Slow Train Coming

by Bob Dylan

Overview

Perhaps it was inevitable that Bob Dylan would change direction at the end of the '70s, since he had dabbled in everything from full-on repudiation of his legacy to a quiet embrace of it, to dipping his toe into pure showmanship. Nobody really could have expected that he would turn to Christianity on Slow Train Coming, embracing a born-again philosophy with enthusiasm. He has no problem in believing in a vengeful god -- you gotta serve somebody, after all -- and this is pure brimstone and fire throughout the record, even on such lovely testimonials as "I Believe in You." The unexpected side effect of his conversion is that it gave Dylan a focus he hadn't had since Blood on the Tracks, and his concentration carries over to the music, which is lean and direct in a way that he hadn't been since, well, Blood on the Tracks. Focus isn't necessarily the same thing as consistency, and this does suffer from being a bit too dogmatic, not just in its religion, but in its musical approach. Still, it's hard to deny Dylan's revitalized sound here, and the result is a modest success that at least works on its own terms. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/10/2017
Label:	Columbia / Legacy / Sony Music
UPC:	0889854492311
Rank:	48364

Tracks

1. Gotta Serve Somebody [Album Version]
2. Precious Angel [Album Version]
3. I Believe in You
4. Slow Train [Album Version]
5. Gonna Change My Way of Thinking
6. Do Right to Me Baby (Do Unto Others)
7. When You Gonna Wake Up [Album Version]
8. Man Gave Names to All the Animals
9. When He Returns [Album Version]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bob Dylan   Primary Artist,Guitar
Mark Knopfler   Guest Artist,Guitar
Mickey Buckins   Percussion
Muscle Shoals Horns   Horn
Tim Drummond   Bass
Helena Springs   Vocals (Background)
Barry Beckett   Keyboards,Percussion
Carolyn Dennis   Vocals (Background)
Regina Havis   Vocals (Background)
Pick Withers   Drums

Technical Credits

Steven Berkowitz   Reissue Producer
Bob Dylan   Composer
Christopher Shaw   Mixing
Greg Calbi   Mastering
Didier C. Deutsch   Tape Research
Jerry Wexler   Producer
George Marino   Mastering
Barry Beckett   Producer
Gregg Hamm   Engineer
Harrison Calloway, Jr.   Arranger
David Yates   Assistant Engineer
Catherine Kanner   Cover Illustration
Nick Saxton   Tray Photo