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Knopfler Recounts Difficult Dylan Sessions
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Executive Summary
Mark Knopfler recalls producing Bob Dylan's Infidels, where a tense studio process still yielded a polished, influential album
- Dylan hired Knopfler to produce Infidels in 1983 after considering Bowie, Costello, and Zappa
- Recording began at the Power Station in New York City in April 1983
- Dylan had already chosen most of the band and shaped the album's direction
- The lineup included Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar, Mick Taylor, Alan Clark, and Neil Dorfsman
- Knopfler said Dylan gave little direction and songs or arrangements could change suddenly
- Dorfsman described Dylan as provocative and sometimes disruptive in the studio
- Despite the friction, Knopfler praised the album's songs, especially Jokerman and I and I
Quick Facts
- What: A difficult but productive album production collaboration
- Where: Power Station studio in New York City
- Why: Dylan wanted a modern sound and Knopfler valued the result
- Who: Mark Knopfler, Bob Dylan, and the Infidels band
- When: April 1983 during recording of Infidels
Coverage Timeline: 2646 Days
Featured Article
Guitar Player revisits how Mark Knopfler produced Bob Dylan's 1983 album Infidels at New York's Power Station, revealing difficult yet fruitful studio sessions.
Additional Articles
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Bob Dylan's Infidels review published on 2022-10-07 on Cult Following.
Dylan released Infidels, recorded at The Power Station in New York City and produced by Mark Knopfler.
Mark Knopfler discusses collaborating with Dylan on Infidels during 1983 studio sessions.
1983: Knopfler produced Dylan's Infidels in London, working with Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar, Mick Taylor, Alan Clark, and Neil Dorfsman.
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Bob Dylan enlisted Mark Knopfler to produce Infidels in 1983, but recording-session tensions and constrained producer control contributed to its muted critical reception.
Mark Knopfler collaborated with Bob Dylan on the 1979 Slow Train Coming sessions and co-produced Infidels, and later opened for Dylan on tour in 2012.
Mark Knopfler produced Infidels for Bob Dylan; recording occurred April to October 1983, and the album was released in 1983.