“Most Of The Time”
Bob Dylan
Oh Mercy
1989, Columbia
(#41 on my list)
This Exit: For this list of what I consider to be the 60 best Bob Dylan songs, it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t share with you the ingredients of the word “best,” in this case. It’s comprised of 70% of the traditional definition of the word, as in surpassing all others in excellence, achievement, and quality which, of course, includes a certain degree of subjectivity in determining what I think are his least predictable, most brilliantly performed, informed, and flawlessly constructed moments. Add to that 15% of the traditional definition of the word “enduring,” (lasting, durable), with another 15% of what are probably just my favorite of his songs, for whatever reason (pure sentimentality must play a role). In all cases, I tried to be as objective as possible, and did my best not to be swayed by what I understand to be the popular opinions and attempted to ignore the undeniable historical significances of some of these works. The recorded performances that I felt best exemplified each song — not necessarily the original studio versions — are what appears on this list, but the song is the song. It’s true that “Not Dark Yet,” from 1997’s Time Out Of Mind and “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” from 1973’s Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid Original Soundtrack do not appear on this list, but I’d probably put them in a list of the 75 best, which is still pretty damn best.
60 BEST BOB DYLAN SONGS
1. The Times They Are-A Changin’ (1963, The Times They Are-A Changin’)
2. Blowin’ In The Wind (1962, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan)
3. Like A Rolling Stone (1965, Highway 61 Revisited)
4. Rainy Day Women #12 & #35 (1965, Highway 61 Revisited)
5. It’s Alright Ma, I’m Only Bleeding (1965, Bringing It All Back Home)
6. Just Like A Woman (1966, Blonde On Blonde)
7. Gates Of Eden (1965, Bringing It All Back Home)
8. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues (1966, Highway 61 Revisited)
9. Idiot Wind (1991, Bootleg Series Vol 1-3)
10. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (1965, Bringing It All Back Home)
11. Simple Twist Of Fate (1974, Blood On The Tracks)
12. Buckets Of Rain (1974, Blood On The Tracks)
13. Positively 4th Street (1967, Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 1)
14. Highway 61 (1966, Highway 61 Revisited)
15. Tombstone Blues (1966, Highway 61 Revisited)
16. Foot Of Pride (1991, The Bootleg Series Vol. 1 - 3)
17. She Belongs To Me (1965, Bringing It All Back Home)
18. Ballad Of A Thin Man (1965, Highway 61 Revisited)
19. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry (1965, Highway 61 Revisited)
20. Queen Jane Approximately (1965, Highway 61 Revisited)
21. Oh, Sister (1975, Desire)
22. Tight Connection To My Heart (1984, Empire Burlesque)
23. Where Are You Tonight? (Journey Through The Dark Heat) (1978, Street Legal)
24. Jokerman (1983, Infidels)
25. Gotta Serve Somebody (1979, Slow Train Coming)
26. Million Miles (1997, Time Out Of Mind)
27. To Ramona (1964, Another Side Of Bob Dylan)
28. Shooting Star (1989, Oh Mercy)
29. Lonesome Day (2008, Tell Tale Signs: Bootleg Series Vol. 8)
30. Love Sick (1997, Time Out Of Mind)
31. Isis (1975, Desire)
32. Desolation Row (1965, Highway 61 Revisited)
33. Romance In Durango (1975, Desire)
34. Lenny Bruce (1980, Shot Of Love)
35. Standing In The Doorway Crying (1997, Time Out Of Mind)
36. Brownsville Girl (1986, Knocked Out Loaded)
37. Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright (1963, Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan)
38. Tangled Up In Blue (1974, Blood On The Tracks)
39. Thunder On The Mountain (2005, Modern Times)
40. Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands (1966, Blonde On Blonde)
41. Most Of The Time (1989, Oh Mercy)
42. Mr. Tambourine Man (1965, Bringing It All Back Home)
43. Precious Angel (1979, Slow Train Coming)
44. License To Kill (1983, Infidels)
45. I Shall Be Released (1971, Greatest Hits Vol. 2 & 3)
46. Restless Farewell (1963, Times They Are - A Changin’)
47. Can’t Wait (1997, Time Out Of Mind)
48. Subterranean Homesick Blues (1965, Bringing It All Back Home)
49. Shelter From The Storm (1974, Blood On The Tracks)
50. Ain’t Talkin’ (2005, Modern Times)
51. Man In Me (1970, New Morning)
52. Seven Days (1991, The Bootleg Series Vol. 1 - 3)
53. Down In The Flood (2002, Masked And Anonymous Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
54. Covenant Woman (1980, Saved)
55. Blind Willie McTell (1991, The Bootleg Series Vol. 1 - 3)
56. Born In Time (1991, Under The Red Sky)
57. Dignity (1994, Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Vol. 3)
58. All Along The Watchtower (1968, John Wesley Harding)
59. Moonlight (2001, Love & Theft)
60. Billy 4 (1974, Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid Original Soundtrack)
