Expecting Rain

'Sugar Baby' is a masterpiece; 'High Water' 'Mississippi' and 'Po Boy' are some of my other favorites.

What was most notable to me was the high high placement of Time Out of Mind. I find Love and Theft to be a better album overall, but that's just me.

Well I'll give the tracks cited a whirl. Nothing ventured and all that.

Well I tried the version of Sugar Baby from Brighton 2002 and I couldn't quite make it to the end.
Not for me.

Good band, good sound, some actual rock'n'roll, and if the songs had any lyrical content and there were fewer Howlin' Wolf impersonations it could have been a contender. Some people probably hear wit. The horn dog anthem Summer Days stands out; that is pretty funny.

yes, I do remember hearing it and thinking D had rediscovered his sense of humour somewhat but even here
he was a long way short of the days when he was wonderfully funny.

I placed TOOM at 6 and L&T at 8, I think the difference for me was actually hearing TOOM for the first time of release. I bought it on the day of release and was gob smacked. I played it three times in succession - I just couldn't believe it after going seven years without any 'original' product. Awesome, L&T didn't have quite the same effect although I do like it, I've even warmed to the Tweedles which I used to loathe. Both are very fine albums IMO.

My list now (ther could be ther lists and I try to make it a very personal one, not mainstream and knowing many will think I'm a fool):

1 Blood on the tracks (Simple twist of fate)
2 Oh mercy (Man in the long black coat)
3 Blonde on blonde (Just like a woman)
4 Highway 61 revisited (Like a rolling stone)
5 Time out of mind (Love sick)
6 Shadows in the night (I'm a fool to want You)
7 Tempest (Long and wasted years)
8 Desire (Sara)
9 Slow train coming (Slow train)
10 Shot of love (Every grain of sand)
11 Infidels (Jokerman)
12 The times they are a-changin' (The times they are a-chanigin')
13 New morning (If not for You)
14 Street-legal (Señor)
15 Subterranean homesick blues (Love minus zero / no limit)
16 Together through life (Forgetful heart)
17 Love & theft (Mississippi)
18 John Wesley Harding (All along the watchtower)
19 Selfportrait (Wigwam)
20 Modern times (Ain't talkin')
21 Empire burlesque (Tight connection to mye heart)
22 The freewhelin' (Don't think twice, it's all right)
23 Another side of Bob Dylan (It ain't me, babe)
24 World gone wrong (Delia)
25 Good as I been to You (Jim Jones)
26 Fallen angels (Melancholy mood)
27 Chirstmas in the heart (Christmas blues)
28 Pat Garrett & Billy the kid (Knockin' on heaven's door)
29 Under the red sky (Born in time)
30 Planet waves (Forever young)
31 Bob Dylan (Baby, let me follow You down)
32 Saved (What can I do for You?)
33 Nashville skyline (Girl of the north country)
34 Knocked out loaded (Brownsville girl)
35 Down in the groove (Death is not the end)
36 The basement tapes (Tears of rage)
37 Dylan (Can't help falling in love)

You actually think that Empire Burlesque, Shadows In the Night, Self Portrait, Shot of Love, Infidels, Tempest, and Street-Legal are all better than The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan???
Fascinating.

Is this a crap list?

I wouldn't say the list is crap... Its a list of Dylan's albums but the order you've placed them in is certainly a mess.

Well... I really can see the value of the songs on The freewhelin' but it's an abum that I don't manage to really enjoy. I prefer those songs in other versions. I know I am objectively wrong, but I enjoy those albums better than it. That's all. Not that those are really "better". I guess You can understand that.

1. Time out of Mind
2. Modern Times
3. Highway 61 Revisited
4. Bringing it All Back Home
5. Another Side of Bob Dylan
6. Blood on the Tracks
7. Love & Theft
8. John Wesley Harding
9. Blonde on Blonde
10. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
11. Nashville Skyline
12. Street-Legal
13. The Times They Are A-Changin'
14. Fallen Angels
15. Oh Mercy
16. Tempest
17. Good as I Been to You
18. Desire
19. Saved
20. Shot of Love
21. Planet Waves
22. Shadows in the Night
23. World Gone Wrong
24. Empire Burlesque
25. Slow Train Coming
26. Knocked Out Loaded
27. Down in the Groove
28. Infidels
29. Together Through Life
30. Under the Red Sky
31. Bob Dylan

Hi all, with reference to the 'Is Street Legal a classic' topic I couldn't remember exactly where I placed it in my ranking here. So looking back I put it at 16 which more or less confirms my thoughts that it was a good album and higher than the midway point in my opinion. Mind you looking at my listing on a different day it could easily go up two places. Triplicate wasn't released when I made my selection and I still don't have the album anyways.
Half way point seems pretty general for most peoples ranking of Street Legal looking at the various listings.

H61R is the best album by anyone ever.
Buick 6 always gets picked on as the weak link, but on any other album it would be a highlight.

There is no weak link on that album imo. It's just the peak of 1960's Dylan, and given that 1960's Dylan is the peak of music ... well, there ya go!

Something like this

Highway 61
Blonde on Blonde
Bringing It All Back Home
Blood on the Tracks
Oh Mercy
Freewheelin'
Time Out of Mind
Desire
Love and Theft
The Basement Tapes
Planet Waves
Another Side
Nashville Skyline
John Wesley Harding
Infidels
The Times They Are-a Changin'
Modern Times
Tempest
World Gone Wrong
Together Through Life
Street Legal
Shot of Love
New Morning
Shadows in the Night
Fallen Angels
Bob Dylan
Good As I Been To You
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
Slow Train Coming
Saved
Knocked Out Loaded
Empire Burlesque
Under the Red Sky
Self Portrait
Down in the Groove
Christmas in the Heart
Dylan

To answer the poll question, no it's not a crap list, but I do disagree vehemently with you on some points. Which I'll say now in no particular order

*All the Tired Horses is a horrible song, and is nowhere near the best song on Self Portrait
*Bob Dylan the debut album, is a lot better than where you rank it, as is Dylan '73
*Desire is either #1 or #2 for me so it's horribly underrated on your list in my opinion.

My favorite songs on each album differ a good bit from yours most notably in the following instances.

Highway 61 - It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
Blood on the Tracks - You're Gonna Leave Me Lonesome When you Go
Empire Burlesque - Dark Eyes


Other than that though, it's not a bad list, and I wouldn't call it a crap list.

Do you know that Greil Marcus refered to it as the only stinker in BOTT?

1. Highway 61 Revisited
2. Time Out Of Mind
3. Blood On The Tracks
4. Blonde On Blonde
5. "Love And Theft"
6. John Wesley Harding
7. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
8. Street-Legal
9. Modern Times
10. New Morning
11. The Basement Tapes
12. World Gone Wrong
13. Oh Mercy
14. Bringing It All Back Home
15. Nashville Skyline
16. Planet Waves
17. Another Side Of Bob Dylan
18. The Times They Are A-Changin'
19. Tempest
20. Triplicate
21. Shot Of Love
22. Desire
23. Shadows In The Night
24. Christmas In The Heart
25. Slow Train Coming
26. under the red sky
27. Fallen Angels
28. Together Through Life
29. Good As I Been To You
30. Self Portrait
30. Infidels
31. Saved
32. Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid
33. Knocked Out Loaded
34. Dylan
35. Down In The Groove

my picks:

1. Highway 61 Revisited
2. Bringing it All Back Home 
3. Blood on the Tracks 
4. Blonde on Blonde 
5. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan 
6. Love & Theft 
7. John Wesley Harding 
8. Time out of Mind 
9. Another Side of Bob Dylan 
10. Desire
11. Oh Mercy 
12. The Times They Are A-Changin' 
13. Slow Train Coming
14. Modern Times 
15. Infidels 
16. Street-Legal 
17. World Gone Wrong 
18. Nashville Skyline 
19. Good as I Been to You 
20. Tempest 
21. Shot of Love 
22. Planet Waves 
23. Together Through Life 
24. Down in the Groove 
25. Under the Red Sky
26. Bob Dylan
27. Saved
28. Knocked Out Loaded 
29. Empire Burlesque
30. Fallen Angels 
31. Shadows in the Night 

Masterpieces [10/10]

1. Blonde on Blonde
2. Highway 61 Revisited
3. Blood On The Tracks

Classic Records [9/10]

4. Bringing It All Back Home
5. Desire
6. Street-Legal
7. Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
8. Time Out Of Mind
9. John Wesley Harding

Minor Classics [8/10]

10. Planet Waves
11. Oh Mercy (Could have been one of his best if Bob was a little better at selecting what to include)
12. Love & Theft
13. The Times They Are a Changin'
14. Another Side of Bob Dylan

Great Records [7/10]

15. New Morning
16. Tempest
17. Infidels (See Oh Mercy)
18. Slow Train Coming
19. Shot Of Love (See Oh Mercy & Infidels)
20. Modern Times
21. Nashville Skyline
22. Together Through Life

Decent Records [6/10]

23. Saved
24. Self-Portrait
25. World Gone Wrong
26. Good As I Been To You
27. Under The Red Sky
28. Bob Dylan

Mediocre Records [5/10]

29. Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (Some lovely moments but it's clearly not a proper album)
30. Empire Burlesque (Several good songs ruined by ugly production)

Poor Records [4/10]

31. Down In The Groove
32. Knocked Out Loaded

Depending on my mood the albums can fluctuate a great deal within those categories but never enough to reach the next 'level'.

The Basement Tapes are obviously classic but I'm not convinced by the released version so haven't included it. Also I've not spent enough time with the Sinatra trilogy to fit them in but I imagine they'd fall into the decent category. Not listened to Dylan 73 yet.

[quote="frenchdog"][/quote]
I like your structure, so I borrowed it!

Masterpieces [10/10]

1. Highway 61 Revisited
2. Blood On The Tracks
3. Bringing It All Back Home

Classic Records [9/10]

4. Blonde On Blonde (would have been a masterpiece as a single album)
5. Desire
6. Street-Legal
7. Time Out Of Mind
8. John Wesley Harding
9. Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

Minor Classics [8/10]

10. Oh Mercy
11. The Times They Are a Changin'
12. Planet Waves

Great Records [7/10]

13. Tempest
14. Bob Dylan
15. Infidels
16. Slow Train Coming
17. Another Side of Bob Dylan
18. Shot Of Love
19. Love & Theft
20. Modern Times
(I could easily rate all these albums as 13=)

Decent Records [6/10]

21. Saved
22. Nashville Skyline
23. Under The Red Sky
24. New Morning
25. The Basement Tapes

Mediocre Records [5/10]

26. Together Through Life
27. Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
28. Empire Burlesque

Poor Records [4/10]

29. Down In The Groove
30. Knocked Out Loaded
31. Self-Portrait


I took out WGW / GAIBTY because they are pure cover albums. Left out the recent releases for the same reason. Dylan wasn't sanctioned by Bob, so out it goes.

He's on the wrong kind of drugs

I've learned nothing about American culture from Greil Marcus.

1. Blonde On Blonde /Highway 61/Basement Tapes/Bringing it All Back Home. Basement Tapes is a lot like the Beach Boys Smile. It was recorded around the same time and slowly released to the world in small doses over many years while growing in stature each year and blowing your mind with every new piece you heard. Both were finally given "official" releases decades after they were recorded. BT is beyond words. But it's Blonde on Blonde which towers. Magic in Nashville. It has more good songs than Highway 61 because it's almost twice as long. There's nothing really nothing to turn off.

2. New Morning/Blood On The Tracks/Planet Waves/Desire/Freewheelin'
I love the sad violin of Scarlet Rivera. I'm still not sure about Joey. Sometimes I like it. Jerry Garcia seemed to really like it. Coffee and Isis are my favorites. I've lived with a Sara. Freewheelin is up there for historical purposes. I don't listen to it much anymore. I used it up. Half of Blood On The Tracks is great. The New York version of YABGN is incredible. The Minneapolis version is great, of course, but not even close, really. It's mostly the vocal, and the sparse instrumentation of the NY session that nails it. The musicians were perfectly aligned and sympathetic to that song. I'd listen to Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts more if it was under 4 minutes. It just doesn't hold my interest at this point.

If I could have personally hand picked the tracks to put together the Self Portrait album that album would definitely be in the number three spot. Pretty Saro has one of the most gorgeous vocals Dylan ever recorded.
3. John Wesley Harding/Another Side/Time Out Of Mind/Love And Theft/Street Legal/Slow Train
Slow Train's title track is a monster. I enjoy the venom. Christian venom? But didn't Jesus say that we should ...um....forget it. It's the only song from that album I really care about today. Sheiks with nose rings. On JWH the original version of All Along The Watchtower with Charlie McCoy and his rhythm section is the greatest version of that song to have been recorded. I don't say that lightly. Watchtower elevates the whole album. Street Legal is fine. Seems like I've been down this way before.

4. All the rest*. Out of all these songs I would raise Heaven's Door and Blind Willie McTell (if it were on Infidels) as two songs that are as good as some of his best stuff. And a nod to the song Lenny Bruce. A gem. One Too Many Mornings is best heard on the Basement Tapes with Richard Manuel or live somewhere in 1966. That particular arrangement is up there with his best. Oh, and the last five tracks on Greatest Hits Vol 2 is pretty damn good.

*some are clearly better than others but I think at this point it's implicit

1) The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
2) Highway 61 Revisited
3) The Times They Are A-Changin'
4) Blood On The Tracks
5) World Gone Wrong
6) Another Side Of Bob Dylan
7) Bringing It All Back Home
8 ) Love And Theft
9) Oh Mercy
10) Blonde On Blonde
11) Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid
12) Desire
13) Infidels
14) New Morning
15) The Basement Tapes
16) John Wesley Harding
17) Time Out Of Mind
18) Under The Red Sky
19) Knocked Out Loaded
20) Shadows In The Night
21) Triplicate
22) Slow Train Coming
23) Nashville Skyline
24) Shot Of Love
25) Christmas In The Heart
26) Bob Dylan
27) Street-Legal
28) Modern Times
29) Planet Waves
30) Down In The Groove
31) Fallen Angels
32) Tempest
33) Good As I Been To You
34) Dylan
35) Saved
36) Together Through Life
37) Self Portrait
38) Empire Burlesque

Only the albums I became familiar with until now:

1.Blonde on Blonde -I Want You
2. Bringing It All Back Home -Mr. Tambourine Man
3. Desire -One More Cup of Coffee
4. Highway 61 Revisited -Like A Rolling Stone
5. New Morning -Day of the Locusts
6. Blood on the Tracks -Shelter from the Storm
7. Street Legal -Is Your Love in Vain?
8. Slow Train Coming -Gotta Serve Somebody
9. Another Side of Bob Dylan -I Don't Believe You
10. Oh Mercy -What was It You Wanted?
11. Nashville Skyline -Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You
12. Shot of Love -Every Grain of Sand
13. Basement Tapes -This Wheel's on Fire
14. The Times They Are A-Changin' -Hattie Carol
15. Planet Waves -Forever Young (Slower Ver.)
16. Infidels -Jokerman
17. Freewheelin' Bob Dylan -Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
18. John Wesley Harding -All Along the Watchtower
19. Self Portrait -I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know, but not so much

But, in fact, I love everything above except Self Portrait (which actually has a potential for me)

Having nothing better to do I plotted out the scores given by the first thirteen people on this list who ranked the thirty one 'studio' records up to 2005. Just adding up the scores, the combined order came out

Highway 61
Blood on the Tracks
Blonde on Blonde
Bringing it all Back Home

Then a drop to

Love and Theft
Time Out of Mind
Freewheelin

Then a big gap to the next layer

John Wesley Harding
Another Side
Desire
Basement Tapes
Oh Mercy
Times Changing
Planet Waves
Street Legal
Slow Train Coming
New Morning
Nashville Skyline
World Gone Wrong
Infidels

That's the top twenty. Then

Good as I been to you
Bob Dylan
Shot of Love
Self Portrait
Pat Garrett
Saved
Empire Burlesque
Knocked out Loaded
Under the Red Sky
Dylan (1973)
Down in the Groove

This way of ranking puts too much weight on low rankings by a few people. John Wesley Harding and Street Legal are probably the two albums about which there was the most disagreement ; the Basement Tapes too. The biggest surprise to me was how strongly Another Side was rated.

A lot of these entries were made 12 years ago. Looking at more recent lists I'm guessing L and T might have slipped a little, but only a little.

Only thirteen observations but I'd be surprised if the order moved a great deal putting more in.