Expecting Rain

Instead of the familiar challenge of a top 10, why not waste some time and rank them all in order?

1.Highway 61 revisited (1965) Best song: Like a rolling stone
2.Blonde on Blonde (1966) Best song: Visions of Johanna
3.Blood on the tracks (1975) Best song: Simple twist of fate
4.Love and theft (2001) Best song: Mississippi
5.Time out of mind (1997) Best song: Not Dark Yet
6.Street Legal (1978) Best song: Senor (tales of yankee power)
7.Oh mercy (1989) Best song: Where teardrops fall
9.Bringing it all back home (1965) Best song: It's alright ma
10.Basement tapes (1975) Best song: This wheel's on fire
11.Planet Waves (1974) Best song: Going, going, gone
12.Infidels (1983) Best song: Jokerman
13.The Freewheelin' (1963) Best song: Don't think twice, It's alright
14.Good as I been to you (1992) Best song: Frankie and Albert
15.World gone wrong (1993) Best song: Jack a-roe
16.Nashville Skyline (1969) Best song: Tonight I'll be staying here..
17.The Times They Are A-Changin' (1964) Best song: Lonesome dea
18.Another side of Bob Dylan (1964) Best song: It ain't me babe
19.Desire (1976) Best song: One more cup of coffee
18.John Wesley Harding (1967) Best song: All along the watchtowe
19.Under the red sky (1990) Best song: Born in time
20.New Morning (1970) Best song: Man in me
21.Slow train coming (1979) Best song: I believe in you
22.Shot of Love (1981) Best song: Shot of love
23.Pat Garret and Billy the Kid (1973) Best song: Knocking on heav
24.Knocked out loaded (1986) Best song: Brownsville Girl
26.Empire Burlesque (1985) Best song: I'll renember you
27.Saved (1980) Best song: Solid rock
28.Down in the groove (1988) Best song: Ninety miles an hour
29.Self portrait (1970) Best song: All the tired horses
30.Bob Dylan (1962) Best song: Baby let me follow you down
31.Dylan (1973) Best song:.......

There! That's half an hour wasted!

This, of course, changes on daily basis.

1. Highway 61 Revisited (Best song: Queen Jane)
2. Blood on the Tracks (Best song: Idiot Wind)
3. Bringing It All Back Home (Best song: Love Minus Zero)
4. Time Out of Mind (Best song: Lovesick)
5. Love + Theft (Best song: High Water)
6. Blonde on Blonde (Best song: I Want You)
7. Desire (Best song: Hurricane)
8. Another Side of Bob Dylan (Best song: I Don't Believe You)
9. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (Best song: Don't Think Twice)
10. Oh Mercy (Best song: Man in a Long Black Coat)
11. Infidels (Best song: Jokerman)
12. World Gone Wrong (Best song: Jack-a-Roe)
13. Good As I Been To You (Best song: Gypsy Davey)
14. Planet Waves (Best song: Wedding Song)
15. Street Legal (Best song: Senor)
16. Nashville Skyline (Best song: girl from N.C.)
17. Bob Dylan (Best song: In My Time of Dying)
18. New Morning (Best song: The Man in Me)
19. Knocked Out Loaded (Best song: Brownsville Girl)
20. Shot of Love (Best song: Heart of Mine)
21. The Times They Are A-Changin' (Best song: One Too Many Mornings)
22. John Wesley Harding (Best song: As I Went Out One Morning)
23. Slow Train Coming (Best song: Precious Angel)
24. Self portrait (Best song: Days of 49)
25. Dylan (Best song: The Lily of the West)
26. Basement Tapes (Best song: You Ain't Goin' Nowhere)
27. Saved (Best song: Saved)
28. Pat Garret and Billy the Kid (Best song: Knockin' On H.D.)
29. Down in the Groove (Best song: Uglies Girl in the World)
30. Under the Red Sky (Best song: Born in Time)
31. Empire Burlesque (Best song: Emotionally Yours)

1, Bringing It All Back Home (Best song: Mr. Tambourine Man)
2, Highway 61 Revisited (Best song: Like a Rolling Stone)
3, Blonde on Blonde (Best song: I Want You
4, The Times They Are A-Changin' (1964) (Best song: When the ship comes in)
5. Blood on the Tracks (Best song: Idiot Wind)
6, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (Best song: Don't Think Twice)
7, Desire (Best song: Hurricane)
8, Another Side of Bob Dylan (Best song: My Back Pages )
9, Oh Mercy (Best song: Ring Them Bells)
10, New Morning (Best song: The Man in Me)
11, Infidels (Best song: I and I)
12, Nashville Skyline (Best song: Lay Lady Lay)
13, Street Legal (Best song: Changing of the Guards)

Rank the other albums later.

Sorry fellas. The correct response is:

Love & Theft
Blood On The Tracks
Highway 61
Freewheelin
Blonde On Blonde
Bringing It All Back Home
John Wesley Harding
Basement tapes
Another side of Bob Dylan
Slow train coming
Desire
Planet Waves
Nashville Skyline
New Morning
Time out of mind
Self portrait
Bob Dylan
Street Legal

After that, it really doesn't matter.

I haven't heard all his records. But these are my "holy 7", in order:

1. Bringing It All Back Home
2. Freewheelin'
3. Blonde on Blonde
4. John Wesley Harding
5. Desire
6. Blood On The Tracks
7. Highway 61 Revisited

The next level down from there includes:

8. New Morning
9. The Basement Tapes (this would be in the list above if we can use bootlegs, but Robbie Robertson edited this into the trash can for official release)
10. Bob Dylan
11. Another Side Of...
12. Infidels


Notes:
-- I think Highway 61 is overrated, although still very good.
-- I've got a real soft-spot for New Morning. I love it.
-- I hate Idiot Wind.

Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong ... every single one is in the wrong place.

But that's OK.

jesus im gonna be wasting the rest of my morning but...

Blood on the Tracks-Lily Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts
Bringing it All Back Home-Love Minus Zero/No Limit
Highway 61 Revisted-Ballad of a Thin Man
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan-Girl From North Country
Blonde on Blonde-Visions of Johanna
The TimesTimes They Are A-Changin'-When the Ship Comes In/God on Our Side
Time Out of Mind-Tryin' to Get to Heaven
New Morning-If Not For You
Love and Theft-Mississippi
Another Side of Bob Dylan-In My Back Pages/Chimes of Freedom
John Wesley Harding-Drifter's Escape
Oh Mercy-Man in the Long Black Coat/Shooting Star
Desire-Isis
Nashville Skyline-One Too Many Mornings
Bob Dylan-Song to Woody
Street Legal-Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)
Infidels-I and I
Empire Burlesque-Dark Eyes
Shot of Love-The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar
Down in the Groove-Silvio
Knocked out Loaded-Brownsville Girl
Slow Train Coming-Slow Train
Good as I Been to You-Sittin' on Top of the World
World Gone Wrong-Ragged and Dirty
Saved-Saved
Self Portrait-Quinn the Eskimo

tell me if i missed anything...

DELETED

Ok! here I go:

1. Highway 61 (Like a Rolling stone)
2. Blood on the Tracks (If you see her, say hello)
3. Blonde on Blonde (Sooner or Later)
4. Street Legal (Where are you tonight)
5. Love and Theft (Summer days)
6. Bring it all Back Home (Mr Tambourine man)
7. Planet Waves (Dirge)
8. Time Out of Mind (Tryn`to get to heaven)
9. Desire (Sara)
10. New Morning (I went to see the gypsy)
11. Freewheelin´ (A hard rain is a-gonna fall)
12. Slow Train Coming (I belive in you)
13. Nashville Skyline (Country pie)
14. Another Side (Ain´t me babe)
15. John Wesley Hardin (All along the watchtower)
16. The Basament Tapes (Odds and ends)
17. Oh Mercy (Shooting Star)
18. Infidels (Don´t fall apart on me tonight)
19. The Times They are a- changin (When the Ship comes in)
20. Bob Dylan (Baby let me follow you down)
21. Saved (Convenant Woman)
22. Shot of Love (The Groom´s still waiting...)
23. Empire Burlesque (Emotionally yours)
24. Self Portrait (All the tired horses)
25. Dylan (Big yellow taxi)

I think this is the best list of all! any doubt just check it!

Love and Theft
Bringing it All Back Home
Blood on the Tracks
Highway 61 Revisited
Time Out of Mind
Blonde on Blonde
Oh Mercy
Another Side of Bob Dylan
John Wesley Harding
World Gone Wrong
Planet Waves
Slow Train Coming
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Desire
Bob Dylan
The Times They are A-Changin'
Nashville Skyline
Shot of Love
New Morning
Good as I Been to You
Infidels
Street Legal
Self Portrait

Empire Burlesque
Under the Red Sky
Knocked Out Loaded
Down in the Groove
Saved

I'm going to waste some time, but also try to get a little productive advice out of this, so here goes:

All the studio albums I've heard, ranked:

1. Bringin' It All Back Home (The last four songs on the record, no need to choose one among them)
2. Blood On The Tracks (Tangled Up In Blue)
3. Blonde On Blonde (Visions Of Johanna)
4. John Wesley Harding (All Along The Watchtower)
5. Slow Train Coming (Slow Train)

Big Gap here, duds on every remaining record

6. Freewheelin' (A Hard Rain's A-Gonna-Fall)
7. "Love and Theft" (High Water)
8. Another Side (Chimes Of Freedom)
9. Highway 61 Revisited (Desolation Row, easiest "best song" choice on the entire list, much, much, much the best song on this record)

Another gap here; I'd label it like this: One through Nine are records everyone should give a listen and at least respect, while Ten on down are for people who go around trying to listen to Bob on purpose.

10. The Times They Are A-Changin' (Only a Pawn In Their Game/Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll, can't choose)
11. Bob Dylan (Baby, Let Me Follow You Down)
12. Time Out Of Mind (Tryin' To Get To Heaven)
13. Shot Of Love (Every Grain Of Sand)
14. Saved (Solid Rock)
15. Oh Mercy (Man In The Long Black Coat)
16. Nashville Skyline (Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You)
17. Infidels (Sweetheart Like You, I suppose . . . I really just hate the 1983-era rhythm section sound SO MUCH on this record)

That's it; those are all the studio records I know. Based on what's not on this list, experts, what am I most missing out on?

Should I go for Planet Waves next? I'm not impressed with the two tracks from that record on Biograph.

Because: 1) I don't really love Nashville Skyline (though I do put it on some, strangely), and 2) The Bootleg Series version of If Not For You is a thousand times better than the studio version I have on Biograph, I'm worried that I won't much go for New Morning.

I like various live versions of Isis quite a bit, and Romance in Durango less so, but I like Hurricane and Joey less than most people, and Sara and One More Cup Of Coffee are just OK live, so I've generally avoided Desire as well. Plus Jacques Levy irritates me.

Street Legal I've just skipped, no real reason.

I listen to Tree With Roots instead of the Robertson Basement Tapes.

Don't know Pat Garrett except for Knockin', of course. Is it just soundtrack music? Worth checking out?

My assumption has been that the rest of the bunch (from Empire Burlesque all the way to Time Out Of Mind, with Oh Mercy excepted, plus Self Portrait) are in the "approach with great caution" bin.

What am I wrong about here, Dylan lovers? What albums do I not listen to that I should check out next?

Hey Hobosailor, just a quick query to ask what the "dud" track on H61R is. Personally its my own all-time (joint) favourite album, but I'd guess maybe From A Buick 6? If thats the case, I'd put a similar point forward concerning On The Road Again or even Outlaw Blues, although BIABH's joint first on my list.

This is the list:


1. Slow Train Coming (Best song: Gonna Change My Way of Thinking)
2. Saved (Best song: Solid Rock)
3. Blonde on Blonde (Best song: 4th Time Around)
4. Self Portrait (Best song: Early Morning Rain)
5. Planet Waves (Best song: Hazel)
6. Highway 61 Revisited (Best song: Tombstone Blues)
7. Bringing It All Back Home (Best song: On The Road Again)
8. Another Side of Bob Dylan (Best song: Motorpsycho Nitemare)
9. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (Best song: Bob Dylan's Dream)
10. New Morning (Best song: If Not For You)
11. Dylan (Best song: Sarah Jane)
12. Street Legal (Best song: New Pony)
13. Blood on the Tracks (Best song: Meet Me In The Morning)
14. Love + Theft (Best song: Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum)
15. The Times They Are A-Changin' (Best song: The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll)
16. Time Out of Mind (Best song: Lovesick)
17. Bob Dylan (Best song: Talkin' New York)
18. Oh Mercy (Best song: Most of the Time)
19. Desire (Best song: Sara)
20. Shot of Love (Best song: Heart of Mine)
21. World Gone Wrong (Best song: Jack-a-Roe)
22. John Wesley Harding (Best song: I'll Be Your Baby Tonight)
23. Nashville Skyline (Best song: To Be Alone With You)
24. Basement Tapes (Best song: You Ain't Goin' Nowhere)
25. Infidels (Best song: Jokerman)
26. Pat Garret and Billy the Kid (Best song: Knockin' On H.D.)
27. Knocked Out Loaded (Best song: none)
28. Good As I Been To You (Best song: none)
29. Down in the Groove (Best song: none)
30. Under the Red Sky (Best song: none)
31. Empire Burlesque (Best song: none)

Good thread. Not that much discussion, but thats allright. My list is the following:

1. Blonde on Blonde. Best album ever.
2. Highway 61 Revisited. Nest best album ever.
3. Street-Legal. I'm in love with this album. We'll marry this september.
4. Time out of Mind. Wow. Bob Dylan still has got it. The album that got me realize this.
5. Blood on the Tracks. One of the most personal Dylanalbum. A truelly great one.
6. Bringing it all back home. The transition album that was Dylans evolving piece.
7. Love and Theft. Dylans latest albums, and his most skilfully written lyrically since Blonde on Blonde. This was a great one.

8. Deisre. Dylans musically greatest album. Its hard topping this.
9. Slow train coming. The second best album of Dylan musically ever.

10. The Freewheelin. What a great way to open a carrier.

1. Blonde on Blonde (Visions of Johanna)
2. Blood on the Tracks (You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When U Go)
3. Basement Tapes (Goin' to Alcapolco)
4. Highway 61 (Desolation Row)
5. Another Side of Bob Dylan (Chimes of Freedom)
6. John Wesley Harding (Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest)
7. Bringing it All Back Home (Mr. Tambourine Man)
8. Oh Mercy (Shooting Star)
9. Time Out of Mind (Tryin' to Get to Heaven)
10. Love and Theft (Mississippi)
11. Infidels (I and I)
12. Freewheelin' (Talking World War 3 Blues)
13. Planet Waves (Going, Going, Gone)
14. Desire (Isis)
15. Street Legal (Where Are You Tonight?)
16. World Gone Wrong (Blood in My Eyes)
17. Good as I Been to You (Blackjack Davey)
18. Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (Billy)
19. Slow Train Coming (Gotta Serve Somebody)
20. The Times (Ballad of Hollis Brown)
21. New Morning (New Morning)
22. Bob Dylan (Song to Woody)
23. Shot of Love (Every Grain of Sand)
24. Under the Red Sky (God Knows)
25. Saved (What Can I Do For You?)
26. Nashville Skyline (I Threw it All Away)
27. Empire Burlesque (Dark Eyes)
28. Knocked Out Loaded (Brwonsville Girl)
29. Down in the Groove (Silvio)
30. Dylan (Spanish is the Loving Tongue)
31. Self Portrait (Days of 49)

Hey Phantom,

Sorry, I didn't check this thread all day today. Regarding Highway 61, I'm going to tread very carefully here, because you and several other lovers of that album have been so generously supporting the "Rare Dylan Recordings" posts that newbies like me have plumbed to begin our boot collections.

I talked about this a couple of months ago in a thread I started about the album: I've never gotten why others like it as much as the very greatest albums like BIABH and BOB. I have a hard time getting much out of really key songs on that record such as "Queen Jane," "Tom Thumb" and "Thin Man." But, if I were to argue for a defensible "dud" label, I'd say "Buick" is pretty silly overall. You're right, "Buick" is about on a par with "Outlaw Blues" and "On the Road Again," I think that's a very fair comparison.

I just grant BIABH an exemption and put it over the "dud" line on my list because I like the rest of the record so much. When I made a "Top Ten" list in one of the "Tour" threads, I specifically admitted this inconsistency, I just didn't say it again when I made my "rank 'em all" list.

And . . . thanks one more time for all your help with boot shares. Listening to live performances such as the "Tom Thumb" from various '66 shows is actually helping me get more into the Highway 61 songs.

Oh yeah, I remember your other thread now. I still don't understand it, but I remember it.

From a Buick 6 is a dud? I love that song. A rare Dylan rocker.

When I go down dying
Ya know she's
Bound to put a blanket on my bed

So much of what's good is based on taste which is biased. Look at the guy who ranked Slow Train and Saved 1 and 2 respectively. Obviously he has a Christian ear.

I gonna have to say that ranking is rank.

Why not through my hat into this, however I'm sure that my list would change if you asked me next week.

1. Highway 61 Revisited (best song: Desolation Row)
2. John Wesley Harding (best song: Dear Landlord)
3. Blonde on Blonde (best song: Visions of Johanna)
4. Blood on the Tracks (best song: You're a Big Girl, Now)
5. Time Out Of Mind (best song: Can't Wait)
6. Bringing It All Back Home (best song: It's Alright Ma/Gates of Eden)
7. Planet Waves (best song: Going Going Gone)
8. Freewheelin' (best song: Hard Rain)
9. Love and Theft (best song: High Water)
10. Another Side (best song: Chimes of Freedom)
11. Infidels (best song: I and I)
12. Desire (best song: One More Cup of Coffee)
13. The Times (best song: Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll)
14. Slow Train Coming (best song: When You Gonna Wake Up/Slow Train)
15. Oh Mercy (best song: Man in the long Black Coat)
16. New Morning (best song: Three Angels)
17. Nashville Skyline (best song: Tonight, I'll Be staying here with you)
18. Shot of Love (best song: Shot of Love)
19. Street Legal (best song: Senor)

DELETED

A handful of Bob's albums of original songs are truly great:

John Wesley Harding
Blonde on Blonde
Blood On The Tracks
Highway 61 Revisited
Love & Theft

Three of his folk albums are some of the best folk music of the 20th century:

Bob Dylan (debut)
Good As I Been To You
World Gone Wrong (grim, but the best of these, maybe his best album overall)

A similar number of albums are dreadful by any conceivable standard other than uncritical idol worship:

Street Legal (far and away his worst, because he tried and failed)
Dylan/Dead (he didn't even try on this one)
Knocked Out Loaded (New Danville Girl or whatever it's called can't redeem the mediocrity of the whole)
Real Live (okay band, but pointless)
Dylan (the 1973 "Columbia's revenge" album, not the debut)

Everything else is pretty mixed. Almost every Dylan album released has at least one bad or at least noticeably inferior cut--even an important album like Bringing It All Back Home has some filler. Some albums are 50/50, like Infidels, and some like Down in the Groove have only one or two bright spots ("Shenandoah" in DITG's case).

hi al, it's been a long time - you know that i disagree (for nearly 90%) again...

Out of such disagreements are legends made, Bernie.

you couldn't keep your filthy tongue away from Street-Legal this time either, eh? Well, its really your loss. And by keeping on bad-mouthing it your'e probably trying to make people avoid it? What do you make out of it? Does it make you feel better? What's all the HATE about? EH? You obviosly can't stand some people loving this album, so you try to diminish it. Your'e a truelly small human being. Shame on you. You should be made to weare earphones.

I steal candy from babies, also.

My issue with Street Legal is that it is poorly written, badly arranged, and irritatingly sung. Very simple.

I'm hardly alone in this view of the album.

It's okay that you like bad art, no need to be defensive about it. But worshipping the farts Bob emits after a big burrito, which is about as good as Street Legal, is just silly. As I've noted before, it's a litmus test for Dylaniods.

Kill your idols, son. Your life will be a lot more interesting if you do.