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Bob Dylan Albums Question
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Subject: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Matt_R Date: 01 Nov 00 - 11:39 PM Recently, I've been hooked on the Dylan album Blood On The Trax...it's just awesome. I know some Dylan albums are better than others, but I was wondering, which albums come close to the material on BOTX? I was thinking about getting Desire because it looked kinda neat, but some sources said it was boring. What do you all think? --Matt |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: catspaw49 Date: 01 Nov 00 - 11:51 PM Knowing your tastes, you might like almost anything (:<)), but truthfully, try Blonde on Blonde. It could be down your alley Matt. I like the first three albums and John Wesley Harding . Any available from the library? Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Matt_R Date: 01 Nov 00 - 11:53 PM I alrady have Blonde On Blonde, and am enjoying it muchly! All day I been singing Leopard Skin Pillbox Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat! |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: catspaw49 Date: 02 Nov 00 - 12:02 AM You may enjot The Basement Tapes. Just Dylan and "The Band" screwing around and I like it a lot although Hawk feels its a "lesser work." It has some great stuff, very different. If you likes Lily, Rosemary, etc, you might like "Frankie Lee and Judas Priest" on John Wesley Harding. Try Highway 61 Revisited too. Might suit you. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Little Hawk Date: 02 Nov 00 - 12:04 AM Hi Matt, "Desire" is a mixed picture...some very good stuff and some that is a little odd, depending on your point of view. It's also a different sound, with Scarlet Rivera's "gypsy violin" very evident and Emmy Lou Harris's vocals with Dylan...so it sounds very different. Hard to say what your reaction might be. I can thoroughly recommend "Street Legal" from 1979, but some people don't like the 3 black girls singing backup. I like 'em. The lyrics are wonderful. "Slow Train Coming" sounds terrific, but you might not like the religious themes...I don't know. "Infidels" from 1985 is a superb album, on the whole. "Oh Mercy" from 1989 (I think) is a great album...very personal and revealing. "World Gone Wrong" from the early 90's is a superb acoustic folk album of old trad tunes, mostly, rather than Dylan originals. The recent "Time Out Of Mind" is a great blues album, but you might find it depressing. It's very dark. Bob'd feeling the weight of time bearing down on him, and he doesn't like it...says he'd change places with any of the young kids in the park in a moment if he could. I don't feel that way myself, but he seems to. I don't wish to change places with anyone at all. Back to classic Dylan...all the early stuff is entirely worth getting from:
Bob Dylan (1st album) Not one of them is really like Blood On The Tracks. That one stands alone. But they are all really quite remarkable, and all a unique experience. Dylan is the songwriters songwriter, and the one and only. He changed the world, although he will insist that he did not. He doesn't want that label or the responsibility for it. Good luck... - LH |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: catspaw49 Date: 02 Nov 00 - 12:12 AM If you can get hold of it, there is one called Before te Flood that is Bob and The Band that is almost like a best of, but some great renditions and different takes on some Dylan classics and a few others. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: thosp Date: 02 Nov 00 - 12:15 AM DYLAN RULES!!! :) peace (Y) thosp |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Little Hawk Date: 02 Nov 00 - 12:20 AM Or...he would, if he were willing to, right? :-) Like Lao-Tse, he was wise enough to dodge that mantle of office... - LH |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: thosp Date: 02 Nov 00 - 12:27 AM Confusius --(?) he governs best who governs least -------------- (and if he governs not at all_--watch your parking meters!) > |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: RWilhelm Date: 02 Nov 00 - 12:57 AM Avoid "Self Portrait" like the plague. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Terry K Date: 02 Nov 00 - 02:06 AM The definitive album for me is Bringing it All Back Home - if I was only allowed one album, that would be the one. Cheers, Terry |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Amergin Date: 02 Nov 00 - 05:59 AM Hmmm....I seem to remember that World Gone Wrong was mostly blues.....and most of those covers were not traditional.... I'd have to agree that Bringing it All Back Home is the definition of Dylan....Maggie's Farm is superb... He may not be much of a singer, but he sure is a good writer....at least when he's not trying to be obscure...
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Groucho Marxist (inactive) Date: 02 Nov 00 - 07:20 AM Amergrin, Every song on "World Gone Wrong" is, indeed, a traditional folksong. "Live 1966: The Royal Albert Hall Concert" is the definitive live Dylan album. The first CD is solo/acoustic, the second is electric with The Band. The boxed set, "The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3," has some amazing material on it. Groucho |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Whistle Stop Date: 02 Nov 00 - 08:32 AM There have definitely been some high points and low points along the way. Virtually everyone (who likes Dylan to begin with) recognizes that there are a half-dozen albums that are truly great: Freewheelin', The Times They Are A-Changin', Another Side, Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde On Blonde. Many of us add a seventh, Blood On The Tracks. Beyond that, it gets a little dicier, and on a lot of the albums you have to accept the fact that the gold is mixed in with the dross. My personal favorites list would also include the Basement Tapes and Nashville Skyline. And Live 1966, because it so perfectly captures a critical moment. I saw Dylan and the Band on the big 1974 comeback tour from which Before the Flood was taken. I enjoyed the show I saw (Boston, 1/14/74, evening show) much more than I liked the album. From what I understand, the album was mostly recorded at Madison Square Garden on the last night of the tour (the one all the "celebrity guests" attended), and it sounds to me like Dylan and the Band had kind of burned out on things by that point. I was also disappointed in Desire, although it got rave reviews at the time. I saw him around then (on the Rolling Thunder Review tour), and the show was good, but there was a lot of self-indulgence there, by both Dylan and his backing musicians and entourage (Allen Ginsburg -- get real!). I would have liked to have heard a few of the songs in more pared-back arrangements; "Isis" was a pretty effective bit of writing, but not the best rendition (much better in concert). And there were a couple of "protest songs by the numbers" on there that I thought were really lame attempts by Dylan to recover the mantle he had rejected long before ("Hurricane" and "George Jackson"), with none of the wit or insight he had previously displayed. Definitely a mixed-bag album in my opinion. Glad to hear you're getting deeper into Dylan, Matt -- it's an enriching experience. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Peter T. Date: 02 Nov 00 - 09:04 AM Echoing Groucho, the Columbia Bootleg is incredible. It has better versions of the outstanding songs from Blood on the Tracks than the ones on the album (my opinion). But it is also a picture of a creative figure at work over a number of years. It would currently be my number one choice, even over Blonde on Blonde (my longstanding favourite). yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Jim the Bart Date: 02 Nov 00 - 09:34 AM I was given his latest greatest hits package and it is top quality stuff. I was surprised only because I hadn't heard much of his newer stuff. The hits package provides a taste of a lot of his newer albums, which are really unique packages. His production changes from recording session to recording session and he seems to change his vocal quality, also. It's the darnedest thing. He's always worth the price of admission, though - even on Self Portrait there are moments that shine (Copper Kettle, for one). Blood on the Tracks is really exceptional, though. It may be the best (and I only mean "may"). |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Steve Latimer Date: 02 Nov 00 - 09:55 AM Matt, I'm trying to replace my vinyl Dylan and I'm up to about eight titles. Latest acquisitions are his first simply titled "Bob Dylan" which I really like, and Desire. The first has only two self penned tunes, one of which is Song to Woody which I would place on my personal top fifteen Dylan favourites. But it has a lot of great Blues on it, his cover of See That My Grave is Kept Clean is haunting, and he also does a great job on Fixin' to Die, Baby Let Me Follow Me Down, House of The Rising Sun and a few others. This album more than any other shows what a fine Guitar player is. I bought Desire when it was originally released. I had bought Blood on the Tracks the year before and had fallen in love with it so I was a bit disappointed in Desire, but I was visiting a friend a few weeks ago and he played it and it's a very good album. I guess the problem is this. I think Bob has done some stinkers, but I don't think you'll find an album of his without a couple of excellent songs. Eventually you'll probably end up with 25 Dylan CDs, so buy Deire or any of the ones recommended above. You won't go wrong.
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Peter T. Date: 02 Nov 00 - 10:08 AM Steve is right, some of it is catch-all. And sometimes (as with Leonard Cohen) you have to hear someone else's version of a song before you get it -- oh, yeah, there's a tune there, my god). Empire Burlesque is an album that a lot of people like, but I found nothing on it to my taste. And then I heard Judy Collins' album of Dylan material (some of which is really dreadful -- her Just Like A Woman is maybe the worst cover she has ever done), and she did a sweet version of "Dark Eyes" -- a song I had totally overlooked before, because Dylan's version is in his "whiny voice" which I can't stand. But there it is, last cut on Empire Burlesque. This has happened to me with Dylan albums for years. One of the best things about the Bootleg album is the liner notes: huge, comprehensive, something you get zero of on all the rest of his albums. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Matt_R Date: 02 Nov 00 - 10:15 AM Thanks so much for all the responses! BTW which album has "Like A Rolling Stone" on it? I really love that song! |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Steve Latimer Date: 02 Nov 00 - 10:33 AM Matt, Highway 61 Revisited which also has other Dylan classics like Desolation Row, It Takes a Lot to Laugh, it Takes a Train To Cry, Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues, Ballad of a Thin Man and the title track. I'd say it's a "must have" Dylan CD. Avoid buying his greatest hits because you'll just end up buying the original albums and not listening to the greatest hits CDs. This is the voice of experience talking.
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Matt_R Date: 02 Nov 00 - 10:43 AM Ok, at my library they have Blood On The Tracks, Blonde on Blonde, John Wesley Harding, Bob Dylan (the 1st album), The Basement Tapes, and some 80's albums. They also have the MTV Unplugged album, but I didn't like it too much. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Little Hawk Date: 02 Nov 00 - 10:54 AM Matt - Yeah, I forgot to mention the Bootleg Series (3 CD's of INCREDIBLE MATERIAL!) and the Live 1966 boxed set. Those two are simply so amazing that it takes your breath away. Man, I wish I had been there at Manchester to see it with my own eyes (the so-called "Royal Albert Hall concert, which actually was recorded in Manchester, England in 1966...one of the most stunning moments, if not the most...in the entire history of live music in the last hundred years). Musically speaking, this stuff (along with Buffy Sainte-Marie's whole catalog) is my Bible. Gee, Matt, you have got some fun ahead of you! - George Coventry (LH)
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Steve Latimer Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:18 AM I like the Unplugged. I know a lot of people don't, but I thought it was nice to hear different versions of some of his songs. I had never heard Shooting Star before and I like it. I think Dignity is a fine song. Didn't really like Knockin' On Heavens Door. I wouldn't recommend it to a Dylan newbie, but it gets a fair amount of play in my car. I'd say your library is a pretty good starting point. Check out Time Out of Mind. I didn't like it first but it has become one of my favourites, probably in my top three or four. It sure is dark. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: GUEST,Matt_R Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:22 AM What about Planet Waves? It looks like it might be good too. Forever Young sounds pretty cool. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Steve Latimer Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:28 AM I've never heard all of Planet Waves, but Forever Young is brilliant. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: catspaw49 Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:34 AM Take a pass on Planet Waves......forever Young is a good song covered better by others. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Matt_R Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:45 AM Got a question...amazon.com has a soundtrack for a documentary called "The Ballad of Ramblin' Jack", about Ramblin' Jack Elliot. It's got some Dylan stuff on it too...the reviews look good...any one know anything about this album. --Matt (who has no idea what Ramblin' Jack sounds like) |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Peter T. Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:48 AM CP is right as usual. Planet Waves is dreary, except for Forever Young, and other people do it more, oh I don't know, like something you want to listen to. Also, unless you really like the later voice, stay away from "Real Live". yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Peter T. Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:56 AM I haven't seen that new documentary yet, so can't comment. I was sort of hoping that it might have a lot of Dave Van Ronk on it (if you want a great album from people around the early Dylan years, get the recent Folkways Years album of Dave's early songs. The best of the bunch by far). Raises a similar question: I have never seen "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" for which Dylan did some of the music. Anyone know anything about that soundtrack -- is it any good? And/or is the film any good? I think if it was any good I would have gone to see it in those days, but, hey. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: catspaw49 Date: 02 Nov 00 - 12:16 PM The disagreement will arrive shortly, but it a tough call to make on the PG&BtK thing. Which is worse? Movie of soundtrack? Hmmmmmm........Wait until I dig them out fromunder "Plan Nine from Outer Space" and "Yoko Ono's 254 Greatest Hits." Let's see if I can think of a suitable comment................... BBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWMMMMMMMMMPPPPPPPPPPP Yeah, that's about it. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Whistle Stop Date: 02 Nov 00 - 12:43 PM I used to own the Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid soundtrack. It was mostly instrumental, vaguely Mexican/western sounding stuff -- strumming guitars, the same progressions played over and over and over and over... Probably made sense as a backdrop for some of the scenes in the movie, but it doesn't really amount to much on its own. If you aspire to own everything Dylan ever put out, get it; if not, it's probably one you can do without. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: GUEST,Matt_R Date: 02 Nov 00 - 04:04 PM I did it! I got Highway 61 Revisited! |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: RWilhelm Date: 02 Nov 00 - 06:26 PM Another to avoid is "Dylan and the Dead." Buy only if you are a hard core fan of both acts and absolutely NEED a complete set of recordings. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Superdad Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:17 PM "To live outside the law, you must be Honest" Bob Dylan |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Little Hawk Date: 03 Nov 00 - 12:55 AM Absolutely, Superdad, because for the Honest, no law is necessary. In a similar way, when you become an adult you are no longer subject to the rules which children are expected to obey. In a society of truly honest and kindly people, no laws would be needed, so, yes, to live outside the law you must be honest. One of the greatest things, Bob ever said. Spaw, I don't quite agree about the Pat Garret and Billy the Kid soundtrack. I find it quite agreeable. As for the movie, it's weird, but has a few neat moments. Not a terribly good film, but kind of memorable in its own way. Bob's character "Alias" was originally intended to play a much more significant role, as was his music, but it got all cut up by the Hollywood people, and bastardized out of all context, so only fragments remained of what could have been. Kristofferson, also, was miscast, I think. They shoulda had someone else play Billy. James Coburn was excellent, as usual. I like "Dylan and the Dead". I like "Planet Waves". I even like "Real Live". Hell, I even like Self Portrait. But that's me. I love Bob so much I probably would buy a bootleg of him snoring on the bus between Spokane and Yreka... - LH |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: rube1 Date: 03 Nov 00 - 06:23 AM There is not a single Dylan album that I would recommend avoiding. Some, like Dylan and the Dead may be a bit dreary, but that's the worst you can say about it. Self-Portrait is great, Nashville Skyline is great. Infidels has several great songs on it. "Jokerman", for one. and Knocked out Loaded has "Brownsville Girl" Every album has at least one or two gems on it, without exception. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Terry K Date: 03 Nov 00 - 10:50 AM As I recall, the so-called Royal Albert Hall concert was televised, I think as "In Concert" on BBC2. I understand that the videotapes did not survive (the BBC presumably thought they were not important enough to keep!) but the sound track is the album. If it is the same one, I saw it. I had just about heard of Bob Dylan at the time and until I saw that performance had not much idea of what he was really about. That for me was a life-changing experience. Around the same time, another young man was making waves in a different field - a certain Cassius Clay. What a time to have lived through at the perfect time in one's life. I'm so lucky. Cheers, Terry |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Steve Latimer Date: 03 Nov 00 - 11:01 AM Ah, Cassius Clay. One of a kind. The true definition of a champ.
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Clifton53 Date: 03 Nov 00 - 11:26 AM This is a tough one. To me, "Blood On The Tracks" is Dylan's greatest work, it is just so flawless and contains that songwriting that bowls me over. "Self-Portrait" has the finest opening I think I have ever heard from Dylan, "All The Tired Horses". I could listen to that little tune all day. The strings, the mournful lyric, the harmony vocals, and the subject matter, perhaps the noblest beast on earth outside of the canine, it just fills me up. And not to mention "Days Of Forty-Nine", which I have been singing for years, and which I also consider one of his greatest renditions. The first album he made is still one of my favorites. I always play it LOUD when I put it on, chasing the kids and the dog from the vicinity. I love those opening chords of "Your No Good", and "Song To Woody" is performed like the classic that it is. I'm glad to see some positive notes in this thread, as the man gets hammered here upon occaision, for whatever reason. Clifton
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Little Hawk Date: 03 Nov 00 - 11:28 AM There's a cool photo of Bob Dylan and Muhammad Ali standing side by side...I think it was taken in '75 during the Rolling Thunder Revue tour. Dylan looks literally one half the size of Ali in height and every other way, but like Ali he is the greatest heavyweight champ of all time in his chosen field. Interesting photo. Another very cool photo I've seen is of Bob and Joan Baez standing on either side of a large poster in 1965. The poster says "Stand Fast Against The Rising Tide of Conformity". Joan is holding some flowers and looking very madonna-like, very idealistic. Bob is looking very cynical. Great photo expressing the Yin and Yang of the movement at the time. Joan thought she could change the world. Bob thought nobody could. Judging by my experience, Joan was right...but it all depends on what you think the phrase "change the world" really means, I suppose. I change it every time I change myself. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Whistle Stop Date: 03 Nov 00 - 12:43 PM |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Matt_R Date: 06 Nov 00 - 12:09 PM WHOA! I was digging at the library...KNOWING that there was some more Dylan there than was listen in the card catalog, and found Volumes 2 & 3 of the Bootleg Collection. All I can say is WHOOOOOOOOOOOA!!! This stuff is bloody AWESOME! "I'll Keep It With Mine"...GORGEOUS, especially the organ! "Sitting On a Barbed Wire Fence"---ROCKS! "Sante Fe"...oh, be still, my heart!...all morning it's been in my head! PLus I found "Slow Train Coming" at the lib, and bought "Highway 61 Revisited" on Thursday. I'm goin' Dylan CRAZY! My sister is getting annoyed because that's all I play in the car anymore. LITTLE HAWK! I WANT TO BE YOUR APPRENTICE! Man, if we ever meet, we'll have a Dylan-fest! As soon as I can, I'm gonna go out and get myself a harmonica harness so's I can play it with my guitar. You know it had to come sooner or later, but
BobB Dylan RULES!--Matt |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Steve Latimer Date: 06 Nov 00 - 12:17 PM Matt, Now you're talking. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Matt_R Date: 06 Nov 00 - 12:20 PM But I still like Billy Ray Cyrus! And BELIEVE me, you don't know how much I find Oasis & ELO is influence by his music! In depth studies, ye know? |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: GUEST,khandu Date: 06 Nov 00 - 01:08 PM What about "Down in the Groove". I considered "Self Portrait" far superior to "DITG". It seemed that he just HAD to release something when he did "DITG". I cannot think of one gem on it. khandu |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Steve Latimer Date: 06 Nov 00 - 01:27 PM Khandu, Silvio is a very good song. And I'm partial to Bob's cover of Ralph Stanley's classic Rank Strangers to Me. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Peter T. Date: 06 Nov 00 - 01:27 PM Dylan Thomas is good too. Check out "Fern Hill" sometime. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Peter T. Date: 06 Nov 00 - 01:32 PM By the way, this is probably the best Dylan site on the web for serious players and obsessives, though there are others. The guitar transcriptions are superior. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Terry K Date: 06 Nov 00 - 02:52 PM Matt, you're right about the bootleg CDs - thank someone that CDs don't wear out like vinyl or I'd be on my third set! Santa Fe - just amazing is'nt it? - how on earth it did'nt make it on to the Big Pink album I'll never know. But then there's my all time favourite incomplete track, She's Your Lover Now. Why, oh why was there not a proper recording. Someone said the acoustic version (on an acetate) is better - anyone heard it? Then there's When the Night Comes Falling From the Sky - Springsteen's guitarist (who played on it and whose name escapes me) must have thought his birthday had come. Cheers, Terry |
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Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Albums Question From: Whistle Stop Date: 06 Nov 00 - 03:24 PM Terry, I'm not familiar with the song you're talking about. But "Springsteen's guitarist" would either be Steve Van Zandt (early E Street Band), or Nils Lofgren (later E Street Band), or Shayne Fontayne Bruce's band on Lucky Town and Human Touch). Regards -- WS |
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