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Bob Dylan: 10 best songs recorded in 1974

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bob dylan 1974

1974 is an important year in the life of Bob Dylan.

I’ve put together a list of the ten best songs recorded (studio or live) this year. One rule applies: it has to be officially released in some form. I’ve nominated 25 songs & I challenge everyone reading this to set up their own “Bob Dylan – Top 10 songs recorded in 1974”. Feel free to ignore my nominated songs list and please use the comments section to share lists & thoughts.

…and by the way lists are fun.

Relevant albums

Before The Flood
Released June 20, 1974
Recorded February 13–14, 1974, in Los Angeles,
except track 4: January 30, 1974, in New York		 BobDylan_beforeTheFlood
Blood On The TracksReleased January 20, 1975

Recorded September 16–19, 1974, at A&R Recording in New York,
New York and December 27–30, 1974, at Sound 80 in Minneapolis, Minnesota

  blood-on-the-tracks-album-cover
BiographReleased November 7, 1985
Recorded November 1961-August 1981		 Bob-Dylan-Biograph
The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3
(Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991Released March 26, 1991
Recorded November 1961 – March 1989		  Bob Dylan Bootleg_series_1-3
Blood on the Tracks – New York Sessions
source: Original test pressingRecorded 16 September – 8 October, 1974
Bootleg		  bob dylan new york sessions

25 nominated songs

Blood On The Tracks recording sessions

  • Tangled Up In Blue
  • Simple Twist of Fate
  • You’re a Big Girl Now
  • Idiot Wind
  • You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
  • Meet Me in the Morning
  • Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts
  • If You See Her, Say Hello
  • Shelter from the Storm
  • Buckets of Rain
  • Up To Me
  • Call Letter Blues

Before The Flood (live album)

  • Lay Lady Lay – 13.02.1974
  • All Along The Watchtower – 14.02.1974
  • Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine) – 14.02.1974
  • Knocking On Heavens Door – 30.01.1974
  • It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) – 14.02.1974
  • Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right – 14.02.1974
  • Highway 61 Revisited – 14.02.1974
  • Like A Rolling Stone – 13.02.1974
  • Ballad Of A Thin Man – 14.02.1974
  • Blowin’ In The Wind – 14.02.1974
  • I Shall Be Released – 14.02.1974
  • Just Like A Woman – 14.02.1974
  • It Ain’t Me Babe – 14.02.1974

My List

All embedded audio from grooveshark.com

# Song Date recorded Version
1 Tangled Up In Blue 30.12.1974 “Blood On The Tracks” version
2 Idiot Wind 16.09.1974* “Test Pressing” version
This version is still not officially  released, but if some of the rumours
about the next Bootleg Series release are true.. it soon will be.
3 Up To Me 19.09.1974 “Biograph” version
4 Shelter from the Storm 17.09.1974 “Blood On The Tracks” version
5 Simple Twist Of Fate 19.09.1974 “Blood On The Tracks” version
6 You’re A Big Girl Now 17.09.1974 “Biograph” version
7 If You See Her, Say Hello 16.09.1974 “The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3” version
8 Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts 30.12.1974 “Blood On The Tracks” version
9 Call Letter Blues 16.09.1974 “The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3” version
10 Meet Me In The Morning 16.09.1974** “Blood On The Tracks” version

* Overdubbed 8.10.1974 (organ)
** Overdubbed 18.09.1974 (steel guitar)

3 best songs from “Before The Flood”:

  1. Lay Lady Lay – 13.02.1974
  2. All Along The Watchtower – 14.02.1974
  3. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine) – 14.02.1974

 

-Egil

7 thoughts on “Bob Dylan: 10 best songs recorded in 1974”

  1. you left out a lot of great songs from “Before the Flood” including but not limited to
    Blind Willie Mc Tell
    Angelina
    Foot of Pride
    A great rendition of Has Anybody Seen My Love
    to name just a few

  2. Both Idiot Wind and Rosemary etc of the test pressing are on top of my list.Btw, Idiot Wind ( well, an early take) from the test pressing is on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 but the enchanting brilliant organ overdub was left out, allthough the solo wàs mentioned in the liner notes
    What ‘s irretating is the high, piecing, shrill sound of the BOTT outtakes on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3. I wish fervently that the BOTT official bootleg will have a warmer, analog sound.

  3. My list:
    1 Tangled up in blue / BOTT
    2 Shelter from the storm /BOTT
    3 Idiot wind / Test pressing
    4 Simple twist of faith /BOTT
    5 If you see her say hello /bootleg s3
    6 Up to me / Biograph
    7 You’re a big girl now /Biograph
    8 Idiot Wind /BOTT
    9 Meet me in the morning /BOTT
    10 Call letter blues /bootleg s3

    A much better list 😉

    – Hallgeir

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