Oh Mercy: Dylan Brings the Lanois | Discovering Bob Dylan, Ep. 27

[@johannOplease]

One of Bob’s very best! Most of the Time ranks amongst my top most favourite songs of all time. It’s sublime imho

[@darkshadow8330]

Oh Mercy. What a rebound. A great album.

[@spencerdobkin9479]

It's definitely close to a top 10 Dylan album for me. Really good.

[@colinabboud4314]

Oh Mercy - time out of mind. My 2 favorites right now

[@reginaldcampos5762]

Just what we all needed to calm our nerves for tomorrow.

[@ShaneJamesBordas]

Oh Mercy, for me, is one of Dylan's greatest records. It has outstanding Lanois production, a brilliantly evocative sustained mood and some stunning songs. When I first bought this (on cassette) in 1989, my mind was completely blown and I still listen to it regularly. Agreed, Series Of Dreams should have been on the album but, other than that, I have no qualms with it as is.

[@KevinMcArdle-l6e]

I love Oh Mercy. One of my favorites

[@kensilverstone1656]

Thanks!

[@darkshadow8330]

What Was It You Wanted, Most of the Time, Everything Is Broken. Terrific songs.

[@nicholasrosebush6182]

My favorite Dylan record.

[@danieldaniel2]

I like it. Ring the Bells is so beautiful song 😍

[@manytinyboxes]

YES YES A THOUSAND TIMES

[@Shah-of-the-Shinebox]

Oh Mercy is a solid S or A tier Bob Dylan album. Daniel Lanois helps Dylan sound timeless instead of timely. At the time, its probably his best collection of songs since Blood on the Tracks. The following album however is less than stellar. Great video as always guys.

[@muhammadrifqi7308]

Ah, Oh Mercy. The best Dylan album of the 80s. Absolutely love Most Of The Time and Everything Is Broken. Also, Under The Red Sky deserves two part videos--one of them solely dedicated to Wiggle Wiggle.

[@davidgrady3408]

Infidels. I saw jokerman on TV am or breakfast before school. I don't know if I'd own all his recordings without that

[@muhammadrifqi7308]

@@davidgrady3408 Infidels would have been the best if Blind Willie McTell was included on the album

[@MikeVernonProd]

@@muhammadrifqi7308Infidels is amazing with or without Blind Willie McTell.

[@cody8804]

8:50 - Ron Wood recorded the Dylan song Seven Days and released it as a single and there’s a music video here on KZbin. Dylan and Ron Wood were hanging around Eric Clapton during the recording of his No Reason to Cry album in 1976. Dylan tried to give Clapton Seven Days to record but he passed. Ron Wood quickly said hey I’ll take it and recorded it. Pretty good version to

[@maggiebryan2355]

Love this album

[@matm4331]

Great to have you guys back!

[@MegaDave8520]

Great album!

[@matthewashman1406]

I remember buying knocked out and loaded 😂 oh disappointment doesn't cover it. This was such a welcome return to form and quality. And God bless Daniel lanois

[@davidellis5141]

Made at nighttime 🌙 & meant to be listened to at nighttime 🌙 & that's the right ✅️ time.

[@painless465]

I like Under a Red Sky and I appreciate that he went 180 degrees in mood and sound from Oh Mercy. 1990 also had Neil Young & Crazy Horse Ragged Glory which is a banger. But hang in there Joe, more good Dylan coming up. An album from 2001 is actually in my top 5 Bob albums, I think it’s that good!

[@aronpolasek4506]

I'm pretty much in lock step with Dylan S. on this one. Even down to the songs he would have swapped out for some of those outtakes. My "Oh Mercy Revisited" would look something like this: Side One: 1. Political World 2. Where Teardrops Fall 3. Everything Is Broken 4. Ring Them Bells 5. What Was It You Wanted 6. Man In The Long Black Coat Side Two: 1. Most Of The Time 2. Series Of Dreams (Oh Mercy Outtake--Sidetracks) 3. Born In Time (Oh Mercy Version--Bootleg Series, Vol. 8) 4. Dignity (Oh Mercy Version--Sidetracks) 5. Shooting Star I like that this version still ends side one with 'Man In The Long Black Coat', and begins side two with 'Most Of The Time'. That just feels right. But I think this version actually makes side two much stronger, and the extra song balances out the running length for the album as a whole.

[@edwardmeradith2419]

“What was it you wanted” I enjoyed. The alternate version, too.

[@hazydavo]

Yes Born in Time is a lovely song. Another cool episode guys 👌

[@50l12]

Just seen him in Liverpool and again next week in Wolverhampton UK! On top form!

[@davidgagen9856]

A superb collection of songs. Add Series Of Dreams & Dignity you got yourself almost a 5 star album!

[@kensilverstone1656]

Nice analysis and comments by both of you.

[@PabloReyesVelasco]

Top 4 Dylan for me I think. 5/5 I never thought of it as his Tom Waits album but I agree and love it.

[@canadianstudmuffin]

I thought you guys had retired from KZbin. 😃 My all time favorite Dylan song is "Series Of Dreams" which should have been on the album instead of a "outtake"...

[@TroubadourAtHeart]

No problem to have a ballad heavy side... so long as the songs are good - and they all are.

[@painless465]

His best of the 80’s but not in my top ten Dylan albums. Ring them bells a highlight for me among with most of the time. He records an even better album with Lanois 8 years later

[@michaelfendrich1864]

Uuuummm, well it probably a good time to be gracious. Oh Mercy is definitely top shelf for me. Perhaps it's the context of what came before and after but I think not. This album is a go to Dylan recording for me. Along with many others. So I am not disappointed with your takes but am in a different camp than you two. Great episode, thanks for all the work you guys put in. See you in the 90's.

[@stefano.b65stef77]

Hi guys, great album, it could sneak into my top 10, maybe 8th position. I haven't listened to it for a while, it's time to grab it from the shelf. You two are doing a great job! I'm waiting for a revised Bob Dylan ranking, if there will be one

[@GarthMcCook]

Was pleased, or relieved, at the time it was released after the low point of previous few records and it was the first Dylan album that I bought on CD, but it's not an album that I play much, if at all anymore.

[@kolchak357]

Bought Oh Mercy when it first came out. Was in college at the time, so I listened to it a bunch. I probably like it more than most, but I’m sure a bunch of that is just nostalgia.

[@johannOplease]

@@kolchak357 nostalgia is how I love to roll. Not as in clinging to the past, but treasuring the wonderful memories I’m luckily able to remember

[@hazydavo]

“Yes we’re still doing this…” hallelujah Joe!!! #27 🤘🤘🤘

[@davidbrett8525]

5 star album for me. Love how Dylan adapted his singing and started writing differently. I really like the production and some great songs - ring them bells, what was it you wanted, the man in the long black coat, shooting star. Agree that a couple of the outtakes could have been added but I don’t feel it detracts as much as on infidels. There is a great chapter in Chronicles about the writing and recording of this one

[@ClubCatJohnKite]

Dylan finally returned to having fun and expressing a joyful sense of humor with the Wilburys. He had that in the early albums and then, for the most part, dropped it as he moved on.

[@robgronotte1]

I didn't realize that all those people had covered Man In The Long Black Coat, but it's obviously greatly loved by other great songwriters. In 1997 I saw Ani DiFranco cover the song live when she was opening for Dylan!

[@jamesegan2742]

As someone totally into “the whole Bob Dylan experience “, as Joe described it, I love Oh Mercy….all the way through, from the cool cover out. Unlike Joe, it certainly “jumps out at me”, right from Political World through Shooting Star…I think Mr. S is right, that this is the sound of Bob at his confident best. Clever, sharp lyrics…especially on Most of the Time, Man in the Long Black Coat, and Born in Time (Dylan’s Tell Tall Tales, Bootleg Vol. 8 is one of absolute favourite Dylan :albums” of all time, period)…just excellent stuff, made me fall in love with Dylan all over again. I think it’s unfair to compare everything to the late Sixties period, or the mid-Seventies; for Dylan it’s a complete body of work, and Oh Mercy is a notable and exceptional part of the canon. I think Joe’s take is too tough and ornery, as this is a great album, and one I always reach for. Great to have the series back…interesting stuff to come! The Bob rules! Cheers, JPE

[@terrybnad2959]

Another fascinating episode, I actually found myself nodding in agreement with you both at various times. I think Joe's assessment is pretty fair having listened to Oh Mercy again last week, but also fair to say that the omission of Dignity at the very least was a major flaw. Looking ahead to Under The Red Sky, I've done my prep and it's way more fun than Oh Mercy, I really enjoyed revisiting it. Its definitely a WTF album, which might pique Joe's interest a bit more than the somnambulent snoozefest Oh Mercy! Can't wait guys 😂

[@jbellinger99]

yay - the saga continues!

[@lfbl7166]

Series of Dreams is a fantastic song, Joe should check it out

[@TullFreak]

"Hey Bob, it's not you, it's me. But, it's over" - Joe

[@rodneygriffin7666]

🤣

[@wesleyorser4451]

Have you guys started binge listening to Ringo Starr’s catalog in preparation for his new country album in January? He literally announced it three months in advance JUST for you guys! Also, I love Oh Mercy.

[@robharrison8139]

Joe says he doesn't anticipate liking another Dylan album; hard to believe but to me, his best days are ahead of him.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

😳😳😳

[@MikeVernonProd]

@@TastesLikeMusic If he can get through the next three records, things will be looking up from there

[@TomCwimpRock]

I was very pleased with this album when it came out in 89’ and I played it a lot. But I don’t return to it very often anymore and nowadays I’m inclined to agree with Joes lukewarm assessment. The highlight for me is the swampy Slim Harpo groove on “Everything Is Broken”. But definitely not a bad album - 3 and a half stars seems about right to me.. nice discussion guys 👍

[@HidingFromFate]

I know I forgot to use the cover sheet but I did receive the memo, Bill.

[@Vanessa.P]

Yeahhh... when people on the server were thinking Joe would love this album I was also pretty skeptical. I think this is pretty well the reaction I expected. Also, looooooove the original Oh Mercy session version of "Born in Time"

[@MarkusKamau]

Dylan heard Lanois's production of the Neville Brothers "Yellow Moon". He wanted the New Orleans midnight graveyard creep feel. Lanois give us what Dylan wanted. Like the album. Most of the time.

[@redbirdct]

Definitely a solid effort from Dylan. My favorite of the 1980's. Love "Man in the Long Black Coat" and "Shooting Star" in particular. The faster songs are great and I agree with Dylan's assessment of "Ring Them Bells". If anything, it does drag some for me on tracks 6 - 8 but I don't hate those songs. "Series of Dreams" is an absolute favorite all-time Dylan track for me. Would have made a great closer but he already had a great closer in "Shooting Star". I can kind of see it not fitting on the album in that sense. Like the Unplugged version of "Dignity" better than the studio version. Need to dig up the original "Born in Time" as I haven't heard it. Don't care much for the version that came out on "Under the Red Sky". That one put me off Dylan for awhile, I must admit.

[@ChazeGeyer]

Wat up gents? Jason, curious this journey of all things Dylan hosted by the Dylan expert who’s also named Dylan, is it joyful? Wanted to thank you and Dylan, get it, the lyrics so very good the narrative in his songs NEVER lost. So enjoyed this record and embraced his sand paper like voice. Political World lyrics undeniable good loved the video. With “Ring them Bells” and “Disease of Conceit” the vibe was almost gospel definitely a Church choir feel, loved it! “Everything Broken” his cynicism in many songs so strong and yet I feel the Man of Faith with his glimmerings of Hope & Resolution! Love great writing Literature and Pop lyrics, has anyone been more convincing with them than Mr Bob Dylan? So in closing to someone else I revere, Joni BACK the Hell Off! 😂

[@myfriendjoe]

"Getting two birds stoned at once" Ricky

[@gamma5672]

When I first heard this record, I was kinda like Joe where I didn't really think too much of it but as I continued listening to it more and more it really grew on me. In fact, saying it grew on me is a bit of an understatement because unlike Dylan, I do very much consider this album to be top shelf Dylan material. Granted, I'm not sure if this record would make my top 5 favorite Dylan albums but if it doesn't it sits just right outside of it, probably at either number 6 or 7. Disease of Conceit really holds it back from being in the top 5 but aside from that song, every other song on here is awesome. Haven't quite made my top 80s Dylan songs list yet, but I imagine that when I do make it probably half the songs on this album will appear there if not more. I dunno, it's like Street-Legal where there's just something about this record that really clicks with me

[@collinmurr3207]

I really enjoy this one. It's not perfect (Political World is kind of a tepid opener), but it's nicely melodic with a lot of good piano. "Man in the Long Black Coat" is my favorite, with its haunting atmosphere and folk tale lyrics. "Most of the Time" isn't far behind, and I really enjoy "Ring Them Bells" and "Where Teardrops Fall." I don't really dislike anything here outside of "Political World," but I actually do prefer Willie Nelson's version of "What Was It You Wanted," which feels a little more inspired. Great video as always!

[@PartTimeBuddhist]

My three favorite moments of the episode: 1) Joe: "You know, who's Brian Stoltz, and Paul Senegal ..." Dylan: "You don't know Brian Stolz?? (Pause) Ahh, I have no idea." 2) Dylan: "Do you have any familiarity with, or prior knowledge of, Under the Red Sky - I'm gonna guess not too much, because every time you've talked it, you call it by a different album name." 3) Dylan: "I really like all three of them, especially 'Congratulations' and 'Tweeter and the Monkey Man," I think are fantastic, I don't know how you feel about those?" Joe: "I like 'em, they probably are my three least favorite songs on the album." Who doesn't like "Margarita"? "I asked her what we're gonna do tonight/She said, 'Cahuenga langa-langa-shoe box soup.'"

[@spencerdobkin9479]

Joe, Joe, Joe. I couldn't disagree more man. This is a beautiful album. It's still underrated. Something magical happens with Lanois and Dylan. Time out of Mind is my second or third fav Dylan record. Oh Mercy actually gets better with each listen for me. From Political World to What Good am I to Most of the Time. The songs weave together so nicely. Bob definitely found something here. It was one of his artistic highs. It's like something clicked. The demo version of Dignity with just the piano (outtake) is one of my favorite Dylan performances. Series of Dreams is another really stunning song. I can't believe both were outtakes. Shooting Star is not only one of my favorite Dylan songs it's one of my favorite songs of all time. I have to hear it at least 2 or 3x if I play it. It's so gorgeous.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

The only Bob Dylan album eligible for being called underrated is Saved. - Joe

[@spencerdobkin9479]

I stand by my comment!

[@StevenMichals0812]

My take on Oh Mercy, it's my favorite 80s Dylan album, but he had better albums in every other decade.

[@edward8597]

I never really thought about how aberrant 1990 was. Living through it at the time, I didn't find myself thinking, "man, music sucks this year". But yeah, you're mostly right. You could definitely compile a great playlist of amazing 1990 music, but it's surprisingly thin on top.

[@richardbennett2085]

I really like Oh Mercy but I'm always messing with the sequencing. I tend to put Dignity at the end of side one and Series of Dreams at the end of the record.

[@richardmorgan8079]

Yes, a really strong album. Which could have been even better with the inclusion of the 3 outtakes. As for "ceiling", you have at least 3 great albums up ahead of you!

[@awrogers3013]

Ahh. You think nite? Would think the overdubbed cricket sounds would be pretty obvious

[@ChazeGeyer]

“(2) birds with one stone”

[@davidgrady3408]

OK I'm a big Dylan fan. My second favourite album is blonde on Blonde, my most played album is bootleg series 1 to 3. The non Dylan fan amongst you is right every time.

[@MidosujiSen]

Any plans for a Songs Of A Lost World review? Would love to hear what you guys think.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Oh we’re doing something don’t worry

[@dekafer123]

Yay.

[@1rwjwith]

Ok …first off RING THEM BELLS is an absolute masterpiece. The other two songs I love are Political World and Everything is Broken. “A”material for sure. Now the production I give an Aplus…especially the vocal production. In fact I think I like Lanois production here better than the subsequent ones he does ,not sure when you get to those will go over. Also note ,NO FEMALE CHOIR warbling along! Some of the other material is C level for Dylan but overall it’s a marked improvement from the last 3 albums at least. SERIES OF DREAMS absent here I remember really liking. Yeah too many ballads except for the masterpiece Ring Them Bells. I love his voice on the whole album, it does NOT remind me of Tom Waits. Ok thanks!

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Political World is like a C+ - Joe

[@MikeVernonProd]

My Bob Dylan in the 80s album ranking: 1. Shot of Love 2. Infidels 3. Saved 4. Oh Mercy 5. Empire Burlesque - Massive Chasm - 6. Knocked Out Loaded 7. Down in the Groove

[@matthewashman1406]

Oh mercy 1. Saved 2 infidels 3

[@djtforever1414]

Political World and Most Of The Time are great Dylan songs. He should have included Series Of Dreams on this album.

[@darkshadow8330]

Yeah I think the Wilburys gave Bob the jump charge he needed,

[@uncleb1077]

Replace Where Teardrops Fall, Decease of Conceit and What Good Am I? with Dignity, Born in Time and Series of Dreams, and you have a perfect album.

[@ziggygrambas9030]

When’s the next Jason upload, i neeeeeed my eye candy 🤤

[@nikosvault]

28:43 hmmmm If Leaving Me Is Easy

[@dylanseveymusic]

Is that one supposed to be cool?

[@nikosvault]

@@dylanseveymusic Sure. More than anything on this album. The Isley Brothers agreed.

[@dylanseveymusic]

@@nikosvault We’ll have to agree to majorly disagree there. As always, appreciate you watching.

[@oppothumbs1]

My 19 Top Dylan songs in no order. I really liked The Basement Tapes but didn't include any songs as the best were not written solely by Dylan. You're a Big Girl Now 1975 Positively 4th Street 1967 Subterranean Homesick Blues 1965 Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands 1966 Like a Rolling Stone 1966 Most Likely You Go Your Way and I’ll Go Mine 1966 Queen Jane Approximately 1965 Percy’s Song 1963 Girl From the North Country 1969 Johnny Cash version Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door 1973 I shall be released in 1966 All Along the Watchtower 1967 Tangled Up in Blue 1975 Lay Lady Lay 1969 I Threw It All Away 1969 My Back Pages, 1964. Much better than, say, the cumbersome Chimes of Freedom. It Ain't Me, Babe 1964 Blowin in the Wind 1962 Most overrated songs: Rainy Day Women .. Just Like a Woman .. Vision of Johanna .. Mr Tambourine Man .. Also, I include top "19" in my "1-30s" but not 1989 with my '90s. I was wondering who Dylan's second favorite Folk-rock singer is? Mine would be Phil Ochs, for his melodies and lyrics.

[@thetrevorosborne]

I think the album could have been greatly enhanced if SERIES OF DREAMS and DIGNITY had been included in terms of giving the second half of the record more up-tempo songs .The album is good and has songs with middle eight/bridges in !! but gets a little one paced towards the end ps "Where Teardrops Fall " beautiful wistful melody

[@edwardmeradith2419]

Definitely. One of the best comments here. Imho. “Dignity” I always thought was kinda special.

[@jedikiah1541]

It is far more focused than Bob's previous 80s albums. I think every song is listenable and easy to appreciate, but there is little that approches his best work. Lanois got Bob to really focus in the way he hadn't in years, but there is an element at times that he'd lost some of his spontaneity, with the more artificial Lanois sound at times. Compared with Knocked Out Loaded and Down In The Groove it is an amazing comeback, but it doesn't come anywhere close to his best work. I actually think "Ring Them Bells" is the highlight. 1989 was the year several veterans made their comebacks The Rolling Stones with Steel Wheels, Lou Reed with New York, and Bob, of course. They were all overrated on release, but "Oh Mercy" and "New York" still stands up well over the long term.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Bonnie Raitt’s Nick of Time >

[@MichaelWarchol]

Love this album. Dylan’s best vocals since “Saved” and frankly, after the amateurish production on the previous two releases, this is a huge improvement. Sorry Joe. I’m afraid you missed the mark on this one.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Obviously it’s a big improvement. But it ain’t Blonde on Blonde. Dylan fanatics are all the same. - Joe

[@rodneygriffin7666]

I Love Oh Mercy! I think it's his best and complete since Street Legal. I'm still not completely sold on any album after it. Including his 90's records. I can listen to it front to back. Not a fan of his "back to basics" approach of Modern Times, Time Out Of Mind or his Sinatra stuff. For me, this is the last Dylan album I can listen to as a whole. Sorry...

[@MikeVernonProd]

Sorry Joe I’m with Dylan here. Oh Mercy is a GREAT album. It is a very unique sounding album in Dylan’s catalogue. I consider it to be his most “atmospheric.” I adore the production and consider it to be one of his better produced albums. Very relistenable and accessible to casual listeners m. It especially shines on the SACD release. Is it my favourite Dylan record of the 80s? No. But that’s mostly because I love Saved, Shot of Love, and Infidels so much. Those albums are untouchable for me. But it is in a strong 4th place for the decade, easily better than the previous three albums. Dylan sounds rejuvenated. He’s changed his vocal delivery to suit his age. Although on later records I do get tired of the talk-singing approach, on this record, the vocal style sounds fresh. It’s also a reinvention of his lyrical style: concise yet poignant. The opening track blows me away every time. There is nothing in Dylan’s catalogue that sounds quite like Political World. The repetitiveness absolutely works, and it reminds me of Subterranean Homesick Blues in all the right ways with Dylan spit-firing lyrics against the political and cultural establishment. It’s my favourite song on the record. Is Oh Mercy a top fifteen Dylan record? No. But it is a really strong later-period album, especially the strength of songs like Political World, Ring Them Bells, Most of the Time, and Man In the Long Black Coat. As an aside, I saw him perform “Shooting Star” at the Hollywood Bowl this summer and it was absolutely a highlight of the show. What a stunning song. I do agree that the back half of the record is lacking in diversity: in particular What Good Am I and Disease of Conceit make the album drag a little. I also don’t like Where Teardrops Fall as track 2, which diffuses the momentum built by Political World. It is the weakest track on the album by far. So as a result, I don’t think the album is quite as strong as Saved or Shot of Love, but it still represents a high water mark for Dylan’s latter-stage career. 4/5 stars

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Well despite all those accolades you’re only a half star above me. - Joe

[@MikeVernonProd]

@@TastesLikeMusicI have to be realistic in that I generally prefer his earlier albums to this latter day period (starting with this album), so it wouldn’t be right to grade this album as equivalent to something like Shot of Love, because it just isn’t on the same level lyrically or melodically. Have to acknowledge that Bob just can’t pull off that kind of performance anymore. Not to scare you too much, but I consider Oh Mercy to be one of the three best latter day Dylan albums…(1989 onward).

[@awrogers3013]

My money is on love and theft

[@frangarcia7774]

7.5 record for me, I agree it is a bit overrated. It would jump to 8.5 with the 3 out takes (Bob what were you thinking?)

[@loveminus0]

This album is for me is about 50/50 great vs just good. The weakest songs on the album are like a ball and chain, while still okay, they keep the album from being truly great. I don't feel this was some massive "comeback" album, I think it was more of Dylan shaking the dust off and remembering that he actually can be good, that fading or devolving into has been didn't have to be his fate.

[@suartgilmour4540]

Top 20 80s Dylan songs difficult? I could do a top 50. Don't believe me, check out the tribute album - Bob Dylan in the 80s. The streaming version has about 24 or 25 cover versions, many of them great. Stuart

[@tillwesenberg1178]

Everything's Broken and Man In The Long Black Coat will be in most of my Dylan playlists. Love the Mark Lanegan version, too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kF7apH54mZuSb6s

[@TrekBeatTK]

The album doesn’t really start for me until Everything is Broken. Half of it is forgettable but at least sounds of a piece and isn’t offensive. But that middle stretch is great.

[@TullFreak]

Haven't even reached Time Out of Mind yet and it's already in the shitter says Joe.

[@AnnoyingCritic-is7rp]

Dylan himself complained about this album. I think it's over-produced: to much delay, reverb, chorus. I don't want the music to tell me what to feel. The bootlegs, once again, are so much better. However, all the songs are great. I disagree with Joe on that one, although how refreshing it is to get a different point of view. Also, if you check the streaming stats, it is above average, but not great.

[@BuffaloRobby]

I agree with Joe. I enjoyed the album, but I was left with a feeling that it could have been better. I enjoyed about half the tunes. Of course it was way better than the previous two. If Dignity and Series of Dreams were included the album would have been way better. Unfortunately for me, outside of Time Out of Mind, this is the last Dylan record I have ever liked. I love Bob, but old Bob can't sing and his melodies are boring.

[@michelewiese48]

1990 worst year for music!? That’s silly talk. Violator, Vision Thing, The Good Son, Bloodletting, Behaviour, Lucifuge, Aion, Frizzle Fry, Reading, Writing, And Arithmetic, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, Mixed Up, Ritual De Lo Habitual, MCMXC a.D., Rust In Peace, Fear Of A Black Planet, Shake Your Money Maker, Confessions Of A Knife…

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Don’t think any of those would crack my top 100 if they were released in 74. -Jason

[@michelewiese48]

@@TastesLikeMusic Haha! I was just gonna add: I’d take ANY of these over 90% of what was released in ‘74 😜 😘

[@lawrencejhutchinson]

Sorry to disagree with nearly everybody. I think it's the 21st best Dylan studio album.The production dominates too much, and Dylan's emotions sound contrived. I like Most Of The Time, but I don't believe Dylan cares what he's singing about it. So I agree with Joe (again). I don't think we agree about Selling England by the Pound however - right, Joe?

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Few people agree with me on that one. - Joe

[@joewilson1584]

Pretty much agree, it’s good but half of side two is a pile of crap. Blind Willie McTell would have made this a much better record.

[@ykmgeedee]

I dig all of Grateful Dead's many live Dylan covers, but 1989's Dylan & the Dead not good. Neither particularly into rehearsing or playing song same way again and again. Road less traveled fraught with peril. Dylan forgot some of his songs and unfamiliar with GD's arrangements. But I ass-u-me Lucky Wilbury's time with GD (and Wilburys) inspired him somewhat.

[@xvx5872]

I just wanna say that Ryan is way off on this one. He ranked Foxtrot way too high.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

?

[@xvx5872]

@@TastesLikeMusic Foxtrot album from genesis. Ryan said it's like their 5th worst album. It's actually the 4th worst. It out and out sucks.

[@dylanseveymusic]

Favorite comment on KZbin.

[@curly_wyn]

Maybe the biggest leap in quality between two albums ever; from the absolutely dreadful and borderline unlistenable Knocked Out Loaded and Down in the Groove, to a record that, especially in comparison to the previous two albums, is great! 😊

[@DeanJonasson]

Dylan S. makes as good a summation of OH MERCY as any I've heard and I have to agree on all fronts: great writing, distinctive production and strong arrangements. This album is way more consistent than INFIDELS and Dylan's best since SLOW TRAIN... or even DESIRE. Joe is correct in citing a certain level of 'anonymousness' compared to the crazed performances on the three albums before. (That's part of their charm for me.) One wonders why songs like "Series of Dreams" and "Dignity" were left off of OH MERCY. Perhaps Dylan likes to have something amazing and new in his pocket in case he gets a one-off offer. "Dignity" ended up on a compilation, "Touched By an Angel" as well as being part of his MTV UNPLUGGED set. (Each version different with more iterations turning up on BOOTLEG #8!) "Series of Dreams" became the big promo song/video when Columbia released the first BOOTLEG set. Despite great reviews and a boost in focus following the Wilburys project, OH MERCY didn't mark another extended renaissance for Dylan. He'd need to dig back to his roots before that could happen.