Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour: The Best Of The Second Series

Bob Dylan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 2, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Chrome Dreams
• ASIN: B001TDM5VO
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #192,369 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Hello Stranger

2. Young Man's Blues

3. Young Fashioned Ways

4. Lucy Mae Blues

5. Blue Monday

6. California Blues

7. Rollin' Stone

8. Mr Thrill

9. Speedoo

10. Dry Bones

See all 26 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. All Around the World

2. Ubangi Stomp

3. The Key (To Your Door)

4. Key to the Highway

5. Write Me a Letter

6. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter

7. I Feel That Old Age Coming On

8. (Gotta Go) Upside Your Head

9. Gloomy Sunday

10. Send for the Doctor

See all 26 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Ace is proud to present a 2008 double CD paying tribute to Theme Time Radio Hour hosted by Bob Dylan. For those that are new to the show, each radio program lasts an hour and has a different theme each week, often something simple like 'Drink', or 'Mother'. On the radio program each track is introduced by Dylan with his dry humor, eclectic interest and vast musical knowledge. On this CD set, though, Dylan himself does not appear; just selected tracks that he played on his shows. It's possible to regard this set as the best introduction to music ever.

This is the only officially-authorized release associated with the Theme Time Radio Hour. Its 50 tracks represent the first series of radio shows. The track-listing reflects Dylan's wide taste and ranges from Billie Holiday and George Jones, through Aretha Franklin to the Clash and the White Stripes. Although each track was chosen by Dylan for the radio show, the CD itself was compiled by the show's producer Eddie Gorodetsky and Ace's own Roger Armstrong.

The luxury package contains a 2-CD jewel case with an accompanying 48-page full color book, all in a cardboard slipcase. The sleeve notes include a track-by-track commentary by some of the world's great music writers including Barney Hoskyns, Colin Escott, Billy Vera and Fred Dellar. Each track, no matter how obscure, is illustrated with a sleeve, label shot or photo of the artist.

Other Theme Time Radio Hour compilations have concentrated on the very early material, essentially because that material was in the public domain and thus royalty payments could be avoided. As with all Ace releases, this is a fully legitimate production and royalties are paid on every track. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Why bother?, February 6, 2009

By 

C. Barry - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Theme Time Radio Hour: With Your Host Bob Dylan (Audio CD)

Without Bob doing the introductions and explanations, this is simply one of many collections of songs. To suggest that it in any way gives the listener a sense of what Theme Time Radio is like would be ridiculous. The context within which the songs appear is vital to the full appreciation of what this show is about. The shows themselves are easily found by either subscribing to XM/Sirius online for only 7.99 per month and recording them yourself, or by doing a simple search for downloads of the shows on the net. Go ahead and buy the collection, but don't for one minute think it will give you an idea of what the show is like.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great compilation and presentation!, May 25, 2009

By 

Joe Lewis (grand rapids mi) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Theme Time Radio Hour: With Your Host Bob Dylan (Audio CD)

This review is for the first instalment of "Theme Time Radio Hour, With Your Host, Bob Dylan" but I see that Amazon has also somehow attached this review to a different "Theme Time Radio Hour" compilation that I know nothing about. This review is for the CD with the close-up of the old radio on the cover, not the one with Bob's portrait on the cover.

Anyway, this is one of the best Theme Time Radio Hour presentations where Dylan's commentary is absent. I notice that many people are buying these compilations thinking that they will include Dylan's commentary, but they don't. It's just the music. (Get the deluxe version of his latest album if you'd like to hear a disc with his DJ patter, which is fascinating in itself.) The booklet is extremely well-done, as good as or better than any in The Bootleg Series, with many photos of those old artists and the cool old 45 single labels etc., with very informative and well-written info about each song.

The music is very eclectic and wide-ranging, some of it 21st-century though most tends to be from the '50s, '40's and '60's. Many styles, from punk to blues to old-timey country, proto-rock, reggae, R&B, gospel, etc. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed most of the songs, though I can see how some people wouldn't like this or that genre. The sound quality on most is surprisingly good, and where it is bad, it has that haunting, "listening in the dark to that weird AM station that sometimes bleeds through" quality that can make a song so evocative of another time and place. If you aren't too narrow-minded in your musical taste, this is highly recommended.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Faith Restoration or How I Learned To Cry Again, July 16, 2008

By 

Darren Scott Gerlach "D.S. Gerlach" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Theme Time Radio Hour: With Your Host Bob Dylan (Audio CD)

In a world of immitators and regurgitated bland soundscapes, it's so refreshing to see brilliance in the music industry again. Call it a throwback if you will, I'll call it 'actual' entertainment. Either way you slice it there's no denying the musical knowledge stored inside Mr. Zimmerman's brain. I know the show is not entirely all his creation (so thanks go out to the producers, engineers, and everyone else who makes it possible.) but without him as the 'mouth-piece', the show wouldn't have the same style and class. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you for taking the time to produce a show that has obvious thought behind it. Looking forward to season 3 and what 'themes' may be in store........