Customer Reviews

Bob Dylan: Gotta Serve Somebody: Gospel Songs

5 star:		(11)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A crowd making their way to their destinations in a New York City subway: a blind man with his walking cane; another man doing a soft shoe dance; a woman putting some spare money in a hat; people spilling out of escalators, the humdrum of daily city life...Yet amid this concrete world of souls we see and hear Arlethia Lindsey singing a beautiful version of Bob Dylan's "Every Grain of Sand." Fittingly, this is how the DVD "Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan" begins and ends--along with official footage of Dylan himself at the piano in 1980, belting out a heartfelt "When He Returns." And the 80 minutes wedged in between these opening and closing scenes is well worth the $17.99. Jeff Gaskill, its executive producer, who, as a 17-year-old in May 1980, watched in stunned wonderment as Dylan delivered up his all-gospel show in Worcester, Massachusetts, should be saluted in a big way for creating and bringing forth this project.

I recently discovered that this DVD was featured at the 2006 Park City (Utah) Film & Music Festival--and won the Gold Medal for Excellence for Best Music Documentary. When it comes to Dylan's so-called gospel years, this is the ultimate DVD to watch and own. It is a stunning combination of musical performances in the studio by traditional and contemporary gospel artists who are covering Dylan's songs from "Slow Train Coming" (1979) and "Saved" (1980); this project is the companion piece to the Grammy-nominated CD, "Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan" (2003). Contrary to what one reviewer has suggested, this IS a documentary and brings with it professional graphics, directing, and editing--not to mention a powerful narrative.

In addition to the inspiring performances in the studio (I don't say this lightly), there are a number of interviews with the performers, as well as interviews with those who recorded and/or performed with Dylan back in 1979-1980: drummer Jim Keltner, guitarist Fred Tackett, keyboardist Spooner Oldham, producer Jerry Wexler, and singers Regina McCrary, Terry and Mona Lisa Young. Also featured are previously unpublished photographs of Dylan recording in Muscle Shoals Sound Studio during the sessions for "Slow Train Coming" and "Saved."

Oftentimes, when critics are interviewed, it can make for paralyzing analysis; however, in this DVD we hear from Alan Light, a longtime journalist who has obviously thought about this period of Dylan's career, and consequently issues some fresh insight. And for those who have never seen Paul Williams, author of "Dylan--What Happened?"--the groundbreaking book written right after Williams absorbed seven of Dylan's concerts in November 1979 (Dylan actually purchased copies for his friends)--we see and hear his unique take on this historical period of Dylan's life and career.

It's worth mentioning that this project is the only outside Dylan tribute project that Dylan himself became involved in. After becoming aware of the project and reportedly being honored by the artists who were choosing to cover these songs, he chipped in by rewriting his 1979 composition "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking" (featured as the closing song on the CD, a duet with Mavis Staples). This DVD is a wonderful extension of the CD and is something every Dylan fan and appreciator should have.

Just over 20 years ago, in 1985, Dylan said this: "Regina McCrary played with me for a while. She's the daughter of Preacher Sam McCrary from Nashville who used to have the old gospel group the Fairfield Four. Anyway, she would open these shows [Dylan's all-gospel gigs of 1979-1980] with a monologue about a woman on a train; she was so incredibly moving. I wanted to expose people to that sort of thing because I loved it and it's the real roots of all modern music, but nobody cared."

Well, now somebody cares: via this DVD, you can catch Regina McCrary leading the Chicago Mass Choir in a spiritually uplifting version of Dylan's "Pressing On"--as well as the Fairfield Four covering "Are You Ready?" Shirley Caesar's "Gotta Serve Somebody" will make most anybody care and Dottie Peoples, Helen Baylor and Rance Allen, doing "I Believe in You," "What Can I Do For You?" and "When He Returns," respectively, will likely open up your tear ducts.

If the real root of all modern music is gospel music, as Dylan has asserted, then this DVD will provide spiritual nourishment for anyone in these modern times--whether they find themselves in a subway or in their own living room.

Scott M. Marshall
Toccoa, Georgia (USA)
--Author (with Marcia Ford) of "Restless Pilgrim: The Spiritual Journey of Bob Dylan"
--Author of the four-part online series "Bob Dylan's Unshakeable Monotheism," located at http://www.jewsweek.com

If you didn't like Bob Dylan's "gospel era" songs, you probably will not appreciate this DVD, but for those of us who do this video is a worthwhile purchase. Most of the songs from the 2003 "Gotta Serve Somebody" album are featured, with commentary by the artists and film of the recording sessions. Also commentary by Jerry Wexler, Dylan biographer Paul Williams, and other musicians & writers. It's amazing to see the emotion the performers invested in their recordings.
Not included from the CD are When You Gonna Wake Up by Lee Williams & Spiritual QCs and the Bob Dylan/Mavis Staples duet of Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking.
Solid Rock by Sounds of Blackness is featured but not presented as a complete track.
The other tracks from the CD are featured in the documentary, with the full uninterupted tracks available as bonus tracks.
Two songs not on the CD are included, possibly due to lesser audio quality. Every Grain Of Sand by Arlethia Lindsay was recorded while busking in a NY subway station, and In the Garden by the Great Day Chorale was recorded in a church, not a studio.
For Dylan fans, the DVD contains footage of Bob performing When He Returns from Toronto 1980, the first official release of any gospel era video. Unfortunately, it is not presented continuously, most of it is there but's it's intercut with commentary and not available as an uninterupted bonus track. Still nice to see though. The other Bob content is a 1983 animated film set to his original version of Gotta Serve Somebody.
A good DVD for what is included. Only 4 stars due to the missing Bob & Mavis duet and non-continuous Dylan video.

For the Dylan faithful who never overcame their dismay of the gospel years, this DVD brings it all back home and puts that contentious time into perspective. The film adds solid context to the acclaimed CD by interviewing participants and, more importantly, those who lived through that time with Dylan. If you want to know what happened and how, this is the real deal. For the fan, this DVD features footage of Dylan performing "When He Returns" in 1980; that's the value of such an authorized project. Plus, if you appreciate the power of good music, you MUST see Rance Allen's performance. Love that period or not, this package tells the powerful story of Dylan at his iconoclastic best.

As a long-time Dylan fan, I was lucky enough (or should I say blessed), to witness one of the dates on his gospel tour of 1980. I had already read the reviews of the shows, of the near riots over the new material and Dylan's apparent converstion to Christianity. I had also heard his recently released "Slow Train Coming" LP. I was taken by the music and the power of Dylan's conviction during the performance. The audience in Birmingham, Alabama seemed much more open to the changes, and lack of Mr. Tambourine Man, and cheered the Dylan Gospel Tour on to great heights. The arrival of a CD and DVD, a quarter of a century later, celebrating the gospel period with some of today's greatest gospel singers and musicians gives justification, once again, to Mr. Dylan's forsight and artistry. The songs and performances, especially Helen Baylor, make this an appealing collection for any fan of Dylan or a music historian. The backstory tales from the musicians performing on the original tracks and tour, and on the current production, add to the enjoyment of hearing the songs done in this fashion. While the originals appeared to be a stumbling block in Dylan's career, they turned out to be a stepping stone in a lifetime of great music.

In Gotta Serve Somebody, director Michael Borofsky presents us with a documentary about this controversial and enthralling segment of Bob Dylan's storied career. Basically, Serve Somebody documents the making of the 2003 Columbia Records album Gotta Serve Somebody, a record which stitched together some of the greatest Gospel voices of our time (Shirley Caesar; Dottie Peoples; Rance Allen; The Fairfield Four) doing vintage interpretations of Dylan's oft-disregarded Gospel catalog. This is beautiful and timeless music which strikes at the cores of psyche and soul like a triumphant hammer. Simply, this is the music from which legends and poets and seers are brewed. Gotta Serve Somebody swells and bulges with great music. How does one pick centerpieces? No review could ignore Dottie People's riveting version of I Believe In You-- And then there's Rance Allen in the studio doing his version of When He Returns. The Chicago Mass Choir's rendition of Pressing On (led by Dylan's former back-up singer Regina McCrary who stops singing momentarily to candidly speak of how the loss of her child forged a deep undying faith) will make you want to cry: McCrary's vocal teems and soars, her bloody and brazen belief in the aura of the Christ pushing these crystal storms of music to invisible pinnacles -suddenly, it becomes impossible to question a piece of art this multi-dimesional and confessional and pure. Aside from being about great `Gospel' songs, Gotta Serve Somebody comes to collect a sheaf of great poems which speak to a journey isolated in time, speaking to a quest for Christ amid the personal challenges of being a rock-n-roll star. In short, this film serves as a beautiful testament to the growth of a seminal American artist, and it will no doubt be remembered as an important component to Dylan's vast body of work.

He was touched again by the hand that made him. He quietly holds that hand today. The music brought tears of joy to my heart.

Gotta Serve Somebody is a well-produced music documentary that showcases highly-skilled and creative artists in studio recording sessions. Individually, and inter-dependently, they attempt to reach personal pinnacles of expression in their interpretations of some well-chosen Dylan `gospel' songs. Opportunities to view musicians recording in a studio are rare; recording sessions produced with such attention to technical details of filming are even rarer and Gotta Serve Somebody may be in a class all its own. Some of the vocalists are well-known; others are probably known to followers of gospel music; their performances are strong and triumphant - even delicate and powerful, at the same time - as they react to the lyrics and the other musicians. Each and every musician, not only the vocalists, is emotionally invested in this music; their collaboration during recordings is a focus, in itself. The interviews with musicians are enlightening but the film is mostly about Bob Dylan's music. Dylan obviously chose gospel as the most easily identifiable and naturally adaptive style to express his words and sentiments in these songs. The music, lyrics excluded, is worthy of reflection to anyone who is interested in what constitutes `great artists' - their development through time and their exploration of nearly every possible genre as a means of personal expression. The lyrics reflect Dylan's personal longing for salvation and joy in the mystery of his own transformation, in contemporary Christian religious vernacular. For those who think that his gospel songs are best left to people with similar religious beliefs, adjust your attitudes. These songs represent each and every descendant of humanity who thinks, wonders, stumbles and falls, and seeks direction outside of what is only obvious and potentially disappointing. It isn't the target of salvation, but the act of seeking it that is, in itself, redemptive.

great! I want to get the cd as well. a great witness to how God can touch someone's heart

Going by the title, I honestly watched the video expecting to hear a story about Bob Dylan's gospel days/conversion and to see him perform those songs. Much to my surprise, and pleasure it turned out to be more about later recordings and adaptations of Dylan's gospel songs- most of which were by gospel singers. First, let me say, I have been a musician and interested in music all of my life, and enjoy any and all types of music. I am also a Christian, white male, and the gospel version of Pressing on, featuring Regina McCrary along with the Chicago Mass Choir (starts around 1:05 into the video) was so powerful and captivating that it brought me to tears of spiritual joy- I kid you not. Much of the footage, was either shot in recording studios, churches, along with a bit of commentary from musicians and others others who worked with Dylan over the years. Don't expect a lot of Dylan concert footage, because there is only a bit of scratchy late 70's film footage in the beginning of the video. However, the real and absoulte beauty of this video is in the gospel versions of Dylan's songs that you see performed and being recorded by some amazing gospel artists whose passion for their faith and musical talent really reaches out and grabs you. Watch it, take in some beautiful gospel music performed by tremendously talented people of faith, and hopefully you'll similar experience spirit-filled moments joy that I did while watching. As I started, I'll finish htis review...This video wasn't what I expected from the title, but turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan (DVD): There are only a few snippets of Bob himself on this DVD and that is fine because this DVD is not about Bob's performances but about how the Black Gospel Groups embraced Bob's great Gospel songs. This DVD has some Amazing performances from those Gospel Groups. Shirley Caesars version of "Gotta Serve Somebody" is not to be missed. This DVD also includes the original animated version of "Gotta Serve somebody" (which is sung by Bob but he does not appear in the animated film) and to say that this cartoon is ODD, is to understate how strange it really is. This film is far from perfect, but it is worth watching and owning. Four Stars