I have always been drawn to “Isis” which is a journey of imagery. “Black Diamond Bay” is almost a script waiting to be filmed. It explores the destruction of an Island from different perspectives including the Island itself. “Romance In Durango” is a return to the style of John Wesley Harding. It chronicles an outlaw and his lover on the run. “One More Cup Of Coffee” concerns a family of wandering gypsies. It is a moody and haunting tale set to music. “Mozambique” is a straight forward rocker with some lyrical imagery thrown in for good measure. Desire was an album of adventure. The songs are well crafted and Levy’s contributions fit Dylan’s style well. If Blood On The Tracks is rated 5 stars then Desire is very close at four to four and a half stars. It remains one of the important releases of the 1970s and is still worth seeking out three decades later.
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Article comments
1 - Liuzhou Laowai
I'm surprised you didn't say more about the unique sound of this album within Dylan's output. Scarlet Rivera's violin is so much part of this album in a way few other musicians have added an overall tone to Dylan's music.
2 - Marc
THE VIOLIN HELPED THE TUNES SWING IN A WAY THAT DYLANS MUSIC NEVER HAD BEFORE.THE PICTURESQUE STORY TELLING MADE DYLAN SEEM MORE ACCESSIBLE.
I GOT TO KNOW HIM BETTER WITHOUT HIM DIVULGING HIS BIG LIFES SECRETS.THIS ALBUM PLAYS AS FRESH AS THE DAY IT CAME OT.
3 - whalespoon
I own all of Bob's albums and a tone of unreleased Bob as well and "Desire" is my all time favorite Bob album. For depth of performance and excellence in writing ("Joey' notwithstanding), Bob seldom, if ever, topped this one.
4 - kevin cramsey
I guess I just missed the boat on this one. I have never been drawn to this album. It's cohesive in sound, I will say that, but track by track, it just doesn't excite me. I used to think "Hurricane" was a great song -- and it may be -- but it is so factually challenged lyrically that I can't enjoy it anymore. (Carter never rode "a horse along the trail," as Bob sings. He was a thug whose best days in the ring were behind him and he was hanging out in bars in his old hometown, neglecting his family and raising hell.
"Joey" is also a lyrical disgrace lyrically, and the tune isn't even any good. It plods on for like 10 minutes and seems longer. Just awful.
"Romanco in Durango" and "Black Diamomnd Bay" are flat-out boring. "Mozambique," is routine, almost pedestrian.
"Oh Sister" is probably the best song.
"Sara" is another I just can't listen to. Fourteen minutes of someone -- even the great Dylan -- pouring his heart out to his soon-to-be-ex wife is just not a very pleasurable listening experience. If he felt so compelled, he should have sat down and sung the song to her personally and forgotten about preserving for posterity.
As for Scarlet Rivera's omni present violin, it gows tiresome after two or three songs. You just can't escape it.
My favorite song from these sessions was "Abandoned Love" and it didn't make the cut. Ended up on "Biograph" I think.
I give the album 2 1/2 stars. What can I say? I've been listening ot Dylan for 30-plus years and I still haven't been converted on this album. Maybe it's just me. Sorry fans of "Desire." Don't stone me, please.