4. Dylan Goes Country
After that three album run, Dylan released John Wesley Harding, a different album in that it mainly told biblical tales and songs of Old Testament-style warning. It still contained some searing rock'n'roll, though (All Along The Watchtower), and while it marked a change in style, it was nothing as drastic as the album he'd release next. That was Nashville Skyline, a country album through and through, and another example of Bob Dylan possibly f*cking with people. While the album's quality was never really in question - it probably ranks mid-Dylan but includes absolute classics in Lay Lady Lay and his rerecording of Girl From The North Country, this time sang with Johnny Cash - Dylan was certainly testing the patience of fans he'd not long ago tried converting to rock'n'roll. Country was as far away from that genre as possible, though, and by adopting a pretty outmoded new style, Dylan again looked to distance himself from his followers. Nashville Skyline, while obviously an attempt to completely remove himself from any form of political songwriting, also saw Dylan change-up his divisive voice and singing style for the first time, this time affecting a soft country croon.