Bob Dylan's four most disappointing albums, according to Ultimate Classic Rock

A ranking bound to spark debate among fans and enthusiasts: the most "disappointing" albums by Bob Dyan. Not even an artist of the stature of Robert Zimmerman, author of one of the most influential discographies in rock history, managed to avoid the occasional misstep. After all, when you release dozens of albums over a career spanning more than sixty years, it's inevitable that not all of them will live up to expectations. That's the premise behind Ultimate Classic Rock's list of what it considers the four most disappointing albums by the American singer-songwriter. The magazine, however, highlights a fundamental aspect of Dylan's career: the musician from Duluth has never tried to please the public. On the contrary, he has always recorded the albums he wanted to make, even when he knew they might throw fans and critics off balance. A choice that has often allowed him to reinvent himself and craft new masterpieces, but which on other occasions has produced albums deemed uneven, unfinished, or simply below the exceptional standards of his body of work.

Topping the list is "Self Portrait" (1970), probably the most famous case. Dylan has recounted many times that he deliberately conceived that double album to shake off the "voice of the Sixties" image the public had pinned on him. In a 1984 interview, he explained that he was exasperated by the pressure from fans and wanted to make something nobody could like, so he could finally be left alone. The result was a fragmentary record, made up of covers, traditional songs and disparate recordings, which was harshly received by critics. Dylan himself, with his usual irony, went so far as to say that if he had to fill an album with "garbage," he might as well make it a double one. In second place is "Dylan" (1973), an anomaly in his discography since it was released by Columbia with no involvement from the artist whatsoever. The record collected outtakes from the "Self Portrait" and "New Morning" sessions, featuring six covers, three traditional songs and no original compositions. Ultimate Classic Rock acknowledges that some of the performances, like the cover of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi," are enjoyable, but the project's real flaw lies elsewhere: those recordings were never meant to be released or arranged as an album. For that reason, the disappointment falls more on the record label than on Dylan himself.

Third place goes to “Saved” (1980), the second chapter of the so-called Christian trilogy. While “Slow Train Coming” is generally regarded as a successful work and “Shot Of Love” still contains several noteworthy moments, “Saved” is judged the weakest point of that period. The absence of producer Mark Knopfler is keenly felt, the arrangements come across as less incisive, and the record feels less inspired overall, even as it retains the genuine sincerity of the faith Dylan expresses in the lyrics. Among the most appreciated tracks is “Pressing On”, but on the whole the album never became a fan favourite. Dylan himself always defended the work, insisting it meant just as much to him as its predecessor, despite decidedly poorer commercial results.
Closing out the ranking is “Down In The Groove” (1988). While many already point to “Knocked Out Loaded” as one of the least convincing efforts of the Eighties, Ultimate Classic Rock considers its successor even more disappointing. And yet the record can boast an impressive lineup, featuring musicians such as Eric Clapton, Jerry Garcia, Ronnie Wood, Paul Simonon and Steve Jordan. According to the magazine, however, the guests' talent isn't enough to give unity to an album lacking any clear direction. Tracks like “Silvio” still show flashes of the great Dylan, but they can't make up for a disjointed whole, which at the time also achieved one of the worst commercial results of his career. It would, however, prove to be just a moment of transition: in the years that followed, Dylan would rediscover his inspiration, ushering in a new artistic phase.
Ultimate Classic Rock's ranking, in short, doesn't call into question Bob Dylan's greatness, but shows how even an artist capable of endlessly reinventing himself has gone through less brilliant periods. And, as always happens when talking about the Nobel laureate, there will be no shortage of fans ready to defend precisely some of the albums that made this list.

So here are the four most disappointing Bob Dylan albums according to Ultimate Classic Rock (full feature here).

“Self Portrait” (1970)
“Down In The Groove” (1988)
“Saved” (1980)
“Dylan” (1973)

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google