Dave Edmunds: Repeat When Necessary (1979)

A good description of Dave is probably "roots rocker," or some such thing. Repeat When Necessary is a pretty good record, full of some really good cover songs, like Crawling from the Wreckage, penned by Graham Parker and Girls Talk, written by Elvis Costello. I'm not so much of a fan of Queen of Hearts because when I hear it, all I can think of is Juice Newton's version, and that is a bad thing.
I think that the record cover is a bit of a bore.

Eddie And The Cruisers: (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1983)

I suppose this should really be filed under John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band, rather than the title of the film, but whatever. I guess I dropped the ball on that one and broke my soundtrack rule, previously described. I've never seen the film and I was surprised to learn (just recently) that a sequel was filmed.

At the time, I seem to recall that John Cafferty was heralded as the new Bruce Springsteen. It certainly seems like the band was attempting to emulate (copy) the sound of the Boss and his band. There is even a sax. In fact, a casual listener might even be convinced that this is Bruce and Co. on Tender Years, an overt and obvious, yet weak, attempt to channel Bruce. Overall, the album is not that great, but maybe if I saw the film, I would change my mind.

Back in the day, a friend of mine (and Springsteen enthusiast) told me emphatically that this record sucked. That should be the last word.

Echo and The Bunnymen: Meteorites (2014)

Suddenly, Echo and The Bunnymen have become Echo and The Bunnymen again after a few years as Echo & The Bunnymen.

I thought the Bunnymen were finished, but suddenly, Meteorites appeared and it turns out to be very good, though perhaps not as good as their 80s stuff. True, Ian McCulloch's voice is a little harsh on this record, but that doesn't seem to interfere with the music. Allmusic says this: "Teeming with giant string arrangements, widescreen vocal production, and songs that hark back to the glory days of Ocean Rain, the album is a mysterious, murky, impressively nostalgic affair." [source] I will have to agree.

Echo & The Bunnymen: BBC Radio Tapes '79 - '80 (2010)

BBC Radio Tapes '79 - '80 is an unofficial (bootleg, in other words) release with a hand silk-screened cover. It was released in 2010 on the Arkain Filloux label from Belgium. It may or may not be a limited edition.  I believe that some versions were released on coloured vinyl.

Evidently, the vinyl revival has meant a bootleg revival. So, you can expect incorrect song titles and mediocre sound quality, especially if the original copy is an MP3 from the floor of a concert or some other dubious source. Occasionally, there are great-sounding boots, and this one sounds pretty good, but it's not perfect. But, if you are a fan of the early Bunnymen, this is an essential item and you should track it down.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Enlighten Me (Extended Remix) (1990)

Echo and the Bunnymen without Ian McCullough is not really Echo and the Bunnymen. But, I have to say that Enlighten Me is a terrific track and Noel Burke puts in a solid vocal performance. Still, it would have been better with Ian. This 12" has two versions of Enlighten Me (the original and the extended), plus a track called Lady Don't Fall Backwards

Echo And The Bunnymen: The Peel Sessions (1988)

There were two pressings of this EP, one of which listed some titles incorrectly. This EP contains four tracks: Read it in Books, Stars are Stars, I Bagsy Yours, and Villiers Terrace. I believe the recordings date to 1979. 

Echo And The Bunnymen: The Pictures On My Wall (1979)

This single, originally released in 1979,  didn't get a 12" pressing until 1991, for some reason. Who knows why? It's not as though vinyl was entering a resurgent phase. The tracks are the same: The Pictures on My Wall b/w Read it in Books.

Echo & The Bunnymen: People Are Strange (1988)

This is a UK 45 RPM 12" single containing a cover of People are Strange, originally from The Doors, plus three live tracks that were recorded in Sweden in 1985. The live tracks are: Paint in Black (a cover of the Rolling Stones tune), Run, Run, Run (a cover of the Velvet Underground track, written by Lou Reed), and Friction (a cover of the Television song, written by Tom Verlaine). So, it's all cover versions.

People are Strange was used, as one can see, in the film, The Lost Boys. Oddly, I have never seen that film. I would also add that People are Strange is the best track on the film's soundtrack.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Bedbugs And Ballyhoo (1987)

This 12" single has 5 tracks:

Bedbugs And Ballyhoo (Club Remix)
Bedbugs And Ballyhoo (LP Version)
Run, Run, Run
Paint It Black
Friction

It's good, of course.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Echo & The Bunnymen (1987)

After releasing four albums between 1980 to 1984, I thought we had seen the last of Echo & The Bunnymen. Happily, they delivered another great record, this time self-titled, for some reason. The Game is a timeless track. Other highlights are Bedbugs and Ballyhoo, Lips Like Sugar, and All in Your Mind. It's a great record. Wikipedia covers the interesting backstory about the development of the record, which is worth reading if you are a fan.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Songs To Learn & Sing (1985)

If you want an excellent introduction to Echo & The Bunnymen, this is the record to get. It's a fabulous compilation of all of the band's singles up to 1985. It contains a new single, the aforementioned Bring on the Dancing Horses. Of course, owning this record will cause you to buy more records by the band because when you hear it, you will want to hear the album tracks.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Bring On The Dancing Horses b/w Bring On The Dancing Horses (Extended Mix) & Over Your Shoulder (1985)

Bring On The Dancing Horses might be be the most recognizable song ever released by Echo and the Bunnymen. This might partly be because the song was used on the Pretty in Pink soundtrack, which is a film I actually saw in the theatre back-in-the-day. It's a pretty good film and the song is very good. It was often played at the club I frequented during my undergrad. Bizarrely, I had never seen this video before now.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Silver (Tidal Wave) (1984)

"Walked on a tidal wave
Laughed in the face of a brand new day"

Sometimes, Discogs lets you down. This is a German pressing that is not listed when last I looked. I know, I could add it...

Anyway, this 12" contains two versions of Silver (the original and the Tidal Wave version - I guess that would be called tsunami these days, but "walked on a tsunami" doesn't sound as good), and Angles and Devils. The sound is a bit wonky in this video:

Echo & The Funnymen: Seven Seas "Life At Brian's - Lean And Hungry" (1984)

As noted in the Discog's page, "This release is exactly the same as the KOW 35T 12 'penguin' Anton Corbijn cover version." In other words, I have two copies of the same release with different covers. This one is the UK version

Echo & The Bunnymen: Seven Seas (1984)

This 5 track EP was released in the heart of the 1980s. 1984 was a transitional year for me, but that's probably another story. Seven Seas is an epic Echo track, presented here with four lives tracks: All You Need is Love (the Beatles tune), The Killing Moon, Stars are Stars, and Villiers Terrace. This Canadian pressing is also known as the Anton Corbin's penguin cover.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Ocean Rain (1984)

If you are Bunnymen fan, then you know that Ocean Rain is "the greatest record ever made."

I find it difficult to choose a favourite song, even my favourite song from one band or one record. Sometimes, the song you are listening to sounds like the best song ever recorded. So, sometimes, I think the best track from Echo & The Bunnymen is The Killing Moon. Other times, I think it is My Kingdom. Certainly, The Killing Moon is grander, more emotional, and maybe just more epic. But, My Kingdom has a certain something that I rally like.

"I chop and I change and the mystery thickens
There's blood on my hands and you want me to listen
To brawn and to brain when the truth's in the middle
Born of the grain like all good riddles

B-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top
Thy will be done
B-b-bite the nose off and make it the most of
Your king- kingdom kingdom kingdom

You kill when you talk and the enemy weakens
Your words start to walk when you're not even speaking
If my heart is a war its soldiers are bleeding
If my heart is a war its soldiers are dead

B-b-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top
Thy will be done
B-b-bite the nose off and make it the most of
Your king- kingdom kingdom kingdom


I've lost and I've gained and while I was thinking
You cut off my hands when I wanted to twist
If you know how to dance to Boney Maroney
He's doing the ballet on both of his wrists

B-b-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top
Thy will be done
B-b-bite the nose off and make it the most of
Your k-k- k- k- k- kingdom, king-k- k- k- k-

B-b-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top
And I will be done
B-b-bite the nose off and make the most of
Your king- kingdom, kingdom, kingdom

(You're a bitter malignous person)
(And the death is well overdue)
(You suck the blood that kills you)
(You kiss the hand that hates you)

(You're a bitter malignous person)
(And your death is well overdue)
(Your sucking bitter pain)"
 

Ocean Rain contains a bevy of great songs, like the two aforementioned tracks, plus Silver, Seven Seas, Nocturnal Me. I like the album cover.

Echo & The Bunnymen: The Killing Moon b/w The Killing Moon & Do It Clean (All Night Version) (1983)

The Killing Moon is a fantastic song, and a staple of any good night club, oh so many years ago. I have never had any idea of what the song is about, but let's have Ian clear that up for us. In an interview with The Guardian earlier this year. He said:

"I’ve always said that The Killing Moon is the greatest song ever written. I’m sure Paul Simon would be entitled say the same about Bridge Over Troubled Water, but for me The Killing Moon is more than just a song. It’s a psalm, almost hymnal. It’s about everything, from birth to death to eternity and God – whatever that is – and the eternal battle between fate and the human will. It contains the answer to the meaning of life. It’s my 'To be or not to be …'" [source]  

I still don't know what the song means. Sadly, in the same interview, he said: "You don’t dream things like that and remember them. That’s why I’ve always half credited the lyric to God." Yikes, now there's a case of delusion thinking.

Under blue moon I saw you
So soon you'll take me
Up in your arms
Too late to beg you or cancel it
Though I know it must be the killing time
Unwillingly mine

Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him

In starlit nights I saw you
So cruelly you kissed me
Your lips a magic world
Your sky all hung with jewels
The killing moon
Will come too soon

Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him

Under blue moon I saw you
So soon you'll take me
Up in your arms
Too late to beg you or cancel it
Though I know it must be the killing time
Unwillingly mine

Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him

Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
You give yourself to him

La la la la la

Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until 

You give yourself to him

La la la la la

Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him

Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him

La la la la la

This is a US pressing

Echo And The Bunnymen: Echo And The Bunnymen (1983)

In 1983, the band released this self-titled 5 track EP or mini album of some essential Bunnymen tunes:

Never Stop
Rescue
The Cutter
Back Of Love
Do It Clean (Live)

It's almost like a mini best-of compilation up to that point.

Echo & The Bunnymen: The Cutter (1983)

This is a UK 12" single that contains three tracks: The Cutter, Way Out And Up We Go, and
Zimbo (Live), which was recorded live at the W.O.M.A.D. Festival in July 1982.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Porcupine (1983)

Curiously, the band altered their name by using an ampersand rather than an and. Perhaps this was a graphic design issue. In any case, it didn't affect the music. The third album is more genius. I guess the two most well-known tracks are The Cutter and Back of Love, but the album has lots of great tunes, like Gods Will be Gods, Porcupine, and Ripeness, etc. I have a Canadian pressing.

Echo And The Bunnymen: The Back Of Love

This UK 12" single from May 21, 1982 contains the title track with two b-sides: The Subject and Fuel.

Echo And The Bunnymen: A Promise (1981)

This is a UK 12" pressing containing A Promise b/w Broke My Neck (Long Version). I love it.

Echo and The Bunnymen: Heaven Up Here (1981)

The second album from Echo and The Bunnymen is another gem. I agree wholeheartedly with this excerpt from Allmusic's review:

"Heaven Up Here's strength is the way in which the Bunnymen seamlessly work together to shape each song's dynamics (the tension underlying the crescendo of "Turquoise Days" being a prime example). Ian McCulloch, having found his trademark confidence, sings with soaring abandon and passion throughout the album. Similarly, Will Sergeant's guitar playing, notably freed from verse-chorus structure and pop riffs, is at its angular finest; his playing on "No Dark Things" is pure Andy Gill-esque skronk. The album's opening troika of "Show of Strength," "With a Hip," and "Over the Wall" (the latter with its jarring, direct invocation of Del Shannon's "Runaway") are particularly effective, establishing the theme of distrust and restlessness which continues throughout the album."[link]

It's difficult to choose favourites, but Show of Strength, Over the Wall, The Promise, Turquoise Days, No Dark Things, With a Hip are all awesome. I wish I had seen them in concert. I recently heard that they will be playing Riot Fest few days from now, but I think my days of all-day concert festivals are over.

Echo And The Bunnymen: Shine So Hard (1981)

|
Between the first two Echo albums (actually about a month before the second album was released) came this live 4 track EP that was recorded at the Pavillion Gardens, Buxton on Jan. 17 1981. It serves as a soundtrack to the film of the same name. It contains:

Crocodiles
Zimbo
All That Jazz
Over The Wall

You can watch the entire Shine So Hard film on Youtube. It's about 31 minute long and it contains some music not on the EP, like parts or Pride and Going Up, for example. You might want to skip ahead to the actual music, at about 12:30, where the epic version of Over the Wall begins.

Echo and The Bunnymen: Crocodiles (1980)

Echo and The Bunnymen (later known as Echo & The Bunnymen and even later as Echo and The Bunnymen) were one of my favourite 80s bands. If I were forced to make a list of my top 5 bands from that era, this band would be on that list. Needless to say, I have all of their CDs.  

Crocodiles is a very good debut. It contains Rescue, an essential track, but unless you purchased the cassette version, it lacks Do it Clean and Read It in Books. Apparently, the record company was concerned about the lyrics. How would these guys have managed in the gangsta rap era? I have combed over the lyrics to Do it Clean and just cannot understand what they thought the record company folks thought they saw. It's a bit clearer in Read it in Books, but only if you have a dirty mind.

"You know the words
Please do say it from your knees
Show some respect
Hey baby, genuflect"

Steve Earle: Guitar Town (1986)

Egads, a country record! Apart from Johnny Cash, I am not really a fan of country music. I heard it way too often growing up, along with fiddle music. This is one of the most countryish records I own, yet it has a bit of an edge to it, which might explain its presence in my collection. Some people refer to Earle as country-rock, which might be true, especially in later years. Some of the lyrics, like in the song Someday, resonate with me:

"There ain't a lot that you can do in this town."

That's precisely how I felt about my hometown. There was no movie theatre, no late night restaurants, very few people with ethnic backgrounds, and no culture. The entire town was backwards, conservative, in-bred, and probably racist. Predictably, though, the town had a Chinese restaurant, but I didn't know that the food was terrible until I had real Chinese food.

The only thing to do on weekends was to find a house party, which meant that many people were regularly drinking and driving. Leaving home to go to University was a relief and it provided an education in more ways than one.

"Someday I'm finally gonna let go
'Cause I know there's a better way
And I wanna know what's over that rainbow
I'm gonna get out of here someday"

The record contains My Old Friend the Blues, a really great little song. I will admit that the first time I heard that track was when it was covered by The Proclaimers, the Scottish twins who were prepared to walk for 500 miles. 

Eagles: The Long Run (1979)

To me, this record is where the Eagles hit rock bottom. Heartache Tonight is an example of how not to write a song. It contains one of the clumsiest lyrics ever penned:

"We can beat around the bushes;
we can get down to the bone
We can leave it in the parkin' lot,
but either way, there's gonna be a"

So, bone rhymes with gonna? I don't think so. And, I really don't think perfect rhymes are always needed. After all, Billy Bragg once rhymed trousers with spouses, but at least that was funny. And then there's this from Bragg:

One minute she says
She's gone to get the cat in
The next thing I know
She's mumbling in Latin

That's much better writing.

I can live with the title track, but the rest of the album is weak.

Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (1976)

This Eagles record was another garage sale find from ages ago. I am not a big Eagles fan. In fact, I  am bored by most of their music. The best thing about this record is that it was released in February 1976, about 10 months prior to the Hotel California album, meaning that the insipid and ludicrous title track is not on this compilation.

In the early days, The Eagles were a country-rock outfit. Later, they morphed into a soft rock disaster. Clearly, the earlier music is far more interesting than the later output.

Eagles: On the Border (1974)

From Discogs:

"On the Border" is the third studio album by the Eagles, released in 1974. During the making of the album, the band experienced significant changes. As the band tried to lean towards a more hard rock sound, they felt that producer Glyn Johns overemphasized their country sound. After recording only two songs, the band let go of Johns and hired Bill Szymczyk. At Frey's request they brought in guitarist Don Felder to add slide guitar to the song "Good Day in Hell". The band was so impressed that they invited Felder to become the fifth Eagle. 

As I have mentioned before and will likely mention again, I am not a big Eagles fan. This record has a coupe of recognizable tunes, notably Already Gone and Best of My Love. I don't mind these tracks.

Dylan: Rough and Rowdy Ways (2020)

Finally, after Dylan's dive into standards (the Great American Songbook), he's back with a truly great record, his 39th. It has been rightly praised by critics. 

Bob Dylan: Shadows in the Night (2015)

As much as I appreciate digital downloads that come with some new vinyl pressings, I prefer the inclusion of the CD. This pressing, on 180 gram vinyl, includes the CD. I bought the whole package for under $10. Unlike some folks, I really like later Bob Dylan. Modern Times, Together Through Life, Love and Theft, parts of Tempest, etc. are all amazing.

I dropped the needle on this one a while back and my 14-year-old daughter made some sort of disparaging comment about it. She couldn't quite believe what she was hearing, and she meant it in a negative way. I gather that her opinion had more to do with the voice of the singer, rather than the production and music itself. Dylan's vocal performance is stellar. I preferred the direction he was taking on Modern Times and Together Through Life. But, it is interesting to hear his interpretation of these songs, all at one time recorded by Sinatra. In general, I like it very much, but the listening mood has to be the right one.

Bob Dylan: "Love And Theft" [AKD Love And Theft] (2001)

Why does Discogs record the title of this record as "Love and Theft" rather than simply Love and Theft? I mean, why aren't lower case titles recorded in lower case? The sam thing was done with Heroes, I mean "Heroes." This is stupid. 

On the other hand, this, his 31st album, is a fantastic record: Mississippi, Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum, Summer Days, High Water, etc, etc. This is incredible. 

Bob Dylan: Slow Train Coming (1979)

It's odd that I own a record that is overtly evangelical. I guess the born-again Dylan decided to become the unofficial voice of Jews for Jesus in the late 1970s. So, it's an odd record, to be sure. I think I can excuse Dylan for losing his mind for a while. Some of the songs, despite the delusional messages, are interesting. I guess this is a record for the devoted fans or for those seeking a spiritual awakening.

Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits (1976)

This is packed with hits. But, how could they leave out A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall? That is one of the top songs of the twentieth century, unquestionably. I rank it as Dylan's best. The poster is missing from my copy of this record.

Bob Dylan: Hard Rain (1976)

This LP was recorded during the second segment of the Rolling Thunder tour in 1976. It's not bad and much better than Allmusic claims.

Bob Dylan: Down in the Groove (1988)

It seems that everyone hates this record. Sure, it's nowhere near as good as most other Dylan records, but there are few good tracks here. Granted, Bryan Ferry's cover of Let's Get Together is much better than Dylan's. Weirdly, Dylan only wrote three of the tracks, one with a collaborator. Maybe that is the problem. The 80s were hard on many artists, including Dylan. 

Bob Dylan: Empire Burlesque (1985)

For a mid-80s record from an established artist, Empire Burlesque is pretty good. I wonder about the sound, from time to time, but the songs are good enough to keep me interested. It starts with the engaging Tight Connection to My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love?), which I think is not such a bad track. Clean Cut Kid is also not too bad. I do wonder about Allmusic's final sentence of its review: "All this makes Empire Burlesque seem more transient than it actually is, since -- discounting the production -- this is as good as Dylan gets in his latter days." [source] Latter days? Are they serious? 30 years later, Mr. Dylan is still active. Also, there are far better later Dylan records than this one.

Bob Dylan: Desire (1976)

When Dylan is on, he is really on, and this is a really good record. I know people who claim Desire to be his best record. I favour others for that title, but this really has something. I suppose the most famous song is Hurricane, his ode to Ruben "Hurricane" Carter, the boxer falsely convicted (and later exonerated) of murder, but not before he had spent 20 years in prison.

There are other great tracks here too, like Isis (a song title that would suggest a different meaning today), and Mozambique. Once again, good luck trying to find this track on the web.

Bob Dylan: Infidels (1983)

I would argue that Infidels was Dylan's best record since Desire. Part of that might have to do with the fact that Dylan seemed to have forgetten about god for a while, and he hired a veritable guitar god -- Mark Knopfler -- for this record.

The record contains some real classics, like Jokerman, Sweetheart Like You, Neighborhood Bully, Union Sundown...

Oddly, I have a UK pressing.

Bob Dylan: Street-Legal (1978)

I've read that this record has divided critics and fans for years. Perhaps that should be an indication that this is a good record? There are other examples of records that were dismissed by critics upon release but have gone on to attain seminal status. OMD's Dazzle Ships and Lou Reed's Berlin are two examples.

But, while this may be good, it is not a great record. I like it, but there are several better Dylan albums, in my humble opinion. One gets the sense that Dylan really isn't trying very hard, but who am I to say?

I could not find any appropriate clips on Youtube.

Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks (1975)

I'm lucky to have a near mint copy of the first US pressing of Blood on the Tracks. Did Michael Jackson steal this title and rejig it as Blood on the Dance Floor? In any case, there is a good argument to be made that this is Bob Dylan's best record. And, the Allmusic critic seems to agree with me:

"[It]'s an affecting, unbearably poignant record, not because it's a glimpse into his soul, but because the songs are remarkably clear-eyed and sentimental, lovely and melancholy at once. And, in a way, it's best that he was backed with studio musicians here, since the professional, understated backing lets the songs and emotion stand at the forefront. Dylan made albums more influential than this, but he never made one better." [source]

Here's the white-faced Bob in a live version of Tangled up in Blue. For some reason, Bob took to wearing some glam makeup, and only he knows why. Sorry, I just realized that my photo is a bit wonky.

Bob Dylan: Planet Waves (1974)

Planet Waves, the 14th record from Mr. Zimmerman, seem to have a subtitle, which reads: Cast-Iron Songs and Torch Ballads. The band on this record is The Band. I thin the record is better than the two preceding records, but it is not one o my favourites. I like it, but not s much as some other Dylan records.

Bob Dylan: Blonde On Blonde (1966)

Grandpa died last week
And now he's buried in the rocks
But everybody still talks about how
Badly they were shocked
But me, I expected it to happen
I knew he'd lost control
When I speed built a fire on Main Street
And shot it full of holes
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again

It's probably impossible to choose a favourite Dylan record. I change my mind frequently. Blonde on Blonde would be a contender. His first eight records are all excellent. I loved most of the next ten records, with a couple of exceptions. Blonde on Blonde is simply essential. I don't see how anyone can be a fan of western music and not know all of these tracks inside and out. You should be able to sing along to the entire record without missing a word.

One thing we can be sure of is that this was the first ever double LP. I wonder if anyone wlse woudl have thought of that had Dylan not done this. 

My copy is a later issue, probably after 1976.

Bob Dylan: Nashville Skyline (1969)

When I first heard this album, on CD, I thought Dylan had hired someone else to sing the songs, with Dylan providing the music. The credits did not bear this out and so I went online to find out what in the hell was up with this record. The other thing is that this is a stright up country record. Wikipedia says the following:

Building on the rustic style he experimented with on John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline displayed a complete immersion into country music. Along with the more basic lyrical themes, simple songwriting structures, and charming domestic feel, it introduced audiences to a radically new singing voice from Dylan, who had temporarily quit smoking—a soft, affected country croon. [source]

I still do not like this record, precisely because it's a country record and because of Dylan's affected voice, which I really hate. In truth, I don't mind a couple of tracks, but this is a record I rarely ever listen to.

Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume II (1971)

This is a double LP that collects dome of Bob's hits since the first collection of greatest hits. It commences with the previously-unreleased and truly cracking Watching the River Flow. It's an excellent collection of quality Bob Dylan tracks.

Bob Dylan: Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964)

Another Side of Bob Dylan, whatever that means, is a great Dylan record. In truth, I suppose the other side is the less political side. I was tempted to write that this is one of my favourite Dylan records, but I have so many favourite Dylan records, it would seem unfair to single this one out. Every song is a winner, like It Ain't Me Babe, Chimes of Freedom, I Shall be Free, Spanish Harlem Incident, etc.

This is a pristine US pressing that is still in shrink wrap.

As usual, I couldn't find any studio versions of tunes from this record on Youtube, but here is a live track:

Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited (1965)

Highway 61 Revisited was the first Dylan record I owned, and it was on CD. The whole album is genius. It's all the more interesting when I finally heard the earlier stuff, and understood how this (Along with Bringing it all Back Home) was different from his earlier more mellow stuff.

If there is any track that truly deserves the adjective epic, Like a Rolling Stone is it:

"One of the most self-righteous and eloquent indictments ever committed to wax, Like a Rolling Stone filters Bob Dylan¹s indignation for pseudo-bohemian sixties¹ scenesters through his legendary wit. If Dylan¹s first incarnation was as a protest singer, Like a Rolling Stone signals the era of Dylan as court jester/verbal assassin." [link]

(By the way, Allmusic has turned into a slow turd. Those obnoxious popup ads that show up on every single page make the site simply frustrating to use). Things better improve or I'll be seriously upset.

There are a number of unimpressive video clips on Youtube, but nothing that is good enough to post.

Bob Dylan: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963)

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan is probably my favourite Bob Dylan record, or at least my favourite from his early protest period. It's amazing to think that he was only 21 when this record came out. This album, unlike his debut, contains all originals, and they are amazing original songs: Blowin' in the Wind, Masters of War, Don't Think Twice, It's Alright, etc. Or course, the masterpiece on the record is A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall. That song is pure genius.

From Allmusic: " It's hard to overestimate the importance of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, the record that firmly established Dylan as an unparalleled songwriter, one of considerable skill, imagination, and vision" [link] I have to agree.

Bod Dylan: The Times They Are A-Changin' (1964)

I preferred the preceding record, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, much more. Still, this is still a fine record and it contains some classics, like the title track, With God On Our Side, Ballad of Hollis Brown, etc. You can't go wrong with early Dylan records.

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

Bob Dylan: Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid - Original Soundtrack Recording (1973)

"...the resulting album was a beautifully simple, sometimes rough-at-the-edges and sometimes gently refined piece of country- and folk-influenced rock, devised to underscore a very serious historical film by one of the movies' great directorial stylists." [source]

This is a pretty good record, and is perhaps most notable for the track Knockin' On Heaven's Door, which was later ruined by Guns and Roses.

Bob Dylan: New Morning (1970)

I sort of ignored Bob Dylan for years. I always knew who he was and I knew many of his songs, but it never occurred to me to buy his records and listen to them from end to end. Even Leonard Cohen's public love for Dylan's music couldn't convince me. This changed in the CD era, which is why I have virtually everything he ever released on CD, including the bootleg series. One day, some years ago, I bought a cheap copy of Highway 61 Revisited and I was hooked.

I can't justify finding all of Dylan's releases on vinyl, 'cause that would be hugely expensive. Used Dylan records are generally pricey and I already own them on CD, albeit with inferior sound quality.

If Not For You, the lead off track on New Morning, was already familiar to me because of my brother. For reasons I have yet to fully understand, my brother was a huge Olivia Newton John fan and I heard her cover version way too many times. Two other tracks really stand out for me: Day of the Locusts and One More Weekend.

I didn't realize that Bob Dylan tracks were hard to find on Youtube. So, I've got nothing.