I'm glad that you chose to review this album, John, because it doesn't get talked about much nowadays... I loved "Infidels" when it came out, and I probably played it more than any other record that year.. I don't exactly agree with the sentiments expressed in "Neighborhood Bully" (or "Union Sundown" particularly), but I was younger, and wanted to rock out more, and I guess that I was captivated by the Stonesy raunch of their grooves - besides, as John Lennon once said - it's not what Dylan says, but the way he says it...The line about "touching the moon" as you said, is a bit cheesy though, but I agree with you that the lyrics to "Jokerman" and "Sweetheart Like You" are exceptional.. Another aspect of "Infidels" that I liked was Dylan's vocals, which were quite good throughout... As always, nice review..
Thanks Thomas. I don't mind 'Neighbourhood Bully', just too long and repetitive. Good riff though. 'Sundown' less so...strange echo on Bob's vocal and I don't much like Clydie King's backing vocal either. But in general some of Bob's finest singing on here.
Thomas Calden why don't you agree with the sentiments expressed in Neighborhood Bully? Are you against the state of Israel in favor of the a-Raaabs? Remember those gentiles who bless and support Israel 🇮🇱 will be Blessed according to THE CREATOR!
you all prolly dont care but does someone know of a method to get back into an instagram account?? I somehow forgot my password. I would love any tips you can give me.
@Brecken Gannon thanks for your reply. I found the site through google and im in the hacking process atm. Takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
my first disagreement on your reviews is this was a masterpiece that never was. He could and should of made this a double album. He started trying to get frank zappa to produce and then proceeded to frustrate Mark by bypassing Blind Willie McTell, Foot of Pride, Tell Me, Julius & Ethel, lord protect my child, willie nelsons Angels flying to close to the ground, this too my love, and someone's got a hold of my heart,( tight connection on Empire in 1984). Can u imagine including at least 3-4 of these???? As a 16 year old and splitting my time with Undercover by the Stones and Infidels by Bob I must say for 3 months I listened to nothing else while my classmates listened to Loverboy. Yuck!! lol. So my point was it never came to be but its a strong B+ that should of been an A+. Budokan was his worst live, you were so right! Dylan and the Dead was equally bad but the bootlegs of some shows were great but we got just a snapshot of that tour from Bob. As always John, thanks. Tim
Thanks Tim. I probably should have mentioned the album it never was but focused instead on what was offered. I adore Foot Of Pride and Lord Protect My Child in particular. Plus Someone's Gotta Hold Of My Heart where the bass is wonderful (completely lost on Empire Burlesque).
It took me a while to warm up to the "Budokan" album, great track selection but didn't care for the arrangements. Coming out after such a great creative period it could have been a huge seller.
Really enjoyed this review, John. I agree with you on so many points, with the exception that I enjoy "Neighborhood Bully" a bit more than you seem to. I do think Side Two is weaker. Since this LP just happened to be the only one I recall sitting down properly with a Dylan friend to hear upon its immediate release, I feel I was lucky that it was both a good record, as well as a return to form for Bob. I have been wanting to do a "Top Ten Favorite Dylan Albums" video for a long time, but the problem is that there are some key albums of his that I am not very familiar with, so I would have to play several key records in order to give a fair list.
MeanMr Mayo Neighbor Bully is freaking great! It's about 🇮🇱 Israel all alone against its hostile A-raab neighbors with its only true ally the United States of America, until America abandons 🇮🇱 Israel as well, until JESUS CHRIST RETURNS AND SAVES ISRAEL against all the EVIL INFIDELS!
Again, another great review, thanks John. This is one of those Dylan albums I just don't ever find myself reaching for. Perhaps Dylan doesn't sit well in an environment which is so well produced. This album seems to wash over me, the closest Dylan got to writing muzak perhaps. There's nothing especially unlikable about this album and some of the tunes are pretty enough. You highlight some of the weaker lines in the songs (Sundown Union contains most of them), but I think what really gets me about this album is that it doesn't sound like a Dylan album. It sounds like he's just doing vocals on someone else's musical arrangements. Perhaps it is the influence of having a genius like Knopfler on the guitar in there? I feel somewhat the same about Planet Waves, which I always think sounds like a The Band album with Dylan guesting as vocalist. The standout track for me on this album is the opener, Jokerman, it has, in my opinion, by far the best lyrics even if I do wish it had a slightly more raw feel about it. At only 8 songs long, and with at least 2 of those feeling very much like fillers (Sundown Union and Neighborhood Bully) I feel shortchanged when I do occasionally reach out for this one.
Good review John, nice anecdotes... I think I heard this album once, but need to get back to it... watched a couple live cuts on youtube, nice... I like how you stand-up for Bob's under-appreciated stuff, definitely great songs hidden out there.
I've always thought that Infidels is a good album that could have been a great album. I really think that if he had included Blind Willie McTell, Foot of Pride, and Someone's got a hold of my heart on the album it would have been considered another masterpiece by Dylan.
Yes i kind of agree with you Nick although the only song i dont care for is Union Sundown. The follow up Empire Burlesque was more in need of rescuing i think.
I'm obviously not alone in thinking that Dylan made some poor content decisions before releasing this album - it could very well have been his best! On the other hand, where would we find all these wonderful outtakes?
@J. Dallison I love that line! So many great lines, "did he make it to the top, well he probably did and dropped", and "A philistine is what she is". Great song!
The other songs that never made it into Infidels can be heard on this release (together with Alternate and Live versions): Bob Dylan And Mark Knopfler - The Jokermen Label: Scorpio (UK) Format: 3x CD, Released: 2016 😊👏 It's on a dedicated page on Discogs. But it's an unoffical release and no longer for sale 🤔
Don't look so nervous, your reviews are really good. I think Dylan's songs have always been about the distance between Humanity and God. I&I brings it down to a razor blade. Thank you.
I agree with you, John. I'm an atheist but I love Dylans Christian albums. And the bootleg, 'Trouble No More' is exceptional. I don't understand some people's antagonism because of the religious content. I've always loved, 'Oh Happy Day' and 'Silent Night', too.
Bob at one point was planning to close the album with "Foot Of Pride," which would've been a radically different ending. Knopfler suggested Billy Gibbons as 2nd guitarist, but unfortunately Bob said no. I think it would've made for a Clapton/Allman-like combination.
To me one of his best albums ever Blood on Tracks was all acoustic wonderful album but I infidels us a great Electric album! And his voice sounds really good !Seeing as it's an electric guitar album comparisons ti acoustic albums wouldn't count!
my first disagreement on your reviews is this was a masterpiece that never was. He could and should of made this a double album. He started trying to get frank zappa to produce and then proceeded to frustrate Mark by bypassing Blind Willie McTell, Foot of Pride, Tell Me, Julius & Ethel, lord protect my child, willie nelsons Ange
I love that album. It's one of the best albums of all time! Mark K. is boss! Who the hell is Dave Costello?! Fuck off, DC! I don't care what you say. I could not stomach Bob Dylan until I this album. I'm 52 and I think this a brilliant album for arrangement, and loved it as a 19/20 something, when I first listened. Mark Knopfler needs to produce more records.
Hi and thanks ' at 11:10 .. man THINKS .! because he ruls the Earth... 'would this make anymore sense to you' IF the moon landings were fake' ?? To try and figure what goes on in another persons head is impossible, unless they give you clues .. Dylan gives songs with clues 👍❤ .. BUT.! at the end of the day, there just songs. 😀
Another interesting video John. Why oh why would he have left Blind Willie Mctell and Foot of Pride off this album?? Two great tracks deserving to be on any Dylan album. I have been listening to Slow Train Coming the last couple of days and Street Legal, really enjoying them so going through a bit of a Dylan phase at the moment, this review is perfectly timed! Jokerman is the best track on Infidels I think. Cheers John.
