Planet Waves released: Jan 17, 1974 BUY

Planet Waves feels like a transitional album, as if Dylan is trying to get himself back into focus after the preceding couple of years of life in the country. One of his most moving songs, for instance, “Forever Young,” is presented in two different versions with completely different feelings, different meanings. “On A Night Like This” is a bouncing invitation song, full of high spirits and anticipation, but songs like “Dirge,” “Going, Going, Gone,” and “Wedding Song” seem to be straining at theleash, cohabiting uneasily with more or less straight-ahead love songs like on the album. Dylan no longer sounded as satisfied with life as he did on New Morning; even “Forever Young” seems to be written in view of all the storms to come, a song of hope against hope, a prayer for faith and endurance. On a Night Like This | listen | Going, Going, Gone | listen | Tough Mama | listen | Hazel | listen | Something There is About You | listen | Forever Young | listen | Forever Young | listen | Dirge | listen | You Angel You | listen | Never Say Goodbye | listen | Wedding Song | listen |