From The Crates

The exploding comic book inspired cover art by Pearl Beach is appropriate as Dylan ends his Christian period with a bang. Released in 1981, Shot Of Love is a raw record. Jesus is still present, but instead of turning the other cheek, he's in more of any eye-for-an-eye mood. There is an energy here that had been absent from a Dylan record since his 1976 release, Desire.

The musicians playing on Shot Of Love now read like a Rock-N-Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony: Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass, Jim Keltner on drums, Benmont Tench on Keyboards; add in a Beatle (Ringo) and a Stone (Ronnie Wood) on Heart Of Mine.

Also of note: two of the Background Vocalists, Carolyn Dennis and Clydie King, each  married and had children with Dylan in the 1980s. Shot Of Love indeed. 

This record is strong from the needle drop. It's cohesive and it sounds like a band. In fact, it often sounds like a souped-up version of The Band. It's that good. Only the piano dirge Lenny Bruce seems out of place -- it's possibly our least favorite Dylan song. Really.

But don't let that discourage you, the peaks here are Everest high.

The blistering The Groom's Still Waiting At The Alter is a Highway 61 Revisited style driving blues. Dylan spits out lines like: "I see people who are supposed to know better, standing around like furniture." Angry Dylan is a marvelous thing.

The album concludes with a Dylan hymn. Every Grain Of Sand is a song of uncommon beauty, featuring a gorgeous harmonica interlude. Lyrically, Dylan is at battle with himself, while he seemingly explains the order of the Universe. Ultimately, he surrenders to God's Plan.

It is a powerful conclusion to an important Dylan work. And, it's a Daily Digs Vintage favorite.