I'm watching Season 4 of the TV series The Bear, when all of the sudden I hear "Most Of The Time" by Bob Dylan come on. From his 1989 album Oh Mercy, Most Of The Time is not only one of his best songs of the 1980s, I think it's one of his best songs, full stop. And I'm dead chuffed that it's finally getting it's pop culture due. Because it deserves it. So do a lot of 1980s Bob Dylan songs.
By the ‘80s, Dylan was already a legend thanks to his groundbreaking work in the ‘60s (“Like a Rolling Stone,” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “The Times They Are a-Changin’”) and his critically acclaimed ‘70s resurgence (albums like Blood on the Tracks and Desire). However, his work throughout the 1980s often seemed inconsistent and shallow by comparison.
Here's the thing: Dylan didn't start the decade well. His conversion to Christianity in the late 1970s spilled over into his early ‘80s work. Albums like Slow Train Coming (1979), Saved (1980), and Shot of Love (1981) were filled with explicitly evangelical lyrics. Many fans and critics were baffled, some alienated. While Slow Train Coming was well-regarded musically (thanks partly to Mark Knopfler’s production), the overt preaching turned off large swaths of his audience.
From there, it was just a mess for a while. Dylan seemed adrift. His ‘80s albums often suffered from slick, dated production that hasn't aged well — think big drum sounds and glossy synths clashing with his rawer folk-rock identity. Records like Empire Burlesque (1985) felt awkwardly produced, even though they contained good songs. Critics and biographers often describe 1980s Dylan as artistically restless, trying to find a new voice but not always succeeding. He struggled with writer’s block and sometimes seemed disengaged, especially in live shows.
For me, though, those are some of the elements that make his music from this decade so interesting. 1980s Bob Dylan is fascinating, messy, and revealing. And his audience seems to come to it seeing different things. Everyone agrees Blowin' In The Wind is a masterpiece. Brownsville Girl, not so much, but the latter brings out much more interesting discussions.
Anyway, here's a couple of my favorite 1980s Bob Dylan songs. Both are insanely cool, and well worthy to be placed next to all his other, notable work.
“Blind Willie McTell” (recorded for Infidels, but unreleased until later) is a haunting blues about American history and music. It bafflingly didn’t make the album but became legendary when it surfaced on The Bootleg Series. It's a masterpiece.
Enjoy.
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