Bob Dylan: 10 best songs recorded in 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
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

BiographReleased November 7, 1985
Recorded November 1961-August 1981
The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3
(Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991
Released March 26, 1991
Recorded November 1961 – March 1989
Blood on the Tracks – New York Sessions
source: Original test pressing
Recorded 16 September – 8 October, 1974
Bootleg

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

Egil

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