John Wesley Harding

by Bob Dylan

Overview

Bob Dylan returned from exile with John Wesley Harding, a quiet, country-tinged album that split dramatically from his previous three. A calm, reflective album, John Wesley Harding strips away all of the wilder tendencies of Dylan's rock albums -- even the then-unreleased Basement Tapes he made the previous year -- but it isn't a return to his folk roots. If anything, the album is his first serious foray into country, but only a handful of songs, such as "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight," are straight country songs. Instead, John Wesley Harding is informed by the rustic sound of country, as well as many rural myths, with seemingly simple songs like "All Along the Watchtower," "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine," and "The Wicked Messenger" revealing several layers of meaning with repeated plays. Although the lyrics are somewhat enigmatic, the music is simple, direct, and melodic, providing a touchstone for the country-rock revolution that swept through rock in the late '60s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/24/2017
Label:	Columbia / Legacy
UPC:	0889854516918

Tracks

1. John Wesley Harding [2010 Mono Version]
2. As I Went Out One Morning [2010 Mono Version]
3. I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine [2010 Mono Version]
4. All Along the Watchtower [Mono Version]
5. The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest [Mono Version]
6. Drifter's Escape [2010 Mono Version]
7. Dear Landlord [2010 Mono Version]
8. I Am a Lonseome Hobo [Mono Version]
9. I Pity the Poor Immigrant [Mono Version]
10. The Wicked Messenger [2010 Mono Version]
11. Down Along the Cove [Mono Version]
12. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight [2010 Mono Version]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bob Dylan   Primary Artist,Vocals,Guitar,Piano,Keyboards,Harmonica
Pete Drake   Guitar,Guitar (Steel)
Charlie McCoy   Bass
Kenny Buttrey   Drums

Technical Credits

Charlie Bragg   Engineer
Bob Johnston   Producer
Bob Dylan   Composer