Slow Train Coming is the nineteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on August 20, 1979 by Columbia Records. It was the artist’s first effort since becoming a born-again Christian, and all of the songs either express his strong personal faith, or stress the importance of Christian teachings and philosophy. The evangelical nature of the record alienated many of Dylan’s existing fans; at the same time, many Christians were drawn into his fan base. Slow Train Coming was listed at #16 in the 2001 book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music.
The album was generally well-reviewed in the secular press, and the single “Gotta Serve Somebody” became his first hit in three years, winning Dylan the Grammy for best rock vocal performance by a male in 1980. The album peaked at #2 on the charts in the UK and went platinum in the US, where it reached #3.
Great album, let’s see what other artists can do with the material.
This is a post where I have dug out some cover versions of the songs on the record, none of them are as good as the originals, but some are really good and some are just interesting. Let us do it the old fashion vinyl way.
This is side one:
1. Eric Burdon – Gotta Serve Somebody (song starts at 1:35, acoustic at Joshua Tree):
2. Sinnead O’Connor – Precious Angel:
3. Alison Krauss – I Believe In You:
4. Robbie Fulks – Slow Train Coming:
The second side:
1. Costa in Faliraki – Gonna Change my way of thinking:
2. Betty Lavette – Do right to me baby (audio):
3. Ben Street & Melbourne Mass Gospel Choir – When you Gonna Wake Up:
4. Johnny Borrell (Razorlight) – Man gave names to all the animals:
5. John lee Sanders – When he returns:
2 great bonus tracks:
Mavis Staples & Johnny Lang – Gotta Serve Somebody (2011):
Townes Van Zandt – Man Gave Names To all the Animals (audio):
Check out more Full Dylan albums covered:
Sinnead O’Connor-what a great version. Thanks for including that one