Customer Reviews

Dylan Country

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Why, in this era of of iTunes et al do CDs like this exist? Any of us can now pull together a mix CD based on whatever theme we like. The only reasons for relying on the record companies to pull something together like this:

1) Liner notes/documentation. Well, these liner notes are worthless! And, the recording details are minimal.

2) Great songs not currently on CD. OK, I gotta give them their props here: Glen Campbell's take on "If Not for You" hasn't been in print since the early 1970s. Ditto for Buck Owens'"Love Minus Zero." And, bonus points for unearthing the Kitty Wells take on "Forever Young."

3) Great remastered sound. Nope.

One out of three...ain't good. And, to make matters worse, "Dylan Country" doesn't even live up to its name. I love the Byrds. But (a) they aren't a country band and (b) this isn't even their best rendition of "You Ain't Going Nowhere." Almost every country music great from the 1960s-1980s recorded a Dylan song. So, why does this compilation feature dubious acts like Jennifer Warnes (Jennifer Warnes?!), Tim O'Brien and Peter Ostroushko, while passing on artists like Jerry Reed, Flying Burrito Bros., the Carter Sisters, Flatt & Scruggs (though, granted, Scruggs is here), Doc Watson, Kris Kristofferson, Carlene Carter, Toni Price, Jason & the Scorchers, and others. Passing on Emmylou Harris's definitive cover of "Every Grain of Sand" in favor of "When I Paint my Masterpiece" is similarly odd.

Good idea, but the track selection could have been better. There are many more true country covers that could/should have been used, instead of several of these tracks that are bluegrass or folk rather than country. Dave Dudley, George Hamilton IV, Ray Stevens, Jerry Reed, The Browns, John Anderson, Statler Brothers come to mind. I was also surprised to see the re-use of Restless Farewell from A Nod To Bob, another Dylan tribute from just a couple of years ago.
FYI: Nashville Skyline Rag is Earl Scruggs with Bob Dylan, and Heartland is the Willie Nelson & Bob Dylan duet. Bob also plays harmonica on Boots of Spanish Leather.

I would say "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" by the bluegrass band The Seldom Scene with vocals by the late great John Duffy. Too bad it was left off this CD... would have been a great fit. Also, "Rita Mae" by Jerry Lee Lewis (from his late 70's Elektra LP) would have been an cool country-rockin' choice for this collection. Overall, though, I guess this is a nice mix of the obvious and the obscure. And heaven knows there is plenty of material out there for a Volume 2 (including the two I mentioned).
Let's hope they're working on that now!

This has got such a great lineup of country music legends interpreting Dylan's music, I don't even know where to start.

Willie, Waylon, Johnny, Hank Jr., Buck Owens, Kitty Wells, the Byrds, and Ms. Emmylou are just a few who do spectacular versions of Bob's classic material as well as some lesser known work. The tracklisting is great, the artists are spectacular and the performances are extraordinary. Buck Owens' "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" might be the best thing on here, if it weren't for Kitty Wells' "you have to hear this to believe it" take of the anthemic "Forever Young" to close out the disc. I am not kidding when I say next to the Hank Sr. and Gram Parsons tribute CDs, this might be the best thing I've heard for a compilation.

Check this out, it seriously has not left my car stereo since I got it.

AMG had a fairly glowing review of this CD, so I checked out a copy from our public library network to give it a listen. Although it's a pleasant enough collection of Dylan songs - and with a few real highlights - Jerry Jeff Walker's take on "One Too Many Mornings" for example, I don't think the CD as a whole warrants serious praise.

A few of these covers I have elsewhere in my collection, not to mention some of the Dylan versions, so there's no need for me to pursue this further right now. Still, if I see this at a bargain price, say under $5, I might scoop it up.

Not among my favorites. It is hard to do Dylan poorly, but this comes close.

Some great stuff and some not so great. What is great simply, a tribute to Dylan.

It may not be pure country, but for my money the greatest Dylan cover ever is Jason and The Nashville Scorchers blistering rendition of "Absolutely Sweet Marie". To me, in a great cover the artist retains the feel of the original while making the song his own at the same time. JaTNS accomplished that in spades. It may not have fit here perfectly, but it would definitely have juiced up the proceedings.
The stuff here is very nice for the most part, and worth a listen.