Maps of Music

Shot of Love (1981)

Where the lyrics of Shot of Love take you, and where it was really made.

Dylan's Christian trilogy ended with an album that sold poorly, yet its closing track, "Every Grain of Sand", is now counted among his most celebrated recordings.

Key places

Dylan's band works through the songs at Rundown (1981)

Recording site Rundown Studios — Dylan and his band worked through his songs at Rundown Studios over a period of several weeks. Dylan later closed down the studio sometime after June 1982. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Plotkin's sessions at Clover Studio (1981)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — Five sessions were scheduled at Clover Studio for producer Chuck Plotkin, from April 27 to May 1, 1981. Songs including "Heart of Mine" and "Every Grain of Sand" received usable takes. This point is shown at the city-centre level for Los Angeles. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Shot of Love: 21st studio album by Bob Dylan
• Released in August 1981 by Columbia Records
• Considered the last of Dylan's trilogy of Christian albums
• Follows Saved; includes more secular material alongside overtly religious and evangelistic songs

Background

• Dylan was still focused on religious-oriented music in 1980, a period dubbed his 'Born Again' period
• Shot of Love was the last album issued under a contract signed with CBS in 1978
• Dylan re-signed with CBS in July 1982 on a five-year, five-album deal

Recording

• Mid-September 1980: Dylan's band recorded new songs at Rundown Studios in Santa Monica, California
• March 1981: informal sessions at Rundown and Studio 55 while Dylan auditioned producer Jimmy Iovine, who was later relieved of his duties
• Various sessions were also booked at Cream Studios and United Western Studios
• Late April: veteran producer Bumps Blackwell supervised recordings of "Trouble", "Magic" and "Shot of Love"
• Chuck Plotkin, hired on the suggestion of a friend, ran five sessions at Clover Studio from April 27 to May 1
• May 12: Dylan and Plotkin sequenced a preliminary version; "Angelina" and "Magic" were removed
• Three songs were re-recorded for the final sequence: "Trouble", "Dead Man, Dead Man" and "Heart of Mine"
• Mixing was completed June 7, with overdubbing continuing through June 16

Cover

• The informal back cover photo shows Dylan admiring a rose
• Howard Alk contributed that back cover photo

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941, in Duluth, Minnesota; raised in Hibbing, Minnesota.
• Moved to New York City in January 1961 to pursue a music career.
• Signed to Columbia Records after playing harmonica on Carolyn Hester's album; debut album Bob Dylan released in 1962.

Members

• Solo artist; backed over the years by bands including the Hawks/the Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and his touring band led by bassist Tony Garnier.

Career

• Breakthrough with The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963); protest songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind" became anthems for the civil rights and antiwar movements.
• Went electric with Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited (1965) and Blonde on Blonde (1966), provoking controversy among folk fans.
• Motorcycle accident in 1966 led to nearly eight years without touring; Basement Tapes recorded with the Band.
• Converted to Christianity in the late 1970s and released gospel albums; won Album of the Year Grammy for Time Out of Mind (1997).
• Has toured since 1988 on the Never Ending Tour; won an Academy Award and ten Grammy Awards; awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Mixed reviews at release
• Paul Nelson of Rolling Stone criticized the album but singled out "Every Grain of Sand" as a standout
• Nick Kent of New Musical Express called it "Dylan's worst album to date."
• Sales fell below CBS's expectations despite heavy touring in Europe and North America

Reappraisal

• Some critics grew to appreciate the album in recent years, while others continued to disparage it
• If there is any critical consensus, it is found on the closing track, "Every Grain of Sand"

Records

• UK: reached No. 6 and sold more than 60,000 copies
• US: reached No. 33 and sold around 300,000 copies during a brief chart stay
• US sales extended Dylan's commercial decline

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Bono of U2 counted Shot of Love among his favourite albums, mainly for Dylan's singing.
• Dylan said in a 1983 NME interview that the title track was his most perfect song.
• The title track was produced by Bumps Blackwell, the only Blackwell production on the album.
• "The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar" was originally the B-side of the "Heart of Mine" single and was added to the CD version later.
• Howard Alk, who contributed the back cover photo, was found dead at Rundown Studios on New Year's Day 1982.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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