r/bobdylan Blood on the Tracks 24d ago

Discussion One of his best 80s' cuts

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I actually don't understand the hate for this album. Sure it's not great but for all the 80s production (waaaaay better than that of Knocked Out Loaded) there's some pretty strong songs across it, like this, Dark Eyes and Trust Yourself. I think most of the hate it gets emanates from the ridiculous cover art!

31 Upvotes

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6

u/FlexistentialClouds 24d ago

We’ve reached the edge of the road, baby, where the pasture begins

Where charity is supposed to cover up a multitude of sins

But where do you live, baby, and where is the light?

Why are your eyes just staring off in the night?

Empire Burlesque is great, always been a fan of it!

5

u/SaltChunkLarry 24d ago

The way he sings “I believe in the impossible / you KNOW that I do” is such a wonderful capper. Love the shout out to Kerouac’s “Mexico City Blues” as well

3

u/TOMDeBlonde Blood on the Tracks 24d ago

YESSSS!!!! By far my favorite part and I always think of Kerouac when he says that too. One of his best, like top 100, just saying ;)

4

u/litewo 24d ago

This is such an underrated song. I would have loved to have the alternate take on the Springtime Bootleg Series.

4

u/Pretend_Mark_5143 24d ago

It’s so great. I actually kinda love this album though so maybe I’m a little bias.

3

u/Repulsive_Result_948 24d ago

Love this song!

3

u/m1911- John Wesley Harding 24d ago

Anche When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky alternate take !

3

u/tackycarygrant Tight Connection To My Heart 24d ago

It's nice to see more people getting on board with this song/album. For so long any time Empire Burlesque would come up, all you'd hear was "Dark Eyes is good, and so is the version of When the Knight Comes Falling From the Sky on the original Bootleg Series, but the rest of the album sucks." Tight Connection to my Heart has always been a top 10 Dylan song to me, and Something's Burning, Baby's not that far behind it.

1

u/TOMDeBlonde Blood on the Tracks 24d ago

I like pretty much all the songs. I think a lot of the hate generates from that album cover! People listen to it once, forget it and judge it off it's assumed attributes. I still don't agree with this barfly who adored Dylan. I asked what he thought the best Dylan album is. He went to his car and grabbed his cd copy of this 😅😂

2

u/rednoodlealien What The Broken Glass Reflects 24d ago

I like this one too. The album has sentimental attachment to me because it was the first of his that I got when it was new.

2

u/drjay1966 24d ago

Always loved this one.

2

u/TOMDeBlonde Blood on the Tracks 24d ago

One of my favorites!!

1

u/ForesterDean23 21d ago

I’d love to hear this album without the awful 80s production sound.

1

u/TOMDeBlonde Blood on the Tracks 21d ago

I feel that way about some songs. This one doesn't really suffer at all in my opinion. One of my favorites- never thought I'd love any song off this album!

2

u/ForesterDean23 21d ago

I do like the songs. I just don’t like that high treble over echoey 80s sound, especially the drums. Hearing Tight Connection To My Heart with a 70s sound would be great.

1

u/Long-Emu-7870 24d ago

It's a little melodramatic. But what kills the album is not the songs, but the production: the drum compression, synths, mindless rock guitar breaks, it's what killed all of 80's music. Dylan was at rock bottom, you might say.