Various Artists - A Nod to Bob: An Artists` Tribute to Bob Dylan on His 60th Birthday

Artist:

Various Artists

UPC:

033651015420

Description:

Includes liner notes by Eliza Gilkyson & Eric Peltoniemi. You might not expect much from a Dylan tribute album limited to the artists of one small label, but if so, you`re in for a surprise: This CD turns out to be every bit as inspired as anything on the all-star Madison Square Garden tribute that marked Dylan`s 30th year in the music business. One reason is that the artists on the Red House label (which happens to be based in the state Dylan hails from) prove extremely well-suited to the task and well-matched to the material. Another is that that material is just so darn wonderful. There`s no way a single disc could do justice to the mind-bogglingly large Dylan catalog; this could have been a ten- or 15-CD set and the quality wouldn`t have flagged one bit. In fact, this collection doesn`t even touch on such career highlights as Blood on the Tracks; it focuses mostly on the 1960s when, as the liner notes point out, most of the artists here were in their formative years as performers and Dylan was their major musical influence. Of course, if you have to pick one Dylan period, the `60s era isn`t exactly a bad choice. The results here are stunning. While there`s not a weak track on the disk, standouts include Suzy and Maggie Roche`s version of The Basement Tapes` "The Clothesline Saga," which perfectly captures Dylan`s humor; Cliff Eberhardt`s "I Want You," which transforms the upbeat original into a somber, haunting ballad; Guy Davis` accordion-spiced "A Sweetheart Like You," which features drumming by the Band`s Levon Helm; and Martin Simpson`s effusive "Boots of Spanish Leather." Only one small gripe: Why include a cover -- albeit a good one -- of "Delia," an old blues that Dylan himself merely covered, when there are so very many superb Dylan originals to choose from? But that`s a small gripe indeed. If you`re a Dylan lover, this album is a must -- and if you`re not, one listen will probably go a long way toward changing that. ~ Jeff Burger

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Love Minus Zero / No Limit - Eliza Gilkyson
2. Sweetheart Like You - Guy Davis
3. Clothes Line Saga - Suzzy & Maggie Roche
4. Girl of the North Country - John Gorka
5. Delia - John "Spider John" Koerner/Dave Ray
6. I Want You - Cliff Eberhardt
7. All Along the Watchtower - Tom Landa & The Paperboys
8. Dieu a Nos Cotes - Hart-Rouge :: With God On Our Side - Hart-Rouge
9. Boots of Spanish Leather - Martin Simpson
10. Restless Farewell - Norman Blake/Peter Ostroushko
11. It Ain`t Me, Babe - Lucy Kaplansky
12. Pledging My Time - Greg Brown
13. Tomorrow Is a Long Time - Rosalie Sorrels
14. Intro to Don`t Think Twice, It`s All Right - Ramblin` Jack Elliott
15. Don`t Think Twice, It`s All Right - Ramblin` Jack Elliott

Album Information

Release Date:

05/08/2001

Type:

Collection

Genre:

Rock & Pop

Subgenre:

Singer/Songwriter

Label:

Red House Records

Catalog Number:

154

Original Release Year:

2001

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Runtime:

63 : 2

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