Together Through Life

Released in 2009, Together Through Life is Bob Dylan's 33rd studio album and represents a unique collaborative peak, featuring lyrics co-written almost entirely with Robert Hunter of the Grateful Dead. Musically, the album departs from the polished 'Old Hollywood' and Civil War-era aesthetics of 'Modern Times' (2006), opting instead for a gritty, accordion-led sound inspired by Chicago blues and Tex-Mex traditions. Produced by Dylan under his Jack Frost pseudonym, the sessions were reportedly sparked by a request for a single song for an Olivier Dahan film, which then blossomed into a full-length exploration of road-movie atmospheres. The inclusion of David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) on accordion and Mike Campbell (The Heartbreakers) on guitar provides a specific instrumental palette that distinguishes this record from the rest of Dylan's 21st-century output. Upon release, it achieved significant commercial success, debuting at number one in both the US and UK, marking his first British chart-topper since 1970.