Desire

After Blood on the Tracks re-established Bob Dylan's creative authority, the reinvigorated artist went about planning his next move. Inspired by The Patti Smith Group's energy and repartee, Dylan sought to find a collection of musicians who could work synergistically with him, and The Rolling Thunder Revue was born. The group went on tour (best represented on The Bootleg Series, Vol. 5), and Dylan collaborated with theater director Jacques Levy. The two wrote much of what became 1976's Desire, one of Dylan's most commercially successful albums. Songs like "Hurricane," "Isis," "Joey," "Romance in Durango," and "Black Diamond Bay" took on heady narratives that proved the collaboration was an artistic success. Scarlet Rivera's violin is an integral part of the mix, with bassist Rob Stoner and drummer Howie Wyeth giving the sessions a loose but focused appeal. Emmylou Harris provided harmony and backing vocals throughout. Written by Dylan alone, "Sara" closes the album. It's one of his most touching, extremely personal, and straightforward love songs.