I was disappointed - It was 74. I was a high school senior waiting excitedly for this record. Went to a head shop in the next town and there it was!! I rushed home put it on and it went right over my head. 35 years later I finally get it. It s real, natural , organic Americana music. His vocals were perhaps as strong as they ever were or have been since. And The Band is smokin indeed. The moral of the story? Always trust The Bob.
Planet Waves - Planet Waves being Dylan s 1974 release is a good record. But compared to Highway 61 Revisited and The Freewheelin it is not nearly as good. The album has a definite 70 s touch to it. That can be heard of tracks such as Going, Going Home. Whoever, designed the book-let must have been a hack. It is a drawing that looks it was drawn by someone that was drunk in bar. Ok, Bob, I have had like 10 beers, let s draw the cover for your latest record. The inside looks even worst and looks like a joke. The lack of lyrics is also a problem. Come one Bob, you are an awesome lyricist and we do not get to read the lyrcis. That is just weak!
A Tough Act to Follow - After Nashville Skyline, Self Portrait and New Morning,Planet Waves must have seemed like a return of the prodigal son for many of Bob Dylan s fans. Here he is, backed by a superb band, rocking out with deeply personal songs with dark, lyrical poetry. This is Dylan of old. He changed again, but this time, he changed back. Yes, Nashville Skyline and New Morning were pretty good records, but they can t light a candle to this one. Planet Waves is simply outstanding. It s Bob Dylan at his very best. The band too, have never sounded better. Like Dylan says in Wedding Song, the closing number on the record. The circle is complete. Well, for now anyway. And by now, I mean back in 1974 when this record came out.Planet Waves is a must own record for anybody who has even a passing interest in Bob Dylan. His voice here is as good as it s ever been, his poetry too, it cuts like a knife. I have to admit, I am surprised Dylan didn t record more records with The Band over the years. It s true he s had some very good musicians backing him on a great many albums, but this group just seems to understand what he s about, their music complements him perfectly. This record would be a tough act for most artists to follow, to improve upon, but Bob Dylan is no ordinary musician-poet. Remember it s 1974 and he still has Blood on the Tracks, Desire, Infidels, Empire Burlesque and many more fine works to follow. Yes, this is a tough act to follow, but Bob Dylan is/was up to the challenge.
Heartfelt album is a must for Dylan admirers - Don t be put off by the awful cover art - Planet Waves (1974) is a must for Dylan admirers. It contains some of his greatest, most heartfelt music - Forever Young (slow version) and Dirge are classics. Dylan was is in good form around this time and would follow this up one year later with the brilliant Blood on the Tracks (1975).
Obscure But Brilliant - Dylan + The Band.Some of his best songs, incredible musicianship - everything you expect from Dylan. Just a great collection of songs. Must have.