Bob Dylan in the 1980s

The 1980s were a challenging period for Bob Dylan, marked by inconsistency and ambivalence about his earlier songs. Despite this, he continued to be celebrated for his perseverance and a spontaneous collaboration with his peers, resulting in his best-received releases since the 1970s. The 1990s began a remarkable run of success that few popular artists have managed.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 31 December 2021
Publisher: Sonicbond Publishing

The 1980s are a perplexing period in Bob Dylan's illustrious six-decade career, leaving fans scratching their heads in bewilderment. The singer kicked off the decade with "Saved," the second installment in a trilogy of explicitly religious records, accompanied by a tour where he chose to omit his older songs due to concerns that they were anti-god. Dylan's ambivalence towards the songs that propelled him to icon status resonated with fans, who found his post-conversion messages strident and judgmental. This resulted in "Saved" becoming his worst-selling album in years, setting a precedent for the subsequent years. Despite being a prolific time, marked by the release of seven studio albums, the decade was characterized by inconsistency. Some of Dylan's most profound work would alternate with lackluster compositions and indifferent performances, often within the same album. However, even amidst artistic struggles, all of Dylan's albums contained remnants of why he remained celebrated. By the decade's end, his unwavering perseverance on stage and in the studio, coupled with a spontaneous collaboration with some of his peers, culminated in his most well-received releases since the 1970s. Rather than signaling the end of a chapter, the combination of "Oh Mercy" and the debut Traveling Wilburys record hinted at new chapters unfolding. The 1990s marked the beginning of a remarkable streak of success that few popular artists have ever achieved.

Weight: 216g
Dimension: 148 x 209 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789521573