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Bob Dylan: "'Ruby, My Dear' by Monk was another one. Monk played at the Blue Note on 3rd Street...I dropped in there once in the afternoon, just to listen--told him that I played folk music up the street. 'We all play folk music,' he said." Read more musical excerpts from Chronicles, Vol. 1 on our Music You Should Hear page.
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Editorial Reviews
2004 Remastered edition. Classic 1974 album originally issued on Asylum. Includes "Forever Young"
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Don't mess with record companies. When Dylan left Columbia for Asylum in the early 1970s, Columbia apparently retaliated by releasing "Dylan" (as of this writing still not available on CD; not that anyone is really complaining). This album contained rather unnerving outtakes from "Self Portrait" (considered by many as his worst, or at least most confusing, album), including covers of "Mr. Bojangles", the Elvis Presley classic "Can't Help Falling in Love", and Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi". Dylan returned to Columbia two albums, and a little more than one year, later.
While on sabbatical from Columbia, Dylan played with The Band and "Planet Waves" appeared in very early 1974. Some rather exciting things followed. Dylan, in seclusion for years, toured for the first time since 1966 (and with the very same band). So, once again, fans had yet another "comeback" on their hands (1970's "New Morning" was also called a "comeback" as well as 1975's "Blood On The Tracks"; this speaks volumes about Dylan's repertoire). But this time the tour wouldn't stop. "The neverending tour" continues unabated to the present day.
On its appearance, "Planet Waves" divided fans and critics, and continues to do so. Some listeners outright hate it, calling it "rushed", "sloppy", and "obsessive". Others hail it as a hugely underrated masterpiece, calling it "edgy", "rough", "personal", or "from the heart". Most would probably agree that it isn't one of his worst, while conceding that it stands a little distant from his absolute best work.
A number of moods pervade "Planet Waves". The bouncy opener "On a Night Like This" will cause all still feet to twirl with glee. But the suicidal follow-up, "Going Going Gone" will plant those feet in concrete while perking up ears and brains. And then the very heavy and sandpaper rough "Tough Mama" (with the classic line "Today on the countryside it was hotter than a crotch") kicks the tempo up again, but in a very different way than "On a Night Like This." The album appears uneven but it actually conjures up a collective mood after repeated listenings. A straight reading of the lyrics reveals obsessions with love, death, the past, and youth. Dylan pleads with countless lovers on this album: "Tough Mama", "Hazel", "You Angel You", "Never Say Goodbye", "Wedding Song". Arguably, the songs on "Planet Waves" may explore the complicated dimensions of his deep love for Sara, his ex-wife. Perhaps all of the referents point to one person? After all, who hasn't felt both a deep passionate love and a self-deprecating hatred for the same person? "Dirge" demonstrates the latter, spewing invective such as "I hate myself for loving you." This intense love finally gets fed steroids on "Wedding Song". Here Dylan turns the phrase "I love you" into a dizzying mantra. And it's obvious by this point that he's hurting. Thematically, "Planet Waves" sits comfortably in front of, and in the shadow of, "Blood on the Tracks". That album also explored the many aspects of emotional and existential love (though "Planet Waves" arguably showcases more of the physical side).
Of course one exception shouts out: "Forever Young". And why do two versions sit side by side on this album? Apparently some friends of Dylan made fun of the slow version, and he decided to keep it off the album. But the engineer loved it and insisted that it remain. So maybe the two versions remained a compromise? Also, side one of the original vinyl lp ended with the first "Forever Young", so the CD somewhat ruins the affect of flipping sides. In any case, "Forever Young" has joined the ranks of classic Dylan.
"Planet Waves" stands as yet another complicated, sophisticated, and stratified Dylan project. His work always invites heaps of discussion that, for some people, never ceases. Not only that, "Planet Waves" was Dylan's first number one record (which seems impossible), though sales weren't as impressive as expectations. Though Dylan never regained the heights he attained in the 1960s, it doesn't seem like he really wanted to. In "Wedding Song" he sings "It's never been my duty to remake the world at large, Nor is it my intention to sound a battle charge." Dylan had openly abdicated the throne imposed on him by some of his fans. He instead retreated into the personal and complex world that "Planet Waves" continued to explore. And he kept going going.
While on sabbatical from Columbia, Dylan played with The Band and "Planet Waves" appeared in very early 1974. Some rather exciting things followed. Dylan, in seclusion for years, toured for the first time since 1966 (and with the very same band). So, once again, fans had yet another "comeback" on their hands (1970's "New Morning" was also called a "comeback" as well as 1975's "Blood On The Tracks"; this speaks volumes about Dylan's repertoire). But this time the tour wouldn't stop. "The neverending tour" continues unabated to the present day.
On its appearance, "Planet Waves" divided fans and critics, and continues to do so. Some listeners outright hate it, calling it "rushed", "sloppy", and "obsessive". Others hail it as a hugely underrated masterpiece, calling it "edgy", "rough", "personal", or "from the heart". Most would probably agree that it isn't one of his worst, while conceding that it stands a little distant from his absolute best work.
A number of moods pervade "Planet Waves". The bouncy opener "On a Night Like This" will cause all still feet to twirl with glee. But the suicidal follow-up, "Going Going Gone" will plant those feet in concrete while perking up ears and brains. And then the very heavy and sandpaper rough "Tough Mama" (with the classic line "Today on the countryside it was hotter than a crotch") kicks the tempo up again, but in a very different way than "On a Night Like This." The album appears uneven but it actually conjures up a collective mood after repeated listenings. A straight reading of the lyrics reveals obsessions with love, death, the past, and youth. Dylan pleads with countless lovers on this album: "Tough Mama", "Hazel", "You Angel You", "Never Say Goodbye", "Wedding Song". Arguably, the songs on "Planet Waves" may explore the complicated dimensions of his deep love for Sara, his ex-wife. Perhaps all of the referents point to one person? After all, who hasn't felt both a deep passionate love and a self-deprecating hatred for the same person? "Dirge" demonstrates the latter, spewing invective such as "I hate myself for loving you." This intense love finally gets fed steroids on "Wedding Song". Here Dylan turns the phrase "I love you" into a dizzying mantra. And it's obvious by this point that he's hurting. Thematically, "Planet Waves" sits comfortably in front of, and in the shadow of, "Blood on the Tracks". That album also explored the many aspects of emotional and existential love (though "Planet Waves" arguably showcases more of the physical side).
Of course one exception shouts out: "Forever Young". And why do two versions sit side by side on this album? Apparently some friends of Dylan made fun of the slow version, and he decided to keep it off the album. But the engineer loved it and insisted that it remain. So maybe the two versions remained a compromise? Also, side one of the original vinyl lp ended with the first "Forever Young", so the CD somewhat ruins the affect of flipping sides. In any case, "Forever Young" has joined the ranks of classic Dylan.
"Planet Waves" stands as yet another complicated, sophisticated, and stratified Dylan project. His work always invites heaps of discussion that, for some people, never ceases. Not only that, "Planet Waves" was Dylan's first number one record (which seems impossible), though sales weren't as impressive as expectations. Though Dylan never regained the heights he attained in the 1960s, it doesn't seem like he really wanted to. In "Wedding Song" he sings "It's never been my duty to remake the world at large, Nor is it my intention to sound a battle charge." Dylan had openly abdicated the throne imposed on him by some of his fans. He instead retreated into the personal and complex world that "Planet Waves" continued to explore. And he kept going going.
36 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Usually a label's remastering project is an attempt to get fans to shell out the bucks one more time, but Columbia's new Dylan cds are a different proposition. In particular, "Planet Waves" is like a whole new album. I never realized how warm and relaxed Dylan's vocals are, how tight The Band locks in behind him, how perfect Richard Manuel's and Garth Hudson's piano and organ accompaniment are. This remastered version is light years better than the original, and the songs aren't too shabby either. The whole gambit of moods is explored here, from the urgent rock of "Tough Mama" through the tender prayer of "Forever Young" to the aching confusion of "Wedding Song". At the time he recorded this, Dylan was a man in conflict between his love of settled family life and his desire to hit the road again, and this album captures his dilemma perfectly. "Planet Waves" could be his most underrated album.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's easy, in retrospect to see how this album was overlooked. Dylan had just left columbia[for this and the before the flood album],his first tour since 1966 was starting, and there were no anthems of political dissilusionment among these songs. 1974 was not 1968,and after a number of offbeat choices,word was dylan had lost his edge.Then he and the band put together this studio gem,precursor to his next studio piece and perhaps his masterpoiece,BLOOD ON THE TRACKS.I think these two albums[discs]should be taken as one.From the brilliant forever young, to dirge to the absolutely brilliant wedding song,the cracks in dylans personal life are showing.The band is, as always, excellent,dylans singing quite clear.The two versions of forever young sound like two completly different songs.The slight scraping sound in wedding song are the buttons of dylans coat on his acoustic guitar[he did this song in one take.]I hav eheard this is monor dylan, and i greatly disagree.This is dylan on the verge of another movement,poised for the tour with the band,blood on the tracks waiting to be born.Essential recording to understand the artist.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Underrated!
This is Dylan with the Band. It's one of those albums that may not hit you at first listen, but then after months or years, you give it a fair listen and it snares you. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Kyle M. Geltemeyer
5.0 out of 5 stars
If it were anyone else ...
... this would be a huge album. Of course you could say that about many Dylan albums not considered part of the Dylan-Canon. Read more
Published 6 months ago by RW
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bob Dylan and his newer songs
Wish it was like songs of old, telling of the trials of mankind in a song, voice does not sound animated, sounds more like boredom and I really love Dylans songs for many years
Published 6 months ago by ipad fan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bob Dylan during a very grounded period.
This is Dylan at a juncture of his life where he seems quite centered and at peace. God bless Bob!
Published 8 months ago by McEldoy
5.0 out of 5 stars
love it
I love this album. It is very touching in many ways and as Dylan so often does, stirs up emotion in me each time i listen to it. I keep it in my rotation and don't play out. Read more
Published 8 months ago by L
4.0 out of 5 stars
who could know that 'Blood on the Tracks' was just around the...
While not a top favourite for me(a category reserved for BOTT, Desire, Highway 61 and the critically panned Infidels), Planet Waves is a satisfying trip through some good stuff,... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Steve Wheeler
4.0 out of 5 stars
Back in 1974, just before BoTT...
Eclipsed by the seminal follow-up release `Blood on the Tracks' and late-career Grammy winner `Time out of Mind', Dylan's 1974-released `Planet Waves' is nevertheless a very good... Read more
Published 10 months ago by The Guardian
4.0 out of 5 stars
Back in 1974, just before BoTT...
Eclipsed by the seminal follow-up release `Blood on the Tracks' and late-career Grammy winner `Time out of Mind', Dylan's 1974-released `Planet Waves' is nevertheless a very good... Read more
Published 10 months ago by The Guardian
5.0 out of 5 stars
Whining Bob's finest set of lemon sucking songs
I have to admit, although I like Bob Dylan, I don't worship the ground he walks on. My first Dylan album, 'Highway 61 Revisited' was always one to play. More snarlin' Bob. Read more
Published 11 months ago by "Belgo Geordie"
4.0 out of 5 stars
4 Out of 5 Stars
Pretty good and underrated album. I rate this a 4 out of 5 because I feel albums like Highway 61 and Blood on the Tracks are 5's. Some good songs on this one. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Tonight
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