1983's aptly titled Infidels represents Bob Dylan's return to secular music after a not-so-well-received trilogy of CCM albums, inspired by his brief conversion to fundamentalist Christianity. While there are no directly blasphemous or offensive lyrics on Infidels, it does sounds as if Mr. Dylan were making up for lost time, indulging in forms of boldness unheard of in Christian rock. "Jokerman" and "I And I" employ pungent, outer worldly imagery characterized by a non-specification that has little hindrance of their strength. "Neighborhood Bully," "License to Kill" and the scathingly anti-capitalistic "Union Sundown" (a song that is as poignant a protest anthem for the eighties as "The Times They Are A-Changing'" was for the sixties) demonstrate that the cunning social critic that has always resided in Mr. Dylan has awaken with a furor. He even attacks the duplicity and shallowness of the fire-and-brimstone preachers he emulated during his Christian period with "Man of Peace." Infidels is a welcome return for Mr. Dylan to non-pious music and an excellent display of the power and bravery his music can possess.

After reading some of the reviews, I understand this most people don't get the lyrics or the subetlies of Mark Knopfler playing which is usually in the back, beneath the overall sound with Mick Taylors guitar playing out in front. knopflers leads take quite a few listens to even hear. Lets get beyond that and get to the lyrics Jokerman is a masterpiece warning of the coming of the beast( a woman gave birth to a priest today dressed in scarlett)the only real question i have about the song is what is the Jokerman ? A country, mankind as a whole or the devil in disguise. Yes this album is full of biblical and social commentary. Neighborhood Bully is about a large portion of the worlds perception of Isarael, Man of Peace is about how the devil disguises himself, current president Bush, Arafat and host of others who seem to give goodwill in the their perception of peace. License to Kill is about man's obssesion to dominate through force and his clear abandonment of Gods laws. I and I is man inner struggle with the forces of good and evil. This Cd I have owned for over 20 years and his (Dylans) genius at wordcraft and music never fails to amaze me. For those who have'nt heard it buy it for those who have listen again and ask yourself what do you think he was refferring to when he sings the book of Leviticus and Deutoromy,the law of the jungle and the sea are your only keeper means?

You will never see Infidels listed among Dylan's classics which is a shame. Lyrically and vocally this is one of Dylan's hardest hitting albums. Jokerman, License to Kill, Man of Peace, Neighborhood Bully and Union Sundown all take aim at corrosive social problems. Unlike many political protest songs, the songs on Infidels are just as relevant now as when they were written. Sweetheart Like You and I and I are among Dylan's best ballads.

So why only four stars? Well, frankly the overproduction takes a lot of the bite out of Neighborhood Bully, Man of Peace and Union Sundown. But, pretty much every album ever released has flaws. So if you like Dylan, but do not have this album, get it now. If you are a neophyte, get Blood on the Tracks, Blonde on Blonde, Highway 61 or any of his masterpieces. Then purchase Infidels, you won't be disappointed.

If anyone from Columbia Records is reading this PLEASE listen! You recently re-mixed and re-released Street Legal. With Infidels, you have *much* better material to work with, and the chance to release one of BD's greatest albums. Here's all you need to do:

1) Re-mix the album so that Jokerman (one of his greatest songs ever), Sweetheart, I and I, etc. have better sound quality than the original release

2) Add the amazing songs that were inexplicably left off the original release: Foot of Pride, Blind Willie McTell, Someone's Got a Hold of My Heart, and Lord Protect My Child

3) I also understand there was a great song he did a great song called "Julius and Ethel" about the Rosenbergs -- let's hear it!

4) Release the album, then sit back and read the outstanding critical reviews, and watch the sales go through the roof!

Please, drop me a line if you have any questions...

What could have easily been one of Dylan's greatest albums was mangled by the man himself, and what has he left us with? A perfectly respectable effort highlighted by the brilliant "Jokerman" and the lovely "Sweetheart Like You," both of which have to carry the ball for mediocre scribblings like "Union Sundown," "Man of Peace," and the dreadful "Don't Fall Apart On Me Tonight." By dumping a couple of these less than memorable tracks, and including "Blind Willie McTell," "Foot of Pride," and perhaps "Someone's Got a Hold of My Heart" (all of them available on "The Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3"), this would be right up there with the best of the best. If there was ever an album in need of restoration and re-release, it's this one.