Street-Legal

“I liked Street-Legal a whole lot. I did that in the seventies.”

Street-Legal, the album that has been giving trouble since its publication in 1978. Authoritative critic Greil Marcus chops it into pieces. Dead air he calls it, the singing fake, fey and smug, the songs bad. Most American reviewers agree, and the album sells moderately, also by Dylan standards. In Europe people are much more positive, the record gets cheering reviews, up to over-enthusiastic even: “His best album since John Wesley Harding,” Melody Maker writes, for example, and here Street-Legal reaches the top of the charts.

However, everyone agrees on one thing: the sound quality is lousy. Dull, messy, unfinished. The master himself is not too proud either and apologises with time and stress. In 1999 a polished, remastered reissue of Street-Legal is released, and that one takes away some of the worst deficiencies – yes, a veil is lifted.

In Street-Legal. Bob Dylan's unpolished gem from 1978, Dylan author Jochen Markhorst professes his deep love for the album. The song-by-song analysis demonstrates the richness of the lyrics, explores the backgrounds and underlying layers, and highlights the things around the nine album songs; the outtakes and Dylan's peculiar, fruitful collaboration with backing vocalist Helena Springs.

Tracklist: 1 Changing Of The Guards 2 New Pony 3 No Time To Think 4 Baby, Stop Crying 5 Is Your Love In Vain? 6 Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power) 7 True Love Tends To Forget 8 We Better Talk This Over 9 Where Are You Tonight? (Journey Through Dark Heat) Outtakes 10 Stepchild 11 Legionnaire's Disease with Helena Springs 12 Stop Now 13 Walk Out In The Rain 14 If I Don't Be There By Morning 15 Coming From The Heart 16 The Wandering Kind 17 More Than Flesh and Blood 18 (I Must) Love You Too Much