Top 20 Bob Dylan Songs of the 1980s

[@collinmurr3207]

20. Heart of Mine 19. Series of Dreams 18. I and I 17. Tell Me 16. I'll Remember You 15. Shooting Star 14. Someone's Got a Hold of My Heart 13. Where Teardrops Fall 12. Jokerman 11. Most of the Time 10. Dark Eyes 9. The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar 8. When the Night Comes Falling From the Sky (Bootleg Series 1-3) 7. Ring Them Bells 6. Every Grain of Sand 5. Caribbean Wind (Side Tracks version) 4. Blind Willie McTell 3. Man in the Long Black Coat 2. Brownsville Girl 1. Angelina (Bootleg Series 1-3) Not as consistent of a decade as the '60s or '70s, but this top 10 can stack up against any other decade's top 10. The first time I heard it Angelina, it absolutely stopped me in my tracks. That's my biggest "How was this not on an album" of his career.

[@MikeVernonProd]

The version of Angelina on Bootleg Vol 16 is just as good in my opinion. What a stunning song it is.

[@davidbrett8525]

@@collinmurr3207 great list

[@alanbrown8527]

Thank you Joe for showing the love for “What Good Am I” that seemed to be missing from the Oh Mercy episode. As a man and a husband, I think this song should be required listening to anyone in a romantic relationship. When Dylan received the Music Cares honor, he only had one specific request for a performer and song and it was for Tom Jones who had covered this song while his wife of 59 years was dying of cancer. Jones said the song deeply affected him and changed him.

[@MikeVernonProd]

It was an interesting choice as I usually consider it one of the lesser Oh Mercy tracks but perhaps I need to reevaluate it.

[@jamesegan2742]

Terrific episode, great lists! I don’t think Bob has much to apologise for re his ‘80’s output; most artists would kill just to have his songs from this decade in their catalogue! My list: 20) Political World: fun rocker, great opening from Oh Mercy 19) Tweeter & The Monkey Man: cool tongue in cheek word play from the Wilbury’s 18) I and I: the “reggae mix up” by Doctor Dread, with great, fun groves from Sly and Robbie 17) Silvio: great upbeat song from Down in the Groove 16) What Was it You Wanted?: quasi-religious song from Oh Mercy, well presented 15) Brownsville Girl: great visuals, compelling story from Knocked Out Loaded (can we have a special shout-out to the great titles Bob came up with for his albums this decade?) 14) Everything is Broken: another fun rocker with clever, catchy wordplay from Oh Mercy 13) Solid Rock: irresistible grove, best presented on the Trouble No More live set 12) License to Kill: powerful song from Infidels 11) Jokerman: sounds a little muddy on Infidels, but one can’t deny the power and menace in the song; great version on Letterman as well, with a totally different feel 10) You Changed My Life: yet another lost song sadly missing from the “official” albums; Bob at his most earnest here 9) EveryGrain of Sand: so clever, so heartfelt, from Shot of Love 8) Caribbean Wind: lost song resurrected thankfully on Biograph 7) Dark Eyes: a stunning change of pace on Empire Burlesque, and all the better for it 6) Dignity: the version from Greatest Hits Vol. 3 is definitive (with a great live version on MTV Unplugged) 5) Born in Time: just love the feel of this one, as an outtake from Oh Mercy (less impressive on Under the Red Sky) 4) Covenant Woman: for the performance as much as the song; big highlight from Saved 3)Blind Willie McTell: another great outtake. Masterful storytelling, switching perspectives, with wonderful singing from the Bob. All versions have something special to offer 2) Most of the Time: exceptional song from Oh Mercy, with wonderful version on Tell Tall Tales as well; just love it! 1) Groom’s Still Waiting at the Altar: can’t deny this one, my favourite Dylan song from the decade, one I go back to and listen with joy; wouldn’t have been out of place on Blonde on Blonde! Thx. That was fun. Love the Bob, and always so much to explore! Cheers, JPE

[@MarkDoyle-tt5sf]

Joe’s love and respect for Saved and Shot of Love is impressive. Good on you Joe!

[@robharrison8139]

I don’t love his 80s work, but here’s my top 10. 10. Man in the Long Black Coat 9. Silvio - I quote this song nearly daily, whenever anyone at work asks me how I’m doing I reply “I’ve seen better times, but who has not?” Which has often results in quizzical stares. 8. Under Your Spell 7. Dark Eyes 6. Jokerman 5. Tweeter and the Monkey Man 4. Brownsville Girl - I agree with you guys, epic lyrics, bogged down with poor production 3. Tight Connection to My Heart - Something about the way he sings the line “And they're beatin' the devil out of a guy who's wearing a powder-blue wig” is so awesome 2. Blind Willie McTell 1. I’ll Remember You - Maybe its childhood nostalgia from this song being featured on the official 1986 Mets World Series championship home video that I had on VHS and watched a million times as a kid, but I’ve always loved this song and consider it a beautiful and vastly underrated.

[@terrybnad2959]

Looking forward to this episode, but thought I would post my 20 before seeing yours. Here goes: 1.Jokerman 2. Pressing On 3. Every Grain Of Sand 4. Blind Willie McTell 5. Caribbean Wind 6. Abraham Martin and John 7. Ain't Gonna Go To Hell For Anybody 8. Most Of The Time 9. Property Of Jesus 10. Brownsville Girl 11. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Alter 12. What Can I Do For You? 13. Too Late 14. Man In A Long Black Cloak 15. Covenant Woman 16. Rank Strangers To Me 17. In The Summertime 18. Dignity 19. Solid Rock 20. License To Kill Edit: Dylan 10/20, Joe: 12/20. Awesome episode 😀

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Nice

[@Maanebaronen]

01 Most Of The Time 02 Every Grain Of Sand 03 Jokerman 04 Blind Wille McTell 05 Foot Of Pride 06 Shooting Star 07 Caribbean Wind 08 Dark Eyes 09 Brownsville Girl 10 Ring Them Bells 11 Series Of Dreams 12 Congratulations 13 Saved 14 Shot Of Love 15 Sweetheart Like You 16 In The Garden 17 Pressing On 18 Man Of Peace 19 Tweeter and The Monkey Man 20 Don’t Fall Apart In Me Tonight

[@7msch]

Great lists. I agree a lot with you here. Still enough good output in the decade in spite of some questionable albums. 1. Every Grain of Sand 2. Jokerman 3. Born in Time 4. Dignity 5. Where Teardrops Fall 6. Blind Willie McTell 7. Most of the Time 8. Man in the Long Black Coat 9. I and I 10. Sweetheart Like You 11. Dark Eyes 12. When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky (BS version) 13. Shooting Star 14. License to Kill 15. Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight 16. Property of Jesus 17. Covenant Woman 18. Carribean Wind 19. Saving Grace 20. Dirty World

[@painless465]

here we go; 20.Neighborhood Bully 19.Pressing On 18.Series of Dreams 17.Property of Jesus 16.Man in the Long Black Coat 15.Death is Not the End 14.Every Grain of Sand 13.License to Kill 12.Dignity 11.Brownsville Girl 10.Caribbean Wind 09.I and I 08.Solid Rock 07.The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar 06.Tweeter and the Monkey Man(Traveling Wilburys) 05.Ring Them Bells 04.Foot of Pride 03.Most of the Time 02.Jokerman 01.Blind Willie McTell

[@AnnoyingCritic-is7rp]

Certainly have the top song correct!

[@aronpolasek4506]

Nice lists. I could probably stretch out to a Top 30-35 for the 80s, but that might be stretching things a bit thin towards the back part of that list. Here are my top 20 from 80s Dylan: 20. License To Kill 19. Congratulations (Traveling Wilburys) 18. Watered-Down Love 17. Dignity (Oh Mercy outtake version...although I prefer the revamped version from Greatest Hits Vol. III from the 90s. Same vocal as this version, but totally different band) 16. I and I 15. Heart of Mine (Live) 14. Silvio 13. Caribbean Wind (Biographer version) 12. Shooting Star 11. Born In Time (Oh Mercy version) 10. Series of Dreams (Side Tracks / Bootleg Series Vol 3) 9. Shot of Love (Outtake--Trouble No More) 8. Political World 7. Dark Eyes 6. Foot of Pride (Bootleg Series Vol 3) 5. Pressing On 4. Most of the Time 3. Every Grain of Sand (Demo - Bootleg Series Vol 3) 2. Jokerman 1. Blind Willie McTell (Bootleg Series Vol 3)

[@MikeVernonProd]

Here is my top twenty. Quite different from both of yours! I am much higher on the Eighties period because I think those first three albums are among his very best. I think at the very least the top ten songs here can compete with the best of the previous two decades. 20. Julius and Ethel (Infidels Outtake) - Insanely good rocker with Mick Taylor and Mark Knopfler blows away anything the Stones did in the Eighties 19. Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight - Eighties in all the right ways, such a fun and catchy number to close out Infidels 18. Property of Jesus - Shot of Love has so many catchy tunes, and this is definitely one of the best, most upbeat numbers 17. Union Sundown - I never understood the hate for this song. Mick Taylor on slide plus Bob Dylan raging against globalization and the decline of the unions in America 16. In The Garden - Objectively one of Bob's most complex songs. Hypnotizing melody along with a powerful set of lyrics drawn from the New Testament 15. Solid Rock - Rip-roaring gospel rocker with a much better bass line than 'Most of the Time' 14. Angelina (Shot of Love Outtake - Springtime in New York Version) - A beautiful song about the complexities of faith, with chilling backing vocals 13. Political World - Fierce opener to Oh Mercy with spitfire lyrics against the political elite and establishment, reminiscent of Subterranean Homesick Blues 12. In The Summertime - Another beautiful, tuneful track from Shot of Love featuring fantastic harmonica playing from Bob 11. Watered-Down Love - One of Bob's catchiest pop tunes. What a great groove and fun melody. 10. Caribbean Wind (Side Tracks version) - Bob never did get this track quite right but its such an inspired melody and set of lyrics. Has to be in the top ten 9. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar - One of Bob's best rockers ever 8. Covenant Woman - Such a beautiful, understated ballad. One of Bob's most effective devout Christian songs 7. License to Kill - One of Bob's most memorable set of lyrics, an effective putdown of modernity and the evils of technology 6. Shot Of Love - Killer opener to my favourite Dylan album of the 80s 5. I and I - The most atmospheric and cryptic song on Infidels, soaring playing from Taylor and Knopfler 4. Jokerman - No comment necessary 3. What Can I Do For You - Like Joe said, one of the most incredible extended harp solos captured on record (the live versions are just as good) 2. Pressing On - This is Bob Dylan's most uplifting song backed with one of his most impassioned vocal performances. 1. Every Grain of Sand - Had the privilege of seeing him perform this live last year. Brought tears to my eyes. It is Bob Dylan's best song, bar none.

[@MikeVernonProd]

Honourable Mentions: - Foot Of Pride (Bootleg Vol. 1-3 Infidels Outtake) - Gritty riff-oriented tune with an angry vocal from Bob containing so many great lines like "sing Amazing Grace all the way to the Swiss banks" and " they kill babies in the crib and say only the good die young" - Under Your Spell - By far the best produced song on Knocked Out Loaded, sounds like Bob hallucinating about a past lover in the backdrop of a Western - Got My Mind Made Up - Really cool Bo-Diddley rocker with obscure references to oil refineries in Libya - I'll Remember You - Beautiful ballad that would be higher if Bob's vocals were a bit stronger - Someone's Got A Hold of My Heart (Springtime in New York Version) - Catchy pop melody and great guitarwork from Mick Taylor - Tight Connection To My Heart - Different enough from the earlier version, and the eighties production actually works on this one - Sweetheart Like You - Very sweet and tender tune that you can imagine exactly the kind of woman Bob wrote this about. Knopfler steals the show. - Heart of Mine - Love the loose feel on this one, such a fun, upbeat tune on an album full of great melodies - New Danville Girl - Sprawling epic that Bob never got quite right. This version has a great harmonica part but is missing the horn section and strong backing vocals from 'Brownsville Girl'

[@marcyfan-tz4wj]

@@MikeVernonProd i have respect for anyone who puts "shot of love", "political world" and innumerable songs from bob's first 2 albums of the decade on their list although i must say that "every grain of sand" (despite it's reputation) is nowhere near my favorite dylan song. would i have swimmed the atlantic ocean to see him perform it live earlier this month? maybe.

[@MikeVernonProd]

@@marcyfan-tz4wj When I saw him perform it in Brooklyn last year as the finale to his show it was a cathartic moment. The entire crowd was spellbound. His harmonica solo was the best I've ever seen him play. What a way to end the concert. Everyone who was there said it was the best moment of the concert and caused them to gain a whole new appreciation for the song. For myself, it was already among my very favourite Dylan songs but that performance put it over the top as I realized that it had a rapturous power like no other.

[@marcyfan-tz4wj]

@@MikeVernonProd i saw bob play "what can i do for you?" a month before it was released and "every grain of sand" a couple of months after it came out. i've loved those songs whole-heartedly but "EGOS" jusy isn't a favorite anymore. it's still in a top 300 songs by him but.....

[@greekphilospher2332]

Y’all should review the upcoming Dylan biopic movie, it’s perfect timing

[@matm4331]

Great lists guys. The time you spend on preparing each installment is great and am looking forward to the 90s. The 90s is a Dylan period where I only know the music but not much about any of the stories and context that you also cover well. Thank you!

[@suartgilmour4540]

Cool video, thanks! Being a Dylan freak I have 7 and counting 80 min full CDs of 80s Dylan covers. There's about 50 different tunes covered (not just Jokerman and Blind Willie McTell, lol). The artists involved include: Eric Clapton, Joan osborne, Solomon Burke, Elvis Costello, Grateful Dead, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Nick Cave, Jack White, Mark Lanegan, John Martyn, Waterboys, Bonnie Raitt, Lou Reed, Norah Jones, Betty Lavette, Chrissie Hynde, Ry Cooder, Neal Casal, Low Anthem, Sinead O'Connor, Cowboy Junkies... Imo, most songwriters would kill to have Dylan's 80s. Thanks, Stuart

[@TastesLikeMusic]

I think if you include everything he did it was a pretty decent output. - Joe

[@TrekBeatTK]

I love how much you dig Saved. Every listen, tracks like What Can I Do For You? which I write off as filler end ip sweeping me up. Oh, but don’t be cowards: do a top 20 of the 90s! Especially because the 2000s deserves its own list.

[@rileys1005]

Cannot wait for the under the red sky episode. I hope the social media excitement of him bringing out the title track on tour this year is brought up!

[@MikeVernonProd]

It was great hearing that live earlier this year at the Hollywood Bowl!

[@michaelfendrich1864]

Great lists. It's funny how many times you guys went outside the "officially released studio albums" to compile your lists. There is so much good music Dylan has released, sometimes you just have to work to find it. What Good Am I is one of my favorites, one of the most self introspection songs ever written. Given where relationships are in general and our civic life in particular are now, this would be my primary campaign song for my Presidential run in 2028. I find it powerful. Thanks again, great show.

[@canadianstudmuffin]

Series Of Dreams is my number one choice. Otherwise, I had little interest in his 80's output, but I enjoyed this video as always!

[@edwardmeradith2419]

Hey there, Larry! 😊 “Series of Dreams” was special, tho I thought that it sounded perhaps a little too much like U2 - arrangement and production wise, and that could’ve worked against it with some folks (or it’s just me😮)

[@MikeVernonProd]

You should revisit his eighties albums, particularly Saved, Shot of Love, and Infidels. I think you will be surprised how good they are.

[@canadianstudmuffin]

@@MikeVernonProd I bought Saved when it came out and it was a huge disappointment after Slow Train Coming.

[@slumdogjay]

Good list guys.

[@Vanessa.P]

Most of the Time and Born in Time are easily my top 2 but still plenty of gems to be found throughout. Great lists.

[@PabloReyesVelasco]

10- Every Grain of Sand 9- Where Teardrops Fall 8- The Groom’s Still Waiting at the Altar 7- Pressing On 6- Jokerman 5- Ring Them Bells 4- Saving Grace 3- License to Kill 2- Shooting Star 1- Most of the Time

[@patrickshawl7189]

My suggestion is to make "Good As I Been To You" and "World Gone Wrong" one episode, after those Bob finds his stride once more. IMO

[@MikeVernonProd]

Yes definitively do this since they are essentially the same sparse folk style: just Bob and his acoustic guitar

[@TastesLikeMusic]

We did

[@juppa]

I love both of them, but I agree.

[@gamma5672]

20. Under Your Spell 19. Death is Not the End 18. Silvio 17. Shot of Love 16. Property of Jesus 15. I and I 14.Political World 13. Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight 12. Someone's Gotta Hold of My Heart 11. What Can I Do for You? 10. Every Grain of Sand 9. Heart of Mine 8. Most of the Time 7. Covenant Woman 6. What Good am I? 5. Blind Willie McTell 4. Jokerman 3. Sweetheart Like You 2. Dark Eyes 1. Man in the Long Black Coat

[@MikeVernonProd]

Glad to see some love for Under Your Spell. Very underrated tune sadly buried at the end of Knocked Out Loaded

[@gamma5672]

@MikeVernonProd Yeah, that song has always been the clear favorite for me on KOL. It's funny, I actually kinda like that album, at least probably more than most Dylan fans anyway, but I've never been big on Brownsville Girl. I guess I'm the opposite of most Dylan fans in that regard

[@1rwjwith]

Ok , only doing 10 off the top of my head 1. JOKERMAN 2. Every Grain of Sand 3. Ring Them Bells 4. Blind Willie McTell 5. Sweetheart Like You 6. Series of Dreams 7. Neighborhood Bully 8. Political World 9. When the Night Comes Falling 10. Dirty World…. The top 4 are total masterpieces….

[@ChorusArtists]

Infidels is one of my fave Dylan records, despite the critical panning it constantly takes. I love it start to finish. But my fave track of Bob's from the 80's was dropped from Infidels, which still stuns me. Blind Willie Mactell is a masterpiece in many ways, and it's become a top 5 Dylan song all time, for me.

[@edwardmeradith2419]

“For some people, a light bulb is going too far” - allegedly Bob responding to a ‘first step was touching the moon’ question - over-reach of technology, spiritually - the light bulb line to me a great PS live “Heart of Mine ❤ Dignity ❤

[@KevinMcArdle-l6e]

"Series of dreams" is amazing

[@MartinLindnerDigital]

This was a really difficult one. I'm only really loving the TOP8 as much as I love so many Dylan songs of the decades before. - Series of Dreams (Bootleg Series version, Promo version - generally I do not like the thick Llanois production that much, but on this track, and exactly this version of it, it is making full sense: magical) - Jokerman (just a masterpiece, on par with the greatest Dylan stuff - and I do like the Sly and Robbie rhythm tracks) - Foot of Pride (I discovered this after hearing the Lou Reed live cover, and with that in mind the great Dylan version is also becoming a bit better still) - Blind Willie McTell (For some time I thought it to be too "masterful", not raw enough, but listening to it again, it is undeniably as good as they say) - What Good am I, Ring Them Bells, Most of the Time (I love these three ballads in Oh Mercy)) - Heart of Mine (Album version only, an understatement song, but I just love the stumbling groove, always feeling like falling apart every moment) 9-15: - Shooting Star ( I cannot take Man in the Long Black Coat earnestly, although it is nice and probably also should have been on this list) - In the Summertime (I always like this one, another understatement song. Tried it again after decades, and it did still work. Even better compared with wthat followed ...) - In the Garden (It was always being near a song that I really like, starting great, but then something ist sill lacking) - Pressing On (I really like his gospel intensity, but do not like the Saved production at all. This is really good though.) - Every Grain of Sand (This is good, no doubt, but it doesn't really move that deep. I was surprised finding out that people rate it so high.) - Death Is Not the End (Not a really good song, also it could have be produced better, but something is moving me) - Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight 16-20: - Lord Protect My Child - Groom Still Waiting at The Altar - Dignity - New Dansville Girl (because the production sounds much better than Brownsville Girl - I don not really like the song that much, but it is an interesting project, and there were not many interesting ones in the 1980s) - Dark Eyes

[@monster900900]

some good picks guys ,, would put series of dreams in there ,, another patchy decade to come ,

[@waynekvetkosky2572]

Blind Willie McTell was one of my 80's favorites along with Shenandoah

[@nicholasrosebush6182]

The original version of Born In Time is an all out 10/10 masterpiece

[@scottybelle9]

Foot of Pride Solid Rock What Was it you Wanted Shot of Love Caribbean Wind Ring Them Bells Series of Dreams Jokerman Death is Not the End Pressing On Dark Eyes Someone's Got a Hold of my Heart Blind Willie McTell Lord, Protect my Child Man in the Long Black Coat Man of Peace Grooms Still Waiting at the Altar Political World Angelina Everything is Broken

[@abrian_e.]

“Someday maybe I’ll remember to forget”

[@MikeVernonProd]

Has anybody seen my love??

[@jonmcleary4192]

I love World Gone Wrong - just saying. Love the series guys

[@MarkusKamau]

Was glad to see Joe put Blind Willie McTell at #1. Perhaps it wasn't released because it cut too deep? Raising up Blind Willie McTell in a beautiful withering and bleak sound painting of the truth. A McTell mainstay was St. James Infirmary Blues, which has a similar chord progression. Dylan, like Cohen, staring out the window of the St. James Hotel.

[@JD-jc8gp]

Brownsville Girl easy top 5 for me.

[@JD-jc8gp]

There's a blogger named albumsthatneverwere who once posted a rejigged Infidels with stripped down production of several tracks, including Jokerman, License to Kill and some others. May have been his own work, I don't know. I still have them and to this day only listen to these versions. I hate the production of the official versions of the Infidels tracks, they just stink. But great songs.

[@JD-jc8gp]

Sorry if I'm spamming, but as I'm watching thoughts come to me. Maybe this was addressed in the video, but I missed it. Why is Foot of Pride excluded? Outstanding Dylan song in my opinion, probably top 5 for the decade for me (Too Late is basically another version of it, but inferior). A little surprised, but not shocked, by the exclusion of Sweetheart Like You, Someone's Got a Hold of My Heart, Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight, and I'll Remember You. Pretty good songs. Thank you, enjoyed the video!

[@drybie]

Strangely, I love foot of pride

[@MikeVernonProd]

Who doesn't?

[@drybie]

@MikeVernonProd I'd have it in my top ten, that's all, as it's one I come back to more than others.

[@edwardmeradith2419]

I could only come up with a half dozen

[@muhammadrifqi7308]

Every grain of sand and blind willie mctell are the best dylan songs of the 80s.

[@maggiebryan2355]

❤❤❤

[@painless465]

Just Curious, will we be getting a review of the Timothy Chalamet Dylan movie coming out Xmas? lol

[@djtforever1414]

Every Grain Of Sand, Political World, License To Kill, Most Of The Time. Blind Willie McTell, Jokerman, Dark Eyes, Foot Of Pride, Series Of Dreams.

[@Lee-ol3yh]

Covenant woman

[@179rich]

Hi-de-ho, how's it go?

[@gummyb426]

Definitely much much worse than the 60s and 70s, but there's still a few great songs. I like all these songs, and I could probably make a top 30 of 80s songs I like somewhat, but I think only up to Pressing On is where they'd have any chance at all of making my 60s or 70s list 1 Brownsville Girl 2 Jokerman 3 Most of the Time 4 Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight 5 Someone's Got A Hold Of My Heart (I like Tight Connection to my Heart a lot too, but this ones less overblown) 6 What Can I Do For You? 7 Covenant Woman 8 Pressing On 9 You Changed My Life 10 Every Grain of Sand - Demo 11 Never Gonna Be The Same Again 12 Watered Down Love 13 Sweetheart Like You 14 I and I 15 Property of Jesus 16 License to Kill 17 Where Teardrops Fall 18 Heart of Mine 19 Ring Them Bells 20 Everything is Broken

[@EricBerger-p3x]

1. Blind Willie McTell 2. Every Grain of Sand 3. Caribbean Wind [Live, 1980] 4. Born in Time [Tell Tale Signs] 5. Making a Liar Out of Me 6. Jokerman 7. New Danville Girl 8. When the Night Comes Falling... [TBS 1-3] 9. Series of Dreams 10. Man in the Long Black Coat 11. Angelina [TBS 1-3] 12. Sweetheart Like You 13. I and I 14. Dignity [Side Tracks] 15. The Groom's Still Waiting... 16. Ring Them Bells 17. What Can I Do For You 18. Covenant Woman 19. Most of the Time 20. I'll Remember You It was hard picking just 20. Such a productive period. Sadly just missing the cut: Foot of Pride, Too Late, In the Summertime, Shooting Star, Dark Eyes, Someone's Got a Hold of My Heart [TBS 1-3], Pressing On, Lord Protect My Child, Need a Woman [both TBS 1-3], Dark Eyes

[@AnnoyingCritic-is7rp]

I will agree to this list.

[@EricBerger-p3x]

​@@AnnoyingCritic-is7rp Thanks! I thought about swapping out 20 for Foot of Pride, which is an amazing vocal tour de force (my go-to song when people hit me with 'Dylan can't sing'), but I'll Remember You holds significant emotional meaning to me. I really like the heartfelt sentiment in the straightforward yet effective lyrics.

[@AnnoyingCritic-is7rp]

@@EricBerger-p3x Yes, I would probably move Series of Dreams, I and I and Long Black Coat in favor of your alternates. I find these to be a bit too melodramatic. Now that I've looked at a few of these lists I think Dylan was probably a little bit optimistic that you could only find 26 songs. Also there's a whole bunch of stuff like city of gold or Abraham Martin and John and a lot of the other religious songs that are really fun.

[@MikeVernonProd]

Making a Liar Out of Me is an interesting pick! What stood out to you to pick it?

[@EricBerger-p3x]

​@@MikeVernonProd The lyrics, first and foremost. I think it's one of the best he's ever written. I also like how this rehearsal already sounds like almost a completed record. Which means Dylan was very certain about the song and what it needed in terms of vocals and music. The organ is particularly beautiful. But the lyricism is top notch.

[@chillepalmerz]

I really like the mix and sound of License to Kill on this video (I think it's the same performance). I wish Infidels sounded more like this kzbin.info/www/bejne/foPVnXmPnJeEoas

[@lawrencejhutchinson]

Yeah, Bob had a great 60s 70s and 90s, but the 80s was poor. Blind Willie McTell was the one masterpiece!

[@MikeVernonProd]

Have you not heard Every Grain of Sand or Jokerman?

[@lawrencejhutchinson]

@MikeVernonProd I like Every Grain, but have never been keen on Jokerman.

[@AP530]

Why is Dylan covering his eye?

[@TastesLikeMusic]

He can’t bear to look at me. - Joe

[@davidgrady3408]

The none Dylan fan nails it again. Perhaps fans are too close to be objective.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Definitely

[@dylanseveymusic]

Objectivity doesn’t exist.

[@MikeVernonProd]

Dylan seriously underrates Saved!! Too many obscure outtakes in his top ten...

[@dylanseveymusic]

@@MikeVernonProd I would argue that Saved is more obscure than The Bootleg Series installments. Either way, all of those songs are incredible.

[@MikeVernonProd]

@ you are probably right but I think Saved deserves way more plaudits than it received. Just look at how much everyone loved the Trouble No More Bootleg series. Bob was on fire at the time!

[@davidbrett8525]

Lots of great songs to choose from in the 80s. My list is oh mercy and infidels heavy along with many of the famed songs that didn’t make albums. With better decisions on what songs to include and better production decisions the 80s could have been a stronger decade for Dylan - he might have made too many albums in the decade. Here is my top 20 1. Every grain of sand 2. Brownsville Girl 3. Blind Willie mctell 4. Most of the time 5. Sweetheart like you 6. Man in the long black coat 7. Jokerman 8. Ring them bells 9. Shooting star 10. Dark eyes 11. License to kill 12. Heart of mine 13. Dignity 14. Too late 15. Born in time 16. Groom still waiting at the alter 17. Don’t fall apart on me tonight 18. Pressing on 19. Someone’s got a hold of my heart 20. Death is not the end

[@TastesLikeMusic]

He has a lotttt of albums in the 80s. More than most. They just mostly stink. - Joe

[@MikeVernonProd]

@@TastesLikeMusicI would say 4 out of his 7 studio albums in the 80s are great. Also Real Live from 1984 is a very underrated live album.

[@edwardmeradith2419]

It’s too bad that Brownsville Girl supplanted Danville Girl - The former has such awful production- Danville escaped the excesses of that - it’s not so claustrophobic and sunk by the ‘room’ reverb (digital?) of the Brownsville girl (particularly on the vocals)

[@MikeVernonProd]

I don't know why Brownsville Girl was mixed so poorly. it sounds like it was recorded underwater. The New Danville Girl version is so much clearer. Great harmonica part too! I do like the backing vocals and horns on Brownsville Girl though.