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I've never listened to Bob Dylan with much appreciation before so thought I would get a compilation to familiarise myself with this, iconic, artist. First impressions, all the songs sound similar... but this is not unexpected as Dylan is a folk singer whose traditional style of music does not demand a wide array of instruments. It's more to do with message he is portraying. And the message... it's sombre, thought provoking, and critical. By critical, I mean that he seems to complaining about every other thing “under the Sun”. The message is quite self-centred in the way that it seems to focus solely on him, and his woes. However I did enjoy It's All Over Now Baby Blue and All Along the Watchtower, but I still prefer Jimi Hendrix's rendition of the latter song. The compilation, by the way, is a good mix of his singing career as far as I can see; given, admittedly, that I'm quite new to Bob's work. I just wish that he could have widened his scope a little, this is where other artists such as The Beatles excel, for example the concept album like Sargent Pepper's demonstrates a different point of view. True, that The Beatles had very similar ideas to Bob, but The Beatles chose to express those with songs such as When I'm Sixty-Four, A Day in the Life, and Getting Better, amongst others. Come on Bob... life, The Universe, and everything else isn't so bad...get a grip man!!Read full review
I believe that all of Bob Dylan music is essential; and this CD is no exception to that belief. Bob once said that "no one can invent music or lyrics, they just happen to be in your head, and you write them down". Well his must be a very busy head, because over the years he has produced many dozens of songs and tunes, many of which other singers/groups have gone on to have number one hits with. On this album you are treated to a few of those hits which once lived in Bob Dylans head...enjoy.
Hard core Dylan fans will probably buy this and everything else in the Dylan cannon. The casual fan, like me, will have heard a few of these before like Rolling Stone and Blowing on the Wind and be blown away by quality of the rest. There are so many other top tracks here that you will have heard before, covered by other great artists, Jimi Hendrix to name one, you'll be wondering how you lived so long without Dylan in your life. The second disc is only "really good", the first(containing earlier material)is absolutely Essential. If you're at all curious about Bob Dylan and his music do yourself a favour and try this soon. (Oh and try catching Bob Dylan's themed radio evenings too, the man is a great DJ.)
BOB DYLAN seems to have been around for ever , the last (off the wall ?) beat poet hes had his ups and downs. musically and spiritually ...his journey filled twists and turns bumps and burns often politically all over the place.. a lot of his songs bear witness to all of this and other chaos . from within.. This wordsmith (on song) is on par for wit and inttigue to Shakespeare ! in a sense he signed in with "theTimes are a changing "and signed out (careful!) with"times have changed ".like Becketts "Krapp Tapes" from young protests and fancy to more cautious and cynical revelations,,,and resolutions .
I bought this cd for one track, "Things have changed" which I've loved since I saw the film "Wonder Boys". Lots of other good stuff here too, "Positively 4th Street" always raises a smile, it's so well observed. "Jokerman" and "Gotta Serve Somebody" are excellent. Often find I prefer the covers to the originals, such as Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" and Joe Cocker's "Just like a Woman", but Dylan's writing is as ever first class. Good selection overall.
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