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Slow Train Coming | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 20, 1979 | |||
Recorded | April 30 – May 11, 1979 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:19 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | ||||
Bob Dylan chronology | ||||
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Slow Train Coming is the nineteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on August 20, 1979, by Columbia Records. It was Dylan's first album following his conversion to Christianity, and the songs either express personal faith, or stress the importance of Christian teachings and philosophy. The evangelical nature of the record alienated many of Dylan's existing fans; at the same time, many Christians were drawn into his fan base. Slow Train Coming was listed at No. 16 in the 2001 book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music.
The album was generally well-reviewed by music critics, and the single "Gotta Serve Somebody" became his first hit in three years, winning Dylan the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1980. The album peaked at No. 2 on the charts in the UK and went platinum in the US, where it reached No. 3.
A high-definition 5.1 surround sound edition of the album was released on SACD by Columbia in 2003.[4]
Dylan's three Christian-rock albums are derisively referred to as the "Unholy Three," even though they produced a number of great songs, including this one and the aforementioned Gotta Serve Somebody.
Until this release, virtually the only access we've had to Dylan's gospel music has been the three studio albums he made during this era: "Slow Train Coming" (1979), "Saved" (1980) and "Shot of Love" (1981).