Saved cover art

  Studio Album · No. 17

Saved Songwriting Credits by Bob Dylan

1980 Columbia Records 9 tracks 43 min
Columbia Records Christian rockGospel
89%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 8 of 9 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 8 / 9 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Bob Dylan carries a lyricist or composer credit.

89%
8 trackswritten by Bob Dylan 1 trackoutside writers
Bob Dylan's roles on this album

Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist89%
Composer89%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

9
Tracks
4
Lyricists
1
Producers
approximately 380,000 copies
US Copies Sold
1980
Released
Data Insight

Most of Saved was written by Bob Dylan, with two exceptions: A Satisfied Mind is a cover written by Red Hayes and Jack Rhodes, and the title track Saved was co-written by Dylan with bassist Tim Drummond. The 1980 album was the second of Dylan's Christian-period records, again produced by Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett. It was recorded quickly at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama.

Released June 23, 1980, Saved was Dylan's second installment in his so-called Christian trilogy, recorded February 11-15, 1980 at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama with producers Barry Beckett and Jerry Wexler returning from Slow Train Coming. Dylan wrote the majority of the tracks, though "A Satisfied Mind" was credited to Red Hayes and Jack Rhodes, and the title track listed bassist Tim Drummond as co-writer. Where Slow Train Coming had integrated funk and soul production values, Saved deepened its reliance on gospel arrangements with lyrics explicitly extolling personal faith, representing a more doctrinally focused approach than its predecessor. The album reached No. 3 in the UK but only No. 24 in the US, selling approximately 380,000 copies without achieving gold certification, a significant commercial step down from Slow Train Coming. Critical response was polarized, with CCM Magazine praising it as an open declaration of deepening faith while Rolling Stone's Kurt Loder acknowledged the skilled backing musicians but found the overtly religious messaging limiting.

Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
A Satisfied Mind
Joe HayesJack Rhodes Joe HayesJack Rhodes Barry Beckett Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar)
2
Saved
Robert Allen ZimmermannTim Drummond Robert Allen ZimmermannTim Drummond Barry Beckett Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar)
3
Covenant Woman
Robert Allen Zimmermann Robert Allen Zimmermann Barry Beckett Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar)
4
What Can I Do for You?
Robert Allen Zimmermann Robert Allen Zimmermann Barry Beckett Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar)
5
Solid Rock
Robert Allen Zimmermann Robert Allen Zimmermann Barry Beckett Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar)
6
Pressing On
Robert Allen Zimmermann Robert Allen Zimmermann Barry Beckett Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar)
7
In the Garden
Robert Allen Zimmermann Robert Allen Zimmermann Barry Beckett Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar)
8
Saving Grace
Robert Allen Zimmermann Robert Allen Zimmermann Barry Beckett Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar)
9
Are You Ready
Robert Allen Zimmermann Robert Allen Zimmermann Barry Beckett Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 6 contributors

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Frequently Asked Questions Saved

Did Bob Dylan write all the songs on Saved?
No. Most of Saved was written by Bob Dylan, but A Satisfied Mind is a cover written by Red Hayes and Jack Rhodes. The title track Saved was co-written by Dylan with Tim Drummond.
Who wrote the song A Satisfied Mind on Bob Dylan's Saved?
A Satisfied Mind was written by Red Hayes and Jack Rhodes, not by Bob Dylan. It is the only full cover on Saved and opens the album.
Is Saved a Bob Dylan Christian album?
Yes. Saved, released in 1980, was the second album of Bob Dylan's Christian period. It followed Slow Train Coming and shares its gospel and Christian rock direction.
Who produced Bob Dylan's Saved?
Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett produced Saved. It was recorded in February 1980 at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama.
Who co-wrote the title track Saved with Bob Dylan?
Bassist Tim Drummond co-wrote the title track Saved with Bob Dylan. It was issued as a single in August 1980.
Did Saved by Bob Dylan chart well?
Saved reached number 3 on the UK albums chart but only number 24 in the US. It sold roughly 380,000 copies in the US and did not reach Gold certification.
What singles were released from Bob Dylan's Saved?
Solid Rock was released in July 1980 and the title track Saved in August 1980. Both are Bob Dylan compositions, with Saved co-written by Tim Drummond.

Sources