Expecting Rain

Here's the "twin" topic of the favourite live band. I'd rather not make this one a poll 'cause it's too complicated.
For me, as studio sound and feel is concerned, the best sounding band ever on Bob's albums is the Band on Planet Waves. They are crispy, charismatic, a little bit loose and never too polished. I believe the topical moment is the bridge bending on Going, going, gone, right after the first "I'm gone". Just weird and highly emotional.

I also adore some particular moments on that magic BIABH session with Langhorne and Gregg, especially the famouse false start/reprise of Bob Dylan's 115th dream. Just pure musical serendipity.

Don't think about the songs, just focus on the bands' sound and delivery.
Which is yours?

Blonde On Blonde

Blonde on Blonde, that thin wild mercury sound.

Himself

Of course BoB is a masterpiece, but I think most of the magic of the album is about the atmosphere and sound of those sessions more than about the actual performances...

I'm partial to the line up on John Wesley Harding, but I think the sound of that album has more to do with the production than the actual talent.

I also suppose that listening Time Out of Mind would be cheating since there really wasn't a solid band for that one. Just folks that drifted in and out.

I guess my ultimate vote will have to go to the obvious choice; The Band in The Basement Tapes.

John Wesley Harding and Love and Theft

What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

This place is like a PHD course in applied comedy synthesis.

My favorites:
Blonde on Blonde
Desire
New Morning

Honorable Mentions:
TOOM and Oh mercy

It was just my opionion on Blonde on blonde. I think it's an awesome album (my Dylan favourite), but as far as band performances I like Planet Waves better, even though I have to admit that BoB has a special atmosphere and feel that goes beyond the way the musicians played on the record.

I'm going with the Blonde on Blonde studio band. I just heard "I Want You" the other day and was, perhaps for the first time, really noticing how well thought out and well executed the backing track is...

Yes - one of my favourite bits is the way they half-inched those melody lines from 'It's Not Unusual'....

Nashville Skyline

Bob Dylan – guitar, harmonica, keyboards, vocals
Johnny Cash – vocals, performer
Pete Drake – pedal steel guitar
Fred Carter, Jr. - guitar
Kenneth A. Buttrey – drums
Charlie Daniels – bass guitar, guitar
Bob Wilson – organ, piano
Charlie McCoy – guitar, harmonica
Norman Blake – guitar, dobro

Marshall Grant – bass on "Girl from North Country"
Bob Wootton – electric guitar on "Girl from North Country"
W.S. Holland – drums on "Girl from North Country"

Bruce Langhorne

Ive got 4 because they are so different I cant pick just 1!!!!

Blonde on Blonde (Obviously)

Planet Waves (the Band support him beautifully here)

Desire (Stoner/Wyeth/Rivera....What more could you EVER need!)

and hold your breath......................

Infidels!! (I LOVE Knopfler, especially in that era, and the Rhythm section of Sly and Robbie is unique, and who doesnt love Mick taylor?) While some of that album can be uneven there are some Gems on there. Jokerman being the perfect vehicle for that lineup. Very unique!!

`^

Highway 61 Revisited/Blonde on Blonde
and
Love and Theft

My opinion would be that the band that played with Bob for Slow Train Coming is the best "sounding" band in terms of what actually got laid down.

This would be:

Mark Knopfler, guitar
Tim Drummond, bass
Pick Withers, drums
Barry Beckett, keys
Helena Springs, vocals
Carolyn Dennis, voals

Jerry Wexler's production/ear certainly helped these recordings come out so well.

I also love the Nashville Skyline band and the stripped-down version of that same band on John Wesley Harding.

Who doesn't love Mick Taylor? Well...I don't find him that interesting to be honest.

I'd rate the Slow Train band ahead of Infidels but the muddy production (thank you very little Bob) on Infidels probably lets the band down in the end.

Ha, I think I know what you mean... but didn't "...Unusual" postdate "I Want You"? Maybe it's the other way around.

Not so, good sir. It's Not Unusual was first released in the UK in January 1965 (over a year before I Want You). Mind you, I'd never seen the musical connection between them before now (and still can't really), but the most interesting thing to me is the fact that Bob and Tom have shared the same backing pianist during their careers. Look at It's Not Unusual on Wiki to find out who!

Interesting! And I stand corrected.

Listen on good headphones to the recent remaster.

Will always be the group of musicians he pulled together for JWH:

Bob Dylan - Guitar, Harmonica, Piano, Keyboards, Vocals
Pete Drake - Pedal Steel Guitar
Charlie McCoy - Bass
Kenneth A. Buttrey - Drums

Probably because I am a sucker for the feeling that they are playing in my front parlor for just me when I listen to the record-I also think I have never heard Bob handle his own musical chores better. The stripped down, crisp sound consistently resonates with me.

Space, feel, and playing the right notes without ever overplaying, it's all there. With the estimable help of Nashville's finest.