“Street-Legal” by Bob Dylan - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1978 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s

The unpredictable Bob Dylan of the 1970s continues to disappoint me – after the culturally brilliant French/Mexican detour of “Desire” he resorts to the big pop rock band production, Elvis in Vegas style. Generally speaking, these are uninspiring mid tempo drum and bass grooves which are very low in redeeming characteristics. “No Time To Think” is an exception – I detect a bit of drive in both band and vocalist, with the chorus girls lending their weight with a very soulful backing contribution. The only other track of consequence appears as the album’s closer, “Where Are You Tonight?”, which is a neat slab of soul rock which could almost be billed as Bob Dylan featuring The Staple Singers. If only he had the inclination to drive the whole album down that southern soul highway… alas, elsewhere, it’s all rather tedious AOR. Pete Shelley said it best in 1976. Boredom-boredom-be-dumb-be-dumb.

The Jukebox Rebel
13–Mar–2012

Tracklist

A1	[07:04] Bob Dylan - Changing Of The Guards (Robert Zimmerman) Soft Rock / A.O.R.
A2	[04:28] Bob Dylan - New Pony (Robert Zimmerman) Soft Rock / A.O.R.
A3	[08:19] Bob Dylan - No Time To Think (Robert Zimmerman) Folk Rock / Americana
A4	[05:19] Bob Dylan - Baby, Stop Crying (Robert Zimmerman) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B1	[04:30] Bob Dylan - Is Your Love In Vain? (Robert Zimmerman) Soft Rock / A.O.R.
B2	[05:42] Bob Dylan - Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power) (Robert Zimmerman) Soft Rock / A.O.R.
B3	[04:14] Bob Dylan - True Love Tends To Forget (Robert Zimmerman) Soft Rock / A.O.R.
B4	[04:04] Bob Dylan - We Better Talk This Over (Robert Zimmerman) Folk Rock / Americana
B5	[06:16] Bob Dylan - Where Are You Tonight? (Journey Through Dark Heat) (Robert Zimmerman) Blues Rock / Soul Rock

ratings by TJR