Last Update: 04/05/2026 at 2:50 PM EST
Dylan Reunites With The Band
Coverage from Salmagundi, American Songwriter, and others
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02/24
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Executive Summary
Bob Dylan reunited with The Band for Planet Waves, his first No. 1 album, blending intimate songs with a rapid 1974 recording and tour
- Dylan reunited with The Band in November 1973 to record Planet Waves in California
- The album was released in January 1974 on Asylum after Dylan left Columbia
- Planet Waves became Dylan's first album to reach No. 1
- The sessions were fast and loose, with many songs cut in one or two takes
- Forever Young appeared in two versions and became the album's best-known song
- The songs lean toward love, marriage, and domestic life, with darker material on Dirge and Going, Going, Gone
- A 40-date 1974 U.S. tour followed and led to the live album Before the Flood
Quick Facts
- What: Reunited to record Planet Waves and launch a tour
- Where: California, including Malibu and West Los Angeles
- Why: To make a new album after Dylan's quiet period and revive live work
- Who: Bob Dylan and members of The Band
- When: November 1973 and January 1974
Coverage Timeline: 4057 Days
Featured Article
Bob Dylan reunited with Robbie Robertson and The Band to record Planet Waves in November 1973 in Los Angeles, released January 1974 as his first number one album.
Additional Articles
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Bob Dylan and The Band recorded Planet Waves in California in late 1973 and released the album in 1974, then toured the U.S. on Tour '74.
On Jan. 17, 1974, Bob Dylan released Planet Waves, recorded with the Band in Malibu and followed by a 40-date tour and a No. 1 album.
Bob Dylan recorded Planet Waves with the Band and, after entering the chart on Feb 9, 1974 at number 19, the album reached No. 1 a week later in West Los Angeles.
Bob Dylan's 1974 album Planet Waves, recorded with The Band, is highlighted for its vintage analog sound and strong intimate performances.
Bob Dylan's album Planet Waves, released Jan 17, 1974, is reassessed in a 50th-anniversary retrospective focusing on its recordings with The Band and tour connections.
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Feb 16, 1974, Bob Dylan's Planet Waves topped the Billboard 200 for four weeks with The Band backing him, after recording in West Los Angeles.
Bob Dylan recorded his debut album at Columbia's Studio A (799) in New York City in November 1961, after introductions from Carolyn Hester and attention from John Hammond.
Dylan released Murder Most Foul in 2020, a 17-minute song about John F. Kennedy, which topped the Rock Digital Sales chart and appeared on Rough and Rowdy Ways.
Bob Dylan released Planet Waves via Asylum Records, recorded secretly with the Band at Village Recorders in West Los Angeles, entering the charts on Feb 9, 1974 and reaching No 1 a week later.
Dylan's Planet Waves peaked at No 1 on Feb 16, 1974, staying atop the Billboard 200 for four weeks.
On a February day, Dylan's Planet Waves topped the US Billboard 200, Led Zeppelin began an Australian tour in Perth, and The Faces reunited at the Brit Awards.