Top 5 Bob Dylan Albums

With such a variety of albums available, many people are intimidated by the vast discography of Bob Dylan. Often I have people ask me to make them a mixed CD of my favorite songs or songs they should know from him. I become very excited when an eager listener asks me for suggestions as to what album to buy. While Bob has a number of eternal singles, he is truly an album artist. So many of his best songs are buried deep on side 2 of the respective album. 

Here are my top 5 Bob Dylan albums:

1. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963)

This is the first album where Bob showcased his burgeoning writing skill. He had penned a pair of songs for his eponymous debut, but those songs pale in comparison to these tunes. There are political mindbenders like "Masters of War," "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," and "Blowin' in the Wind." There are also beautifully written songs like "Girl From the North Country" and "Don't Think Twice It's Alright." Both the former and latter rank among my favorite Dylan songs ever. 

2. John Wesley Harding (1967)

JWH is the ultimate in narrative writing. Bob takes common historical figures and stories and absurdly twists them into tales of love, revenge, and religious fervor. Coming off of his 3 (mostly) electric albums, Bob surprised everyone (including CBS) with this 12 song album of acoustic storytelling. "As I Went Out One Morning" is my favorite Dylan track of all-time. Other standout songs include the title track, "Dear Landlord," and "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight." This album also contains the original version of "All Along the Watchtower."

3. Highway 61 Revisited (1965)

The groundbreaking electric rocker that features the epic "Like a Rolling Stone" also includes the eerily apocalyptic "Desolation Row" and the dust-kicking classics, "Tombstone Blues" and the title track. This is the first album to feature the avant-garde, absurdist lyrical approach that Dylan embraced during this period. Epic jams, crazy lyrics, and killer guitar abound out on Highway 61.

4. Time Out of Mind (1997)

Counted out by many fans and critics, Bob returned with a vengeance on this 1997 classic album. Returning to his strong narrative roots, he delivered his best album in over 20 years (1989's Oh Mercy was a gem as well, but not as good as Time...). With many songs touching on mortality ("Million Miles," "Tryin' to Get to Heaven," "Not Dark Yet"), Dylan seemed to predict his own demise. Upon finishing this album he had a serious health scare and remained hospitalized for some time. He recovered, and this album went on to win the Grammy for best album.

5. Blood on the Tracks (1974)

This 1974 gem was born out of a very emotional devolution of Dylan's first marriage. The songs are deeply emotional and emit a sense of frustration, longing, and despair. With water as the prominent symbol of the album, the listener really feels the pain of loss. The album's standout track, "Tangled Up in Blue" is a rollicking lesson in perfect juxtaposition - profound lyrics shrouded in an fun, uptempo jam.