VA - 1997 - May Your Songs Always Be Sung: The Songs Of Bob Dylan

With only a pair of exceptions (think Hendrix and the Byrds), Bob Dylan's compositions are associated most with and recorded or performed best by Dylan himself. Tribute albums or collections of covers can never possess the grit and fire of his best material, especially those songs either intensely personal ("Positively 4th Street," "My Back Pages") or polemical ("Masters of War," "Talking World War III Blues"). Still, especially for great fans of Dylan's songs, hearing them in unfamiliar versions can often add meaning to lyrics or themes. May Your Song Always Be Sung: The Songs of Bob Dylan, a collection from German BMG Ariola, compiles versions separated by over three decades, most of them quite far afield from the originals but many of them performed by distinctive artists with something to add to the originals. Two of the best open the collection: Michael Hedges' atmospheric "All Along the Watchtower" and a mournful "Masters of War" from José Feliciano. The Box Tops' 1969 version of "I Shall Be Released" is a splendid fusion of country and soul, though Harry Nilsson's contribution is a ragged "Subterranean Homesick Blues" from 1974. At least half a dozen of the songs come from artists with far too much Dylan influence to make it on their own, including the Zimmermen, "Europe's number one Bob Dylan tribute band."

1. All Along The Watchtower-Michael Hedges
2. Blowin' In The Wind-Bobby Bare
3. Chimes Of Freedom-Phil Carmen
4. Never Say Goodbye('97 Version)-Steven Keene
5. Series Of Dreams-Zimmerman
6. Memphis Blues Again-Thomas Helmig
7. When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky-Jeff Healey Band
8. Seven Days-Jimmy Barnes
9. Trust Yourself-Carlene Carter
10. Highway 61 Revisited-Rita Chiarelli
11. Masters Of War-Jose Feliciano
12. Subteranean Homesick Blues-Nilsson
13. Ballad Of A Thin Man-The Sports
14. All I Really Want To Do-The Hooters
15. Sign On The Window-Jennifer Warnes
16. I Shall Be Released-The Box Tops
17. Blind Willie McTell-Dream Syndicate
18. Mighty Quinn-Gotthard
19. Knockin' On Heaven's Door-Leningrad Cowboy's

¡Aquí!

Dylan, Bob - 1963 - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

It's hard to overestimate the importance of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, the record that firmly established Dylan as an unparalleled songwriter, one of considerable skill, imagination, and vision. At the time, folk had been quite popular on college campuses and bohemian circles, making headway onto the pop charts in diluted form, and while there certainly were a number of gifted songwriters, nobody had transcended the scene as Dylan did with this record. There are a couple (very good) covers, with "Corrina Corrina" and "Honey Just Allow Me One More Chance," but they pale with the originals here. At the time, the social protests received the most attention, and deservedly so, since "Blowin' in the Wind," "Masters of War," and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" weren't just specific in their targets; they were gracefully executed and even melodic. Although they've proven resilient throughout the years, if that's all Freewheelin' had to offer, it wouldn't have had its seismic impact, but this also revealed a songwriter who could turn out whimsy ("Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"), gorgeous love songs ("Girl From the North Country"), and cheerfully absurdist humor ("Bob Dylan's Blues," "Bob Dylan's Dream") with equal skill. This is rich, imaginative music, capturing the sound and spirit of America as much as that of Louis Armstrong, Hank Williams, or Elvis Presley. Dylan, in many ways, recorded music that equaled this, but he never topped it.

		1		Blowin' in the Wind	Dylan	2:48
		2		Girl from the North Country	Dylan	3:22
		3		Masters of War	Dylan	4:34
		4		Down the Highway	Dylan	3:27
		5		Bob Dylan's Blues	Dylan	2:23
		6		A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall	Dylan	6:55
		7		Don't Think Twice, It's All Right	Dylan	3:40
		8		Bob Dylan's Dream	Dylan	5:03
		9		Oxford Town	Dylan	1:50
		10		Talking World War III Blues	Dylan	6:28
		11		Corrina, Corrina	Traditional	2:44
		12		Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance	Dylan, Thomas	2:01
		13		I Shall Be Free	Dylan	4:49

¡Aquí!

Dylan & The Dead - 1989 - Dylan & The Dead

Quite possibly the worst album by either Bob Dylan or the Grateful Dead, the live Dylan & the Dead completely squanders its promise. Working from an intriguing selection of songs — it includes staples like "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" and more obscure gems like "Joey" — the Dead and Dylan contribute listless, meandering versions that are simply boring. Both artists have done much better — reportedly they have done better together, according to various bootleg fans — but Dylan & the Dead is a sad, disheartening document.

¡Aquí!