“So frustrated”: The 1997 album that turned Bob Dylan against his band
Standing as an artist of phases, eras and chapters, collaboration has never been Bob Dylan’s career strong suit.
While building collaborative relationships requires time and patience, the folk-rock legend is noted for thriving on creating when he wants to and then moving on fast when he’s done, something which is true even beyond the studio.
Looking back through Dylan’s life is like looking over a history of short-lived connections. First, there were his ties to the folk work and people like Peter Seeger or Joan Baez, but once he was done with that, the people fell away, too. Then there was the short, alleged relationship with Edie Sedgwick, the speed with which he began to be annoyed by The Beatles, his complex connection with a whole cast of musicians, and so on.
For a prime example, look towards The Band. First brought in as backing musicians to help him finally break through into his electric era, levelling up his sound into something louder, Dylan seemed to get tired of them the second they got comfortable. The moment they had their own success, or god forbid, their own ideas in the studio, their boss was sick of them.
It’s clear that working with Dylan requires toeing a tricky line. You have to be fast, sharp, and talented. You have to, obviously, be one of the best in the game to even get the call to join his band, but you also have to know your place, know how much or how little to say, and mostly, you have to know how not to get in his way.
In 1997, Dylan felt like his band was in his way, and he wasn’t shy about saying that outright. When working on Time Out Of Mind, it felt to the world that this was the man back at his best, freshly inspired and finally surrounded by players who could help him get back on track after an extended period of some questionable albums. The finished product is thrilling, competent and well-written, even giving Dylan his first hit in some time with ‘Make You Feel My Love’.
But when he reflected on the record, he could only see the letdowns. “It isn’t even close to the way I had it envisioned,” he told Rolling Stone, “I mean, I’m satisfied with what we did. But there were things I had to throw out because this assortment of people just couldn’t lock in on riffs and rhythms all together.”
He really threw his band under the bus there, claiming that the album couldn’t be completed to his vision, all because of the people he’d hired. It’s harsh feedback.
“I got so frustrated in the studio that I didn’t really dimensionalise the songs. I could’ve if I’d had the willpower,” he said, truly sounding like a mean boss. He has that ‘I’m not angry, just disappointed’ tone as he said, “I just didn’t at that time, and so you got to steer it where the event itself wants to go”. The sort of employer to tut at his staff as he blames it all on them, this was simply another moment where Dylan’s people skills were proven not to be his strength.
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