Bob Dylan returned from exile with John Wesley Harding, a quiet, country-tinged album that split dramatically from his previous three. A calm, reflective album, John Wesley Harding strips away all of the wilder tendencies of Dylan's rock albums -- even the then-unreleased Basement Tapes he made the previous year -- but it isn't a return to his folk roots. If anything, the album is his first serious foray into country, but only a handful of songs, such as "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight," are straight country songs. Instead, John Wesley Harding is informed by the rustic sound of country, as well as many rural myths, with seemingly simple songs like "All Along the Watchtower," "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine," and "The Wicked Messenger" revealing several layers of meaning with repeated plays. Although the lyrics are somewhat enigmatic, the music is simple, direct, and melodic, providing a touchstone for the country-rock revolution that swept through rock in the late '60s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
It says to try 1-9 now. It IS true that Cove and Baby offer a different feel from the rest of the group, but both are classic country-bob, and lead into the Nashville Skyline sound. The fact that this quiet album was released against the increasingly "studio rock" of other prominent acts is not mentioned in the review is strange to me.
What? 2 out of 12?? C'mon, how about Dear Landlord, what a classic, and I pity the poor immigrant, of course All along the Watchtower, The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest, Drifter's Escape, John Wesley Harding, I mean the list goes on. These are all classics.
With Dylan either you adapted with his changes as a fan or just said good bye to buying his music I had my disapointments after Blond On Blond, but you know what I adapted.