Greatest Hits - Bob Dylan > Reviews > One Of The Best Albums Ever Made

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	The best early Dylan tracks
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

There are a limited number of artistes who were on that first superstar stage in the 60s whose influence has continued into the new millenium. The Beatles certainly, you can argue for Elvis Presley though he sold out mercilessly to be an over bloated cabaret act, The Rolling Stones longevity counts but it is for their attitude where they created a ‘you don’t have to love us’ mentality. The Beach Boys, from surf boys to groundbreaking musicians without peer to self destruction and of course Bob Dylan.

A few weeks ago Dylan, who will be 60 later this month, won an Oscar. The category of Best Song From A Film is not the grand prize but nevertheless it was an Oscar. It would be churlish to suggest that as the majority of the voting members of the motion picture academy are middle aged Americans and that songs in motion pictures are hardly known for their excellence. Nonetheless the song he won it for – Things Have Changed – is not just a film song but part a milestone part of the catalogue of Bob Dylan songs.

As an agent for change in the 60s Dylan sang wistfully that ‘The Times They are A Changin’. Noting with some relish that ‘The Old Order Is Rapidly Changin’. Perhaps written more in hope than expectation the song became an anthem for the new aware youth of the 60s. Coupled with ‘Blowin In The Wind’ another stunningly simple song the 2 tracks became a feature of life. For the first time someone was having huge success with songs which had a startling effect on the listener – far from being able to dismiss the song as disposable 3-minute entertainment - the song’s lyrics drew you in and made you think. Groups of young people would gather and compelled to thought by a Dylan song would seek its meaning. These tracks are available on the Greatest Hits album which was first issued in 1967 and is still available today.

Dylan had also provided hits for other artistes and 2 examples are also to be found on this album. The first ‘Mr Tambourine Man’ was a huge hit for the Byrds though they did smooth it out somewhat and made it perhaps a little too singalong for my liking. The Byrds version is however probably now considered the definitive version and the album gives you the chance to hear it in its raw original form. Surprisingly the other track which was a hit for another artiste was ‘It Aint Me Babe’ which was a US hit for the Turtles but barely charted in the UK. It is difficult to imagine the Turtles being considered a powerhouse in the field of protest songs but of course Bob Dylan was more than just a folk singer. This album has the tracks providing the dissenting voice against political authority but it also has the bittersweet love songs which Dylan could produce with apparent ease.

‘She Belongs To Me’ is one such track as is the sublime ‘One Of Us Must Know’. The latter is a superbly constructed song which builds beautifully to its searing climax. ‘Its All Over Now Baby Blue’ is probably the weakest track but balance that with ‘Just Like A Woman’ which shows such tenderness and love in its lyrics.

But it is for the protest songs for which Dylan first established his reputation. ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ has a steam of frustration launched at the listener. The film which Dylan used to promote the track featured him holding cards with the lyrics on which he discarded as the song played. It was typically innovative and clever and later parodied by a Memorex tape commercial. Dylan himself did not lack humour as can be heard on ‘Rainy Day Women Nos 12 & 35’ perhaps better remembered as ‘You Stone Me When etc…’ or ‘Everybody Must Get Stoned’. Recorded in what sounds like one take the track features a temporary loss of timing by the backing musicians and Dylan’s impromptu laugh. The final track is ‘I Want You’ which has a wonderful poetic stanza style with three rhyming lines followed by a brief 4 word extension flowing into the next stanza. Behind this is a dancing guitar giving the total effect of a happy track.

Now some may argue that as Dylan could barely hold a note that he was not a great singer or that his musicianship was bettered by many others then and more since but this is hardly relevant. Of his early contemporaries such as Bob Seeger or Arlo Guthrie or even Joan Baez, the ‘female Dylan’ none have managed to maintain their success to bus-pass age. Dylan remains an artist many are compared to because he was the original. Those who decried his switch to electric guitars have long since become irrelevant. Publicly Dylan has hardly put a foot wrong though his shambolic performance at the US end of ‘Band Aid’ was unwelcome. This Greatest Hits album is a must for anyone who is interested in early pop music and who appreciates songs with the strengths of personal conviction.