AnyBlogDotCom: Bob Dylan album by album (4) The Religious Years

For the first part, and Dylan's classic period
See: Bob Dylan album by album

Saved (1980)

It's quite likely that this is the first time I have heard this album - and it's quite likely this will be the last time as well. This has a Contemporary Christian Music feel to it, and though it's Dylan doing it, so there's a little more interest and depth, it's still not the sort of thing that interests me at all. Music and lyrics are mainly superficial, though there are moments when he adds something interesting and Dylanesque to otherwise commonplace gospel music, such as in "Pressing On", which has hints of "Forever Young" in its sound.
For a gospel album it's quite good. Dylan sings well, and the band are decent enough. But I'm not interested in a gospel album praising the lord. I want a Dylan album. And that is not this.

The album reached no 24 in the US and 3 in the UK.

Released	June 23, 1980
Recorded	February 11–15, 1980
Studio	Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
Genre	Christian rock, gospel
Length	42:39
Label	Columbia
Producer	Barry Beckett and Jerry Wexler

All tracks are written by Bob Dylan, except where noted

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"A Satisfied Mind"	Red Hayes, Jack Rhodes	1:57
2.	"Saved"	Tim Drummond, Bob Dylan	4:00
3.	"Covenant Woman"		6:02
4.	"What Can I Do for You?"		5:54
5.	"Solid Rock"		3:55
Total length:			21:48

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Pressing On"	5:11
2.	"In the Garden"	5:58
3.	"Saving Grace"	5:01
4.	"Are You Ready"	4:41
Total length:		20:51

Bob Dylan – guitar, harmonica, keyboards, vocals
Carolyn Dennis – backing vocals
Tim Drummond – bass guitar
Regina Havis – backing vocals
Jim Keltner – drums
Clydie King – backing vocals
Spooner Oldham – keyboards
Fred Tackett – guitar
Monalisa Young – backing vocals
Terry Young – keyboards, backing vocals

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 4

Score: 2

Shot of Love (1981)

Conventionally classed as another of the Evangelical Christian albums - indeed, critics seem to want the Christian albums to form some form of unholy trilogy, this is Dylan moving away from the Christian experiment - most of the songs here are not religious, indeed, seem to be turning their back on Christianity and religious faith. The ambiguity, bitterness, and incisive lyrics in the title track are fascinating - this is classic Dylan: calling up images and ideas that cause everyone to pause and think, yet nothing is revealed..... However, the rest of the album doesn't live up to the promise of that opening track (though "The Groom..." is pretty damn good, and would be acceptable on any of the classic Dylan albums - though for some daft Dylan reason, it didn't originally appear on the album, and was added later) - and that might account for the backlash it received from critics. Take away the title track and there's another failed album, albeit a little more interesting than his other failures. But the title track shows just what Dylan is capable of, and that simply teases and frustrates. Yes, that's gonna create friction - something Dylan is familiar with!

I'm remembering now that a friend got into the album at the time and urged me to listen to it, and I did indulge him one evening, but all I was hearing was the Christian aspects, and rejected it. Listening now, I'm starting to appreciate what he heard back then. This was the start of Dylan's "recovery", and the album has very strong moments. Not a great album, but much better than its undeserved reputation.

The album reached no 33 in the US and 6 in the UK.

Released	August 12, 1981
Recorded	March–May 1981
Genre	Christian rock, gospel
Length	44:27
Label	Columbia
Producer	Chuck Plotkin, Bob Dylan, Bumps Blackwell

All tracks are written by Bob Dylan

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Shot of Love"	4:18
2.	"Heart of Mine"	4:29
3.	"Property of Jesus"	4:33
4.	"Lenny Bruce"	4:32
5.	"Watered-Down Love"	4:10
Total length:		22:02

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar"	4:04
2.	"Dead Man, Dead Man"	4:03
3.	"In the Summertime"	3:36
4.	"Trouble"	4:32
5.	"Every Grain of Sand"	6:12
Total length:		22:27

Bob Dylan – guitar, harmonica, percussion, piano, keyboards, vocals, producer
Carolyn Dennis – background vocals
Steve Douglas – saxophone
Tim Drummond – bass guitar
Donald Dunn – bass guitar
Jim Keltner – drums
Ringo Starr – drums on "Heart of Mine"
Clydie King – background vocals
Danny Kortchmar – electric guitar
Regina McCrory – background vocals
Carl Pickhardt – piano
Madelyn Quebec – background vocals
Steve Ripley – guitar
Fred Tackett – guitar
Ronnie Wood – guitar on "Heart of Mine"
William "Smitty" Smith – Hammond organ
Benmont Tench – keyboards
Monalisa Young – background vocals

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 4

Score: 4

Infidels (1983)

Liked by critics because it contained no overtly Christian songs, this - for me - is marred by its clearly Eighties sound and production. He sounds like Eighties Bruce Springsteen. Actually, there's just as many Christian songs on this album as on the last one. Hmmm. I think I prefer Shot of Love.

I wrote the above a few years ago. I've just listened again because I was looking at what Mick Taylor did after leaving the Stones, and I'm more impressed than I was. This is not for me one of Dylan's best albums, but it's certainly better than the majority of crud he has released in between the genuinely good albums. Dylan, as to be expected - as happens with most musical artists, fades over time, running out of ideas and energy and interest. Then for some reason he finds something new. He found something new here - an approach that is fresh and energetic. He gave a rare TV appearance performing two of the songs, and sparked up the delivery so he appeared as though he was a New Wave artist like Elvis Costello.

Mark Knopfler was involved in producing the album, as he was also involved the following year in writing for Tina Turner's "come back" album, Private Dancer. Knopfler's guitar and music style is all over this album - along with some decent guitar licks from ex-Stone Taylor.

All in all a good - albeit patchy - album, though far from Dylan's best, and certainly not essential, other than as an example of how Dylan could still randomly produce a decent album after a long period of producing crap. Songs: "Jokerman" - good lyrics and tune, subdued production and silky though inappropriate Knopfler guitar; "Sweetheart Like You" - sounds like an early Springsteen song imitating Dylan, done with a slick and empty 80s production; decent lyrics and vocal delivery; "Neighborhood Bully" - a rather simple song and tune with upfront 80s production - overall a little grating, though decent guitar by Tayler; "License To Kill" - weak, simplistic song, with the silly upfront plodding drum sound that was popular in the 80s; "Man of Peace" - a Christian song, not very deep, but moves along quite well, broadly acceptable; "Union Sundown" - a simple protest song that pretty anyone could have done; "I and I" has sub-Dylanesque lyrics with sub-Knopfler music, the whole delivered in classic Dylan drawl; "Don't Fall Apart On Me Tonight" - nice, though not major.

The album reached no 20 in the US and no 9 in the UK.

Released	October 27, 1983
Recorded	April–May 1983
Studio	The Power Station, New York
Genre	Heartland rock folk rock, reggae
Length	41:39
Label	Columbia
Producer	Bob Dylan, Mark Knopfler

All songs written by Bob Dylan.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Jokerman"	6:12
2.	"Sweetheart Like You"	4:31
3.	"Neighborhood Bully"	4:33
4.	"License to Kill"	3:31
Total length:		18:47

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Man of Peace"	6:27
2.	"Union Sundown"	5:21
3.	"I and I"	5:10
4.	"Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight"	5:54
Total length:		22:52

Bob Dylan – guitar, harmonica, keyboards, vocals, production
Alan Clark – keyboards
Sly Dunbar – drums, percussion
Clydie King – vocals on "Union Sundown"
Mark Knopfler – guitar, production
Robbie Shakespeare – bass guitar
Mick Taylor – guitar
Benmont Tench – keyboards

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 8
Score: 6

Real Live (1984)

Most notable for the reworking of the lyrics to "Tangled Up In Blue", and for using Mick Taylor on guitar, this is an otherwise flat and meaningless recording. The audience do a more spirited job of singing than Dylan does.

Released	November 29, 1984
Recorded	July 5–8, 1984
Genre	Folk rock, hard rock
Length	50:15
Label	Columbia
Producer	Glyn Johns

All tracks are written by Bob Dylan.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Highway 61 Revisited"	5:07
2.	"Maggie's Farm"	4:54
3.	"I and I"	6:00
4.	"License to Kill"	3:26
5.	"It Ain't Me, Babe"	5:17
Total length:		24:44

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Tangled Up in Blue"	6:54
2.	"Masters of War"	6:35
3.	"Ballad of a Thin Man"	4:17
4.	"Girl from the North Country"	4:25
5.	"Tombstone Blues"	4:32
Total length:		26:43

Bob Dylan – guitar, harmonica, keyboards, vocals

Colin Allen – drums
Ian McLagan – keyboards
Carlos Santana – guitar on "Tombstone Blues"
Gregg Sutton – bass guitar
Mick Taylor – guitar

Wikipedia

AllMusic:
Score: 4

Empire Burlesque (1985)

Mostly harmless. This has the sound and feel of Dylan's mid Seventies albums, particularly Desire. It's not bad. It's an attractive listen, though doesn't quite build on the promise of Infidels, and ultimately is not essential.

"Tight Connection" is a decent song; though not world class, it is as good as any filler on Dylan's major Seventies albums.

Released	June 10, 1985
Recorded	July 1984, December 1984 – March 1985
Genre	Pop, blues rock
Length	46:24
Label	Columbia
Producer	Bob Dylan

All tracks are written by Bob Dylan.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Tight Connection to My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love)"	5:22
2.	"Seeing the Real You at Last"	4:21
3.	"I'll Remember You"	4:14
4.	"Clean Cut Kid"	4:17
5.	"Never Gonna Be the Same Again"	3:11
Total length:		21:25

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Trust Yourself"	3:29
2.	"Emotionally Yours"	4:30
3.	"When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky"	7:30
4.	"Something's Burning, Baby"	4:54
5.	"Dark Eyes"	5:07
Total length:		25:30

Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar (2, 4, 6, 8, 10), keyboards (1, 5), piano (3, 7), harmonica (10)
Peggi Blu – backing vocals (1, 4, 5)
Mike Campbell – guitar (2, 3, 6, 7)
Chops – horns (2)
Alan Clark – synthesizer (5)
Carolyn Dennis – backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 6)
Sly Dunbar – drums (1, 5, 8)
Howie Epstein – bass guitar (3, 7)
Anton Fig – drums (4)
Bob Glaub – bass guitar (2)
Don Heffington – drums (2, 9)
Ira Ingber – guitar (9)
Bashiri Johnson – percussion (2, 6, 8)
Jim Keltner – drums (3, 6, 7)
Stuart Kimball – electric guitar (8)
Al Kooper – rhythm guitar (8)
Queen Esther Marrow – backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 6)
Sid McGinnis – guitar (5)
Vince Melamed – synthesizer (9)
Jon Paris – bass guitar (4)
Ted Perlman – guitar (1)
Madelyn Quebec – vocals (3, 6, 8, 9)
Richard Scher – synthesizer (1, 5, 8, 9), synth horns (7)
Mick Taylor – guitar (1)
Robbie Shakespeare – bass guitar (1, 5, 6, 8, 9)
Benmont Tench – keyboards (2, 6), piano (4), Hammond organ (7)
Urban Blight – horns (8)
David Watson – saxophone (2)
Ronnie Wood – guitar (4)

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 9

Score: 5

Knocked Out Loaded (1986)

Generally regarded as his worse album. (And now you want to hear it....) It's looking so far as if the Eighties were Dylan's least interesting period - something he holds in common with other artists. What exactly was it about the Eighties that resulted in so many major artists failing to produce worthwhile music?

Actually, I don't dislike this. There are elements of his various styles and approaches, though he only has single writing credit on two of the songs - others are covers, traditional, or collaborations. "Brownsville Girl", widely regarded as the best song on the album, and by some as one of his best ever songs, is a collaboration with Sam Shepard. It's a damn fine song. This song alone means this cannot be Dylan's worse album. It's an interesting album - definitely, along with Oh Mercy, his most intriguing and attractive work of the Eighties.

"You Wanna Ramble" is a rocky cover of a blues number, it is done with verve and style; "They Killed Him" is a cover of a dirge-like Kris Kristofferson song - it sounds like something off one of Dylan's religious albums; "Driftin' Too Far" is a Dylan number - it has elements of some of his better Seventies songs, but ultimately is weak, and what there is is spoiled by the simplistic plodding Eighties drumming, and some empty head commercial rock guitar; "Precious Memories" is a traditional hymn or gospel song which was covered beautifully by J.J. Cale, which this version echoes, but doesn't match; "Maybe Sunday" is another Dylan song - good lyrics, but a hasty, shambolic delivery; "Brownsville Girl" is epic - a classic Dylan song, co-written with Sam Shepard - it is a reworking of Dylan's "New Danville Girl" (unreleased at that point), which is little different to "Brownsville Girl", so I wonder exactly what part Shepard played to be given a co-writer credit - the song was influenced by Woodie Guthrie's "Danville Girl"; "Got My Mind Made Up" was co-written with Tom Petty - it leans more toward a Petty song than a Dylan song; "Under Your Spell" was co-written with Carole Bayer Sager - it's a pleasant but small song.

Released	July 14, 1986
Recorded	April–June 1986
Genre	Rock
Length	35:18
Label	Columbia
Producer	Bob Dylan

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"You Wanna Ramble"	Little Junior Parker	3:14
2.	"They Killed Him"	Kris Kristofferson	4:00
3.	"Driftin' Too Far from Shore"	Dylan	3:39
4.	"Precious Memories"	Traditional; arranged by Dylan	3:13
5.	"Maybe Someday"	Dylan	3:17
Total length:			17:23

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Brownsville Girl"	Dylan, Sam Shepard	11:00
2.	"Got My Mind Made Up"	Dylan, Tom Petty	2:53
3.	"Under Your Spell"	Dylan, Carole Bayer Sager	3:58
Total length:			17:51

Bob Dylan – guitar, harmonica, keyboards, vocals, production
Peggi Blu, Carolyn Dennis, Queen Esther Marrow, and many others – background vocals
Clem Burke, Anton Fig, Mike Berment, Milton Gabriel, Don Heffington, Bryan Parris, Stan Lynch, Raymond Lee Pounds – drums
T Bone Burnett, Tom Petty, Ira Ingber, Mike Campbell, Jack Sherman, David A. Stewart, Ronnie Wood – guitar
Steve Douglas – saxophone
Howie Epstein, James Jamerson, Jr., John McKenzie, Vito Sanfilippo, Carl Sealove, Jon Paris – bass guitar
Phil Jones – congas
Al Kooper, Vince Melamed, Patrick Seymour, Benmont Tench – keyboards
Steve Madaio – trumpet
Larry Meyers – mandolin
Al Perkins – steel guitar

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 4
Score: 5

Down In The Groove (1988)

This album is almost as despised as his previous. Dylan seems to have been going through a bad time creatively - again there are few solo songs, and there's evidence of some indecision, with different musicians and studios used on each track. Despite this I find there's more effort here and more listenable songs than during his Self Portrait period. Others find the opposite to be true. Overall it's a listenable but moderately attractive album. Not at all essential.

It reached number 61 in the US and number 32 in the UK.

Released	May 30, 1988
Recorded	1983–1987
Genre	Rock
Length	32:04
Label	Columbia
Producer	Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler on "Death Is Not the End"; the rest of the album is uncredited

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Let's Stick Together"	Wilbert Harrison	3:09
2.	"When Did You Leave Heaven?"	Walter Bullock, Richard Whiting	2:15
3.	"Sally Sue Brown"	Arthur June Alexander, Earl Montgomery, Tom Stafford	2:29
4.	"Death Is Not the End"	Bob Dylan	5:10
5.	"Had a Dream About You, Baby"	Bob Dylan	2:53
Total length:			15:56

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Ugliest Girl in the World"	Bob Dylan, Robert Hunter	3:32
2.	"Silvio"	Bob Dylan, Robert Hunter	3:05
3.	"Ninety Miles an Hour (Down a Dead End Street)"	Hal Blair, Don Robertson	2:56
4.	"Shenandoah"	Traditional arranged by Bob Dylan	3:38
5.	"Rank Strangers to Me"	Albert E. Brumley	2:57
Total length:			16:08

Bob Dylan – guitar, harmonica, keyboards, vocals; production on "Death Is Not the End"

Bob Weir – additional vocals on "Silvio"
Jerry Garcia – additional vocals on "Silvio"
Brent Mydland – additional vocals on "Silvio"
Peggi Blu – backing vocals on "Shenandoah"
Bobby King – backing vocals on "Sally Sue Brown" and "Ninety Miles an Hour (Down a Dead End Street)"
Clydie King – backing vocals on "Death Is Not the End"
Alexandra Brown – backing vocals on "Shenandoah"
Full Force – backing vocals on "Death Is Not the End"
Willie Green, Jr. – backing vocals on "Sally Sue Brown" and "Ninety Miles an Hour (Down a Dead End Street)"
Eric Clapton – guitar
Alan Clark – keyboards on "Death Is Not the End"
Carolyn Dennis – backing vocals on "Ugliest Girl in the World" and "Shenandoah"; additional vocals on "Silvio"
Nathan East – bass guitar on "Silvio" and "Shenandoah"
Mitchell Froom – keyboards on "Had a Dream About You, Baby"
Beau Hill – keyboards on "Had a Dream About You, Baby"
Randy Jackson – bass guitar on "Let's Stick Together" and "Ugliest Girl in the World"
Steve Jones – guitar on "Sally Sue Brown"
Danny Kortchmar – guitar on "Let's Stick Together" and "Ugliest Girl in the World"
Larry Klein – bass guitar on "Rank Strangers to Me"
Mark Knopfler – guitar and production on "Death Is Not the End"
Madelyn Quebec – keyboards and backing vocals on "When Did You Leave Heaven?" and "Ninety Miles an Hour (Down a Dead End Street)"; vocals on "Sally Sue Brown"; backing vocals on "Ugliest Girl in the World" and "Shenandoah"; additional vocals on "Silvio"
Pamela Quinlan - backing vocals
Kevin Savigar - keyboards on "Sally Sue Brown"
Robbie Shakespeare – bass guitar on "Death Is Not the End"
Stephen Shelton – drums on "When Did You Leave Heaven?", keyboards on "Ugliest Girl in the World", engineering, mixing
Paul Simonon – bass guitar on "Sally Sue Brown"
Henry Spinetti – drums on "Had a Dream About You, Baby"
Mick Taylor - guitar on "Death is Not the End"
Kip Winger – bass guitar on "Had a Dream About You, Baby"
Ronnie Wood – bass guitar on "Had a Dream About You, Baby"

Mike Baird – drums on "Silvio"
Sly Dunbar – drums on "Death Is Not the End"
Myron Grombacher - drums on "Sally Sue Brown"
Steve Jordan – drums on "Let's Stick Together" and "Ugliest Girl in the World"

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 4

Score: 5

Dylan & the Dead (Feb 1989)

Mildly interesting versions of some of Dylan's middle period songs. But not really interesting enough to listen a second time. This is Dylan supported by The Dead rather than The Dead being significant contributors. They thump and strum and hum along like seasoned session musicians. All the songs are Dylan's, and The Dead add nothing to them. If anything they detract as they don't have the working familiarity of The Band or other long term collaborators. The band do riff out on "All Along The Watchtower", which is probably the strongest track, but that seems to be a separate performance to Dylan. "Knocking On Heaven's Door", a track that has been taken up by Eric Clapton and Guns 'N' Roses so has a rock heritage, is the one that does, at last, bring Dylan and The Band together. It is, though, moderately attractive though it is, too little too late.

Released	February 6, 1989
Recorded	July 1987
Genre	Rock
Length	43:23
Label	Columbia
Producer	John Cutler and Jerry Garcia

All songs written by Bob Dylan except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Recording venue and date	Length
1.	"Slow Train"	Sullivan Stadium on July 4, 1987	4:54
2.	"I Want You"	Oakland Coliseum on July 24, 1987	3:59
3.	"Gotta Serve Somebody"	Anaheim Stadium on July 26, 1987	5:42
4.	"Queen Jane Approximately"	Autzen Stadium on July 19, 1987	6:30
Total length:			21:05

Side two
No.	Title	Recorded	Length
1.	"Joey" (Dylan, Jacques Levy)	Sullivan Stadium on July 4, 1987	9:10
2.	"All Along the Watchtower"	Anaheim Stadium on July 26, 1987	6:17
3.	"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"	Anaheim Stadium on July 26, 1987	6:51
Total length:			22:18

Bob Dylan – guitar, vocals

Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals, production
Mickey Hart – drums
Bill Kreutzmann – drums
Phil Lesh – bass guitar
Brent Mydland – keyboards, vocals
Bob Weir – guitar, vocals

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 2

Score: 3

Oh Mercy (Sept 1989)

Liked by the critics, this is one of his better albums for a while. It does not anywhere near compare to his important albums, but it's a not a piece of rubbish either. I think this, along with Knocked Out Loaded, is his best work of the Eighties, but on the whole this is a very weak period in Dylan's creativity, so it's all relative. Essentially his last decent albums were the four albums: Before The Flood (1974), Blood On The Tracks, The Basement Tapes and Desire in 1976.

Overall a quiet, weary album with the same tone as the Christian albums. The lyrics are trivial and average without the inspiration, magic, allure, and subtle understanding of Dylan's 60s output. Anyone could have written these. And the music lacks the beautiful melodies of his best work. This just thuds along in a less than average mainstream rock band stylie. The best track is "Most of The Time" which has a feel somewhere between Dylan's Christian work and a throwaway track by J.J. Cale.

Released	September 12, 1989
Recorded	February–April 1989
Studio	Mobile studio at 1305 Soniat St., New Orleans
Genre	Rock
Length	38:46
Label	Columbia
Producer	Daniel Lanois

All tracks are written by Bob Dylan

Side one
No.	Title	Recorded	Length
1.	"Political World"	March 8, 1989	3:43
2.	"Where Teardrops Fall"	March 21 and 22, 1989	2:30
3.	"Everything Is Broken"	March 14 or 15, 1989	3:12
4.	"Ring Them Bells"	March 7, 1989	3:00
5.	"Man in the Long Black Coat"	March 29, 1989	4:30
Total length:			16:55

Side two
No.	Title	Recorded	Length
1.	"Most of the Time"	March 12, 1989	5:02
2.	"What Good Am I?"	March 7, 1989	4:45
3.	"Disease of Conceit"	March 8, 1989	3:41
4.	"What Was It You Wanted"	March 21, 1989	5:02
5.	"Shooting Star"	March 14 or 15, 1989	3:12
Total length:			21:42

Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, twelve-string guitar, Hammond organ

Malcolm Burn – tambourine, keyboards, on "Everything Is Broken", "Ring Them Bells", "Man in the Long Black Coat", "Most of the Time", "What Good Am I?" and "What Was It You Wanted"
Rockin' Dopsie – accordion on "Where Teardrops Fall"
Willie Green – drums on "Political World", "Everything Is Broken", "Most of the Time", "Disease of Conceit", "What Was It You Wanted" and "Shooting Star"
Tony Hall – bass guitar on "Political World", "Everything Is Broken", "Most of the Time", "Disease of Conceit" and "Shooting Star"
John Hart – saxophone on "Where Teardrops Fall"
Daryl Johnson – percussion on "Everything Is Broken"
Larry Jolivet – bass guitar on "Where Teardrops Fall"
Daniel Lanois – Dobro, lap steel guitar, guitar, omnichord, bass guitar (performs on all tracks except "Disease of Conceit")
Cyril Neville – percussion on "Political World", "Most of the Time" and "What Was It You Wanted"
Alton Rubin, Jr. – scrub board on "Where Teardrops Fall"
Mason Ruffner – guitar on "Political World", "Disease of Conceit" and "What Was It You Wanted"
Brian Stoltz – guitar on "Political World", "Everything Is Broken", "Disease of Conceit" and "Shooting Star"
Paul Synegal – guitar on "Where Teardrops Fall"

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 7

Score: 4

Under The Red Sky (1990)

Disliked by most critics. I kinda like it, but it's not a major work. Quite poppy and throwaway. Pleasant listenable but not essential.

Released	September 10, 1990
Recorded	January 1990, March–May 1990
Studio	Oceanway, Record Plant, The Complex, Sorcerer
Genre	Rock
Length	35:21
Label	Columbia
Producer	"Jack Frost" (Bob Dylan), Don Was, and David Was

All tracks are written by Bob Dylan

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Wiggle Wiggle"	2:09
2.	"Under the Red Sky"	4:09
3.	"Unbelievable"	4:06
4.	"Born in Time"	3:39
5.	"T.V. Talkin' Song"	3:02
Total length:		17:05

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"10,000 Men"	4:21
2.	"2 × 2"	3:36
3.	"God Knows"	3:02
4.	"Handy Dandy"	4:03
5.	"Cat's in the Well"	3:21
Total length:		18:23

Bob Dylan – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, accordion, harmonica, vocals, production

Kenny Aronoff – drums
Sweet Pea Atkinson – backing vocals
Rayse Biggs – trumpet
Sir Harry Bowens – backing vocals
David Crosby – backing vocals
Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
George Harrison – slide guitar
Slash – guitar "Wiggle Wiggle"^[21]^[22]
Bruce Hornsby, Elton John – piano
Randy "The Emperor" Jackson – bass guitar
Al Kooper – Hammond organ, keyboards
David Lindley – bouzouki, guitar, slide guitar
David McMurray – saxophone
Donald Ray Mitchell – backing vocals
Jamie Muhoberac – Hammond organ
Jimmie Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Waddy Wachtel, Robben Ford – guitar
David Was – backing vocals, production
Don Was – bass guitar, production

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 4

Score: 4

The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (1991)
Rare & Unreleased 1961-1989

A mix of unreleased tracks, demos and live recordings from 1961 to 1989, this is the stuff regarded as not good enough at the time, but as Dylan has been releasing so much weak stuff for so many years, the early tracks here sound brilliant in comparison. Well, some of the earlier tracks here ARE brilliant, and only someone of Dylan's ability could have such recordings discarded because they had other recordings they preferred to publish at the time. The mystery, of course, is why it took so long to officially publish them. Having said all that, this is not a proper album, and feels more like an academic study - some footnotes to the classics. It stretches over too far a period of time and includes too much minor material to be an album that one is going to listen to as an entirety. Dylan and his record company do things their own way, but I feel it would be of some greater value to do the usual thing and append some of the better songs as bonus tracks on future related album releases. Hear the songs in context rather than, as here, a jumble bag of unrelated allsorts. Adding "Let Me Die In My Footsteps" as a bonus track to a future Freewheeling release would be more helpful than hiding it here on an album with 57 other songs covering 28 years.

So, some good tracks, some interesting tracks, and perhaps some material I could have done without, placed on a sprawling album I'm hardly going to listen to just for pleasure. The later Bootleg releases were, thankfully, more focused.

Released	March 26, 1991
Recorded	November 1961 – March 1989 "Series of Dreams" remixed January 1991
Genre	Folk rock, folk blues
Length	229:37
Label	Columbia
Producer	Jeff Rosen

All songs written by Bob Dylan, except where noted; all arrangements by Bob Dylan.

Volume one (disc one)
No.	Title	Source	Length
1.	"Hard Times in New York Town" (December 22, 1961)	home tape recorded by Tony Glover	2:19
2.	"He Was a Friend of Mine" (traditional) (November 20, 1961)	Bob Dylan outtake	4:02
3.	"Man on the Street" (November 22, 1961)	Bob Dylan outtake	1:56
4.	"No More Auction Block" (traditional) (October 1962)	live at the Gaslight cafe, Greenwich Village	3:03
5.	"House Carpenter" (traditional) (March 19, 1962)	The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan outtake	4:08
6.	"Talkin' Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues" (April 25, 1962)	The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan outtake	3:45
7.	"Let Me Die in My Footsteps" (April 25, 1962)	The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan outtake	3:33
8.	"Rambling, Gambling Willie" (April 24, 1962)	The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan outtake	4:13
9.	"Talkin' Hava Negeilah Blues" (April 25, 1962)	The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan outtake	0:52
10.	"Quit Your Low Down Ways" (July 9, 1962)	The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan outtake	2:39
11.	"Worried Blues" (traditional) (July 9, 1962)	The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan outtake	2:39
12.	"Kingsport Town" (traditional) (November 14, 1962)	The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan outtake	3:29
13.	"Walkin' Down the Line" (1963)	demo for the Witmark Music Publishing Company	2:52
14.	"Walls of Red Wing" (April 24, 1963)	The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan outtake	5:05
15.	"Paths of Victory" (August 12, 1963)	The Times They Are A-Changin' outtake	3:17
16.	"Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues" (October 26, 1963)	live at Carnegie Hall	4:25
17.	"Who Killed Davey Moore?" (October 26, 1963)	live at Carnegie Hall	3:09
18.	"Only a Hobo" (August 12, 1963)	The Times They Are A-Changin' outtake	3:29
19.	"Moonshiner" (traditional) (August 12, 1963)	The Times They Are A-Changin' outtake	5:06
20.	"When the Ship Comes In" (1963)	demo for the Witmark Music Publishing Company	2:55
21.	"The Times They Are A-Changin' " (1963)	demo for the Witmark Music Publishing Company	3:00
22.	"Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie" (April 12, 1963)	poem recited live in concert at New York City's Town Hall	7:07
Total length:			77:03

Volume two (disc two)
No.	Title	Source	Length
1.	"Seven Curses" (August 6, 1963)	The Times They Are A-Changin' outtake	3:49
2.	"Eternal Circle" (October 24, 1963)	The Times They Are A-Changin' outtake	2:38
3.	"Suze (The Cough Song)" (October 24, 1963)	The Times They Are A-Changin' outtake	1:58
4.	"Mama, You Been on My Mind" (June 9, 1964)	Another Side of Bob Dylan outtake	2:56
5.	"Farewell, Angelina" (January 13, 1965)	Bringing It All Back Home outtake	5:27
6.	"Subterranean Homesick Blues" (January 13, 1965)	Bringing It All Back Home alternate take	2:56
7.	"If You Gotta Go, Go Now" (January 15, 1965)	Bringing It All Back Home outtake	2:56
8.	"Sitting on a Barbed Wire Fence" (June 15, 1965)	Highway 61 Revisited outtake	3:54
9.	"Like a Rolling Stone" (June 15, 1965)	Highway 61 Revisited alternate take	1:36
10.	"It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" (June 15, 1965)	Highway 61 Revisited alternate take	3:22
11.	"I'll Keep It with Mine" (January 27, 1966)	Blonde on Blonde outtake	3:39
12.	"She's Your Lover Now" (January 21, 1966)	Blonde on Blonde outtake	6:10
13.	"I Shall Be Released" (Fall 1967)	Basement Tape recording	3:56
14.	"Santa-Fe" (Fall 1967)	Basement Tape recording	2:10
15.	"If Not for You" (May 1, 1970)	New Morning alternate take	3:33
16.	"Wallflower" (November 4, 1971)	previously unreleased recording	2:49
17.	"Nobody 'Cept You" (November 2, 1973)	Planet Waves outtake	2:41
18.	"Tangled Up in Blue" (September 19, 1974)	Blood on the Tracks alternate take	6:51
19.	"Call Letter Blues" (September 16, 1974)	Blood on the Tracks outtake	4:27
20.	"Idiot Wind" (September 19, 1974)	Blood on the Tracks alternate take	8:52
Total length:			76:40

Volume three (disc three)
No.	Title	Source	Length
1.	"If You See Her, Say Hello" (September 16, 1974)	Blood on the Tracks alternate take	3:45
2.	"Golden Loom" (July 30, 1975)	Desire outtake	4:26
3.	"Catfish" (Bob Dylan / Jacques Levy) (July 28, 1975)	Desire outtake	2:48
4.	"Seven Days" (April 21, 1976)	live performance, Tampa, Florida	4:00
5.	"Ye Shall Be Changed" (May 2, 1979)	Slow Train Coming outtake	4:09
6.	"Every Grain of Sand" (September 23, 1980)	publishing demo for Special Rider Music	3:38
7.	"You Changed My Life" (April 23, 1981)	Shot of Love outtake	5:14
8.	"Need a Woman" (May 4, 1981)	Shot of Love outtake	5:43
9.	"Angelina" (May 4, 1981)	Shot of Love outtake	6:57
10.	"Someone's Got a Hold of My Heart" (April 25, 1983)	Infidels outtake	4:33
11.	"Tell Me" (April 21, 1983)	Infidels outtake	4:24
12.	"Lord Protect My Child" (May 3, 1983)	Infidels outtake	3:57
13.	"Foot of Pride" (April 25, 1983)	Infidels outtake	5:57
14.	"Blind Willie McTell" (May 5, 1983)	Infidels outtake	5:52
15.	"When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky" (February 19, 1985)	Empire Burlesque alternate take	5:37
16.	"Series of Dreams" (March 23, 1989)	Oh Mercy outtake; remixed January 1991	5:52
Total length:			76:52

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 9

Score: 5

Good As I Been To You (1992)

A likeable and popular album. After clearly struggling with his inability to write a telling song, Dylan retreated into an album entirely of acoustics covers. There is talk that this was done merely to meet the demands of his recording contract, however the result was liked by many, and Dylan would now continue to record mostly covers until Time Out Of Mind in 1997. His Never Ending Tour, which I saw this year (2017) was mostly covers, and this apparently has been the case since the tour started in 1988. His singing style does bring a Dylanesque approach to each song he sings, and allows the listener to review Dylan's career in terms of Dylan's own interpretations of his own songs - the WAY he delivers them is perhaps as important as the lyrical content.

And, by golly, I do like this. Harmless and non-essentially, but Dylan choses the songs well and does them justice. Likeable.

Released	November 3, 1992
Recorded	Mid-1992
Studio	Bob Dylan's garage studio, Malibu
Genre	Folk blues
Length	55:31
Label	Columbia
Producer	Debbie Gold

All songs are traditional, arranged by Bob Dylan, except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Frankie & Albert"	arranged by Mississippi John Hurt	3:50
2.	"Jim Jones"		3:52
3.	"Blackjack Davey"		5:47
4.	"Canadee-i-o"	arranged by Nic Jones	4:20
5.	"Sittin' on Top of the World"	Walter Vinson and Lonnie Chatmon	4:27
6.	"Little Maggie"		2:52
7.	"Hard Times"	Stephen Foster^[3]	4:31
Total length:			29:39

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Step It Up and Go"		2:54
2.	"Tomorrow Night"	Sam Coslow, Will Grosz^[4]	3:42
3.	"Arthur McBride"	arranged by Paul Brady	6:20
4.	"You're Gonna Quit Me"		2:46
5.	"Diamond Joe"		3:14
6.	"Froggie Went a Courtin'"		6:26
Total length:			25:22

Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, harmonica

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 6

Score: 5

World Gone Wrong (1993)

Another album of covers of traditional songs. It's very effective, and Dylan sounds relaxed, though it doesn't quite have the impact of Good As I Been To You.

Released	October 26, 1993
Recorded	May 1993
Studio	Bob Dylan's Malibu Garage
Genre	Folk, blues
Length	43:51
Label	Columbia
Producer	Bob Dylan

All songs are traditional, arranged by Bob Dylan, except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"World Gone Wrong"		3:57
2.	"Love Henry"		4:24
3.	"Ragged & Dirty"	Willie Brown	4:09
4.	"Blood in My Eyes"		5:04
5.	"Broke Down Engine"	Blind Willie McTell	3:22
Total length:			20:56

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Delia"		5:41
2.	"Stack a Lee"	arranged by Frank Hutchison	3:50
3.	"Two Soldiers"		5:45
4.	"Jack-A-Roe"		4:56
5.	"Lone Pilgrim"	Benjamin Franklin White, Adger M. Pace	2:43
Total length:			22:55

Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, harmonica

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 7

Score: 4

MTV Unplugged (1995)

It takes Dylan a little while before he gets into this live MTV performance, then when he does it's quite attractive, though lacking in some of the depth, passion, and interest of his performances during his creative peak in the Sixties and Seventies. He doesn't speak between songs - just plays 'em. This is how he performed when I saw him life recently. The difference here is that there are no covers - apparently Dylan wanted to do the same sort of traditional material that he's done on his last two albums, but MTV wanted the classics. Odd that Dylan would agree to do that - he's been notorious during his career for doing his own thing, and never compromising. Anyway, a modest but pleasant enough album. Next?

Released	May 2, 1995
Recorded	November 17–18, 1994
Venue	Sony Studios, New York City
Genre	Folk rock
Length	64:04 (US release) 69:26 (UK release & DVD)
Label	Columbia
Producer	Jeff Rosen

All songs written by Bob Dylan.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Tombstone Blues"	4:54
2.	"Shooting Star"	4:06
3.	"All Along the Watchtower"	3:36
4.	"The Times They Are a-Changin'"	5:48
5.	"John Brown"	5:22
6.	"Rainy Day Women #12 & 35"	3:31
7.	"Desolation Row"	8:22
8.	"Dignity"	6:30
9.	"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"	5:30
10.	"Like a Rolling Stone"	9:09
11.	"With God on Our Side"	7:16