Bob Dylan Albums Ranked

Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman; May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, author, and visual artist who has been a major figure in popular culture for more than 50 years. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when songs such as “Blowin’ in the Wind” (1963) and “The Times They Are a-Changin'” (1964) became anthems for the civil rights and anti-war movements. His lyrics during this period incorporated a range of political, social, philosophical, and literary influences, defied pop music conventions, and appealed to the burgeoning counterculture. Following his self-titled debut album in 1962, which mainly comprised traditional folk songs, Dylan made his breakthrough as a songwriter with the release of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan the following year. The album featured “Blowin’ in the Wind” and the thematically complex “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall”. For many of these songs, he adapted the tunes and phraseology of older folk songs. He went on to release the politically charged The Times They Are a-Changin’ and the more lyrically abstract and introspective Another Side of Bob Dylan in 1964. In 1965 and 1966, Dylan drew controversy when he adopted electrically amplified rock instrumentation, and in the space of 15 months recorded three of the most important and influential rock albums of the 1960s: Bringing It All Back Home (1965), Highway 61 Revisited (1965) and Blonde on Blonde (1966). Commenting on the six-minute single “Like a Rolling Stone” (1965), Rolling Stone wrote: “No other pop song has so thoroughly challenged and transformed the commercial laws and artistic conventions of its time, for all time. Here are all Bob Dylan’s albums ranked

Don’t miss out the music of Bob Dylan. Click below and listen to his timeless songs.

10.Nashville Skyline (1969)

“Any fan of Dylan knows that he has always been mixing it up, anytime you think you’ve got him pegged he shows you another side of himself, poured out through his art. This is one of my top Dylan albums, great songs, well written, well arranged. A short record, but worth purchase nonetheless.”

9. The Times They Are A-Changin’ (1964)

“This album has aged very well due to it’s simplicity and that topically the issues touched on are still relevant.
Times are a changin’ is a classic that everyone knows … or should.
hollis brown is a tale of tragedy that still has echoes today.
with god on our side is a sharp attack at the self righteous making a mockery of their self righteousness.
one too many mornings is another classic with a reflective lyric that is ageless
north country blues is another tragic tale only a pawn in their game is an astonishing and insightful commentary on social manipulation and racism and many other topics.”

8.Time Out of Mind (1997)

“Dylan is an incredible poet, and this selection proves it all over again. Every now and then we’ll hear a favorite artist performing a song whose lyrics we had never heard before and that are very moving. When we look up the lyricist, we’re not surprised to find that it was Dylan. One strong example of that is found on this CD–Adele’s famous “Make You Feel My Love.” Here, you can hear the author himself render this masterpiece–yes, it’s Mr. Dylan again! There are many wonderful songs on this CD, and it’s become one of our favorite Dylan albums ever.”

7.John Wesley Harding (1967)

“Recorded in 1967 after the by-then-unreleased Basement Tapes, John Wesley Harding is much more than a mere return to simplicity. Working acoustically and as a trio, Dylan makes a sharp turn from his vital but troubled 1966 output. He comes back here as a totally different artist whose insights were bent by a different frame of mind. With Psychedelia as fashionable as ever, here comes an album which just completely ignores the trends of the day. This is totally timeless, a work of genius which only Bob Dylan could’ve offered.”

6.Desire (1976)

“Recently, I listened to this old favorite album and was blown away, again. I had forgotten how good it was. The album stands alone, totally unique. No one has done anything like it, before or since. The combination of Dylan on the auto harp, Scarlett Rivera on the gypsy fiddle, and Emmy Lou Harris’s background and harmony vocals is unspeakably beautiful. The Desire album tends to be downplayed, but in retrospect it’s probably Dylan’s finest work. It was certainly his last great album. They just don’t make music like they used to.”

See more: Greta Van Fleet Albums Ranked

5.The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963)

“This was the first great Dylan album. His own music, with those witty lyrics, those images of absurdity (listen to “Talkin’ World War III Blues”), along with the spare guitar/harmonica format. And that voice!”

4.Bringing It All Back Home (1965)

“All time great Bob Dylan LP from 1965! One of his masterpieces! Much to the total dismay of the folk purist at the time, Mr. Dylan embraces electricity and Rock n Roll! He assembles some of the best session players in the world and hits the recording studio full on! He has an absolutely incredible amount of prose and poetry! And it certainly wasn’t talked about in 1965, but marijuana played a clear path into the humor and stream of consciousness in the this album! It’s 1965 folks! This is a game changer! A masterpiece!!”

3.Blonde on Blonde (1966)

“This has to be in the top three although in saying that I also must add that Bob has at least 7 or 8 five star albums so add this to the very long list of master works. Flows incredible for a double album with no weak tracks. Rainy Day Women is probably my favorite Dylan tune. I especially love how it seems to offend straight people! LOL the new Sundazed mono vinyl sounds fantastic! For me maybe Highway 61 is number one with Bringing It All Back Home and Blonde On Blonde not far behind. All time great no doubt about it!”

2.Highway 61 Revisited (1965)

“Highway 61 Revisited is Bob Dylan’s profile album. Containing all the sorts of material he wanted to make and all the sounds he envisioned. Dylan takes the opportunity to lash out against others in “Like A Rolling Stone” and lash out against the wild fanfare and press that followed him around in his early years in “Ballad of A Thin Man”. This is the obsessive, resentful and fun Bob Dylan that was dwelling deep inside. Al Kooper joins on organ and really defines the mood of the whole album, while Mike Bloomfield joins with some real stoney and radical guitar licks. “From A Buick 6” and the title track get real bluesy and show off some of Dylan’s most surreal lyrics while the 11 minute closer “Desolation Row” takes on an intimate portrayal of the world. In Highway 61 Revisited Dylan really sheds his skin and is looking to lose listeners. The music is deviant and tempting, the lyrics are surreal and in your face and the overall tone is one of playful delight, yet, in doing so Dylan has created some of the most captivating songs he would ever make.”

1.Blood on the Tracks (1975)

“Blood on the Tracks is a classic and highly regarded album by one of the greatest artists of all time. This is one of the best albums that Bob Dylan ever released. It’s timeless. Every track is outstanding. With amazing songs like Tangled Up in Blue, Shelter from the Storm and Simple Twist of Fate, this album is a winner from start to finish. Dylan is one of the greatest songwriters of all time, and there will never be anyone like him. If I sound a bit biased, it’s true. I’m a die-hard Dylan fan and always will be. However, this album is outstanding and a must-have for any Dylan fan or anyone else who loves great music.”