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John Wesley Harding

Bob Dylan

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iTunes Review

Seen as a harbinger of rock's post-Peppers back-to-basics movement upon its release the last week of 1967, John Wesley Harding transcended easy categorization. As gnomic as Highway 61 Revisited, but as hushed in its own funky way as Another Side of Bob Dylan, Harding stands as one of Dylan's greatest albums. Cut in Nashville with a three-piece rhythm section, its songs are mostly parables that, even at their most musically jaunty ("TheBallad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest"), are filled with mystery and distrust. But don't forget the occasional matter-of-fact violent shock (the bolt of lightning that destroys a courthouse in "Drifter's Escape"). Of course, there were also the apparently plainspoken title track, and two love songs made for covers, which they quickly received. It's often argued that rock fans can dance and think at the same time; substitute relaxing for dancing, and Harding provides an ideal soundtrack.

Customer Reviews

My favorite

I am a big Dylan fan, and have been for many years. “John Wesley Harding” is my favorite Dylan album, even beating out “Blonde on Blonde” for me. This album has a very insular feel, especially juxtaposed with the freewheeling experimentation and extroverted electric music Dylan had been making for the preceding few years, yet lacking none of his earlier works’ force or ambition. Dylan’s lyrical conceits during those “electric years” were overflowing with evocative imagery, yet their ultra-hipster feel could seem superficial and jokey without real substance (yet it’s still brilliant). To me, this album meditates on something profoundly human, piercing into the world of the human spirit, of our relationship with God, with our small space in the sweep of history, and with our fellow man. In my mind, this is where Dylan “gets real”, and is no longer content to be merely cleverer-than-thou. Even though the music is stripped down and acoustic, relentless drumming punctuates Dylan’s lyrics in most of the songs, giving this music a contemporary punch in spite of its more meditative spirit. BTW – I especially love this album’s inscrutable cover, especially in the wake of Sgt. Peppers, Their Satanic Majesties Request, Disraeli Gears,et al. – it’s just so snotty in its dismissal of psychedelia. Killer.

An Album That Influenced Two Major Artists

Regardless of your views on Dylan, one cannot overlook the giant influence he has had on Rock 'N Roll. This is one of his lesser know albums to the casual fan, but Dylan influenced two very big acts with this record. Jimi Hendrix covered "All Along the Watchtower" from this album, giving the world one of the greatest guitar solos in recorded history. Dylan even preferred Jimi's version to his. The song "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest" gave the ledgendary Metal band Judas Priest its namesake. This just goes to show how incredibly influential Bob Dylan is. Not many people would assume that a pioneering Metal band would listen to artists like Bob Dylan, but they do. Dylan's footprints are all over the roadmap that we know and love as Rock 'N Roll.

Tremenous Album

I grew up loving Dylan in the 70's as a kid. This album somehow slipped through my fingers, I always thought of it as mediocre release. In truth, I never really gave it a good listen to until now. Perhaps I was too young to appreciate it, whatever the reasoon, this has turned into one of my favourite and I believe it is one of Dylan's more inspired works. The stark simplicity gives room for McCoys bass and Buttrey's drums to really groove. The songs are excellent, the lyrics are haunting, especially on "The Ballad of Frankie Lee & Judas Priest", and "I Pity the Poor Immigrant". Buy this record, and you won't be disappointed.

Biography

Born: May 24, 1941 in Duluth, MN

Genre: Rock

Years Active: '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s

Bob Dylan's influence on popular music is incalculable. As a songwriter, he pioneered several different schools of pop songwriting, from confessional singer/songwriter to winding, hallucinatory, stream-of-consciousness narratives. As a vocalist, he broke down the notion that a singer must have a conventionally good voice in order to perform, thereby redefining the vocalist's role in popular music. As a musician, he sparked several genres of pop music, including electrified folk-rock and country-rock....
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