Album #8: John Wesley Harding

 Released December 27, 1967



If I ever heard this album before, I don’t remember it! This was the first studio album released after Dylan’s motorcycle accident  in 1966 (he also recorded the Basement Tapes, but I’m skipping those for now.) 

This album was a major departure from the three previous - he’s back to acoustic, and only two musicians besides Dylan. The songs are much shorter, but not necessarily simple. The album has been called a “Biblical rock album” and some think it reflects a new, “reborn” Dylan. 

I liked this album a lot. The songs are great and the musicianship is excellent. Favorites include All Along the Watchtower (of course), The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest, and I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight (Dylan must like this last song too, because he’s performed it in almost every show on his latest tour.) 

https://youtu.be/1N8SRE97NrM?si=JsHRoMExNhgxDpdd


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