1969's Nashville Skyline was Bob Dylan's only real country album. He went through many phases in his career, and this is one of the calmest, a laid-back style with vocals like we have never heard from him before. He is one part himself, one part Willie Nelson, and one part Frank Sinatra vocally.Musically, he abandons rock almost completely and focuses on milky country-folk-rock-whatever-hybrid which is much more country than any folk he ever had or will try. He even goes so far as to duet with the then-aging now-dead Johnny Cash on the interesting "Girl from the North Country."
The best song here is the finale, "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You," although "Lay Lady Lay" is amost just as good. Each track is enjoyable, especially for country fans and fans of his folk era. This isn't normal Dylan, and it's definitely not my favorite genre, but this is an excellent and rewarding listen.
This one was the hardest to place... My first instinct was Basement Tapes, Empire Burlesque, Slow Train Coming, New Morning, Bringing it all Back Home... there's so many I could have chosen beyond the obvious top four. I actually am starting to think I should have put Bringing here... 5/5 -Ian
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