Key developments
Tony Attwood names Isis 1975's best Dylan song
In a bob-dylan.org.uk post dated 2026-05-12, Tony Attwood frames 1975 as a turning point after Dylan's returns to composing in 1973 and 1974. He singles out "Isis" as his song of the year for 1975 and places it in the context of other songs from that period, including "One More Cup of Coffee," "Oh Sister," "Black Diamond Bay," and "Sara."
Why it matters
It is a current retrospective judgment on one of Dylan's most discussed mid-1970s songs.
Sources & driving stories
BOB-DYLAN · Tony Attwood
bob-dylan coverageBlog cites 46 live Isis performances
The same post says Dylan performed "Isis" live 46 times, concentrated in a seven-month span across 1975 and 1976. Attwood notes that after that brief burst, the song disappeared from Dylan's set for a long period.
Why it matters
It highlights how quickly the song moved from heavy live rotation to long-term absence.
Sources & driving stories
BOB-DYLAN · Tony Attwood
bob-dylan coverageWorth noting
WORTH NOTING
Abandoned Love framed as alternative
The post treats "Abandoned Love" as the main rival to "Isis," showing how the 1975 catalog is being compared.
WORTH NOTING
Jacques Levy collaboration noted
The article points to Jacques Levy's role in Dylan's 1975 writing, adding context to the songs discussed.
Still unclear
OPEN QUESTION
Why did Isis vanish after 1976?
The reported 46-show burst followed by a long absence raises the question of whether Dylan intentionally retired the song or simply stopped revisiting it.
OPEN QUESTION
Is 1975 being re-ranked upward?
Attwood's framing suggests a broader reassessment of Dylan's mid-1970s songwriting that may prompt more retrospective rankings.