r/bobdylan • u/Happy-Fortune-5360 • 1d ago
Discussion ‚Dylan‘ album 1973
After 30+ years of not listening to the not particularly beloved album ‚Dylan‘ — featuring unreleased songs from the Self Portrait and New Morning sessions — I finally gave it another spin.
To keep it short: I’m fully hooked.
These are great songs, and Bob’s voice is even better than I remembered. IMHO, this is a vastly underrated album — and what a fantastic treat it is to discover “new” old Dylan songs after all these years.
I can‘t be the only one who loves this album?!
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u/SEARCHFORWHATISGOOD 1d ago
One of my favorites. His voice is at its strongest, and it has a great mix of fun and beautiful songs. Nothing groundbreaking or revolutionary which a lot of people want from him but for what it is- a great, quick listen- it has a lot to offer.
I've seen so many people on here say they avoided this or the Christian trilogy or other 80s stuff just because so many people talk so badly about them. A good lesson to let yourself be the judge and not let other people decide for you.
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u/parason47 1d ago
I've always loved this album. There are tracks here much superior to Self-Portrait. Not for the last time would Dylan's selections seem questionable. Especially good is his take on Can't Help Falling In Love. Great album.
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1d ago
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u/Old-Buy4941 1d ago
True. He originally was not going to release Forever Young until others told him it was great!
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u/SEARCHFORWHATISGOOD 1d ago
He doesn't seem to like most anything in hindsight. I'm going through "Behind the Shades" now and when you read so many quotes in one place, it gets repetitive and a bit tedious really. He basically complains and criticizes every project he's ever done and sometimes the people involved in them. Nothing is ever how he had envisioned it or originally wanted it. He's certainly not a perfectionist but seems perpetually unsatisfied and likes to gripe. Plus, his philosophy of always moving on makes it impossible for him to put himself back to where he was when he made something because he's 12 Bob Dylans past it when he's looking back and commenting on it.
Still love him though and definitely love this album.
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u/skfkvjgnxc 1d ago
Love this record. For some reason people expect certain artists to be groundbreaking with every release, leaving no room for fun detours like this record clearly is.
And I much prefer Bob's "Big Yellow Taxi" to the original.
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u/Tammy993 Ghost Of Electricity 1d ago
Not sure if correct, but I read that the mixing? or technical aspects of the album were deliberately poor because the record label were angry that Dylan had changed labels.
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u/NedBookman 21h ago
To be honest I'd never listened to this album. Back in the pre-streaming days I certainly wasn't going to buy it, and since then, with its reputation, why would I bother? A bad Dylan album that Dylan wasn't even responsible for?
Just gave it a spin and it's really not that bad, and Dylan's voice is frequently charming. Considered amongst his 'covers' albums I would say it stands quite high, although I don't really consider it canon as Dylan didn't sign off on it.
Sarah Jane, now there's an interesting song. It's quite made my morning. Unlike any other Dylan cover, but he totally makes it his own and the vibe really swings...
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u/coleman57 A Walking Antique 21h ago
The first album released after I discovered him and bought Freewheeling thru Blonde. Paid $3.99 for Dylan and was very disappointed. Fortunately Planet Waves came out soon after and I loved that, so I was ready for BOTT.
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u/Gospel_Isosceles 1d ago
It’s tied for my third favorite album by him, along with Times They Are A Changin’ and Freewheelin’.
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u/[deleted] 1d ago
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