Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I had a request to play Bob Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody,” which I did play by the way (so it’s coming soon). But while preparing for which songs to play this week, I remembered “Property of Jesus” which is on Bob’s quasi Christian album, Shot of Love. I really enjoyed the lousy goose fun groove and the cowbell part! Anyhow, happy Sunday and Happy Father’s Day! Enjoy!
Shot of Love is the twenty-first studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on August 12, 1981, by Columbia Records. It is considered to be Dylan's last of a trilogy of Christian albums.
At the time of its release, Shot of Love received mixed reviews; Paul Nelson of Rolling Stone criticized the album, though he did single out the last track, "Every Grain of Sand", as a standout. Shot of Love, while reaching UK No. 6, selling more than 60,000 copies, continued Dylan's US commercial decline, reaching No. 33 and selling around 300,000 copies, during a brief chart stay. Bono of Irish band U2 described Shot of Love as one of his favorites, particularly due to Dylan's singing ability.
"Although the Shot of Love album was less religious than the previous two albums Dylan recorded, it most certainly included a number of very solidly Christian songs – including rather obviously obviously.
Continuing the evangelism of Slow Train Coming and Saved, "Property of Jesus" is another one of Dylan's sharp put-down songs, this time aimed at non-believers who sneer at the Christian faithful.
It is a song that appears to have been worked and re-worked, but then having been recorded was not used on the tours, so maybe Dylan never really felt it was finished. Or maybe he had worked it out of his system.
The title phrase is probably relates to 1 Corinthians 7, 20, which is often presented as “Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them,” although obviously different editions of the Bible have different translations.
The song seems to me to be a straightforward message saying you can make fun of this guy because he is now a Christian and you can sneer at the Christian faith and the faithful, but what you think is better is actually a lack of humanity, and a lack of Christian ways, it is in fact a heart of stone. Bob had a way with words.
Personnel
Bob Dylan – guitar, harmonica, percussion, piano, keyboards, vocals, producer
Carolyn Dennis – background vocals
Steve Douglas – saxophone
Tim Drummond, Donald Dunn – bass guitar
Jim Keltner – drums
Ringo Starr – drums on "Heart of Mine"
Clydie King – background vocals
Danny Kortchmar – electric guitar
Regina McCrory – background vocals
Carl Pickhardt – piano
Madelyn Quebec – background vocals
Steve Ripley, Fred Tackett – guitar
Ronnie Wood – guitar on "Heart of Mine"
William "Smitty" Smith – Hammond organ
Benmont Tench – keyboards
Monalisa Young – background vocals
Gretsch - 14x20, 8x10, 9x13, 16x16
Ludwig Black Beauty - 6.5x14
Paiste - 15" Giant Beat Hi Hats, 12" splash, 16" 2002 Thin Crash (2), 22” Big Beat, 20" 505 Crash, 18" 2002 Crash, LP Salsa Cowbell
Avenir WackStack Alloy Clap Effect Cymbal Stack 11/13/15
Logic Pro X
Focusrite 18i20
Behringer ADA 8200
Seventh Circle Audio Preamps (J-99 (2), N-72, A-12)
Now available Earldrum's Spring Store
https://my-store-d51346.creator-sprin...
Please check out my series on how to make a drum cover in this playlist
• How I Make A Drum Cover (Series)
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
No Copyright Infringement Intended. All copyrighted material remains the property of the respective copyright owner(s).
I had a request to play Bob Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody,” which I did play by the way (so it’s coming soon). But while preparing for which songs to play this week, I remembered “Property of Jesus” which is on Bob’s quasi Christian album, Shot of Love. I really enjoyed the lousy goose fun groove and the cowbell part! Anyhow, happy Sunday and Happy Father’s Day! Enjoy!
Shot of Love is the twenty-first studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on August 12, 1981, by Columbia Records. It is considered to be Dylan's last of a trilogy of Christian albums.
At the time of its release, Shot of Love received mixed reviews; Paul Nelson of Rolling Stone criticized the album, though he did single out the last track, "Every Grain of Sand", as a standout. Shot of Love, while reaching UK No. 6, selling more than 60,000 copies, continued Dylan's US commercial decline, reaching No. 33 and selling around 300,000 copies, during a brief chart stay. Bono of Irish band U2 described Shot of Love as one of his favorites, particularly due to Dylan's singing ability.
"Although the Shot of Love album was less religious than the previous two albums Dylan recorded, it most certainly included a number of very solidly Christian songs – including rather obviously obviously.
Continuing the evangelism of Slow Train Coming and Saved, "Property of Jesus" is another one of Dylan's sharp put-down songs, this time aimed at non-believers who sneer at the Christian faithful.
It is a song that appears to have been worked and re-worked, but then having been recorded was not used on the tours, so maybe Dylan never really felt it was finished. Or maybe he had worked it out of his system.
The title phrase is probably relates to 1 Corinthians 7, 20, which is often presented as “Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them,” although obviously different editions of the Bible have different translations.
The song seems to me to be a straightforward message saying you can make fun of this guy because he is now a Christian and you can sneer at the Christian faith and the faithful, but what you think is better is actually a lack of humanity, and a lack of Christian ways, it is in fact a heart of stone. Bob had a way with words.
Personnel
Bob Dylan – guitar, harmonica, percussion, piano, keyboards, vocals, producer
Carolyn Dennis – background vocals
Steve Douglas – saxophone
Tim Drummond, Donald Dunn – bass guitar
Jim Keltner – drums
Ringo Starr – drums on "Heart of Mine"
Clydie King – background vocals
Danny Kortchmar – electric guitar
Regina McCrory – background vocals
Carl Pickhardt – piano
Madelyn Quebec – background vocals
Steve Ripley, Fred Tackett – guitar
Ronnie Wood – guitar on "Heart of Mine"
William "Smitty" Smith – Hammond organ
Benmont Tench – keyboards
Monalisa Young – background vocals
Gretsch - 14x20, 8x10, 9x13, 16x16
Ludwig Black Beauty - 6.5x14
Paiste - 15" Giant Beat Hi Hats, 12" splash, 16" 2002 Thin Crash (2), 22” Big Beat, 20" 505 Crash, 18" 2002 Crash, LP Salsa Cowbell
Avenir WackStack Alloy Clap Effect Cymbal Stack 11/13/15
Logic Pro X
Focusrite 18i20
Behringer ADA 8200
Seventh Circle Audio Preamps (J-99 (2), N-72, A-12)
Now available Earldrum's Spring Store
https://my-store-d51346.creator-sprin...
Please check out my series on how to make a drum cover in this playlist
• How I Make A Drum Cover (Series)
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
No Copyright Infringement Intended. All copyrighted material remains the property of the respective copyright owner(s).
