Court for 6 nights.
I even remember TOP OF THE POPS on TV featuring Baby Stop Crying !!!. Consequently I associate the Album with a lot of positive reviews in the press.I was really surprised when I found out how negatively it was seen in the states.I do agree that the original mix was pretty muddy but feel the 1999 remix greatly enhance the fine songs on here where the vocals are brought up in the mix to make the lyrics clearer. I think this is a real underrated album along with Planet Waves which should get more respect.Great melodies here as well as the deep lyrics. Cheers Jeff great review
I agree 100%. Although I really didn't like it back in '78, I absolutely love the album today. And yes the remix helped amazingly. I'm sure it must bother Dylan when he puts so much into an album (like Street Legal and Planet Waves) and people put it down.
Coming from the heart he gave to The Searchers..great song ..shud av been on SL
It's Funny, I share your feelings about this album, sometimes it just doesn’t grab me, but at the same time I think is full of individual great song that somehow don’t work as an album.
When I started listening to Bob Dylan I thought that it was interesting that his voice basically changes in every album but then, when I discovered this album I was even more surprised. It's so weird/interesting how his voice changed from Planet Waves up to here. Some people don't like it but I sure enjoy how Bob's voice has changed. It's just a suggestion but you could make a video about how Dylan's voice changed throughout the years and why it happened or something like that. I'm still catching up with your reviews and they are great. Hope you are fine during these strange and tough times, take care 🖒🖒
Thanks, Dave. We are doing fine, thanks - I hope the same for you. Strange times, indeed. Thanks for the video idea suggestion. So many possibilities with an artist like Dylan. Thanks again. Jeff
I also always heard the photo was taken in front of rundown Studios, but if you check out a great site called pop spots, they show you exactly where it was located with the way it looks today. it's a couple of blocks off the beach in Santa Monica. not his Studio.
Wow, thanks for that info, MrThermostatic! And thanks for the heads-up for the pop spots site - I love stuff like that and will check it out right away. Cheers. Jeff
The Brits have good taste! Really inspiring listening to you interpretation. Señor (Tales of Yankee Power) always sounded to me like a song about Carlos Castaneda and his doubts about him ("Is there any truth in that, Señor?"). And "Is Your Love In Vain?" seems to be a reference to Robert Johnson's famous sad blues ballad "Love In Vain", covered by the Rolling Stones ("trad. arr.") on Let It Bleed.
Thanks for your nice words! Much appreciated. Yeah, I think of Johnson's Love In Vain when I hear Dylan's song too - I forgot to comment on that. Wow, interesting reference to Castaneda, about whom I know very little. I should check him out. Thanks! Jeff
I think starting from Knocking On Heavens Door straight through to Street Legal was certainly a Renaissance for Dylan's music to Me.
I agree!
I've always loved this album. I think the fact I'm a bit younger than you (was born the same year this one came out) meant that I didn't mind the sound as it's more in line with what I'd grown up hearing on the radio and so on so it was pretty accessible. It was the 60s albums that I had to work a little harder to get used to. Once I did there was no going back but it did take a few listens to get used to the sound of some of those early albums. No one I knew was listening to anything like Dylan when I was in my late teens and exploring music.
I was a college lecturer from the early '90s until just a few years ago, during which time I did notice that the number of students who would recognize the Dylan photo in my office decreased almost to none by the time I retired. It does not surprise me that young people would not recognize the man in the photo, but what surprised me most was that when I divulged the identity of that man in the photo, only a few recognized the name "Bob Dylan" by the time I retired. Haha!
@@CalicoSilver
Sometimes I wonder if the decisions made to limit accessibility to his music on UA-cam and similar places might mean that his music unfortunately dies not long after he does. Real shame. Perhaps music (that isn't classical) has a shelf life.
Excellent scholarly analysis.
You’re right: there is definitely a division between how this album is regarded in Europe and how it is (still) regarded in America. The 1978 tour was a big deal - the first time Dylan had toured in Europe since 1966 (which was basically just a big British tour with short trips to France, Ireland and Denmark) and the tour on which he is supposed to have given his single greatest live performance (Blackbushe Aerodrome). American reviewers were very ‘meh’ about it, though, and Dylan was accused of aping Springsteen because he hired a sax player. The band - I’d still say the best band he’s ever had - all had industry profiles of varying sizes, and one of them (percussionist Bobbye Hall) was virtually a star in her own right. ‘Alimony tour’ and ‘Vegas tour’ were two of the sneering epithets thrown at the ‘78 tour, but the band themselves referred to it as the ‘pimps and hookers tour’, in reference to their stage costumes (which none of them liked).
I’ll stick my neck out and say I think Changing Of The Guard is Dylan’s greatest song. The lyrics are open to interpretation and I can believe it’s autobiographical but, really, they are so open to interpretation, it can mean anything you want it to mean. Oddly, my favourite bit is the wordless final verse on the ‘99 remaster - it’s just a perfect coda to what has gone before, allowing the listener time to catch up and just luxuriate in what the band is laying down. I think we hear the last of the ‘thin, wild mercury sound’ on Street Legal. It’s my favourite Dylan album overall (wasn’t always the case - and I emphasise ‘favourite’ rather than ‘best’) and - I’d argue - his last truly great one.
I first head S.L.on a cassette tape I borrowed from the library. I thought it sounded so bad because the tape was buggered; but it turns out it was MEANT to sound like that! The ‘99 remix gave it a measure of clarity it needed while retaining a lot of the essential ‘murk’ (it’s a dark album, not a bright one)>.
Thanks, Richard. Great entertaining comment as always! Much appreciated. I absolutely love this album also. Yes, it surprised me a bit back in 1978 but to be honest my musical interests were migrating to other things at that time anyway. But yes, this album contains some of the best music and lyrics of Dylan's career, I agree. However I do think he's had some great albums since....in fact, I think there were many great ones. But then again, I am pretty much a fanatic about the guy, so..... Thanks again. Jeff
Great video as always! For some time I couldn´t get into Street-Legal, and thought that it was an overrated underrated album, if you know what I mean. I only liked Señor and Is Your Love In Vain?, because they didn´t have so much backing vocals. But recently I really got into it. I still can´t appreciate all of it, but tracks like Changing of the Guards, Baby Stop Crying, Where Are You Tonight? and We Better Talk This Over really grown on me! Where Are You Tonight? has become one of my favorite Dylan tracks, but I still don’t like New Pony, No Time to Think, and True Love Tends to Forget... Oh, and thanks to you I can´t get the dream of hearing Where Are You Tonight? in a simpler way (guitar, harmonica...) out of my head!
Haha, an "overrated underrated album"...yes I know what you mean by that. I don't think it applies to this album, personally, but I laughed out loud at the idea of an "overrated underrated album", haha. Good one. Yeah, I agree that this album is a "grower" for many fans - it certainly was to me. I didn't like it much when it came out, but love it today. Definitely a unique album in Dylan's discography, for sure. Thanks for your comment and for introducing me to the funny overrated underrated concept.
@@CalicoSilver Haha... You could do a list like top 5 overrated underrated albums!
Hey Jeff,
I know this is off the subject but I'm curious. How much time are you able to read and listen to music?
For me, the only time that I can listen to my "weird artsy music" is when I'm driving alone or in the shower. Maybe 2 to 3 hours a week.
The same with reading, I asked a couple of guys on here that have reading channels and say that they read for several hours a day and that their wives understand.
Lol, well mine doesn't she says that she hates fighting with a book for
my attention. I call the situation "fiction friction".
Hi Tony! I read your comment last night but am only now getting time to answer it. I LOVE this topic - it is worthy of a video response, but I will try here. As for listening to music, a majority of it is listened to on my iPod while walking each day (I used to ride my bike each day but now I live in the mountains with VERY narrow 2-lane roads that are steeply rolling up and down and curvy, so walking is the thing now. Every other night or so I listen to about 30-40 minutes (an album's worth) on my stereo in my basement "man cave", but most is via my iPod. I'd say I average about 2 hours of music listening a day, some days more and some less. When I was working at the university, I'd have music playing into my earbuds SEVERAL hours a day (whenever I wasn't lecturing or hosting office hours).
As for practicing my classical guitar, I devote an hour a day for that. I used to religiously practice 4 hours a day, ever since I was 8 years old, but that took its toll on my aging hands several years ago, resulting in so much tendonitis that I could not play for 7 years! but I have recently physical therapied my way back to being able to play again, which makes me VERY VERY happy.....but I am very careful not to take it for granted, so 1 hour is usually my self-imposed max.
As for reading, it is ironic that you ask about that now, because I've just recently prioritized my reading in that I set aside an hour a day to read (and it often extends to 2 hours if I'm lucky). Prior to that, it was sporadic and I really hated that I wasn't reading enough, so I put a priority on it, even if it results in less music listened to. It has been somewhat of a deficiency in my life that I've allowed reading to take a back burner for a long time, so I am trying to remedy that and enjoying it immensely. We just got our local library cards here and I've been pleasantly surprised at the selection of books for such a very small town. But for such a small town, there are a lot of highly educated retirees here, so that helps in that there is a demand for good books. Plus, Asheville is only 25 minutes away.
As for the wife thing....thankfully my wife knows how much music means to me. She knew it when she met me. Yes there have occasionally been frictions about it, but very very rarely. She knows how much it means to me. But I am very careful to make sure I spend time with her each day, either walking (she lets me listen to music even as we walk together....I keep the volume low enough to hear her speaking if she wants to say something) or hiking in the mountains (no music there), or watching TV together (I've come to actually like the more romantic and feel-good TV fare, haha).
All this goes out the window if I end up having to go back to work and come home tired and exhausted. Haha!
That 62-68 period from the Debut - John Wesley Harding is definitely His classic period for Me easily those are the records I could put on anytime.
Yep, classic period for sure.
I really enjoyed this video. I get what you said about it: sometimes I love it and sometimes it's just ok. This may sound odd but I love listening to this album in spring as the days are warming up.
Thanks! Yeah, it really is a rather seasonal listen, for some reason. But when it resonates, it is REALLY great.
Where are you tonight (journey through dark heat) became my favorite Dylan song…doesn’t get enough credit as it turns into something extremely personal…
Great song, yes Dan!! I agree. Great performance too by Dylan. Thanks! Jeff
I don't know much about Bob Dylan but I would like to try out some of his music. Do you have any recommendations for a place to start?
Hi. It kinda depends on your particular taste in music, because Dylan has put out classic albums in folk ("Freewheelin Bob Dylan", "The Times They Are A-Changin'", "Another Side of Bob Dylan") and '60s rock ("Bringing It All Back Home", "Highway 61 Revisited", "Blonde on Blonde") and country ("Nashville Skyline") and '70s rock ("Desire", "Planet Waves", "Street Legal" and the masterpiece beautiful "Blood On The Tracks"), as well as christian rock ("Slow Train Coming") and '80s rock ("Oh Mercy") as well as his most recent material. So, it kinda depends on what you might be more willing to start with first. Most fans consider his albums "Blood On The Tracks" and "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde on Blonde" to be at the top of his output, but many also think likewise about "Desire" and "Bringing it all Back Home" and other albums. Best to probably stream a few and see which spurs your interest. He is not for everyone, but if he "clicks" with you, you've got a lifetime of unbelievable music and lyrics to explore.
@@CalicoSilver Wow! Thanks for the advice.
Some of the melodies.. Have the ghost of buddy Holly to me..
I love this album so much......My fave........I can do most of the songs on it vocally pretty decently.....Been practicing long enough, I guess.....Especially, Is Your Love In Vain?....and Where Are You Tonight?......Both questions, hmm......Kind of guy questions, I suppose.....but factors like that when sung by a woman can be quite compelling in their own way....
Thanks for your comment, Eden. Yeah, this album grew on me with repeated listenings until I came to absolutely love it also. I'd love to hear these songs sung by a woman, yes! Thanks again. Jeff
I don’t listen to Bob Dylan that much but I’m thinking about listening to him more which album do you recommend I listen to first?
Hello English 1. I am sorry that I am just now seeing your post and question (unless I am mistaken...). To anyone new to Bob Dylan, I would recommend the following: (1) if you like singer-songwriter type music, then "Blood On The Tracks" is a marvelous start; (2) if you like a bit more upbeat pop-rock with a certain gypsy flavor, then "Desire" would be a good start; (3) if you like raw blues-country-rock then the classics of the '60s, "Highway 61 Revisited" and/or "Blonde On Blonde" might be a good start, or perhaps "Bringing it all back home" would be a good start with a mix of the blues-rock with singer-songwriter stuff; (4) if you are a folkie, then start with "Freewheelin' Bob Dylan"; (5) if you want to hear more recent Dylan, then "Time Out Of Mind" or "Love And Theft" might be good. Hope this helps.
My thoughts and feelings about this album are sort of strange. I enjoy several of the songs, but I prefer hearing them individually (surrounded by other songs perhaps even by other artists). Listening to the album is a bit too much for me. It becomes something of a chore. In short: I like certain songs but am not fond of them put together as a single album. This might NOT seem strange to a lot of people, but I really like albums. It isn't in keeping with my normal habits. I complain a lot about recent music because there doesn't seem to be many real albums anymore. We have gone back to collections of songs. Artists might as well release E.P.s instead because they would probably be better if fewer songs had been chosen... but I digress. -- I think that you are right. He needed to make the album. It was an important album for him, and it is clearly a transition between two very specific periods in his career. (Oddly, it falls between one of my favorite periods and one of my least favorite periods. However, I do tend to like the religious trilogy more than most people.) I enjoyed your thoughts and breakdown of the songs. Unfortunately, I own the older master.
I can understand what you mean.....this was a bit of a trudge-through when I first bought it back then also, but over time I came to really love this album from start to finish. the remasters have helped tremendously.
A book came out in 78 called,,,,changing of the guards..
Hmm, I wasn't aware of that. Do you have more info?
No time to think i think its the best lyrics on the album. Anyway it is very similar to the melody of Tickle Me, performed by Alan Price (Dylans friend) and written by Rand Newman (Dylan also has Newman as his top of songwritters).
Glad to hear that Dylan admires Newman's songwriting genius!!
@@CalicoSilver faroutmagazine.co.uk/bob-dylan-favourite-songwriters-of-all-time-playlist/
The remaster of Street Legal is amazing..
Indeed it is - so much better than the original! And this GREAT album deserved the best mastering it could get.
@@CalicoSilver thanx your reviews are great and common sense.. I'd love a review of hard to handle dvd concert. I always loved it. How about sidetrack.. B sides compilation from boxset..
@@knockedoutloaded279 I love the Hard To Handle DVD also! It is great. Yes, I should review my Dylan DVDs. I don't have many, but Hard To Handle is one of them, because it is so good. Oh yeah, I'll eventually get to that box set B-sides thing too. Thanks for the idea!
Some of the takes r longer on mix 2
Street Legal and Empire Burlesque had the same impact. I thought the songs were excellent but I hated the production so much. Thankfully the recent Bootleg series versions of Empire songs made them listenable. No 80s over the top production.
I am hoping one day there will be a similar volume dedicated to Street Legal. I've heard the remastered versions and although there is some improvement I still have a hard time listening to it. From what I understand there is not much they can do to remix it because there was a lot of bleed amongst the instruments at Rundown because it was set up for a rehearsal for the tour.
I wish I had a AI app that could
Remove the sax
Bring down the background singers
Bring up Bob's voice
Yep, I agree 100%.
It was very sad, almost painful, both to listen to your review here, and to read descriptions of that period of time, and the making of this album and the tour. It's enough to drive the poor boy insane!
I listened to "Changing of the Guards", and LOVED it! I had never heard it before.
You know, It says something about how much I enjoy your vids, that I spent over an hour on watching this vid, when you add in the time I took looking up more info on the album, reading all the lyrics, and listening to several of his songs.
By the way, wish me a Happy 66th Birthday!
(Google wished me happy birthday on their homepage! Couldn't believe it, and not quite sure how to feel about it! Kind creepy, but kinda fun, as well!)
Didn't you tell me that yours is on the 22nd? (I hope I remembered that right. I could have sworn I saved a not about it somewhere, but I can't find it.
Anyway.............enjoyed the vid and the resulting side-trips!
Happy Birthday, MissAstorDancer (I don't know your real name, sorry). Mine is on the 23rd, in just 4 days. I'll be 58.
Glad to hear you liked "Changing of the Guards". It is a great one, for sure. I think you'd like the entire album, probably. "Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)" is another one I bet you'd really like.
Thanks so much for your kind comments and for taking the time to watch these Dylan videos and actually check out the music and lyrics!! It makes me proud that you do that. Cool!
Again, happy birthday and all the best! Jeff
@@CalicoSilver Well, I must have not been paying close enough attention when I first asked you when your birthday was, because I pulled up the info for Cancer, and somehow determined you were on the last day of Cancer. But I guess the important thing is that we are both Cancer-Leo cuspers!
Anyway, I also wanted to tell you that I was struck today hearing another Dylan song that I did not realize was a Dylan song, until today. I knew the song from the version that is on one of my favorite albums of the 90s (of which there were very few), Here is that song:
ua-cam.com/video/vbytjEDQFYA/v-deo.html&ab_channel=pattorpey1
Now, I know that I must have known that Dylan wrote the song, because I am totally one who reads liner notes and credits. But I guess I had forgotten......
Anyway, so I listened to Dylan's version today, and WOW! LOVED IT! Would not have discovered it, if not for you, today!!!
Oh, and btw - My name is Vickie.
@@MissAstorDancer Hi Vickie (if you'd prefer that your name be kept secret, just let me know and I'll edit this response). Yes, that song is from Dylan's excellent "Oh Mercy" album from 1989. And I love that Joan Osborne Relish album also! Played it quite a bit back then. Love her voice. (I've been working on a video I plan to make soon about my favorite female singers, in fact).
I always figured I was a Leo, but yep, we're both right on the cusp.
@@CalicoSilver Oh, I am glad to hear you liked "Relish"! Great album, well produced, great musicians, not a bad song on it, and oh, my - her voice!!!
And I can't wait to see your video on your fave female singers!
@@MissAstorDancer You've probably heard me say this already, but when I saw Terje Rypdal in NYC, I sat two seats away from Joan Osborne. I became even more impressed with her good taste in music! Haha.
Yes, I am looking forward to making that favorite female singers video. Right now there are 47 singers on my list, and these are the ones I really LIKE! I'll either decide to whittle down the list somewhat, or I may just group the singers into different "types" of singers/voices. Or something....
The misogyny in Is your Love in Vain was remarked on at the time. Nobody was imposing 2019 on it!
There is no misogyny on this album. At least not in the ears of a thinking person. However, if anyone makes the choice to pretend to hear misogyny, so be it - they can wallow in their own self-imposed religion-of-grievance.
@@CalicoSilver My point was that people raised the question on the album's release. You are pretending that cultural criticism which points out this kind of thing is just a trendy new fad ( which you are pleased to dismiss wholesale with the lazy formulations of religion of grievance, political correctness etc ).
Personally I don't think Dylan is misogynist when you dig deep. But I am not so much of a fan that I have to condemn anyone who raises an issue as " unthinking ".
I call him Dylan. You call him Bob. Sorry, are you pals?
@@timwatkinson5632 I understood where you were coming from, Tim, and didn't think that you yourself were claiming that Dylan was being misogynist - sorry if my response sounded that way. My admittedly snarky comments were aimed at those who seem to be on the constant lookout for some offense to complain about.....and again, I didn't mean to suggest that you were one of those folks. Again, I understood what you were saying, that you were merely commenting on how even back in 1978 some folks were upset with the lyric....like you said, folks who do not dig very deep (i.e., don't think much about it...). No, I do not know Dylan....or "Bob", even. Thanks for your comment. Cheers. Jeff
@@CalicoSilver You're very gracious, Mr Silver, and sorry if I too was snarky. Otherwise I much enjoyed you're vid. How about a bit more musicology ( keys, harmonics etc.)? We don't get nearly enough of that in popular music analyses.
@@timwatkinson5632 The fault was all mine, Tim. I knew fully well what you meant in your first comment, and instead of responding to you, I went off on a little rant of my own, which was not very respectful to you. Anyway, thanks for your kindness also. As for musicology content, I am happy to hear that some folks enjoy that kind of thing! I do know that some folks would prefer I not do that because they do not understand it, but yeah I would like to do more, and I've tossed around the idea of doing song-specific videos after I'm done with the album reviews, in which there will be more musical content. So you are a musician also, then? Thanks again. Jeff
Do one on 1973 Joshua - God Spoke And Said album. Jesus Movement bands like this n Glass Harp n Resurrection Band (awaiting your reply song great. Woman sounds like Rush) were responsible for many converts to Christianity, including Dylan. My favorite is Micheal Omartain stuff. WOW. Even Steely Dan used him as keyboardist on songs. Omartain gave Christopher Cross his debute sound as a producer.
Hi Charles. I am not familiar with the album you mentioned but I will check it out. Thanks!
@@CalicoSilver think it's a good addition . Have nice day
Yep yep yep, feeling ya but this album grew like ivy.
🎶🕊️🌎🌍🌏🕊️🎶
It sure did! ;-)
And it is an ‘S’ album! I’ve heard people refer to his so called ‘Religious Period’ as consisting of ‘S’ titled albums, (Slow train, Saved, Shot of Love). I say, how about Street legal?? I reject the notion that Bob has only 3 religious albums.
Oh, and yes, the remastered version (99?) are so much less compressed. Part of that earlier compression could have been necessitated to fit on the vinyl as this is 54 (?) minutes. It is difficult to have high dynamic range (little compression) within the physical space available grooves on an album. Thanks!!
Wow, I completely forgot about this album being 54 minutes long! Yeah, that would definitely affect the sound on vinyl. And YES I agree wholeheartedly that Dylan's "religious" albums did not end with Shot of Love. Infidels was a very religious album in many ways, as have been pretty much all of his albums, to differing extents, ever since, as I've tried to explain on my Dylan reviews (to mixed reception, most likely, haha!) Thanks for your comments! Jeff
CalicoSilver My pleasure Jeff! I just discovered you and ‘subscribed’, and I look forward to more exchanges, posts, etc from/with you! Thanks again! John S
@@JS-pd4cp Welcome, John, and thanks so much for subscribing and introducing yourself. I look forward to hearing more from you. All the best. Jeff
Whoops, I need to correct something I said. Street legal’s Duration is 49:26, not 54 minutes as I said earlier. - I just remembered that a long time ago I couldn’t make a copy of it fit on one side of a 45 (90 minute) cassette tape! :-) That’s still, imho, long enough to have possibly been a constraint (necessary to use of a lot of compression) in getting the tracks to fit on vinyl. Thanks Jeff!
Infidels was called "Surviving in a ruthless world" first, but that was too many S in a row. No album since then started with "S" again.
Never liked this album till I got the remastered version.
Probably true for me too. I agree the remastered version is practically a whole new album, compared to the original mastering (which, believe it or not, some people actually prefer, I'm told).
It's funny how you mentioned he was using women as a metaphor for moving on in New Pony, when he's actually using ponies as a metaphor for women 😂
i really love the first side and i really love is your love in vain? so good
This is one of the strongest examples of an album I didn't like at first but came to love later.
Yeah me too, i didint like the backup vocals at first but i like them alot now. cool that you answer a comment on a 4 year old video@@CalicoSilver
@@sussibaki6503 That's why I never wanted to get too many viewers/subscribers, because I wouldn't want to get to the point where I couldn't have time to answer the kind folks who take the time to comment. Much appreciated! Jeff
Très bon album de Dylan
No time to think has a classical melody
Very rhapsodic indeed.
@@CalicoSilver like the bb , lady lynda..
Always struggled with this album. It’s the production I don’t like. Not a fan of most of the songs on it either. I do love Señor and Changing Of The Guards though.
I love the album now, Jay, but in 1978-79 this album (and especially Budokan) knocked Dylan off my radar for a while..... Love it now, though!
CalicoSilver I should check the remixed and remastered version. Maybe give me a new perspective on it.
It would be miles better with harmonica
Yep
Rough period for Bob. Maybe that’s why I never listen to this album. Don’t like the extra production and personnel.
Everyone was doing it in 1978. Weird.
@@CalicoSilver as you said not like him to follow, another sign of his weak state at the time