New Morning - Dylan, Bob (CD 1989)

Walking into your local music store, you may be astonished to find the sheer volume of Bob Dylan recordings you have to choose from. There are some 50 albums Dylan recorded throughout his still productive career. Among them are the obvious classics; "Blonde on Blonde," "Highway 61 Revisited," "Freewheelin'," "Time Out of Mind," "Nashville Skyline..." the list can go on. There are at least three or four more that merit classic status. But the album I'm about to tell you about is not on any list. I had never heard of it until a film called "The Big Lebowski," which features one of the songs on this album, opened my eyes to it. The album's called "New Morning." And it truly is a new, fresh album that awakens you not with a rooster, but with a laid back, eclectic style that broadens your respect for Dylan even more.

I bought "New Morning" because of a song called "The Man In Me," which is featured on "The Big Lebowski" soundtrack. I wanted to get a new Dylan album, but I wanted to have never heard of it. I picked "New Morning" out of the Sea of Dylan recordings not knowing any of the other songs on the album. It would seem that I discovered a gem in the Dylan section.

"If Not For You," a gentle love ballad, starts things off. It lacks the ferocity and wit of the Dylan's earlier songs, which shows that he's ready to try new things. Understated electric guitar and acoustic rhythms are foremost on this song. It's straight ahead, confessional lyric is refreshingly simple.

"Day of The Locusts" is a more savvy song, mixing smart metaphor with a "day in the life" approach. This begins a run of obvious piano-driven songs that will vary in style.

I can swear that the chord progression in "Time Passes Slowly" was used elsewhere, but I can't place the song. The lyrics to this are pure Dylan, painting a rambling narrative picture some more easily played instruments.

"Went to See the Gypsy" is another rambling narrative that only Dylan can get away with. It tells the story of a fortune teller that seems more than meets the eye...until he disappears.

There is a waltz on this album! "Winterlude" is the first of a series of eclectic, adventurous experiments on "New Morning." Yet it's another straight ahead love song with a laid back vocal and minimal instrumentation.

"If Dogs Run Free" is the most adventurous on the album. Straight scat-jazz, it features backing vocals from scat singer Maeretha Stewart. It's a strange lyric that's a little hard to follow, but Dylan sings it in the almost-talking tones of a real jazz singer.

The title track, "New Morning" is rock. This begins a third cycle on the album that is more guitar driven and conventional. But the song is a good centerpiece to the album, which compares a single day to the whole of a man's life.

"Sign on the Window" is a more politically charged number that seems more at home on Dylan's earlier work. But it's minimal instrumentation fits right in on the album.

"One More Weekend" is straight blues-rock. One of the best songs on the albums, it tells of bittersweet love in the unmistakable nasal tones of Bob Dylan. The vocals harken back to the "Subterranean Homesick Blues."

"The Man In Me" is the best song on the album. It tells of an insular man who relies on his lover in many ways. It fits on the "Lebowski" soundtrack because Jeff Bridges' character, The Dude, is a man who seems to have more layers inside waiting to come out.

"Three Angels" is another nicely sung ditty that seems more comedy than anything else. It's a great little downer towards the end of the album to bring you to more light hearted emotion.

But "Father of Night" makes you think. Leaving you wanting more until Dylan's next release, this song also features minimal instrumentation and a confessional lyric.

All in all, "New Morning" is a strong album. Lost in the greats that make up most of Dylan's album list, this one would feel right at home on your shelf next to "Blood on the Tracks" and "Another Side of Bob Dylan." It features some songs you may not have heard of, then again they seem like you've heard them a million times. But Dylan has way of making his music work it's way right into your mind and it sticks there, keeping you on your toes until he releases a follow-up to his monumental "Time Out Of Mind."

Keep 'em coming, Bob.