ALBUMS
- BOB DYLAN: SAVED: 1980: 3 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The first time I saw Bob Dylan in concert was in the summer of 1980 on the Saved Tour- it was a great concert. Of course some people were upset that he wasn’t playing “Like A Rolling Stone” etc.. I don’t know if they were living under a rock because it was well known what he would be playing. This is the second of the three Dylan religious – gospel music period albums. I think the songs were better on Slow Train Coming and the production was better. In The Garden is a real standout.
- THE BEATLES: HELP! 1965: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The Beatles 5th album in a little less than 2 years. Soundtrack to their second movie. Seven of the songs appeared in the movie which original title was “Eight Arms To Hold You” Best known songs- Yesterday, Help!, Ticket To Ride, You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away- the last Beatles album to have covers- and they were good ones- Act Naturally- a great song for Ringo to sing and John singing Dizzy Miss Lizzy.
- VAN MORRISON: HYMNS TO THE SILENCE: 1991:4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Van’s first double album. It would turn out to be one of his better 90’s albums- it being a double album it covers a variety of music styles and some of the songs are clearly autobiographical. Best songs on the album- Carry A Torch, On Hyndford Street, Why Must I Always Explain, I’m Not Feeling It Anymore,. The album went to #5 in the UK but barely cracked the Top 100 in the US.
slicethelife 
In The Garden and A Satisfied Mind are the songs I remember the most from the Saved Album.
I don’t like the production on Saved which is odd because the same crew from Slow Train Coming- did it.
That is odd because you wouldn’t think they would change anything on Saved because didn’t he win a Grammy for Slow Train Coming?
Maybe it is just my ears- or maybe they spent more time working on Slow Train- as you mentioned earlier this week Bob’s albums at times are rushed. He’s not Fleetwood Mac in the studio polishing things up.
He doesn’t value production very much…for his acoustic albums that was ok…
I don’t like over production a recent example is the Bruce Springsteen Wrecking Ball- some good songs on it but I have a hard time listening to it.
No not overboard. You can polish the soul out of a song. I think the newer Stones albums have a bit too much. I miss the Exile feel… The Stones don’t benefit from a lot of production.
Certainly agree with you on The Stones… I think The Beatles with Sir George at the controls sounded just right- if you didn’t know and listened to Let It Be- I think you would be able to tell someone else was at the controls.
I like the mono mixes he did also. The most polished album had to be Abbey Road…the least…with George I would say The White Album…not counting the early ones.
Let It Be did have a different sound that is for sure.
I would agree Abbey Road the most polished.. can you think of anyone else who has tried the side 2 Abbey Road medley of songs? Nothing comes to mind when I think of that.
No I havent. You would think that someone would try that. A good way of getting some use out of half-finished songs…but then you are compared to that…and you won’t beat it.
Yes no matter what you do- its not going to be a good comparison.
To be compared to them you cannot win. Some groups have done Suites…Grateful Dead on Terrapin Station but it wasn’t the same thing.
I need to explore Van’s post – St. Dominic’s Preview catalog more. I’m only familiar with Veedon Fleece and Enlightenment. Where should I start?
I don’t really know if there is a terrible Van album- everything even the most mediocre album has something on it worth hearing. I am not a huge fan of A Sense Of Wonder. Otherwise–the 90’s onward albums I must admit I didn’t buy at the time but have caught up on in the last decade- they didn’t get a lot of attention but while there is no Astral Weeks or Moondance among them some decent stuff. Dylan has some real stinkers in his catalog- I think Van has for the most part avoided that- maybe the worst Van is a 2 star effort.