DYLAN – today’s massive new release – all you need to know in 5 seconds

Today sees the (UK) release of DYLAN, the new compilation album. If you’ve missed all the hype, here’s all you really need to know, in 5 seconds:

1. The breadth and depth of the collection demonstrates the greatness of Dylan the creative artist over 45 years.

2. The 3CD set is now the strongest compilation in all of popular music, replacing the previous Dylan comp, The Essential…

3. There are three versions:

– single CD (bundled with bonus disc, the new 2 track single) – why anyone would choose to buy this version escapes me. Expect to pay about £8
– three disc version (51 song tracklist below) – the one to buy for the music. About £12
– de luxe version – same three discs plus luxury packaging - £17-26 – the one for collectors who don’t mind shelling out up to £14 extra for a few pieces of cardboard.

4. Because there’s no music I don’t already have, I won’t be bothering with any of the versions. Neither will many Bobfans I know. The products are aimed at consumers who don’t have much Dylan music. I envy them their voyage of discovery.

5. The selection is, almost inevitably, idiosyncratic. There’s tons of epoch-defining music, but how, for example, can you possibly leave off a masterpiece like Visions Of Johanna?



Gerry Smith

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DISC ONE
Song To Woody
Blowin' In The Wind
Masters Of War
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
The Times They Are A-Changin'
All I Really Want To Do
My Back Pages
It Ain't Me Babe
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Mr. Tambourine Man
Maggie's Farm
Like A Rolling Stone
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Positively 4th Street
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
Just Like A Woman
Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine
All Along The Watchtower

DISC TWO
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
Lay, Lady, Lay
If Not For You
I Shall Be Released
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
On A Night Like This
Forever Young
Tangled Up In Blue
Simple Twist Of Fate
Hurricane
Changing Of The Guards
Gotta Serve Somebody
Precious Angel
The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar
Jokerman
Dark Eyes

DISC THREE
Blind Willie McTell
Brownsville Girl
Silvio
Ring Them Bells
Dignity
Everything Is Broken
Under The Red Sky
You're Gonna Quit Me
Blood In My Eyes
Not Dark Yet
Things Have Changed
Make You Feel My Love
High Water (for Charley Patton)
Po' Boy
Someday Baby
When The Deal Goes Down