Michael Bolton’s Unexpected Collaboration with Bob Dylan: A Story of ‘Steel Bars’ and Musical Reverence
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Michael Bolton, a chart-topping artist known for hits like “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” and “When a Man Loves a Woman,” initially carved his niche in the world of pop ballads. His success in the late 1980s and early 1990s solidified his status as a Provider. But a year later, a surprising possibility arose – a songwriting collaboration with the legendary Bob Dylan. This partnership,initially met with disbelief by Bolton,resulted in the haunting track “Steel Bars,” a testament to both artists’ unique talents.
From pop Ballads to a Dylan Duet
By 1990, Bolton was preparing his seventh album, Time, Love & Tenderness, which would ultimately feature his No.1 cover of Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman.” He was already working with a roster of accomplished songwriters including Diane Warren, Walter Afanasieff, and Desmond Child. However,a phone call from Dylan’s publisher initially led Bolton to believe it was an elaborate prank orchestrated by Warren. “I thought Diane Warren had set up a practical joke on me,” Bolton recalled.Once he realized the offer was genuine, he instantly shifted his focus, postponing sessions with Warren, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil to meet with Dylan at his compound in Malibu, California.
Facing a Musical Icon
The prospect of writing with Dylan was daunting. Bolton confessed, “I thought, ‘How am I going to work with this guy?’ What if I don’t like one of his lyrics? What if I don’t like an idea he comes up with? What am I going to say? No, Bob, that’s not good enough’? I didn’t know how I was going to write with him.” Upon meeting Dylan, Bolton was initially struck speechless, overwhelmed by the presence of the musical icon. After a period of conversation, the two began to explore musical ideas. Bolton began playing chords and humming melodies, and Dylan immediately responded with a striking phrase: “Oh yeah, steel bars… steel bars, wrapped all around me.” Bolton recognized this as quintessential Dylan, a spontaneous and evocative lyric that steered the song’s direction.
“Steel Bars”: A Song of Obsession
The collaboration yielded “steel Bars,” a song exploring the themes of obsession and entrapment. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a consuming relationship:
In the night, I hear you speak
Turn around, you’re in my sleep
Feel your hands inside my soul
You’re holding on, and you won’t let go
I’ve tried running, but there’s no escape
Can’t bend them, and I just can’t break these
Steel bars, wrapped all around me
The track served as the closing song on Time, Love & Tenderness, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.Remarkably, “Steel Bars” remains the only song Bolton ever co-wrote with Bob Dylan.
A Lasting Musical Connection
Bolton’s admiration for Dylan didn’t end with their songwriting collaboration. Nearly a decade later, in 1999, Bolton covered Dylan’s iconic “Like a Rolling Stone” on his album Timeless: The Classics Vol.2, alongside covers of songs by Marvin Gaye, Al Green, and The Temptations. In 2011, he further honored Dylan’s work with a duet of “Make You Feel My Love” with German singer Helene Fischer, released on both Fischer’s album For One Day and Bolton’s Gems: The Duets Collection.
These collaborations demonstrate a deep respect for dylan’s songwriting and a willingness to explore his music through a contemporary lens. The story of “Steel Bars” stands as a unique chapter in both artists’ careers, a testament to the power of unexpected partnerships and the enduring legacy of Bob Dylan.
