Let's see if we can start up another rousing conversation...

If you had to ditch all your Dylan albums in favor of one that you would, by default, have to play over and over which would it be? This is not a poll on which is best, per se, but which one could you listen to repeatedly without tiring of it?

My vote is Highway 61 Revisited, although I'd do my best to smuggle Blood on the Tracks along as well.

This is not an academic exercise. In the summer of '76, I was so disgusted with the state of American music (disco), that I had these 2 albums back to back on the same cassette in my van for an entire summer and wouldn't let anything else intrude on my bliss.

Blonde On Blonde. If I had a Turntable...mono =).

"Another Side of Bob Dylan" His "drunk" album.

My first and only Dylan LP for over 20 years. I "borrowed" it from my parents and even though there are much better Dylan LPs, "Another Side" will always be "the" Dylan to me.

Ken

Blood On The Tracks. it's just the right combination of Dylan + musicianship + production quality that wouldn't get old. also, it kind of struck a nerve when it came out.

Blood On The Tracks. it's just the right combination of Dylan + musicianship + production quality that wouldn't get old. also, it kind of struck a nerve when it came out.

I'm not a big Dylan fan but "Blood on the Tracks" is one of my favorite albums. It's one you play all the way through from start to finish. A masterpiece IMO.

Blood on the Tracks

I'd shoot myself before I had to listen to any Dylan LPs...

I'd shoot myself before I had to listen to any Dylan LPs...

Wanna borrow a gun?:pistols:

"Street Legal"

Wanna borrow a gun?:pistols:

Sorry, just never could get into him.. his music I liked, but as soon as he started singing I had to shut it off.. His voice just grates on me bigtime..

Yup Blood on the Tracks

"BLOOD ON THE TRACKS" vinyl or sacd

Do box sets count?

Do box sets count?

Nope, that's cheatin'. :no: Commit.

Blond on Blond.


RC

I was a big Dylan fan from as they say back in the day and my initial choice was Blonde On Blonde or Highway 61 but then I reaized that the choice would be Blood On The Tracks. After ,IMHO a down period ,Mr. Z put together a masterpiece to please all his fans and shut up the critics. I'm not sure thats the exact product he himslf wanted to do , but BOTT has all the elements to be my choice.

Blood On The Tracks

Nashville Skyline

Dylan's smilin' mug on the cover, the first album where he's not taking himself seriously, actually having some fun.

blood on the tracks. it will always remind me of driving through northern vermont, late winter, blue icefalls on the roadcuts...pale blue skies...on my way to quebec city.

Sorry, just never could get into him.. his music I liked, but as soon as he started singing I had to shut it off.. His voice just grates on me bigtime..

He actually could sing pleasing enough for most but that growl/mumble was his homage to the old blues and country guys. It was "like listen to the words and not my pretty voice and hansome face." His singing ability now is complicated by age. Dylan is an acquired taste for many.

Nashville Skyline


Alan

He actually could sing pleasing enough for most but that growl/mumble was his homage to the old blues and country guys. It was "like listen to the words and not my pretty voice and hansome face." His singing ability now is complicated by age. Dylan is an acquired taste for many.

:yes:

He did employ some pleasant singing on the aforementioned Nashville Skyline LP, Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You, or Lay Lady Lay, for example. using low soft voice instead of the high pitched nasal whine.

He actually could sing pleasing enough for most but that growl/mumble was his homage to the old blues and country guys. It was "like listen to the words and not my pretty voice and hansome face." His singing ability now is complicated by age. Dylan is an acquired taste for many.

IMHO, no matter how imperfect the voice, some music is simply inseparable from the artist. Think Lou Reed or Janis Joplin (though she didn't write much of her stuff). Can you imagine somebody doing a cover of Dylan's "Masters of War" or "Desolation Row?" I shudder to think.:yikes:

Dang...the pressure is on! Highway 61 Revisited, I guess. First Dylan lp I ever bought. I played it to death and I'll continue to play it to death!

Oh yeah, a bit off topic but have you folks ever listened to a Dylan bootleg named "Folksinger's Choice." A 1963 radio broadcast featuring an underconfident Bob and an overconfident radio host (Cynthia Gooding). 14 songs performed live in the studio mixed with tons of wonderful banter. Sound good? How 'bout the entire broadcast in mastertape sound quality.

Hate to be a follower but...Blood on the Tracks. I'm not a huge Dylan fan either. I feel more like Similost than I would say here to be polite. However Blood on the Tracks is just a great album that I don't get tired of. Also like Highway 61 Revisted and Blonde on Blonde are standouts. My wife actually like Modern Times a great deal.

Major veer here...but I really like "Modern Times". A lot.

Before The Flood [Asylum/1974]

Before the Flood would be a good desert island pick. Double live album, plus you get Band songs!! Mountain recently did a whole album of Dylan covers(I think called "Masters of War")-- the song "Masters of War" has a guest vocal from Ozzy. It rules!

It would have to be Highway 61 Revisited, though I'd try to sneak The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan in if I could.

Blonde on Blonde. I like a lot of the songs on both discs. "Just Like A Woman" , Visions of Johanna", Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands".

I'd shoot myself before I had to listen to any Dylan LPs...

What he said. Just not a Dylan fan. If I was on a desert island, and had a dylan LP I would probably use it as a sun visor.

If I had only one choice it would be Blood On The Tracks. If it would be more the list would get a lot bigger.

Blood On The Tracks. it's just the right combination of Dylan + musicianship + production quality that wouldn't get old. also, it kind of struck a nerve when it came out.

Gets my vote

Seeing as this is a desert Island choice i have to go with Nashville Skyline. In that LP we also get the gift of Johnny Cash doing his Cameo on 'Girl From the North Country'.

Dylan was really trying to show some semblence of vocal talent here and its a pleasant change of pace. Johnny Cash was having his influence at this time on Dylan and I appreciate the fact that they were friends and collaborated a little on the LP.

For those reasons and more I choose Nashville Skyline.

"Bringing It All Back Home", "Highway 61 revisited", "Blonde on Blonde"-
the great trilogy of 60s Dylan. Pick one; any one.

How about none.:banana:

Oh yeah, a bit off topic but have you folks ever listened to a Dylan bootleg named "Folksinger's Choice." A 1963 radio broadcast featuring an underconfident Bob and an overconfident radio host (Cynthia Gooding). 14 songs performed live in the studio mixed with tons of wonderful banter. Sound good? How 'bout the entire broadcast in mastertape sound quality.

just asked my brother if he had this one and he said yes.i just might have to give it a listen.im not a huge bob dylan fan like my brother but i do enjoy his music. my brother has a huge assortment of bob dylan bootlegs. have you ever heard of the minnesota hotel recordings?

How about none.:banana:

to each their own :butt1:

Gotta be Blood on the Tracks for me. There are PLENTY of other masterpieces in Bob’s catalog, but BOTT is flat out one of the best rock albums ever made, IMO. There’s not one aspect of that album that I consider less than stellar.

IMHO, no matter how imperfect the voice, some music is simply inseparable from the artist. Think Lou Reed or Janis Joplin (though she didn't write much of her stuff). Can you imagine somebody doing a cover of Dylan's "Masters of War" or "Desolation Row?" I shudder to think.:yikes:

Ask and you shall receive.I heard this at the end of Watchmen and almost had a coronary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxq-rTGxpyQ

'bringing it all back home' for me.
on the cover note, eddie vedder does a smoking rendition of 'masters of war' with mike mcready and g.e. smith at the dylan 30th anniversary show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8GHBk_HSXg

if you're dissapointed i'd be shocked.

...and g.e. smith ...

GACK!
GE Smith = one of the most annoying guitarists to watch. Good chops, but he looks like a complete dork to the point of embarrassment for the viewer!

(sorry... had to vent... the guy just annoys me)

Yeah, RadioActive, I have those Minnesota tapes (though there is some speculation about where they were actually recorded). A tough/hissy listen, to be sure. I think you will be amazed at the quality of the Folksinger's Choice bootleg. It is astounding that quality tapes of early Dylan keep popping up. And just look at the footage found on that Dylan PBS documentary from last year! Of course, when Martin Scorcese puts out word that he is looking for material for a Dylan documentary then folks open up their collections. Right now he is working on a Bob Marley film...and then...knock on wood...a Velvet Underground documentary!!!! Bliss...

Minnesota Hotel Tapes are essential listening, but that isnt Dylan singing, its Blind Boy Grunt. They were recorded by blues harp man Tony "Little Sun" Glover in the early 60's at a college party. I wouldnt call them a 'tough hissy listen' by any stretch... I used to have unknown gen cassettes of Ten of Swords (10 LP box set) Hotel Tapes was the first 3 sides. I suppose that was hissy but if you land some of the newer versions its sounds fine to me.

Funny to see the anti dylan guys posting in this thread... go start a thread about Pink Floyd or something.

Funny to see the anti dylan guys posting in this thread... go start a thread about Pink Floyd or something.

:thmbsp: right?? or ted nugent and then to 'off topic' to ramble on about the medicinal properties of venison jerky, etc.....

Nashville Skyline.

:thmbsp:

Highway 61 for me.

Bringing It All Back Home if I get two.

No one's said Live at Budokan yet. As controversial as it was, it's got a lot of bang for the buck. Still, I'd probably have to go with Before The Flood.

Tell Tale Signs. It's easier to build a raft with four records than one...

It would be John Wesley Harding for me, (after much debate).

I'll go with Blood on the Tracks, though I've yet to find it on vinyl & I don't want the CD. The classic Dylan LP's are getting scarce in the thrifts & such.I do have a decent LP of Dylan's Greatest Hits that's pretty good for a collection.

I like Blonde on Blonde from the early period, but lately Oh Mercy ('89) has been getting the most play time.
Tom

It's always been Blood on the Tracks for me. Easy to relate to at the time,
still my fave. The guy sure can write, but not always sing. Live at Budokan is cool, and all the classic Dylan albums. I'm also especially fond of Desire, but, then again, I have soft spot for Emmylou Harris...

Enjoy the Music
-Mark

...especially fond of Desire, but, then again, I have soft spot for Emmylou Harris...



In the end I chose Before The Flood, but Desire was among my top four finalists for consideration, an excellent and somewhat misunderstood album.

Blood on the Tracks

:thmbsp:

I'm also especially fond of Desire, but, then again, I have soft spot for Emmylou Harris...
-Mark

... and Scarlet Rivera's violin on this album is hauntingly good. I think I remember a story of Dylan originally meeting her while she was playing in the subway in NYC.

Blonde On Blonde

blood on the tracks

I'm alone on this island???

At least I want a beautiful woman's voice........so I'd take Dylan's lyrics, but Joan singing them on "Any Day Now."

Surely the finest two platters of Dylan stuff ever set to vinyl.

:music: :music: :music:

Self Portrait.... if I were alone on an island I'd really need something to laugh at.
And yeah, I'm a Dylan fan and yeah, I do have it. :scratch2:

Another for Blood on the Tracks. Amazing what a divorce will do for motivation :scratch2:

Desire

If I had to be on desert island with one Dyan album that would be it.

I find it hard to believe that no-one mentioned " Blood On The Tracks " - acoustic version -:banana: this FAR exceeds the commercial release:thumbsdn: