Desire | Discovering Bob Dylan, Ep. 18

[@frangarcia7774]

I love Desire. It ranks very high for me among Dylan catalogue. As you said, awesome sound, great playing and singing and a very strong collection of songs

[@WowThereBuddy1]

I was blown away by this one. The energy of the opening track just totally puts you into a different state of mind then you’re normally in for when sitting down with a Dylan record, but it was the dark almost apocalyptic feel of One More Cup of Coffee that made it special.

[@gamma5672]

Don't know if Dylan or Joe or Jason will see this, but in spite of me already being familiar with most of Dylan's catalogue prior to watching this series (I've heard everything from the debut to Time Out of Mind) every time you guys release 1 of these videos I always go back and listen to the album you 2 are discussing. Thanks to this, I've now gained a new appreciation for some albums that I didn't really care for too much originally such as John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline, and even Desire. So I just wanted to thank you guys for making this series and I'm really excited for the next one because Street Legal is my favorite Dylan album :)

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Oh we’re reading this. - Joe

[@dylanseveymusic]

Always reading. Thanks for watching!

[@Captain_Rhodes]

Looking forward to Street Legal. I always liked it. One of the first I heard and sill one of my favourites. Definitely underrated

[@frangarcia7774]

Loved the shout outs to Rich and Asmund. It breaks the fourth wall and enhances the sense of cummunity that I think the channel embraces

[@waynekvetkosky2572]

So glad you continued the series; Desire is a top 5 Dylan album for me with Sara, Hurricane, One more cup, Oh Sister, and Black Diamond Bay amongst other great opus from this masterpiece.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

We’re never stopping!!!

[@waynekvetkosky2572]

when you get to the Sinatra Crooning albums you might change your mind.@@TastesLikeMusic

[@waynekvetkosky2572]

@@TastesLikeMusic just wait until you get to the multitude of Sinatra Krooner albums and stopping would be justified LOL

[@robgronotte1]

​@@TastesLikeMusicyou think so now. By the time you get to Knocked Out Loaded you might think differently. 😅

[@waynekvetkosky2572]

Knocked Out Loaded isn't a crooner album.@@robgronotte1

[@AP530]

These Dylan breakdowns are great to put on first thing in the morning.

[@collinmurr3207]

This album is such a unique entry in the Dylan canon. Half of it is some of the best work in his entire career. "One More Cup of Coffee" is just an astonishingly beautiful song, with a haunting vocal delivery by Dylan and breathtaking backing vocals by Emmylou Harris. "Romance in Durango" is Marty Robbin's "El Paso" by way of Sam Peckinpah, and it's a completely immersive, atmospheric song that takes me to another time and place. They're both top 10 Dylan songs for me. You both said everything there is to say about "Hurricane," an 8-minute pulse-pounding protest song that never lets up, and I actually like "Mozambique" quite a bit. It's fun and light on an album that needs it. "Black Diamond Bay" is fine, but it doesn't do much for me one way or the other. Then there's the other four tracks, which I have to admit I really don't like. "Sara" and "Joey" in particular are just so long and weepy, without anything really interesting going on musically, that I struggle to get into them. I wouldn't even mind the whole "glorification of a mobster" thing if the melody was better or the arrangement caught my ear. The sadness of this half of the album feels much more like the traditional divorce album than Blood on the Tracks. Even though it has some of the lowest lows up until this point, the highs are just so high that I still call it one of my favorite Dylan albums. Great video!

[@canadianstudmuffin]

I am really enjoying this series, and my favorite Dylan album "Slow Train Coming" is coming up soon. I'll get out my prayer beads that Joe loves the album like I do.

[@dixiefallas7799]

Yes that’s a good one with Mark knopfler 😊🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@MikeVernonProd]

Street Legal is possibly the most underrated album in Bob Dylan’s catalogue. It’s an album of soaring heights as Bob reaches an epic level that he never quite reaches again (in my opinion) with Changing of the Guards. It is peak Bob! Señor is also an incredible track, a triumph in both lyrics and atmosphere. The closer, Where Are You Tonight (Journey Through Dark Heat) is another home run, with lyrics that are just as good as anything off of Blood on the Tracks or Desire. I also think Joe might enjoy the more full band arrangement and the rock approach. I’m not sure if Joe is familiar with Elvis’ TCB band but it’s the closest comparable I could think of. Just a really cool sounding record and one that is unique in the Bob Dylan catalogue. I believe that Street Legal rightfully takes its place alongside Blood on the Tracks and Desire as part of a golden period of Bob’s career where he creates some of his most inspired work-a period that will continue with Slow Train Coming!

[@calummcgregor3662]

Yup ... Street Legal (along with Blood on the Tracks, Side 1 of Slow Train, and a careful selection of tracks from Infidels, Empire Burlesque (yes ... even Empire Burlesque!) plus Before the Flood / At Budokan make up my "go to" Dylan ... with Street Legal "winning" as the favourite album ... Changing of the Guards, Senor, Is Your Live in Vain?, Baby Stop Crying et al ... majestic ... would love a remix of it though ... just to "cripen" the sound ... but the songs / playing are great .... CMcG, Aberdeen, Scotland

[@MikeVernonProd]

@@calummcgregor3662 there is a remix! Don Devito remixed it in 1999. I think the remix certainly provides more clarity and tightens the sound, giving it a more traditional rock-oriented production. It does lose a bit of the atmosphere in the process, so I know some people still prefer the original mix.

[@asmundgjystdal4204]

As mentioned in the video, this is my favourite album of all time. I love it from start to finish, although I understand the criticism towards songs like "Mozambique" and "Joey", I don't agree to much with it. "One More Cup of Coffee" is my favourite on the album, slightly in front of "Black Diamond Bay"

[@MikeVernonProd]

I must say that I am pretty disappointed that Joe didn’t enjoy Desire more. For my money it’s his most melodic album since Blonde on Blonde. I don’t think Joe gives Bob’s vocals enough credit as he really sings the hell out of these songs. This album is such a singular achievement in his career. It’s more than just another Dylan record. Desire is for my money his most memorable album. Everyone knows Hurricane and it became such a well known song that it really did help get a man out of jail. The pop culture impact of the song was so large that I think it’s fair to say it played a big role in his release. It certainly helped inspire an entire film based on Rubin Carter’s story (starring Denzel Washington). The rest of the album is just a tour de force. From Isis to One More Cup of Coffee to Sara, these are some of Bob’s most inspired recordings. I’m glad Oh Sister was mentioned by Dylan as it’s one of my favourites as well. A deceptively simple song that is made great by Emmylou and Bob’s duet. Incredible, magical stuff. You guys also didn’t really touch on the lyrics of Black Diamond Bay which for my money is Bob’s most dramatic, ironic and fully fletched out story songs. It’s a tragedy on the level of Shakespeare made all the more poignant by the final verse in which a disinterested narrator is revealed to have been “watching old Cronkite on the seven o'clock news” and basically dismissing the entire drama and going to get another beer! Such a cool and inventive way to subvert the song and make a broader social commentary. It also has a killer melody! Even the “weaker” tracks like Mozambique or Joey are great in their own ways. Mozambique is insanely catchy and Joey is basically a Sergio Leone film in song form. Who can deny the strength of the imagery in a lyric like: “He pushed the table over to protect his family/then he staggered out into the streets of Little Italy”? Forget Scenes from an Italian Restaurant! Joey is where it’s at. If push comes to shove Desire is my favourite Bob Dylan album. It’s the one I listen to the most and I never tire of it. 5/5.

[@dylanseveymusic]

I said this in a reply to another comment, but almost every episode, I regret not spending more time on a particular song. In this episode’s case, it’s “Black Diamond Bay”. Your analysis is spot on, and it’s my second favorite track on the record.

[@Vanessa.P]

Desire was actually the first full Bob Dylan album I owned because I always loved "One More Cup of Coffee" and that was a Dylan gateway song for me. Having Emmylou on this album definitely helped make this appealing as well. I like it a lot and have it on the higher end of his albums but not at the top. I can see how some of the hype around it may end up causing it to be a small letdown. Curious to see how Street Legal will go!

[@p_e_d_r_o_01]

Happy Days. Been eagerly awaiting this episode 👍👍 dont leave us waiting so long next time

[@IvanFlavin]

Abandoned love is possibly my favorite Dylan song of all time.

[@MikeVernonProd]

Hard to believe that it wasn’t included on the album but then you realize Desire is already 56 minutes long….! Unfortunately there just wasn’t room for it on a single LP.

[@gregdale1066]

The Radiohead analogy was brilliant. It put a neat little bow on the " situation " we are dealing with . lol

[@xvx5872]

Time when it was said?

[@gregdale1066]

25 ish minutes in

[@danielbaars]

Even though Bob is my absolute favorite artist of all-time and love love love 'Desire' I still get where Joe is coming from. It DOES have a few tracks that are not quite stellar. But the highlights are so unbelievably great that it almost doesn't matter. Who else could create a song like 'Hurricane' or 'Isis'? That is why I love Bob as much as I do; he's completely unique (okay apart from the Woody Guthrie imitating days). Great video again, guys! And a lot of respect for the effort you put into this series, Joe!

[@WowThereBuddy1]

I don’t really have any issues with Joey. Is was one of my highlights off the record. The song is quality stuff with one of the most cathartic hooks that takes full advantage of Dylan and Emmy Lou harmonizing. It’s only “aged poorly” if you’re consciously projecting that context onto it. I wasn’t aware of that until you both mentioned it and it’s very easy for me to go back to not thinking about it along those lines. Art exists in its own context and will long outlive the weird uncomfortable outside details we throw onto it.

[@DeanJonasson]

DESIRE is a very good though not flawless collection. If most people regard BLOOD ON THE TRACKS as a 'perfect album', then Dylan's '76 release does suffer from having a few missteps: the Robin Hood portrait of New York crime boss "Joey" and the sunny travelogue to the then politically unstable "Mozambique". One might even argue that Dylan's seeming direct overture to his partner (soon to be divorced) may also share, with those other two pieces, an irony that's difficult to parse. All that said, DESIRE contains some of Dylan's best 'Seventies songs with an aesthetic that formed the basis for his subsequent Rolling Thunder Revue tour. Dylan S. is correct that the arrangements on this album are unique and the sound very exciting. Bob's most interesting albums are often well-constructed, allowing for satisfying re-listening experiences. In the case of DESIRE, I can detect three distinct types of songs: contemporary character studies, cinematic storytelling, and difficult romances. One could even force complimentary/contrasting pairs from the album ("Hurricane" & "Joey"; "Black Diamond Bay" & "Romance in Durango"; "Isis" & "Oh, Sister") with "One More Cup of Coffee" dipping into all three and "Mozambique" not at all (unless you regard the African country as a type of contemporary character... though not located in New York!). The album-closer "Sara" meant, perhaps, to be the emotional climax to the collection. Of course all of my groupings may be coincidental at best as "Isis" has obvious cinematic appeal while "Sara" is definitely a contemporary portrait of a romance turning desperate. Dylan S. mentioned a terrific 'leftover' from the sessions, "Abandoned Love". While worthy, it might have been too on-the-nose in regard to the 'romance' theme. The other two discards also show Dylan's thematic focus. "Catfish" is another character portrait of the famed "million dollar" NY Yankees pitcher. It's languid like a mid-afternoon ball game but doesn't really go anywhere. "Golden Loom" is both scene specific (a smoky autumn night by the bay with fishing boats and eucalyptus trees) and elusive (the love evaporates leaving only a whiff of her scent and her golden loom). Both songs sound great but feel unfinished lyrically, which may be why they ended up as part of the first BOOTLEG SERIES collection. My long-winded thoughts betray my fascination with this album. It's both accessible and enigmatic like the best of Dylan's collections. And while I agree with Joe that it has flaws, I share Mr. Sevey's enthusiasm for DESIRE. Looking forward to the discussion around the transitional STREET LEGAL but also hope that when you talk about the Rolling Thunder Revue, some mention is made of the terrific HARD RAIN live set as well as the subsequently released BOOTLEG VOL. 5.

[@Toto-no3mv]

I never had any money when I was in high school in the mid-70's, so I bought most of my records used at the local record/head shop. You could buy an album for two dollars, and if you didn't like it you could sell it back for one dollar. This is how I ended up with Desire, I thought the cover was cool. Thinking back, who was the numbskull who unloaded that from his collection? I just loved it, it became a close companion, and I still have a sentimental attachment to it. Those long ballads are epic. Joey, who cares about the moral stance or whatever, it's a whole gangster movie in one song. Anyway, great discussion, lots of interesting tidbits.

[@jamesegan2742]

Wow, and no surprise, but I love Desire…another 5 star album for me. I agree with Mr. Sevey that it is a stand alone, unique piece in Dylan’s catalogue…but your collective review was too downbeat for me…this is a joyous, fun record, full of energy and exploration and new sounds for Dylan. That should have been celebrated much more. Scarlet Rivera is fantastic here, and the gypsy sound is so clear and driving. Jaques Levy brings structure to Dylan’s word play, creating terrific narratives. Songs like Isis, One More Cup of Coffee, Oh Sister, Black Diamond Bay, and Mozambique are triumphant, and such fun. Just loved it. I can’t believe Joe’s reference to Billy Joel of all people, and I just can’t understand his lack of enthusiasm; he seems locked into thinking about some different Emma Lou Harris album…what? This is Dylan here, and his faith and conviction for these songs, presented in such a fresh manner, is infectious. Don’t know what Joe is hearing. Mr. Sevey is a little too polite in his response to that take. But I do agree that Joey is the weak point…and to lose Abandoned Love from this collection is a shame. Dylan’s outtakes are just amazing throughout his career, which makes his Bootleg Series so important. And the Live 1975 Rolling Thunder set is wonderful, and an essential compliment to this period for any Dylan fan. Needs to be explored. Always look forward to this series, and enjoy the dialogue. Best, JPE

[@dylanseveymusic]

I'm often too polite to Joe. One day the gloves will come off. Don't worry, James.

[@danielhkhk7283]

I think Romance in Durango is one of Dylans greatest vocal performances ever.

[@PabloReyesVelasco]

'Oh, sister' is my favorite from this album and I would have guessed Joe would love the bridge in it. Wonderful melody and vocal harmonies.

[@monster900900]

what a brillant decade 4 music the seventies was ,, led zep , sabbath, purple , floyd , all the prog rock ,, bruce ,, and bob at the top of his game ,, marvellous ,, desire and blood on the tracks r up there with the very best ,,🙂

[@Shah-of-the-Shinebox]

Desire is a great follow up to Blood on the Tracks. Love the murky, gypsy, Rolling Thunder vibe it gives. Each song is like a shaggy dog fable, which co-writer Jacques Levy brings theatricals to. Joey is the one song i could live without (it just goes on too long and after awhile becomes wailing). Favorite tracks are Hurricane, Isis, Mozambique, One More Cup of Coffee and the haunting closer Sara. Great review as always guys. Look foward to the next episode (the album after this one is one of my favorites and an underrated gem)

[@walterjanaro42]

Before this series, this was the only Bob Dylan album I'd ever listened to -- and heard it several times back in the 90s. Now that I have been listening along with you guys, it still holds up 100%. 4.5 stars. I like it better than "Blood On The Tracks" and his best since "Blonde On Blonde" (which is probably going to be my favorite after all is said and done).

[@sensorian1709]

I like this album more than Blood. It's a beautiful collection of songs and imo the best of his 70's albums. Not as jaw dropping as the mid 60's work but not far behind. Sara is especially moving.

[@michaelfendrich1864]

Grateful you will talk about the Rolling Thunder Revue. Saw him twice during this period (my first shows) and the trilogy of BOTT, Desire and Street Legal was my favorite for a long time. Totally agree with the comments about Emmylou and Scarlett. They change this from a good to great album. Great conversation. Really looking forward to Slow Train Coming in the future.

[@hazydavo]

In my early teens in the mid 80s I heard Hurricane for the first time on FM radio, it was AMAZING. I didn’t want it to end. Who is this? Where how can I hear more? I want more!!! No google/YT back then. Off to the record store!! What an amazing piece of art and storytelling. Album is great but isn’t perfect for sure and thanks Dylan for Abandoned Love, what a great song, so shoulda been on the album 😢

[@davidbrett8525]

I love this one - a 5 star album for me. Although I would switch in abandoned love for Joey. I love romance in Durango and oh sister. But Sara and One more cup of coffee are the two that stand out most

[@stefano.b65stef77]

A bridge at last! 🎉 Great video as usual, i prefer Desire to Blood on the tracks, it's more fun, better to listen to on a car trip too

[@pauldaniels2019]

I always loved this album. I bought it when it was new. . .and I never realized that there were no electric guitars on the album! Hurricane was all over the radio back then, and none of the curse words were censored. I have the 45 - the song was split into two parts for side A and B. Thanks for another fun episode.

[@michelewiese48]

Desire (Bicentennial Year of 1976): Feminine talent enriches the experience in spades (with or without Joe’s game of bridge 😆) Collaborative, dynamic, hypnotic, & a-muse-ing. My three favorite tracks: 1. Oh, Sister 2. One More Cup Of Coffee 3. Sara The visual and aural pageantry of The Rolling Thunder Revue is peak Bob Dylan, as I see it. Tapping into the fertile music upheaval of these critical transformative years, Bob ushered us into the late 70s.

[@seanjockel43]

Hurricane had to be recorded twice. After Columbia Records lawyers read the lyrics they insisted the lyrics be changed in a few spots to avoid potential lawsuits. One of the changes was originally " I was only robbing the bodies" to "I was only robbing the register. Instead of simply punching in a few vocals with the changed lyrics Bob had a new session and recorded it again from scratch I love the cymbal crashes on Hurricane. It gets you attention and makes you pat attention again to follow the story.

[@terrybnad2959]

Loved this episode, I get why Joe prefers the expanded musical palette compared to BoTT. Just as an aside, there *is* some electric guitar on Romance In Durango, you can hear it subtly in the opening and first verse, and it becomes more prominent in the verse "Was that the thunder that I heard?" Actually it sounds quite Byrdsesque in the final chorus. Great shout on Abandoned Love, Dylan. Its a perfect song, although there's no bridge, so Joe might not agree! One reason it may have missed the cut is because it might have sounded like a BoTT throwback and Dylan was determinedly exploring different themes on this album. Also, he maybe wanted the closing song, Sara to be the definitive word on his marriage. As for Street Legal and beyond, I am salivating already! 😋

[@michaelhehir8116]

For me Desire is only bettered by Blood as the greatest album of all but surprisingly it seems to be a very polarising amongst Dylan fans. I heard an interview with Rivera a few years back and the way she tells it is she was walking down the street carrying her violin case when a car pull up next to her and the driver said “do you play that?” It was Dylan. She told him she did and he said “get in” and because she knew who he was she did. They went off to a studio and took it from there. Even if it isn’t true it’s a cool story.

[@michelewiese48]

Dylan, I love your painting, light fixture and black kitty! I could have listened to you discuss this album for far longer. It’s my personal favorite. Joe let me down a little, but that’s ok. ❤️

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Don’t I always. - Joe

[@michelewiese48]

@@TastesLikeMusic Not true. I’m here through the ups and downs. Maybe you’ll redeem yourself in ‘94! 🤞😊

[@dylanseveymusic]

Thank you Michele! Fiona would simply perish if she didn’t receive some screentime every now and then. Miss seeing you around the Discord! Glad you enjoyed the discussion!

[@michelewiese48]

@@dylanseveymusic Awww… black kitties are the best! My lil bro had a Chihuahua named Fiona 🥰 Hope you and the other ruffians are still posting Dylan songs hot ‘n’ heavy for Joe’s benefit! xoxo

[@thetrevorosborne]

The album that got me into Dylan great vocals great production great songs. Its even got some bridges funny enough in songs you don't seem to care for. ("Mozambique" and "Oh sister") Really consistent album with some of his greatest vocals that could have been better if they included "Abandoned Love" (finally released on Biograph) top 5 album for me cheers

[@dtchinacat3973]

Joe you're NUTS, you are always backwards: Desire is definitely one of Bob's best! Love Oh Sister, maybe my favorite on the album? I do like Blood on the Tracks, a little bit more, it's my favorite Dylan album ever! The only other two, I may like better or at least as much as Desire would be Bring it all back Home and Highway 61 Revisited!

[@johnlefsky8731]

The live version of Isis, in Martin Scorsese's Rolling Thunder documentary, is an amazing, savage performance. It leaves the LP version, and just about any other filmed Dylan clip, in the dust. Desire itself is overlong, but just cut out the weakest track, Joey, and you still have about 40 minutes of prime Dylan. Still not anywhere near my fave Dylan LP, but I think it's a solid 4 star album, but I do find myself more drawn to Planet Waves. Isis, One More Cup Of Coffee, with it's almost cantor like vocal stylings, and Romance In Durango are my favorite tunes. I'm a sucker for cinematic tunes and am looking forward to the forthcoming Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid Criterion box that includes a discussion of Dylan's time in Durango that led to his writing of Romance. Can't wait for the discussion of the Rolling Thunder era and the Street Legal LP. Sid Griffin's book, Shelter From The Storm: Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Years, is a must-read for any Dylan fan. As far as Street Legal goes, I mostly hated it when it first came out but have grown to like it more over time, though the I do still find many of the background vocals to be overbearing. Time for another listen before the next video.

[@karlmehltretter2677]

Isis and a fast version of Joey (i.e. like live versions from late 80s) recorded with electric guitars and that Rolling Thunder vibe would make it a better record for me.

[@mattsteichen3826]

Stay patient and focused when listening to Street-Legal. The early tracks are pretty wordy and that seems to turn you off, but the last four tracks are the best four. As for his his voice, remember you're listening to a guy who just went through a divorce and is about to become a Christian. He's desperate and lost. This is also his most ambitious album arrangement-wise to date, so I think that will provide the musical variance you're looking for.

[@robharrison8139]

Another great Bob record; I consider it his last great one until 1997, though there are certainly great songs in-between. "Sara" is one of the most beautiful heart wrenching love lost songs ever recorded.

[@djtforever1414]

I've seen so many comments over the years saying this album is underrated. At certain times of day i prefer this to Blood On The Tracks.

[@grunntalll]

street legal is one of my most replayed ones

[@dixiefallas7799]

Blood is my favourite and any Dylan album’s are a close second 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@lorimancuso8487]

I think it is a great album but people have different opinions and taste I love this album for me. It’s beautifully done and very melodic and I love the violin playing, but I have to say at first there are two songs that had to grow on me too for me Bob Dylan just my favorite musician and lyricist pound for pounds nobody beats him

[@nikosvault]

"Rolling Thunder and Desire, events that marked his epochal commitment to hackdom even if no one dreamed it at the time" - Robert Christgau. Just a warning Joe. The next 21 years are gonna be rough at times.

[@nicholasrosebush6182]

I am excited to hear their opinion on Oh Mercy. Probably my favorite Dylan album.

[@seanjockel43]

Another great song left of this album was Rita May. It issued as a b side a few years later. Unlike Abandoned Love Rita has not been issued on any compilation or bootleg series. It's been covered by Clapton and Jerry Lee Lewis

[@MartinLindnerDigital]

There is a thoughtful comment here, by @kenkaplan3654, that i'm very much agreeing with. I don't care about the narrative songs without lyrical involvement. One More Cup of Coffee, Oh Sister and Isis is it for me, the "mystical" ones. Hurricane is a fascinating tour de force of intensity, Sara is good though not great. I like the sound of the album, like you said, I bought an Emmy Lou Harris-album back then, and Scarlet Rivera is marvellous. She is substituting Dylan's harmonica in a way.

[@justinburke2890]

I love this album. Depending on the day I might like this over Blood on the Tracks (I know that's a hot take) but when you have songs like Hurricane, Isis, Joey, Black Diamond Bay & Sara, it's tough to beat

[@justinburke2890]

It's a top 4 Dylan record for me in any case after Highway 61, Bringing it all Back Home and Blood on the Tracks (I never understood the huge love for Blonde on Blonde; I think that album is highly overrated)

[@danielhkhk7283]

@@justinburke2890 Agree with Blonde on Blonde. A bit like Exile on Main Street. Everyone praises these albums, but they are both overrated.

[@justinburke2890]

@danielhkhk7283 I'm with you on Exile too!! Good stuff on it but a bit of a slog to get through. I don't often want to revisit it

[@Firefoxy-rz1nw]

Desire is probably my favourite Bob album. I agree that Romance in Durango and Mozambique aren't that great, but who can complain when every other song is a masterpiece? And what nobody ever mentions when they point out that Dylan just spotted a woman with a violin case on the streets of New York, is the fact that Scarlet Rivera was drop-dead gorgeous. THAT'S why he stopped her, not because of the violin case. There's no doubt that if Scarlet had been a fat 65 year old dude, Dylan wouldn't have looked twice. The fact that Scarlet was a genius was an added bonus.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

That makes it even worse! - Joe

[@suartgilmour4540]

5 star album for me. Opens with the epic track hurricane that never lets up its furious pace. Then Isis, which blew my mind. On one level, like an Indiana Jones film in 5 mins. On another level, a meditation on marriage and yes, desire. And for me the quality remains high throughout, especially with personal standouts like Oh Sister, Cup Of Coffee, and Sara. I would agree that Joey is the weak spot. It's too long, and the subject matter is dubious, to say the least. As suggested, Abandoned Love should have made the record instead. Otherwise, I find Desire extremely hard to fault - the singing (check out Mozambique), the playing, the songwriting are all first rate, imo. I mean, who else could write and perform an album like this? Stuart.

[@mitchellbenefiel4490]

I like Mozambique a lot but Oh Sister and Romance in Durango are throwaways for me too

[@TrekBeatTK]

A shame it wasn’t recorded after Rolling Thunder. A couple lack the energy they have live, especially “Isis”.

[@kensilverstone1656]

Thanks!

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Thank you!

[@Neimaj]

My favorite Bob Dylan album! Hell yeah!

[@danielhkhk7283]

Played it to death.

[@3bwana]

Not sure if it’s the same version on the bootleg series volume of Rolling Thunder Review but the live version of ‘Romance In Durango’ on the ‘Biograph’ box set is f’ng amazing

[@AnnoyingCritic-is7rp]

Actually, Hurricane is the most streamed Bob Dylan song ever, at least when I looked a few years ago. I kind of like the Budakhan version of Oh Sister. I think Rob Stoner had a lot to do with how good this stuff is.

[@davidgluck8064]

Joey is one of my fave tracks on the record. Yeah, I’d have to put this likely in my top ten Dylan records. I like it better than Blood on the Tracks, and likely equal to Planrt Waves

[@painless465]

Desire is always a top 10 Dylan album for me, never top 5. I agree with Joe that it’s hot and cold( oh sister, romance in Durango and black diamond bay were never favorites) but man, what a killer one-two punch Hurricane and Isis are as openers! Then a most off beat of Dylan tunes Mozambique comes as a fresh surprise. One More Cup of Coffee is beautiful, as is Sara in a different way. I actually like Joey a lot, about crazy Joe Gallo of the Colombo crime family in NYC, he of “ the gang who couldn’t shoot straight”, yes it glorifies a nasty criminal, but the sound is so big , the vocals so great that it sounds epic. For 1976, outside of Stevie Wonder, David Bowie and the first two Graham Parker albums, Desire is right up there. Street Legal is somewhat similar, some real highs and lows, but not quite as good, although it just sneaks into my top 10 Dylan albums. If Desire is the “ violin” album, Street Legal is the “ horns” album

[@collectrify]

Oh Sister is gorgeous.

[@spencerdobkin9479]

Really gorgeous song. Sara is too.

[@mattfreitas5]

So have been looking forward to the Street Legal ep.

[@Yakaru1]

Hurricane is like going 15 rounds with Mike Tyson. No other song of his is anything like it. The early protest songs at their best are Shakespearean or Blakean. But Hurricane is without precedent. It's not high rhetoric, has no poetic flourishes. It just hits you.

[@edward8597]

"Desire" is a loooooong album. The four-song side two is longer than the *whole* of "Nashville Skyline"

[@1rwjwith]

Well I probably agree mostly with Joe on this record. For me it’s in the B PLUSTier of Dylan albums. The fact that every song except for …Cup of Coffee..and Sara are LYRICAL COLLABORATIONS with Jacque Levy really makes it a different thing for me entirely. The musical production is excellent and it is very cohesive musically which is due to the combo assembled SCARLETT RIVERA is the star for sure, her playing is tremendous ! Stoner and Wyeth are also great…it all just works with BOB’s acoustic playing…. The songs however are not the highest by far in the Dylan catalogue though . HURRICANE is the most compelling for sure….. LEVY is a narrative lyricist..so all the sagas here is the meat of the album. I think his work on Chestnut Mare with Roger McGuinn probably helped lead Dylan to this collaboration. BOBS singing on this record is also some of the best of his career. The songs I really don’t like much…JOEY , is the worst. I can hear CLAPTON quite clearly on …DURANGO, he is just sounds low volume and not his usual solo style, but his playing is great , sounds like a low volume Strat..! Melodically OH SISTER is very similar to GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY…although the style and tempo is very different..I do like it and EMMYLOU HARRIS is at her best here..really a duet. SARA…is almost too intimate too real! It is a great song though so it is my other favorite on the record , overall…it’s a very good VERY GREAT SOUNDING RECORD, with some lesser songs on it..but two great ones😁 He should have done some more recordings with this group of players. I did see the Rolling Thunder Revue in 1976 in Florida and it was great, same players but a lot of extra stuff too…it was very entertaining.

[@ChazeGeyer]

one pertinent question, please ask the Dylan expert to verify that the individual on album cover - Blood on the Tracks is NOT FRAN LEBOWITZ thank you 😂

[@chrisdelisle3954]

This would be a perfect album...if it weren't for "Joey." I mean, it's alright. At times, it's OK. But it's too long to be so slow. It stands out like a sore thumb for me. Replace it with "Abandoned Love" and bam...perfection. "Isis" is far and away my favorite song on the record. The storytelling, the inflections...they're almost comedic. I loved it the first time I heard it. Probably in my top 5 favorite Dylan songs. My aunt loved "Hurricane." She probably didn't know any other Dylan songs and was much more a fan of any song you could dance to. Back in 1975/1976, it was a big enough hit to draw in the mainstream a bit. Edit: Looks like Dylan and I pretty much see eye-to-eye on this record. I think it's a top 5 or 6 Dylan album.

[@wallbangerreactions]

4.5 stars. I agree Joey is the weakest track and some of the outtakes would have made this a five star album. Love this series guys. I'll stay tuned.

[@grunntalll]

it was rob stoner the bassist who suggested the smaller ensemble

[@danielbaars]

@dylanseveymusic I think he left off 'Abandoned Love' because he wasn't happy with the recording / arrangement of it. And comparing the Desire session version to the power of his solo performance of the song at The Bitter End, I can see why, to be honest. But I agree it is a great song that should have made the album.

[@PabloReyesVelasco]

'Joey is Hurricane if Hurricane is guilty' 😂😂😂

[@GlenRunciter-vq8de]

Joey is the song that hasn’t aged well at all

[@hazydavo]

Here we gooooooo 🤘

[@jonmcleary4192]

Anyone notice that most of the rhymes through the album go - Line 1 with line 3 and then 2 with 4? very unusual and it works

[@jonmcleary4192]

[Verse 1] I married Isis on the fifth day of MAY But I could not hold on to her very LONG So I cut off my hair and I rode straight AWAY For the wild unknown country where I could not go WRONG happens all through the album - Levy's influence? [

[@jonmcleary4192]

Looks to me that it happens in Hurricane(verses) Isis, Mozambique(verses and M8), Oh Sister (chorus), Romance In Durango and Sara ( verses)... got obsessed there for a bit. Loving the series!! Cant wit for Street Legal - I saw him in New Zealand around that time, Brilliant!!

[@kevtruth]

I feel the same as Joe. I like Desire - don't love it. Def in my top 10 though. Really digging this series

[@MarkusKamau]

As usual, a great discussion. The album explores a different set of psychic geographies, especially Isis and One More Cup. The band also takes listeners to different places than the folk, rock and Americana heard previously, largely because of Scarlet. Levy enables Dylan to tell stories beyond his usual palette - a trend that continues with Street Legal. This is much more darkly mystical than anything before - perhaps a bit of a descent into chaos and a place where evangelical stuff offers a way out. The Rolling Thunder Revue was quite the excessive rock and roll experience.

[@michelewiese48]

Beautifully written comment. I feel very similarly.

[@maggiebryan2355]

❤❤❤

[@floydshambles]

oh, brother

[@grunntalll]

love oh sister

[@danielhkhk7283]

Top two album for me.

[@reginaldcampos5762]

Its in my top 40

[@danielhkhk7283]

​@@reginaldcampos5762Top 40 Dylan albums?😅

[@reginaldcampos5762]

@danielhkhk7283 yes and top 40 of all time

[@tonyajm8289]

For better or worse, I heard the Rolling thunder bootleg before I listened to Desire, and it pails in comparison imo.

[@MikeVernonProd]

I adore Rolling Thunder but I still prefer the studio tracks with Emmylou Harris…with the exception of Isis live in Montreal 1975!

[@tonyajm8289]

Unreal - in my Dylan top ten!

[@willemdegraaf5495]

What did Scarlet Rivera do after Desire.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Whole lot of nothing

[@paultrott-p6y]

I had this on vinyl and really enjoyed it but listening to it again I see too many below par tracks so hard for me to go much above 3.5 stars. Still love Sara though probably enjoy Fleetwood Mac's Sara a tad more.

[@MikeVernonProd]

I would also like to add that Desire on Spotify PALES in comparison to the record. It is way too compressed and cluttered sounding. For my money the only digital version that matches Desire on LP is the SACD from 2003. Sorry Joe if you had to listen to it on Spotify but maybe that is why you don’t like it as much as you should!

[@xvx5872]

Bob dylan is ok at being a songwriter some of the time. 10 percent of the time. That is the highest praise I can give the man. Ranking by me. Leonard cohen Randy newman Way way down after that is dylan.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

I love Randy Newman, but no, sorry.

[@xvx5872]

@@TastesLikeMusic Fine, be that way then!

[@danielbaars]

😂

[@danielbaars]

I think even Leonard and Randy would disagree with you there!

[@xvx5872]

@@danielbaars Well hey that's cool. I mean after all isn't it the singers themselves that are usually the worst judge of their own work? You know what I mean. I mean, just to give one example. Ian anderson actually said that Crest of the Knave is in the top 3 Tull albums. (words to that effect anyway) Go figure that one out!

[@179rich]

howdy

[@scottybelle9]

Oh, Sister is my favorite track--gorgeous, enigmatic (even after so many years of listening to it), and touching. I can't stand Joey, not for any moral reasons, it just sounds lazy and uninspired to my ears. When Dylan brought it back with the 80s tour with the Dead, he infamously had trouble with the lyrics, sometimes killing Gallo off in the second verse.

[@michelewiese48]

😊😊😊🎉👏🙌

[@spencerdobkin9479]

Such a great album, but I don't really like Hurricane tbh. It's much, much different from Blood on The Tracks. Isis, Oh Sister, Joey, Sara. Some of his most poignant and emotional work. Street Legal is a top 5 favorite Dylan album for me..think Joe will like that one.

[@AP530]

His name is Zimmerman.

[@reginaldcampos5762]

Not if no one calls him that

[@AP530]

@@reginaldcampos5762 lol i was just quoting John Lennon from an interview..

[@AegonCallery-ty6vy]

I remember it coming out when i was 11. My brothers and friends constantly played it. My english was rudimentary but i phonetically learned 'Hurricane'. I loved it dearly for about 5-7 years. Then i got tired of it and now it's well at the bottom of the good pile just above 'selfportrait' and some of the 80s stuff. Dare i say it: it is overrated imo. It feels contrived to me and a tad claustrofobic. I actually don't know exactly why the shift happened. Maybe it's me. But i remember discovering BOTT. That was a revelation. It remains close to the top w Blonde on Blonde. In fact, 'Street Legal' is there as well. I didnt like it at all when it came out. That thin and frail voice compared to Desire and Hard Rain. But I felt the open soul speaking. Desire is in a box on a shelf. It stopped talking..

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Interesting. Don’t know why you’d think Desire is the odd album out though compared to Street Legal. Desire is closer to BoTT than most of his 70s work. - Joe

[@kenkaplan3654]

I'm in the minority here. I think Desire is a good, an interesting inventive explorative album but it never really reached me deeply. It feels like Dylan was experimenting in writing or creating (with a coauthor) soundtracks to various movies that really have no relationship to one another. So you go from an intense, perrsonal concept album (BOTT) to something that appeasrs more exterior, although there a few songs (Sara, Oh Sister-way too whiny) that seem explicitly personal. It's kind of like the product of an experimental songwriting class. Maybe Dylan just needed this, a way to get away from the pain. He was a master at adopting personas in his life and for me Desire is mostly a compilation of personas. I agree with Joe it is a more ambitious and possibly interesting album musically, but for me, who was so used to Dylan at his greatest singing about things that mean something, whether societal or personal, this doesn't work. I really like Hurrricane musically and lyrically as a sweeping modern ballad, but in reading about the case closely, the evidence against Carter was very strong and I have a real thing about romanticizing historical figures or eras. in this I am very post modern. Thus Joey is ten times worse and is unlistenable. Is this the same guy who wrote Tombstone Blues about Vietnam, Visions of Johanna. It's All Right Ma and Tangled up in Blue? I'll have to revisit it but Is Romance in Durango so different from Robbins' El Paso? One More Cup of Coffee is interesting in mysterious tone and narrative. Isis is one of the few songs that makes sense as a wild surrealistic take on his entanglement with women (This is just my opinion but for all Dylan's Evangelical period and furtive thoughts about God, God was never really his salvation, women were. This theme from Love Minus Zero to Shelter from the Storm permeates all his work. Both Cohen and Dylan mine Biblical and mystical motifs but for me, in this one area, Cohen goes much deeper.) In the end it is a stronger album than many, generally accepted as such, but nothing on it remotely blows my mind as 'Journey Through White Heat", coming up on Street Legal. It's not one I go back to very much. I'll listen to the great "Mississippi" or "Thunder on the Mountain" before any song on Desire.

[@MartinLindnerDigital]

I very much agree with everything you say here, including the mention of Where Are You Tonight.

[@SpaceCattttt]

Dylan's last great album, in my opinion. Plenty of good ones after this, but this is the final legendary album.

[@Theodre_Verany]

Last great album? Absolutely not

[@SpaceCattttt]

@@Theodre_Verany No? After this, he found Jesus, made his worst album with the Grateful Dead and made some sort of late-in-the-day comeback as a sleazy lounge singer. "Desire" was the last time he actually sounded vital.

[@p_e_d_r_o_01]

Aw hell naw.. Time Out Of Mind + Rough & Rowdy Ways are top tier records to my ears.

[@kenkaplan3654]

@@SpaceCattttt So "Mississipi' is a lousy song?

[@GlenRunciter-vq8de]

Love and Theft is beyond brilliant

[@givem110]

Music is good but helped a guilty man get out of prison. Told a fake narrative about the story from beginning to end.

[@Franklawson725]

100% the long haired dude knows dylan is multiple people and is an industry gatekeeper

[@Franklawson725]

All the voices changes after 1965 are impossible

[@stampede4107]

Dylan’s voice was never this good again. Not a fan of a lot of the melodies on this album. Interesting sound to the album. Especially the rhythm section. Joe, Dylan’s best days are behind him after this. Tonight I’ll be staying here with you from the rolling thunder revue is great

[@xvx5872]

Does either of you think Dylan is the best songwriter ever? Well don't. Just watch the documentary called, I am unfortunately randy newman. Then you will know who the best is.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

I don’t know about best songwriter ever, but he’s my 2nd favorite artist of all time behind The Beatles

[@dylanseveymusic]

I appreciate the attempt to tell me how to think, but alas, I will stay independent on that front. And like Jason, he’s my second favorite artist of all-time as well.

[@xvx5872]

@@dylanseveymusic I would rather, listen to randy newman and try to figure out why he's called the best. Then do the same thing with bob dylan. I don't know why, but in a way randy newman seems more cool in general. Normally, I would never associate that word with randy newman ever... but when compared to Dylan , I would.

[@dylanseveymusic]

@@xvx5872You do you.

[@spencerdobkin9479]

@@TastesLikeMusic Dylan is better than the Beatles in my opinion, but they are also quite different in many ways. Songwriter wise yes I think he's the best songwriter of all time. I would also say he's my second favorite artist. Just narrowly, narrowly behind Van Morrison. Third would be my favorite band of all time Queen.