Shot of Love
| Shot of Love | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Bob Dylan | ||||
| Released | August 10, 1981 | |||
| Recorded | March–May 1981 | |||
| Genre | Rock, gospel | |||
| Length | 40:15 (original version) | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer |
Chuck Plotkin, Bob Dylan with Bumps Blackwell on "Shot of Love" |
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| Bob Dylan chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Robert Christgau | B– |
| Entertainment Weekly | B– |
| Q | |
| Rolling Stone |  |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Shot of Love is the twenty-first studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on August 10, 1981 by Columbia Records. It is considered to be Dylan's last of a trilogy of Christian albums. Arrangements are rooted more in rock'n'roll, and less in gospel than Dylan's two previous albums.
At the time of its release, Shot of Love received mixed reviews; Paul Nelson of Rolling Stone criticised the album, though he did single out the last track "Every Grain of Sand," as a stand-out. Shot of Love, while reaching UK #6, continued Dylan's US commercial decline, reaching #33 during a brief chart stay. Bono of Irish band U2 described Shot of Love as one of his favourites, particularly due to Dylan's singing ability.
Throughout 1980, Dylan was still focused on religious-oriented music in what was dubbed as his 'Born Again' period. This period was marked by prolific songwriting, and it continued through the summer, when Dylan began work on his follow-up album to Saved. "Property of Jesus," "Yonder Comes Sin," and new arrangements of older material like "Ain't Gonna Go to Hell (For Anybody)" were composed during this time, as were "Caribbean Wind" and "The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar", which "contrast[ed] his troubled sexual relations with the demands of a higher calling," according to Dylan biographer Clinton Heylin.
Then, sometime in mid-September, Dylan reassembled his standing band at Rundown Studios in Santa Monica, California, where they recorded a number of his new songs, including "Every Grain of Sand". A rough recording of "Every Grain of Sand" dating from this period was eventually released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991.
Dylan embarked on a tour in November-December 1980, before returning to his songwriting. In March 1981, Dylan held more informal sessions at both Rundown and Studio 55, rehearsing some of his new compositions while auditioning a potential producer, Jimmy Iovine. These sessions focused on the song "Caribbean Wind," an ambitious work that had been performed live once during November. Already generating interest in the rock press, "Caribbean Wind" was seen as a potential centerpiece for his upcoming album, but it was not quite considered finished. Numerous attempts at recording "Caribbean Wind" during the Iovine sessions proved disappointing, with Dylan growing increasingly pessimistic about the song's prospects. Another new composition, "Angelina" was recorded with much greater success, and Dylan was satisfied enough to mark it for inclusion.
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