Shot of Love  is the twenty-first studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on August 10, 1981 by Columbia Records.  It is considered to be Dylan’s last of a trilogy of Christian albums.  Arrangements are rooted more in rock ’n’ roll, and less in gospel than Dylan’s previous album.  At the time of its release, Shot of Love received mixed reviews; Paul Nelson of Rolling Stone criticised the album, though he did single out the last track “Every Grain of Sand”, as a stand-out.  Shot of Love, while reaching UK #6, continued Dylan’s US commercial decline, reaching #33 during a brief chart stay.  Bono of Irish band U2 described Shot of Love as one of his favourites, particularly due to Dylan’s singing ability.  (More from Wikipedia)

 

Following Saved, Shot of Love reintroduced secular themes into his music; but “Property of Jesus” is the center song on the first side.  Additionally, Infidels was viewed as a return to the “old” Bob Dylan by most; however, the title clearly has religious connotations – and might even represent a dagger toward his critics.  “Man of Peace” on this album – as in, “sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace” – could easily have fit onto one of the earlier albums. 

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For the Bob Dylan album Shot of Love, other players include ex-Beatle Ringo Starr on drums, current Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood on guitar, bass guitarist Donald “Duck” Dunn – formerly of Booker T and the MG’s and also the Blues Brothers Band – and veteran sessionman Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar on guitar and electric guitar.  Bumps Blackwell, who produced most of Little Richard’s most indelible songs, produced the title song “Shot of Love”. 

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There was a noticeable dip in the ratings given by rock critics of Bob Dylan’s Christian recordings.  That was not true so much for Slow Train Coming – Robert Christgau of the Village Voice gave the album a B+ and wrote:  “The lyrics are indifferently crafted.  Nevertheless, this is his best album since Blood on the Tracks.  The singing is passionate and detailed.”  Allmusic and Rolling Stone both rated the album ***.  

For Saved, the Rolling Stone rating stood, but Allmusic gave the album only **, and Christgau scored it as C+.  Entertainment Weekly showed a C–.  Shot of Love had ** from both Rolling Stone and Allmusic; Christgau and Entertainment Weekly showed B–.  

With Infidels though, all was forgiven:  Rolling Stone and Allmusic were both at ****.  

(August 2014)

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Items:    Shot of Love