BOB DYLAN : SAVED

  1. A Satisfied Mind
  2. Saved
  3. Covenant Woman
  4. What Can I Do for You?
  5. Solid Rock
  6. Pressing On
  7. In the Garden
  8. Saving Grace
  9. Are You Ready

Label : Columbia

Released : June 1980

Length : 42:39

Review (AllMusic) : If Saved did anything, it proved that the born-again Christianity of Slow Train Coming wasn't merely a passing fad, and that it did, in fact, mean something significant to Dylan. Whether it meant something significant to his audience was another matter entirely, since this is where his religion overshadows his music, turning the album into a sermon to an audience that is nearly certainly unconverted - and never will be, either. Dylan himself may be part of that audience, since he did back away from such a staunchly dogged viewpoint not long afterward, but that doesn't change Saved's status as being a fairly flat - and, for Dylan, fairly pedestrian - testament to his faith. And, if Slow Train Coming found him at a fairly creative peak of songwriting and supported by a supple backing band, he's turning out routine songs here, and the backing follows suit, resulting in his flattest record yet.

Review (Wikipedia) : Saved is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 20th studio album, released by Columbia Records in June 1980. Saved was Dylan's second album to follow his conversion to born-again Christianity, explored on the album's predecessor (1979's well-received Slow Train Coming). Every song on the album is about strong personal faith and features heavy gospel influences; unlike the previous record, many critics dismissed Saved for its dogmatic songs and bombastic arrangements. While it still made a healthy #3 in the UK, it only managed #24 during a brief chart stay in the US and never went gold. CCM Magazine described the album as an "open declaration of Dylan's deepening faith." The cover of 'Saved' originally featured a painting by Tony Wright of God's hand reaching down to touch the hands of his believers. However, this cover was subsequently replaced by a painting of Dylan on stage performing during that time period in order to downplay the overtly religious nature of the original cover. It has since been changed back on some re-releases. A quote inside the sleevenotes reads, "'Behold, the days come, sayeth the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah' (Jeremiah 31:31)".