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Empire Burlesque
Empire Burlesque cover
Studio album by Bob Dylan
Released June 10, 1985
Recorded February–March 1985
Genre Rock, disco
Length 46:24
Label Columbia
Producer Bob Dylan
Professional reviews
Bob Dylan chronology
Real Live
(1984)		 Empire Burlesque
(1985)		 Biograph
(1985)

Empire Burlesque is Bob Dylan's 23rd studio album, released in 1985 on Columbia Records. A studio album is an original collection of new tracks by a recording artist Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Disco is a Genre of dance-oriented music whose origins are hard to define In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major allmusic (previously All Music Guide) is a Metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. Robert Christgau (born April 18 1942) is an American Essayist, Music journalist, and the self-declared "Dean of American Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major Real Live is a Live album documenting Bob Dylan 's 1984 tour of Europe, released at the end of that same year by Columbia Biograph is a 53-track compilation spanning the career of Bob Dylan, from his 1962 debut album to the 1981 LP Shot Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company

The production techniques used on Empire Burlesque are typical of the 1980s, and contemporary critics find it to be one of the few Dylan albums that now sound quite dated. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. However, the songwriting is generally considered to be some of Dylan's strongest of the decade, with such notable compositions as "Tight Connection to My Heart" and "Dark Eyes. "

Fans and critics continue to debate the album's merits, especially when compared to Dylan's classics of the 1960s, 70s and 2000s. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. It peaked at #33 in the US and #11 in the UK.

Contents

The recording sessions

Before embarking on a European tour in the summer of 1984, Dylan had spent a substantial amount of time recording demos of new songs in his Malibu home, accompanied at times by other musicians.

In rehearsals for the tour, Dylan attempted at least three of these new songs, and he occasionally found time to polish their lyrics during the tour.

When the tour was over, Dylan returned to New York and began work on his next studio album. As Clinton Heylin reports, Dylan recorded in sporadic sessions, as had become his norm, rather than "block-booking studio time" and recording in one concentrated period. The result was "an unprecedented expenditure of" time for recording a Dylan album, from July of 1984 to March of 1985.

To accommodate the casual nature of this process, Dylan chose to produce the sessions himself. Arthur Baker, who had previously worked with New Order and Afrika Bambaataa, was later recruited for these sessions, but much of the production work would actually be Dylan's. Arthur Baker may refer to Arthur Baker (calligrapher, calligrapher and typeface designer Arthur Baker (musician, record producer and DJ New Order are an English rock group formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner ( vocals, Guitars Synthesizers, Peter Hook Afrika Bambaataa (born Kevin Donovan on April 17, 1957) is an American DJ from the South Bronx, who was instrumental in the

One of his first decisions was to forgo the use of a stable set of musicians. Instead, Dylan recorded with an eclectic mix of studio professionals. An aborted session with Al Green's band was held at Intergalactic Studios on July 24, 1984. Albert Greene (born April 13 1946 better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and Soul music singer who received great acclaim in Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) A session with Ronnie Wood (formerly of Faces and currently with The Rolling Stones), Anton Fig (best-known as the drummer for David Letterman's house band), and John Paris was held at Delta Sound Studios on July 26th. Ronald David "Ronnie" Wood (born 1 June 1947 in Hillingdon London) is an English rock Guitarist and Bassist best known Faces (sometimes known as The Faces) were a Rock band formed in 1969 by members of the Small Faces after Steve Marriott left that group David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American late-night Talk show host and Comedian and the host since 1993

The Delta session produced two notable tracks: “Driftin’ Too Far From Shore” and “Clean Cut Kid. ” The former was set aside and would not be finished until 1986, when Dylan recorded his next album, Knocked Out Loaded. Knocked Out Loaded is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan 's 24th Studio album, released by Columbia Records in 1986. The latter had originally been recorded during the Infidels sessions in 1983, but not completed until now. Infidels is Bob Dylan 's 22nd Studio album, released in 1983 by Columbia Records.

Wood later described his surprise at Dylan's lack of authority during the mixing process. "[The engineers would] say, 'Hey Bob, we don't need this,' and he'd say, 'Oh, okay. ' And they'd make a mix to their ears, and he'd just stand outside and let them do it. And I'd be saying, 'Hey! You can't let these guys. . . Look!! They've left off the background vocals!' or 'What about the drums?!' But there would be something going on in the back of his head which didn't allow him to interfere. And yet if he'd have gone into the control room with the dominance that he had while we were cutting the stuff, it could have been mind-bending. "

During one session between July and September of 1984 (either at Delta Sound or the Power Station), Dylan demoed a song called "Go 'Way Little Boy," which he donated to cowpunk rockers Lone Justice. Lone Justice was an American Country rock band formed in 1982 by guitarist Ryan Hedgecock and singer Maria McKee. Dylan would play on Lone Justice's recording of "Go 'Way Little Boy," which was ultimately released as a B-side to their single, “Sweet Sweet Baby (I’m Falling)”. Lone Justice was an American Country rock band formed in 1982 by guitarist Ryan Hedgecock and singer Maria McKee.

In terms of his own album, the New York sessions had so far been fairly unproductive. After six months of work, Dylan had only a few recordings that were deemed acceptable, and only two would eventually appear on Empire Burlesque. "Sometimes nothing comes out, and other times I get a lot of stuff that I keep," Dylan said at the time. "I just put down the songs that I felt as I wanted to put them down. Then I'd listen and decide if I liked them. And if I didn't like them I'd either rerecord them or change something about them. " In November, Dylan returned to Los Angeles and began recording there.

An early session at Ocean Way Studios produced little if any work that was used for Empire Burlesque. Ocean Way Recording is the name of a series of Recording studios in Hollywood California and Nashville Tennessee. Much time was spent covering other artists’ songs, including “In The Summertime” by Ray Dorset (not to be confused with Dylan’s own song of the same name), “Freedom For The Stallion” by Allen Toussaint, and “Help Me Make It Through The Night” by Kris Kristofferson.

Work became much more productive when Dylan continued work at Cherokee Studios in Hollywood. Recruiting Lone Justice drummer Don Heffington for the early December sessions, Dylan recorded an ambitious song he had co-written with playwright Sam Shepard, titled "New Danville Girl. Lone Justice was an American Country rock band formed in 1982 by guitarist Ryan Hedgecock and singer Maria McKee. Sam Shepard (born November 5, 1943) is an American artist who worked as an award-winning Playwright, Writer and Actor. " Acceptable takes were recorded for both songs, though despite positive feedback from his peers, Dylan ultimately omitted "New Danville Girl" from Empire Burlesque.

Regardless, he also found success on the next song, recorded at Cherokee on December 14th. Benmont Tench, Mike Campbell, and Howie Epstein, from Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, joined Heffington for the session. Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty (born October 20 1950 is an American singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist "Something's Burning, Baby" would evolve into a key track on the album.

Over the rest of the winter, Dylan recorded most of the tracks that were ultimately used for Empire Burlesque. On January 28th, 1985, another session at Cherokee produced the master take for “Seeing The Real You At Last. ” This was followed by a brief stop at A&M Studios on the 28th and/or the 29th to record his contribution to “We Are the World. " We Are the World " is a 1985 song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced and conducted by Quincy Jones and recorded ” On February 5th, Dylan recorded master takes for two more tracks: “Trust Yourself” and “I’ll Remember You. ” On the 14th—Valentine’s Day—Dylan recorded love songs, including Johnny Cash’s “Straight A’s In Love," but also one of his own, “Emotionally Yours. Johnny Cash (born J R Cash; February 26 1932 - September 12 2003 was a Grammy Award -winning American country Singer-songwriter. ” With the exception of the “We Are the World” session, all of these songs were recorded with Heffington, the three Heartbreakers, and a few other session players at Cherokee Studios in Hollywood.

Sometime between the 14th and the 19th of February, Dylan returned to New York City, resuming work at the Power Station. On the 19th, he held a session with Roy Bittan on piano and Steve Van Zandt on guitar, both members of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Steven Van Zandt (born November 22, 1950) is an American Musician, Songwriter, Arranger, Record producer They recorded at least one usable take of "When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky," but Bittan and Van Zandt would not return for the remainder of the sessions.

The following day, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, better known as reggae recording artists Sly & Robbie, joined the sessions. Sly and Robbie are one of Reggae 's most prolific and long lasting production teams They had previously worked with Dylan on Infidels. Along with female vocalists Queen Ester Marrow, Debra Byrd, and Carolyn Dennis, the group recorded “Never Gonna Be The Same Again. "

On February 23rd, Dylan returned to the Power Station with Sly & Robbie, his back-up singers, and a number of session players, including Al Kooper, who filled in on guitar. Al Kooper (born Alan Peter Kuperschmidt, February 5 1944, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American Songwriter, The day’s work produced a significantly different version of “When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky,” which was ultimately chosen over the ‘Van Zandt version’ from a few days before.

Around this time, Dylan also revived from the Infidels sessions "Someone's Got A Hold Of My Heart. " "A song about being torn apart by irreconcilable demands," according to Clinton Heylin, in revision it was stripped of "just about every religious allusion from the original. " Dylan retitled it "Tight Connection to My Heart" and set it aside for further overdubbing.

One final song was recorded on March 3rd, a brand-new composition no more than a few days old. Recorded live-to-tape with no editing, overdubbing, or embellishment, “Dark Eyes” was also sequenced as the last song of the album.

Some further overdubbing was scheduled, but with recording essentially finished, Arthur Baker was left to mix the album. Arthur Baker may refer to Arthur Baker (calligrapher, calligrapher and typeface designer Arthur Baker (musician, record producer and DJ "I'm not too experienced at having records sound good," said Dylan. "I don't know how to go about doing that. With Arthur Baker. . . I just went out and recorded a bunch of stuff all over the place, and then when it was time to put this record together, I brought it all to him and he made it sound like a record. "

The songs

The opening track, "Tight Connection to My Heart", was originally recorded for 1983's Infidels. Infidels is Bob Dylan 's 22nd Studio album, released in 1983 by Columbia Records. It was re-written and re-recorded several times before finding its way on to Empire Burlesque. A lushly produced pop song riding a reggae groove courtesty of Robbie Shakespeare and Sly Dunbar (better known as Sly & Robbie), the love song was singled out as the best track on the album by the most recent edition of The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Sly and Robbie are one of Reggae 's most prolific and long lasting production teams It was also chosen as the first single for Empire Burlesque.

Clinton Heylin describes "Seeing The Real You At Last" as "a compendium of images half remembered from Hollywood movies," as many of the lyrics made "allusions to Humphrey Bogart movies, Shane, even Clint Eastwood's Bronco Billy. Shane is a 1953 Western film made by Paramount Pictures. It was produced and directed by George Stevens from a Screenplay Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr (born May 31 1930 is a four-time Academy Award winning American Actor and Filmmaker. For the early Western film star see Broncho Billy Anderson. Bronco Billy is a 1980 film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood "

The love ballad, "I'll Remember You," is still played quite a bit in concert, more so than all but one other song from Empire Burlesque. It was also featured, in an acoustic version, in the movie Masked & Anonymous, though not included on the released soundtrack. Masked and Anonymous is a 2003 film written and directed by Seinfeld writer Larry Charles.

"Clean-Cut Kid" was another song recorded during the Infidels sessions. Infidels is Bob Dylan 's 22nd Studio album, released in 1983 by Columbia Records. The lyrics weren't finished until much later, and the finished result was included on Empire Burlesque. A novelty song wrapped around sharp political commentary, the 'clean-cut kid' is an average American kid who's radically altered by his experience in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Village Voice critic Robert Christgau praised it as "the toughest Vietnam-vet song yet. This article is about a New York newspaper For the Ottawa Hills Ohio magazine see The Village Voice of Ottawa Hills. "

When members of the press, as well as Dylan's own fans, dubbed Empire Burlesque as 'Disco Dylan,' it was mainly for the song "When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky. " An evocative song filled with apocalyptic imagery, it was originally an upbeat, piledriving rocker recorded with Steven Van Zandt and Roy Bittan, both members of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Steven Van Zandt (born November 22, 1950) is an American Musician, Songwriter, Arranger, Record producer Roy Bittan (born July 2 1949 in Rockaway Beach Queens, New York City) is an American Keyboardist, best known as a member The E Street Band is a musical group that has periodically toured and recorded with Rock musician Bruce Springsteen since 1972 Unsatisfied with the recording, Dylan and Baker radically recast the song as a contemporary dance track. (The earlier version was later released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991. The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased 1961–1991 is a compilation box set by Bob Dylan. )

The penultimate song, "Something's Burning, Baby", is another song filled with apocalyptic imagery. A slow-building march accented with synthesizers, it was singled out by biographer Clinton Heylin as the strongest track on Empire Burlesque: "An ominous tale set to a slow march beat, [it] was a welcome reminder of his ongoing preoccupations with that dreadful day. "

"Dark Eyes" features only Dylan on guitar and harmonica. According to earlier interviews and Dylan's autobiography, Chronicles, it was written virtually on demand when Arthur Baker suggested something simpler for the album's final track. Chronicles Volume One 0-7432-2815-4 is the first part of Bob Dylan 's planned 3-volume memoir Arthur Baker may refer to Arthur Baker (calligrapher, calligrapher and typeface designer Arthur Baker (musician, record producer and DJ Dylan liked the idea of closing the album with a stark, acoustic track, particularly when the rest of the album was so heavily produced.

However, Dylan didn't have an appropriate song. He returned to his hotel in Manhattan after midnight, and according to Dylan:

"As I stepped out of the elevator, a call girl was coming toward me in the hallway - pale yellow hair wearing a fox coat - high heeled shoes that could pierce your heart. She had blue circles around her eyes, black eyeliner, dark eyes. She looked like she'd been beaten up and was afraid that she'd get beat up again. In her hand, crimson purple wine in a glass. 'I'm just dying for a drink,' she said as she passed me in the hall. She had a beautifulness, but not for this kind of world. "

The brief, chance encounter inspired Dylan to write "Dark Eyes," which was quickly recorded without any studio embellishment. Structured like a children's song, with very rudimentary guitar work and very simple notes, it's often quoted for its last chorus: "A million faces at my feet, but all I see are dark eyes. "

A number of critics have noted the bizarre sources of inspiration behind some of the songs. As mentioned, some lines were lifted from old Humphrey Bogart pictures, but at least a few were taken from the sci-fi television show, Star Trek. Author Clinton Heylin wrote that "one of the best couplets - ‘I’ll go along with the charade / Until I can think my way out’ (from "Tight Connection to My Heart") - actually comes verbatim from a Star Trek episode, ‘Squire of Gothos’. " But this line was originally used in the Humphrey Bogart movie 'Sahara'.

Outtakes

As with most Dylan albums, outtakes and rough mixes from Empire Burlesque were eventually bootlegged. However, Empire Burlesque is notable for containing a very large number of Dylan songs that are not only officially unreleased, but wholly unknown even in collector circles. Like "Shot of Love", Dylan recorded a great deal of surplus material for "Empire Burlesque". This is a list of known outtakes. Quite a few are not circulating. It is not known if the uncirculating tracks are Dylan originals unless otherwise noted. .

One of the most famous outtakes from the EB sessions is "New Danville Girl. " A satirical epic co-written with playwright Sam Shepard, it was originally an attempt at answering Lou Reed's song, "Doin' the Things That We Want To. Sam Shepard (born November 5, 1943) is an American artist who worked as an award-winning Playwright, Writer and Actor. Lewis Allan Reed (born March 2 1942 is an American rock Singer-songwriter and Guitarist. " (Reed was inspired to write "Doin' the Things That We Want To" after seeing one of Shepard's plays. )

"It has to do with a guy standing on line and waiting to see an old Gregory Peck movie (called The Gunfighter) that he can't quite remember, only pieces of it," says Shepard. Gregory Peck (April 5 1916 &ndash June 12 2003 was an Academy Award -winning and four-time Golden Globe Award-winning American Film "Then this whole memory thing happens, unfolding before his very eyes. He starts speaking internally to a woman. . . reliving the whole journey they'd gone on. . . We spent two days writing the lyrics, Bob had previously composed the melody line, which was already down on tape. "

As Clinton Heylin notes, "allowing each line to raise questions that lead the listener across the flatlands of Texas and time, Shepard contributes a conversational tone that hints at the very mundanity the song's characters are seeking to transcend. "

Session guitarist Ira Ingber recalls, "When we first recorded '[New Danville Girl],' we. . . made a cassette. And he took it out and started playing it. He came back the next day we were working and said, 'Yeah, a lot of people like this thing. ' And then he didn't do anything with it. It's like he was doing it to spite people who were all liking it, and he just held on to it. "

"New Danville Girl" would actually be re-written and re-recorded as "Brownsville Girl" for Dylan's next album, Knocked Out Loaded. Knocked Out Loaded is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan 's 24th Studio album, released by Columbia Records in 1986.

Another outtake, "Driftin' Too Far From Shore," was still unfinished when it was recorded in July of 1984 at Delta Studios. The same recording would later be issued on Knocked Out Loaded after several major overdubs. Knocked Out Loaded is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan 's 24th Studio album, released by Columbia Records in 1986.

In addition to recording "Go 'Way Little Boy" during the Empire sessions, Dylan also recorded several other songs that did not make the final cut. He covered the 1950s classic "Straight A's in Love. " He recorded a song with two widely different lyrics. The first was entitled "Waiting to Get Beat". Using the same music, he wrote new lyrics, and recorded a second version entitled "The Very Thought of You. " Dylan also recorded a six minute song entitled "Who Loves You More", which is a virtually finished take.

Three takes of "In the Summertime" are circulating, as are two full takes of "Freedom for the Stallion" and also a brief take.

All the cut songs from Empire are circulating, including alternate takes to every song that made the album.

Dylan had numerous recordings from his Malibu recordings preceding his European tour in 1984. Though they were very informal, they were also used to demo songs and work out ideas that would later develop on Empire Burlesque. One composition titled "Angel of Rain (Almost Done)" was composed at these sessions. There’s no documentation suggesting Dylan recorded this during the formal Empire Burlesque sessions, but it clearly held his interest during the rehearsals for the European tour. "Angel of Rain" made a deep impression on keyboardist Ian McLagen in what was supposed to be a rehearsal for previously released material. "There was one beautiful song he played occasionally that he'd never recorded and never [fully] rehearsed with us either," recalls McLagen. "It was a tricky little number, we never knew the title, but he'd launch into it from time to time, leaving us totally in the dark. "

In 1991, one significant outtake from the Empire Burlesque sessions was released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991. The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased 1961–1991 is a compilation box set by Bob Dylan. An early version of "When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky," it featured Roy Bittan on piano and Steve Van Zandt on guitar; both men were better known as members of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Steven Van Zandt (born November 22, 1950) is an American Musician, Songwriter, Arranger, Record producer "The Van Zandt 'When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky,' [an] apocalyptic vision bristling with drama, sung without restraint, could have provided Dylan with another epic to counterbalance the mawkish filler he'd been recording since 'New Danville Girl'," writes Heylin. "Instead, Dylan again second-guessed some of his better lines. . . and absolutely one of his best vocals from a fraught decade, rerecording the song. . . with a whomping synthesizer and horns track. . . " NPR's Tim Riley argued, "the alternate take. . . has such an undeniably raunchy attitude (and guitar solo by Miami Steve Van Zandt) you wonder why Dylan stuck with the lifeless take that makes Empire Burlesque drift off on side two. Steven Van Zandt (born November 22, 1950) is an American Musician, Songwriter, Arranger, Record producer "

Aftermath

Empire Burlesque received overwhelmingly positive reviews, most notably a full-page review in Time Magazine. For other uses see Time (disambiguation Time is a component of a measuring system used to sequence events to compare the durations of

Members of the press accused Dylan of trying to achieve a then-contemporary sound on Empire Burlesque; Dylan jokingly replied that he didn't know anything about new music, adding "I still listen to Charley Patton. Charlie Patton, better known as Charley Patton ( May 1, 1891 - April 28, 1934) is best known as an American Delta "

In his Consumer Guide column for The Village Voice, critic Robert Christgau wrote, "At best [Dylan]'s achieved the professionalism he's always claimed as his goal. This article is about a New York newspaper For the Ottawa Hills Ohio magazine see The Village Voice of Ottawa Hills. Robert Christgau (born April 18 1942) is an American Essayist, Music journalist, and the self-declared "Dean of American . . he's certainly talented enough to come up with a good bunch of songs. Hence, his best album since Blood on the Tracks. Blood on the Tracks is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan 's 15th studio album released in 1975 by Columbia Records, which marked Dylan's return to Columbia I wish that was a bigger compliment, but debunking comparisons to Street-Legal are also way off--the arrangements and especially the singing are, yes, tasteful enough to support material that puts Elton John to shame. Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer I mean how did he get that ominous calm, that soupcon of prophecy? And how did he come up with the toughest Vietnam-vet song yet?"

As promotion for Empire Burlesque, music videos for "Tight Connection to My Heart," "When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky," and "Emotionally Yours" were produced and broadcast on MTV, with Paul Schrader (best known for his work with Martin Scorsese) directing the video for "Tight Connection to My Heart. Paul Joseph Schrader (born July 22, 1946 in Grand Rapids Michigan) is an American Screenwriter and Film director " However, album sales remained fairly modest.

In terms of media coverage, Empire Burlesque was overshadowed by a number of Dylan-related projects from that same year. Charitable causes had become en vogue in American pop music, and Dylan participated in a number of high profile causes.

First was the "We Are the World" single, recorded in January of that year. Organized to raise funds for starving Ethiopians, the record received massive publicity, and it became one of the biggest hits of the year. Dylan was prominently featured in the recording, but he expressed some doubts regarding the single's merits. "People buying a song and the money going to starving people in Africa. . . is a worthwhile idea but I wasn't so convinced about the message of the song," Dylan would later say. "To tell you the truth, I don't think people can save themselves. "

Dylan joined Artists United Against Apartheid in recording Sun City, a record protesting South Africa's policies of apartheid. Artists United Against Apartheid was a 1985 protest group founded by activist and performer Steven Van Zandt to protest Apartheid in South Africa Recorded sometime during the summertime, it would be released in October to great critical acclaim. Produced by Arthur Baker, Dylan's participation would also be prominent on the recording. Arthur Baker may refer to Arthur Baker (calligrapher, calligrapher and typeface designer Arthur Baker (musician, record producer and DJ

In April, Dylan participated in a recording session with Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (better known as Sly & Robbie), playing harmonica on “No Name On The Bullet. Sly and Robbie are one of Reggae 's most prolific and long lasting production teams ” The song was released on ‘’Language Barrier’’, issued in August on Island Records.

In July, Dylan performed at the benefit concert Live Aid, which also raised funds for starving Ethiopians. A benefit concert is a Concert, show or gala featuring musicians comedians or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose often directed at a specific Live Aid was a multi-venue rock music concert held on. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia Held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dylan's set was accompanied by Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. Ronald David "Ronnie" Wood (born 1 June 1947 in Hillingdon London) is an English rock Guitarist and Bassist best known Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943 is an English Guitarist, Songwriter, Singer, producer and a founding member of The Rolling Technical problems sabotaged his performance, as the musicians were unable to hear their own performances. Dylan performed three songs, and as Heylin notes, "two were very strange choices. 'Ballad of Hollis Brown' dealt with a starving American farmer who chose not to save himself, while the vengeful 'When The Ship Comes In' seemed distinctly at odds with all this universal hand-holding. " After his set, Dylan asked the "billions watching to remember those in their own country struggling from economic events beyond their control. In particular, he chose to cite the plight of the American farmers. " Dylan's remarks helped inspire Willie Nelson to organize Farm Aid, a benefit concert raising funds for struggling farmers. Willie Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American country Singer-songwriter and Actor. Farm Aid started as a Benefit concert on September 22, 1985, in Champaign Illinois, held to raise money for Family farmers in the

Dylan soon found himself performing at Farm Aid, as well, which was broadcast live on national prime-time television on September 22, 1985. Farm Aid started as a Benefit concert on September 22, 1985, in Champaign Illinois, held to raise money for Family farmers in the For this performance, Dylan was accompanied by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, on the advice of concert promoter Bill Graham. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are an American rock band formed in 1975 by Tom Petty Bill Graham ( January 8, 1931 &ndash October 25, 1991) was an American Impresario and rock Concert promoter Mindful of the circumstances behind his Live Aid performance, Dylan and the Heartbreakers rehearsed extensively on their six song set. Live Aid was a multi-venue rock music concert held on. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia Only four songs would be broadcast on TV, but the performance as a whole was widely regarded as a triumph, featuring lauded performances of "Clean Cut Kid," "I'll Remember You," and "Trust Yourself" from Empire Burlesque.

In November, Columbia released Biograph, a heavily-promoted, five-LP boxed set retrospective that became only the second boxed set to sell half a million copies in the U. S. (the other being Elvis Presley's Elvis Aron Presley). It was also the first to hit #33 on Billboard's album charts, matching the same peak as Empire Burlesque.

Finally, November also saw publication of a revised edition of 1973's Writings & Drawings, retitled Lyrics.

Though few regard 1985 as one of Dylan's landmark years, he has never matched the same dizzying array of projects in a single year. If Empire Burlesque was lost in the shuffle, it did set the stage for Dylan's resurgence as a live performer. Though the Heartbreakers were recommended to him by Bill Graham, he already had worked with them on Empire Burlesque. Bill Graham ( January 8, 1931 &ndash October 25, 1991) was an American Impresario and rock Concert promoter Two major tours with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers would follow, one in 1986 and a more celebrated tour in 1987. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are an American rock band formed in 1975 by Tom Petty As Dylan would later acknowledge in his autobiography, Chronicles, he would regain his powers as a vocalist and an interpreter during these tours as he revisited his own back catalog of songs.

Track listing

All songs by Bob Dylan.

  1. "Tight Connection to My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love)" – 5:19
  2. "Seeing the Real You at Last" – 4:18
  3. "I'll Remember You" – 4:12
  4. "Clean Cut Kid" – 4:14
  5. "Never Gonna Be the Same Again" – 3:06
  6. "Trust Yourself" – 3:26
  7. "Emotionally Yours" – 4:36
  8. "When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky" – 7:18
  9. "Something's Burning, Baby" – 4:51
  10. "Dark Eyes" – 5:04

Personnel

Michael (Mike Wayne Campbell (born February 1 1950 in Panama City FL in the U Lowell "Sly" Fillmore Dunbar was born on 10 May 1952, in Kingston, Jamaica. Arthur Baker may refer to Arthur Baker (calligrapher, calligrapher and typeface designer Arthur Baker (musician, record producer and DJ Howard Norman Epstein ( July 21, 1955 - February 23, 2003) was a musician best known for his work with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Anton Fig (born August 8 1952 in Cape Town South Africa) known as "The Thunder from Down Under" Jim Keltner (born April 27 1942 in Tulsa Oklahoma) is a distinguished session drummer who has contributed to the work of many well-known artists Al Kooper (born Alan Peter Kuperschmidt, February 5 1944, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American Songwriter, Sly and Robbie are one of Reggae 's most prolific and long lasting production teams Michael "Mick" Kevin Taylor (born 17 January 1949 in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire) is an English Musician best known as a Benjamin Montmorency (Benmont Tench III (born September 7, 1953) an American Keyboardist, best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Ronald David "Ronnie" Wood (born 1 June 1947 in Hillingdon London) is an English rock Guitarist and Bassist best known
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