Planet Waves

The Band had backed Bob Dylan on his historic Basement Tapes, and their earthy rapport remains intact here. The lovably loose, lo-fi feel of their earlier collaboration is evoked anew, but Dylan’s songwriting vision had evolved. His much-covered “Forever Young” represented a new level of openhearted compassion, and the degree of unbridled emotional commitment expressed on “Wedding Song” is striking, especially when combined with those masterful poetic powers. Dylan was approaching his mid-30s when Planet Waves was made, and maturity clearly suited him.