Originally published in The
Aquarian Weekly
Bob Dylan / Dylan /
Columbia/Legacy Records
Let’s begin by
establishing
the fact that the music
on this
three CD set is
essential.
There can be no
argument
on that point. What
can be
discussed is whether this
particular collection is
required. After all, there
have
been a number of Bob
Dylan
retrospectives over the years,
including three volumes of
Bob Dylan’s Greatest
Hits.
There is nothing
here that is
previously unreleased, but
the 51 songs have been
remastered for the occasion.
Disc one of this set
covers
the five amazing years
from
1962–1967, a.k.a.
the years
that Bob Dylan helped to
remake the world of
popular
music. Any disc that
covers
material from “Blowin’ In The
Wind” to “Like A Rolling
Stone” is
undeniable. The
second disc covers what
might be called Dylan’s
middle period. This time
period includes albums
like
The Basement Tapes,
Blood
On The Tracks and
Slow Train
Coming. It’s here that you
might be pleasantly
surprised
by the appearance of
some
songs that you haven’t
heard
in a while. The final
disc
presents the late-era Dylan,
right up through 2006’s
“Modern
Times”.
Columbia/Legacy has
released Dylan in three
different configurations.
There’s an 18-track
condensed version, a basic
three CD set, and a
deluxe
three CD boxed set that
includes special CD sleeves,
vinyl replica CDs, a
perfect
bound 40-page booklet,
and
10 postcard
lithograph prints,
all enclosed in a cloth
covered, velvet lined
hinged
box.
Hardcore Dylan
followers
will already have
everything
that’s here. Even more
casual
fans might have most of
it. It
would however serve as a
great introduction for
someone looking to begin
their study of rock’s
greatest
poet, or someone who
just
likes the idea of an
updated,
career-spanning
retrospective.
In A Word:
Music: Indispensable
Package: Dispensable
Grade:
Music: A+
Marketing Concept: C
—by Ken Shane