Infidels (1983)

1. Jokerman
2. Sweetheart Like You
3. Neighborhood Bully
4. License to Kill
5. Man of Peace
6. Union Sundown
7. I and I
8. Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight

Notes and Reviews

The musicians: Bob Dylan (vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards), Mark Knopfler (lead guitar), Alan Clark (keyboards), Mick Taylor (guitar), Sly Dunbar (drums, percussion), Robbie Shakespeare (bass).





Reviews:

From The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia by Michael Gray:

"Infidels [1983] Another ragbag collection of insipid material, hailed in the US as a great return
to form on Dylan’s part. This is the sort of work that makes Dylan’s earlier ‘minor’ albums sound
like masterpieces. In depressing contrast to Nashville Skyline, New Morning or Planet Waves, there is
on Infidels generally no warmth, no unity and no sense that real music is being created and played
for pleasure by people who know what they want. There is instead the unwelcome return of the
portentous quality of the evangelical albums of 1979–80, while the production is half-hearted and
irresolute. It is Dylan beginning to say that he doesn’t really want to write songs or make records
any more, and to behave as if it hardly matters whether an album is any good or not. This is not a
welcome stance from a great artist. As with Shot of Love, its predecessor, it needn’t have been this way:
the sessions yielded important work excluded from the release, including what is perhaps Dylan’s
greatest single recording of the 1980s, the lapidary ‘Blind Willie McTell’. Best of the released tracks: ‘I
and I’ (though this admonishes you into feeling it’s important, rather than claiming a place in
your heart) and the album’s one incontestable major success, ‘Jokerman’."

From Folkrockman --
"I couldn't disagree more with Micael Gray. Bob Dylan is SO happy! A Jamaican rhythm and Mark Knopfler on lead guitar! The vocals as bright and alive. “Jokerman” leads off with some great rock! “Neighborhood Bully” has a great drivin’ drum. “Man of Peace” has the bright Dylan blues goin’. “I and I” features Knopfler’s sweet guitar to a great Dylan tune. This album stands up and is worth a place in Dylan’s later works."