Unbelievable (Bob Dylan song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Unbelievable"
UnbelievableCDsinglecover.jpeg
CD single cover
Single by Bob Dylan
from the album Under the Red Sky
A-side"Unbelievable"
B-side"10,000 Men"
ReleasedSeptember 1990
RecordedMarch - April 1990
GenreRock
Length4:06
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan singles chronology
"Most of the Time"
(1989) 		"Unbelievable"
(1990) 		"Series of Dreams"
(1991)

"Unbelievable" is an uptempo rock song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released as a single in September 1990 and as the third track on his 27th studio album Under the Red Sky the same month. It was produced by Don Was, David Was and Dylan (under the pseudonym Jack Frost).[1] Dylan also released a promotional music video for the song in which he appeared along with actresses Molly Ringwald and Sally Kirkland.[2]

The single reached No. 70 in Canada, and No. 21 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

Reception[]

Dylan scholar Tony Attwood describes the song as lightweight but effective: "Dylan gives us what is in effect a two chord standard rock song with a third chord briefly added and not that much of a melody. In short a driving rock number. And it works!"[3]

The song placed tenth on a list of the 10 "Best Bob Dylan Songs" of the 1990s at Classic Rock History. In an article accompanying the list, critic Brett Stewart notes that, while Under the Red Sky is uneven as a whole, "Unbelievable" is one of the album's "surprisingly good tracks" and calls it "a fantastic romp through characteristically screechy harmonicas, bluesy rock and roll, and fantastic lyrics".[4]

In live performance[]

Dylan performed the song 29 times between 1992 and 2004 on the Never Ending Tour.[5] The live debut occurred at Lansdowne Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on August 22, 1992 and the last performance (to date) took place at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia on April 12, 2004.[6]

Covers[]

Bettye LaVette covered it as the opening track of her 2015 album Worthy.[7]

Charts[]

Chart (1985) Peak
position
Canadian RPM Singles Chart 70[8]
US Billboard Mainstream Rock 21[9]

References[]

  1. ^ "Under the Red Sky | The Official Bob Dylan Site". www.bobdylan.com. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  2. ^ Dylan, Bob. "Unbelievable". YouTube.
  3. ^ "Unbelievable: the meanings behind the Bob Dylan song | Untold Dylan". Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  4. ^ Stewart, Brett (2016-04-17). "The Best Bob Dylan Songs of the 1990's". ClassicRockHistory.com. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  5. ^ "Bob Dylan Tour Statistics | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  6. ^ "Setlists | The Official Bob Dylan Site". www.bobdylan.com. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  7. ^ Murray, Nick (2014-12-24). "Hear Bettye LaVette's Gritty Take on Dylan's 'Unbelievable'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  8. ^ Top Singles - Volume 52, No. 26, November 10, 1990
  9. ^ Under the Red Sky Awards

External links[]


Stub icon

This 1990s single–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Retrieved from ""