John Wesley Harding

by Bob Dylan

Overview

Bob Dylan returned from exile with John Wesley Harding, a quiet, country-tinged album that split dramatically from his previous three. A calm, reflective album, John Wesley Harding strips away all of the wilder tendencies of Dylan's rock albums -- even the then-unreleased Basement Tapes he made the previous year -- but it isn't a return to his folk roots. If anything, the album is his first serious foray into country, but only a handful of songs, such as "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight," are straight country songs. Instead, John Wesley Harding is informed by the rustic sound of country, as well as many rural myths, with seemingly simple songs like "All Along the Watchtower," "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine," and "The Wicked Messenger" revealing several layers of meaning with repeated plays. Although the lyrics are somewhat enigmatic, the music is simple, direct, and melodic, providing a touchstone for the country-rock revolution that swept through rock in the late '60s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	05/19/2017
Label:	Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
UPC:	0821797218368
Rank:	19631

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bob Dylan   Primary Artist,Piano,Guitar,Harmonica,Keyboards,Vocals
Pete Drake   Guitar,Guitar (Steel)
Kenny Buttrey   Drums
Charlie McCoy   Bass

Technical Credits

Bob Johnston   Producer
Charlie Bragg   Engineer
Bob Dylan   Composer