Album #23: Empire Burlesque

 Released June 10, 1985


This album has some good songs on it, but unfortunately Dylan handed them over to a producer for a distinctive 80s sound that is very dated now. For example, “When the Night Comes Falling From The Sky” - there’s an early version on one of the bootleg albums that’s really good, then there’s the version on the album, which is ‘way overproduced. “Tight Connection To My Heart” is similar. In fact, there’s a beautiful version of this in the musical “Girl from the North Country” that sounds like a different song. 

Of course, as with anything Dylan, there are people out there who LOVE this album. 

On thing that is fun about this album is all of the references from movies like “The Maltese Falcon”. 

I don’t have a strong favorite on this album - probably “Trust Yourself”and “Clean Cut Kid” are the ones I like most. The bootleg version of “When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky” is really my favorite. 

When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky: Bootleg: 

https://youtu.be/zKCZ8K1gUDs?si=xy4Ic6incaQeKNNm

Tight Connection to my Heart: Album version: 

https://youtu.be/LNMbHhp7dII?si=MVVnPm9iGnD60_v7

Tight Connection to my Heart: Girl from the North Country:

https://youtu.be/RHfoKH5cX-0?si=NYVh4F05uS6uUIUa

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