John Wesley Harding released: Dec 27, 1967 BUY

After a motorcycle crash in July 1966 brought his public appearances to a halt indefinitely, rumors ran wild – fans heard that he was paralyzed, or that he had gone crazy, or that he was actually dead. Dylan was, in fact, holed up in Woodstock, New York, using his recuperation time to step back from the extraordinary storm of touring, take some stock, and think more deeply about what he was doing. When he did, finally, release an album, in 1967, it was nothing anyone could have predicted. John Wesley Harding was a quiet acoustic album, full of cryptic, symbolic songs about mortality and redemption, bravery and betrayal, regret and hope. The title track was based on the story of a real-life bank robber named John Wesley Hardin. “All Along The Watchtower” became one of Dylan’s perennials, but “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine,” “The Ballad of Frankie Lee And Judas Priest,” “The Wicked Messenger,” and “Drifter’s Escape,” while less often performed, are enigmatic parables that occupy a unique place in Dylan’s body of work. John Wesley Harding | listen | As I Went Out One Morning | listen | I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine | listen | All Along the Watchtower | listen | The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest | listen | Drifter's Escape | listen | Dear Landlord | listen | I Am a Lonesome Hobo | listen | I Pity the Poor Immigrant | listen | The Wicked Messenger | listen | Down Along the Cove | listen | I'll Be Your Baby Tonight | listen |