MoFi Bob Dylan New Morning (180g 33RPM LP)

Bob Dylan – New Morning

Sublime 1970 Album Among the Loosest and Most Jovial of Dylan’s Career
New Morning arrived in 1970 as a vital reminder of Dylan’s creativity and relevance. Following the bewildering Self Portrait — an album many found nearly unlistenable — this record restored confidence in Dylan’s artistry. Its effortless charm and wit mark it as his finest studio effort across a five-year stretch.

A Career Rescued

Where Self Portrait baffled audiences and critics alike, New Morning reasserted Dylan’s strengths as a songwriter and performer. The album’s relaxed, open feel demonstrated that Dylan remained a vital force in popular music, capable of crafting songs that were both accessible and inventive.

Audiophile Restoration and Looseness

Mastered on Mobile Fidelity’s renowned system and pressed at RTI, this restored edition brings out the album’s open, woozy sound. Dylan’s piano, energetic guitars, female backing vocals, Al Kooper’s organ, and crisp drumming all inhabit a spacious sonic world. The instruments retain an off-the-cuff sensibility, evoking the spontaneity of a live club performance. Notes naturally dangle and fade, highlighting the playful humor and lively spirit woven throughout the record.

Spontaneous Musicianship

As Dylan expert Greil Marcus observed in his New York Times review, “Many of the songs seem to have been made up on the spot, with confidence in the ability of first-rate musicians to move in any direction at any time.” The riffs, studio jams, and inventive arrangements carry a unique personality, capturing the thrill of musical improvisation.

Offbeat, Eclectic, and Joyful

The album frolics and swings across styles, from jazzy excursions on “Sign on the Window” to spoken-word experiments on “If Dogs Run Free” and soulful rock in “The Man in Me,” famously featured in The Big Lebowski. Dylan’s phrasing radiates joyous simplicity, a throughline from John Wesley Harding and Nashville Skyline.

Warmth and Underdog Charm

The lead track, “If Not For You,” exemplifies the album’s warmth, blending country threads with Dylan’s characteristic vocal clarity. While New Morning may not boast the iconic status of some of Dylan’s other works, its underdog quality makes repeated listens uniquely rewarding, revealing playful nuance and a lighthearted spontaneity rarely found elsewhere in his catalog.