10 Most Underrated Bob Dylan Songs

Bob Dylan is a man prone to a comeback, but perhaps none have been so comeback-y as 1989’s Oh Mercy. Produced by U2 collaborator Daniel Lanois, the record put a genuinely modern sheen on Dylan’s music, and the stadium friendly vibes were perfectly countered by the artist’s weary, grizzled songcraft.

“Most Of The Time” was the record’s hit, but its even bleaker follow up, “What Good Am I?”, is worthy of major rediscovery. It sounds like a tune written by a man at the end of his tether, a reasonable creative assessment for the Dylan of the late ‘80s. He’s trying to do better, to bring something more out of himself, but doesn’t know if he can anymore.

The sheen Lanois places over the music won’t be for every Dylan fan, but it works wonderfully here, on one of the sparser and less adulterated tracks. Dylan’s voice is ragged and rough as he tries to cling onto an upper register that’s fast deserting him; like a lot of his music, the lack of technical finesse only adds to the experience.

The track was also covered to great effect by Tom Jones, who went full torch song, though the Welshman’s machismo makes the oozing self doubt sound affected. From Dylan’s mouth, it’s achingly real.