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John Wesley Harding

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John Wesley Harding

LP by Bob Dylan
Released December 27, 1967
Recorded October 17 -
November 29, 1967
Genre Folk
Length varies with edition
Record label Columbia Records
Producer Bob Johnston
Professional reviews
Allmusic.com link
Rolling Stone (Feb. 24/1968) link
Bob Dylan Chronology
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits
(1967) 		John Wesley Harding
(1967) 		Nashville Skyline
(1969)

John Wesley Harding is an album of original songs by Bob Dylan, produced by Bob Johnston and released on December 27, 1967. The album marks Dylan's public return to acoustic music and traditional roots after three albums dominated by electic music and rock stylings. Many observers, and many of Dylan's own comments, attribute the change in his music to his period of introspection following his near-fatal motorcyle accident on July 29, 1966.

The album was recorded in Nashville in three relatively brief sessions in the autumn of 1967, requiring less than twelve hours in the studio. While popular mythology has it that Dylan recorded John Wesley Harding after his legendary "Basement Tape" sessions with the members of The Band wrapped up, several Dylan biographers/discographers argue that the final Basement reel actually postdates the first JWH session.

One song on the album, "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine," is based on the folk standard "Joe Hill." The title song apparently references Texas outlaw John Wesley Hardin, although many commentators find religious significance in the character's initials. Many of the album's lyrics include overt Biblical references or quotations.

John Wesley Harding was exceptionally well received by critics and enjoyed healthy sales, reaching the #2 slot on US charts and topping the British charts. It was certified as "going gold" less than three months after its release.

The album was re-released in a substantially remastered form (as well as released on SACD) in 2003 by Columbia Records. The newer edition removed many individually minor but cumulatively substantial track edits, so that the album is effectively available in two noticeably different forms.


Track listing

  1. "John Wesley Harding"
  2. "As I Went Out One Morning"
  3. "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine"
  4. "All Along the Watchtower"
  5. "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest"
  6. "Drifter's Escape"
  7. "Dear Landlord"
  8. "I Am a Lonesome Hobo"
  9. "I Pity the Poor Immigrant"
  10. "The Wicked Messenger"
  11. "Down Along the Cove"
  12. "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"

Personnel

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