Customer Reviews

Theme Time Radio Hour: With Your Host Bob Dylan

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

 

 

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.

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.

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........

This 50-song collection of various blues, country, rock, jazz, r&b and old-time Americana comes from Bob Dylan's highly-lauded Sirius XM radio show - which Dylan may or may not continue to do in the future.
Each show would have a different theme and Dylan would play songs based on that particular theme. Besides the always interesting, and usually obscure, playlist, Dylan would provide fascinating and entertaining commentary, which may include everything from household tips, anecdotes about the artists featured, quotes from old poets and philosophers, email readings, or vintage radio air checks and promos. Radio shows like this, unfortunately, do not exist anymore (John Peel, why did you have to leave us?). Dylan proves, in his deep, ravished voice, that if he had never become a legendary singer-songwriter, he could have just as easily become a legendary disk jockey. The man is a joy to listen to.
This collection, put out by Ace Records, features many wonderful songs - sometimes strange, always interesting. The packaging is excellent. It includes commentary on each song and artist (including notes by Colin Escott and Barney Hoskyns, among others) and there are many pictures and reproductions of old record sleeves. This set was put together with love and attention.
The only complaint about this set is that Dylan's commentary is missing. These are just the songs, by themselves. Anyone familiar with the show will be disappointed by the lack of Dylan. Perhaps his anecdotes wouldn't work though, when taken out of the context of each show. Even a lot of the songs themselves sound better when listened to within each particularly-themed context. The songs are selected, seemingly, at random from dozens of the programs.
Still, there are so many good selections on here that it's hard to complain too much, as long as you have eclectic musical tastes. From James Carr to The White Stripes to some strange act called George Zimmerman & The Thrills with The Bubber Cyphers Band, the joys are endless. This is a excellent history of the last hundred years of music.
For anyone wanting to hear Dylan though, I suggest picking up the deluxe edition copy of his new album Together Through Life. Included, is a complete broadcast of the "Friends & Neighbors"-themed show that Dylan aired on Aug. 23, 2006 (episode #17). This will give you an excellent taste of what the show is all about.
Do yourself a favor though and purchase both of these sets - you certainly can't go wrong.

Cool choice of old and obsolete recordings. My favorite being 'He don't love you' by Jerry Butler.
There is added value on this UK import from the enhanced sound quality.
I'm always interested in whatever music interest Bob Dylan since he has such a eclectic music himself.
Recommended highly.
This rates only a 4 Star rating by me because some of the material predates my five & one-half decades of music interest.

Nice collection of tracks, but has none of Bob Dylan's commentary and patter from the radio show. That makes this disk a huge disappointment to me.

The tunes on this are fine but it's not authorized by Dylan, his record company or his management. It's an attempt to cash in on Dylan's radio show. I've got no idea how they've been able to use a photo of Dylan, or use the title of the radio show...

"Theme Time Radio Hour" would have faded away after the first 4 or 5 episodes, if it weren't for it being "BOB FRIGGIN' DYLAN" who is reading someone else's commentaries on someone else's record selections. And they're even managing to embarrass Dylan by what they write. Imagine--on the "Father" show alone (season 1, episode 7), there are FOUR factual errors that no one even bothered to check, much less correct (don't just take my word for it--download it from somewhere and listen yourself).

Now, don't get me wrong--the music here is fine, if not the best that one could find. Hey, I'm a record collector with over 200,000 discs in my collection, so I'm a bit cloyed by a lot of stuff. But if you want a good overview of American music, this is NOT it. Or if you want anything that is "Dylanesque" in the least, this is ALSO not it. This is, "let's put Bob's name on a bunch of stuff we can license cheap, and see how much money we can make in the process."

First, shame on you, Bob, for allowing your good name and persona to have been used by the creators of this melee. Second, shame on someone for trying to boil down 50 hours of scattershot music into something that someone would dare to call any type of introduction to music--much less an overview of 20th century culture--(both monickers which have been applied [elsewhere, thank goodness] to it), and then stamping Dylan's name on it to sell it.

Bob, if you're listening, DON'T let yourself be screwed further by a THIRD (shudder) season of this show. I've bought everything you've ever released, and the show (as well as this set) has lowered my opinion of you almost irreparably. And you, music lover, if you're looking for a good overview of American roots music, check out practically ANYTHING on the Document label...or Yazoo, or Folkways, or...or just buy a few Dylan albums and go from there...but give this pale pastiche a pass.