Planet Waves (1974)

[We're moving right past the LP Dylan to Planet Waves now. It is difficult to judge whether Dylan should be counted as a bona fide studio release, being as it is a series of outtakes released by Columbia in a fit of pique following Dylan (the man rather than the LP) jumping ship and joining David Geffen's Asylum Records. Anyway, it was deleted when he returned to Columbia and hence, while there are copies out there, I don't own one. So there.]

  

It has taken me a while to put finger to keyboard on this blog once more. The demands of my jet-setting playboy lifestyle aside, the reason for this delay is that 1974's Planet Waves manages the rare feat of dividing my own opinion. Some days I love this album, some days I don't and I have no idea why that is.

Or maybe I do have an inkling of why. It might be that many of the songs here contain the great, the good and the not so great or good within themselves. Two examples:

Hazel. Such a beautiful start; a squeeze of harmonica before a gentle, affectionate, melodic opening verse. Touches the heart every time. But then there is the middle eight (or is it just verse three?) where he goes off on one, up the register, a trademark slightly out of tune wail. It's not terrible by any stretch but takes a sledgehammer to this delicate gem of a song.

Dirge. Try as I might I can't resist the urge to make the very obvious comment about this song. It is a bit of a dirge and that is not a good thing. A harsh delivery of a unappealing melody, to be honest. But then you start to listen to the lyrics and they are remarkable. A brutally honest lament of a failing relationship that one does not need to be a Dylanologist to link to the breakdown of Dylan's own marriage. Any verse would do as an exemplar but, for lazinesses sake, here's the opening one:

I hate myself for lovin’ you and the weakness that it showed
You were just a painted face on a trip down Suicide Road
The stage was set, the lights went out all around the old hotel
I hate myself for lovin’ you and I’m glad the curtain fell

It is songs such as these plus Wedding Song, Never Say Goodbye, Going Going Gone and Something There Is About You that spark a schizophrenic reaction in me.  But before I start getting too indecisive on you, there is also much on the LP which gets a big thumbs-up without qualification.

For starters there is The Band. Individually and collectively, you can't get a much tighter or talented set of musicians to back you up. The only issue is whether this should really be billed as a Dylan & The Band LP so distinctive is the sound Robertson, Helm, Danko, Manuel and Hudson make. Something like the excellent Tough Mama would have fitted seamlessly on to The Band's Music From Big Pink LP. Helm's gentle drumming patterns and Hudson's warm organ particularly outstanding. (And does anyone else feel the urge to break into a rendition of This Wheel's On Fire at the end of each verse of Dirge?)

Add to this a handful of undoubtedly quality songs. Such a strong start with On A Night Like This; a driving blast of a tune with lyrics so evocative that you feel like you're right there by the fireside on a that dark, cold night. Later on the LP, You Angel You provides an equally as strong tune that is reminiscent of a funked up version of Baby Let Me Follow You Down from Dylan's first LP.

If you know this LP then you'll be ahead of me here. I was saving the best until last. Forever Young. What a song. Just, what a song. Lyrically and melodically beautiful, it is a thing of rare delight. And if that wasn't enough in itself, it is followed straight after by, err, Forever Young - same song, much more lively arrangement. While the impact of the back to back versions is probably dulled a little without the gap originally afforded by the need to get up and turn over the vinyl 12 inch record, it still works. In fact, despite them actually being, y'know. the same song, there is the perfect mix of difference and familiarity to make them complement each other. Well done Bob. (Actually, apparently, the first version was only kept on after producer Rob Fraboni dug his heels in, so well done Mr. Fraboni.)

It still depends what hour of the day I'm listening to this as to whether I think that Planet Waves is really up there with the best of Dylan or not, but if you pushed me (please, don't)... it's up there, not all the way, but up there all the same.

Out of five?
Four

Favourite track?
Forever Young (the slow version)

Next up?
Blood On The Tracks (*rubs hands in anticipation*)