Under the Red Sky

by Bob Dylan

Overview

Dylan followed Oh Mercy, his most critically acclaimed album in years, with Under the Red Sky, a record that seemed like a conscious recoil from that album's depth and atmosphere. By signing Don Was, the king of mature retro-rock, as producer, he guaranteed that the record would be lean and direct, which is perhaps exactly what this collection of simplistic songs deserves. Still, this record feels a little ephemeral, a collection of songs that Dylan didn't really care that much about. In a way, that makes it a little easier to warm to than its predecessor, since it has a looseness that suits him well, especially with songs this deliberately lightweight. As such, Under the Red Sky is certainly lightweight, but rather appealing in its own lack of substance, since Dylan has never made a record so breezy, apart from (maybe) Down in the Groove. That doesn't make it a great, or even good, record, but it does have its own charms that will be worth searching out for Dylanphiles. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	04/29/2008
Label:	Sbme Special Mkts.
UPC:	0886972674421
Rank:	71810

Tracks

1. Wiggle Wiggle
2. Under the Red Sky
3. Unbelievable
4. Born in Time
5. T.V. Talkin' Song
6. 10,000 Men
7. 2 X 2
8. God Knows
9. Handy Dandy
10. Cat's in the Well

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bob Dylan   Primary Artist,Accordion,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals,Guitar,Piano,Harp
David Crosby   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
David Lindley   Guest Artist,Guitar,Bouzouki,Slide Guitar
Slash   Guest Artist,Guitar
Al Kooper   Guest Artist,Organ,Keyboards
Bruce Hornsby   Guest Artist,Piano
Was   Guest Artist
Vaughan Brothers   Guest Artist
Elton John   Guest Artist,Piano
George Harrison   Guest Artist,Slide Guitar
Kenny Aronoff   Drums
Waddy Wachtel   Guitar
Donald Ray Mitchell   Vocals (Background)
Rayse Biggs   Trumpet
Stevie Ray Vaughan   Guitar
Dave McMurray   Saxophone
Don Was   Bass
Jamie Muhoberac   Organ
David Was   Vocals (Background)
Robben Ford   Guitar
Crosby & Nash   Vocals (Background)
Randy Jackson   Bass
Sweet Pea Atkinson   Vocals (Background)
Paulinho Da Costa   Percussion
Sir Harry Bowens   Vocals (Background)
Jimmie Vaughan   Guitar

Technical Credits

Ed Cherney   Mixing,Engineer
Jim Mitchell   Assistant Engineer
Judy Kirshner   Assistant Engineer
Brett Swain   Assistant Engineer
Dan Bosworth   Assistant Engineer
Steve Deutsch   Assistant Engineer
Don Was   Producer
David Was   Producer
Marsha Burns   Production Coordination
Bob Dylan   Producer,Composer