Bob Dylan fans say his 1980s period is his ‘most whiny’ as they label it their ‘least favourite’ time

Fans of the legendary songwriter Bob Dylan have pinpointed the 1980s as their “least favourite” period of his work, in part due to “whiny” vocals.

A post to r/BobDylan saw listeners share their least-favourite moments in Dylan’s lengthy career. One fan asked: “What is your least favourite Dylan vocal period? We all love Dylan’s voice for the many phases and iterations it’s gone through. But let’s face it: there’s at least one period that we don’t enjoy as much. Here’s my choices. His Sinatra albums have retroactively made it difficult to listen to his hoarse singing on Christmas in the Heart and Tempest. When I first heard Real Live from 1984, it felt like I suddenly learned where every Dylan impression came from. The wheezing goes a little too far.”

Other users have agreed with the Real Live suggestion and say though Dylan’s vocal work is in need of improvement, the arrangements make up for it. One wrote: “I understand the Real Live comment. But the arrangements are good and that sorta makes up for his weird singing. But for me, the worst is Dylan and the Dead.”

Another agreed with being let down by Dylan and the Dead, a collaborative live album between Dylan and Grateful Dead. They wrote: “What’s annoying about the Dylan and the Dead album is that the rehearsals actually sound great. Like there’s moments where you get Basement Tapes Dylan peeking through — but yeah, I agree with you.”

A third added: “As someone who likes both Dylan and the Dead, I was deeply disappointed by that collection. It seemed like the worst of both worlds.” Some users also defended Real Live, specifically the version of Tangled Up in Blue found on the album.

One wrote: “Oh, but that Tangled Up In Blue off of Real Live is so divine. By far my favorite version of the song.” Another added: “Mid 80s through mid 90s. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great works in there that I enjoy very much, but his voice was definitely at its most nasally/whiny. Once he hit Time Out of Mind and got that old bluesman growl going, I found it to be an improvement.”

What is your LEAST FAVORITE Dylan vocal period?
byu/BillNyeTheVinylGuy inbobdylan

Another added: “There is a point in the 80’s where he almost returns to his Rolling Thunder Revue voice and I always thought it was super confusing. It happens somewhere between 86-88 and there a lot of great acoustic songs at the time. I’ll have to dig through my bootlegs!”

Others were less kind to Real Live, considering it a “mid-life crisis” album. One wrote: “Another vote for Real Live! I agree that it’s where the bad Dylan impressions originated.”

Another added: “Real Live and that period sound to me like a guy having a mid-life crisis trying to regain his former glory by impersonating a younger self (or some other self). It sounds like he’s imitating the Blonde on Blonde voice, albeit with a voice that’s thinner from age. He sings that way on I Want You, Stuck Inside of Mobile etc.”