A Backyard Road Trips soundtrack
Bob Dylan for me (like many) is an artist for the ages, not just for the history books, but as a soundtrack for different ages of my life. As a high schooler, his story songs such as “Desolation Row”, “Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts” and “Visions of Johanna” were the soundtrack to long walks with the dog via tape on my Sony Walkman. Certain albums of his, especially Blonde on Blonde and Blood on the Tracks, were favorites through college.
I first saw Dylan on tour for his Time Out of Mind album, which was seen as a comeback album and also aligned with a recent health scare for him. As he was in his 50s, it seemed almost as a pinnacle of a storied career. Ironically, more than 20 years later, he’s still churning out albums; some bluesy (Love and Theft), a trio of albums of standards and even a Christmas album! (Dylan’s take on “Must be Santa” is one for the ages!)
I own much of his discography including almost all of his classic early albums up to Desire and his work from the late 80s to the present. One album that I skipped for no apparent reason was Planet Waves.
At the Bull Moose Record Store in Portland, Maine, a few weeks ago, I picked it up. For an album that I had overlooked, it’s great! His voice is reminiscent of the following year’s Blood on the Tracks, although the tracks are less anthemic. They are a nice slice of what is called today Americana. He’s backed by The Band, and the songs range from upbeat and harmonica-driven (“You Angel You”) to slower numbers (the first version of “Forever Young” and “Wedding Song”). The bouncy, “On a Night Like This”, sets the mood to the album. Listening to it for the first time on a back road in Connecticut was a perfect backdrop, windows open and stereo loud.
Planet Waves is a nice addition to my large Dylan collection. It’s an easily accessible album that I’ll be returning to often. I’d recommend it for any upcoming Backyard Road Trip!
