Slow Train Coming

Slow Train Coming
Name	Slow Train Coming
Artist	Bob Dylan
Released	August 20, 1979
Recorded	April 30 – May 11, 1979
Studio	Muscle Shoals Sound Studio (Sheffield, Alabama)
Genre	Gospel, blues rock, rhythm and blues
Length	46:19
Label	Columbia Records
Producer	Jerry Wexler, Barry Beckett
Prev title	Street-Legal
Prev year	1978
Next title	Saved
Next year	1980

Slow Train Coming is the nineteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on Columbia Records in August 1979. The record marked a dramatic and controversial stylistic shift, being Dylan's first collection of gospel songs following his conversion to Evangelical Christianity. Produced by legendary Atlantic Records veteran Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett, the album was recorded at the famed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama with a band featuring guitarist Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits.

Background and recording

Following a period of personal turmoil and a highly publicized conversion experience, Dylan embarked on the album with a fervent new artistic direction. He enlisted producer Jerry Wexler, known for his work with Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett, who suggested recording at the iconic Muscle Shoals Sound Studio to capture a authentic rhythm and blues feel. The core studio band included Barry Beckett on keyboards, Tim Drummond on bass, Pick Withers on drums, and the emerging talent Mark Knopfler, whose distinctive guitar work became a defining element of the album's sound. Backing vocalists including Clydie King, Monica Malone, and Regina Havis provided the rich gospel harmonies that underscored the album's spiritual themes. Sessions were notably intense and focused, completed in a short period during the spring of 1979.

Music and lyrical themes

Musically, the album departs from Dylan's earlier folk rock and heartland rock styles, embracing a polished blend of gospel, blues rock, and soul music. Tracks like "Gotta Serve Somebody" and "Precious Angel" are built on tight, melodic grooves driven by Mark Knopfler's crisp Fender Stratocaster licks and the impeccable Muscle Shoals rhythm section. Lyrically, the work is an unequivocal proclamation of born-again Christian faith, with songs addressing themes of sin, redemption, divine judgment, and prophetic warning. Tracks such as "Slow Train" and "When You Gonna Wake Up" contain direct social and political commentary filtered through this new theological lens, while "I Believe in You" stands as a stark, personal testament of devotion.

Critical reception

Initial critical reception was sharply divided, reflecting the shock of Dylan's abrupt thematic shift. Publications like Rolling Stone and The Village Voice featured reviews ranging from bewildered to hostile, with some critics lamenting the perceived didacticism of the lyrics. However, other reviewers praised the album's musical cohesion and the strength of Dylan's vocal performances, noting the superior production by Jerry Wexler. The album later received a Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male for the song "Gotta Serve Somebody," lending it a measure of institutional validation. Over time, assessments have softened, with many modern critics from outlets like AllMusic and Pitchfork recognizing it as a powerful, if challenging, entry in Dylan's vast discography.

Commercial performance

Commercially, Slow Train Coming proved to be a significant success, outperforming its immediate predecessor, Street-Legal. It reached No. 3 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart in the United States and achieved platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. The lead single, "Gotta Serve Somebody," became a moderate hit on radio, and its Grammy Award win brought additional attention. The album also charted strongly in the United Kingdom, reaching the Top 10, and found audiences across Europe and Australasia, demonstrating Dylan's enduring global appeal even amidst a radical artistic change.

Track listing

All songs written by Bob Dylan. # "Gotta Serve Somebody" – 5:22 # "Precious Angel" – 6:27 # "I Believe in You" – 5:02 # "Slow Train" – 5:55 # "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking" – 5:25 # "Do Right to Me Baby (Do Unto Others)" – 3:50 # "When You Gonna Wake Up" – 5:25 # "Man Gave Names to All the Animals" – 4:23 # "When He Returns" – 4:30

Personnel

* Bob Dylan – vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica * Mark Knopfler – lead guitar * Barry Beckett – keyboards, Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section * Tim Drummond – bass * Pick Withers – drums * Clydie King – backing vocals * Monica Malone – backing vocals * Regina Havis – backing vocals * Harrison Calloway – horns * Harvey Thompson – horns * Ronnie Eades – horns * Charlie Rose – horns * Jerry Wexler – production * Barry Beckett – production, engineering * Gregg Hamm – engineering * Bobby Hata – mastering

Category:1979 albums Category:Bob Dylan albums Category:Columbia Records albums Category:Grammy Award-winning albums