"Shot of Love" is Bob Dylan's twenty-first studio album, released on August 12, 1981, by Columbia Records. The album is notable for being the final installment in Dylan's trilogy of Christian-themed albums, following Slow Train Coming 1979 and Saved 1980. Unlike its predecessors, "Shot of Love" leans more towards rock with less emphasis on gospel influences, signaling a shift in Dylan's musical direction.
Upon its release, the album received mixed reviews from critics. Paul Nelson of Rolling Stone was critical of the album overall but praised the final track, Every Grain of Sand, as a highlight. Despite the lukewarm reception, the album found some success in the UK, where it peaked at No. 6. However, it continued Dylan's commercial decline in the US, where it reached No. 33 and had a brief stay on the charts.
Despite the mixed critical response, Shot of Love has been appreciated by notable musicians, including Bono of U2, who has cited it as one of his favorite Dylan albums, particularly admiring Dylan's vocal performances on the record.
