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Reviews Theme Time Radio Hour: With Your Host Bob Dylan Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Dylan's Eclectic Taste Is Reflected In This Essential Double Disc Box
THEME TIME RADIO HOUR: WITH YOUR HOST BOB DYLAN
VARIOUS ARTISTS
ACE/SHOCK
The authorised double-disc Theme Time Radio Hour set collects fifty songs played during Bob Dylan’s eccentric and eclectic radio series that began in May 2006, the month he turned 65. For those wanting to get to know a little more about Dylan than revealed in Chronicles Vol.1 the radio program exposes its host as someone with an encyclopaedic knowledge of music (traditional and popular) and a sly sense of humour.
Recall that Dylan released two albums of cover versions back in the ‘90s in the seven-year gap between Under The Red Sky and Time Out Of Mind and you get a hint of the man’s ability to mine the archives. Dylan also revered Harry Smith’s influential Anthology Of American Folk Music, which might have had a heavy bearing on his catholic music tastes at play here.
No doubt, this collection would have been facilitated by the fact that many of the older selections are out of copyright (although Ace claims that royalties are paid to all writers) while more contemporary artists such as Mary Gauthier would be ecstatic to be included. The expertise of Ace Records, long-time exponents in the art of the anthology, has been of some benefit - as it will be to the label, which should enjoy its biggest ‘hit’ ever with this package.
Ace’s Roger Armstrong has worked with Theme Time producer Eddie Gorodetsky, a music collector, scriptwriter, actor, producer and director, whose credits include Dharma & Greg (on which Dylan appeared in 1999). Dylan’s manager Jeff Rosen is also involved vitally in the project and, one assumes, represents his charge.
Unfortunately, Dylan’s distinctive, rasping voice does not appear anywhere. One might have thought there could be some relevant links, pieces of homespun wisdom or colourful anecdotes to fully round out proceedings. Nevertheless, this grab-bag of blues, country, swing, rockabilly, gospel, soul and more should fascinate even the most casual of fans.
Almost half of the tracks on this double disc set were new to me and the voyage of discovery is what provided me with the most fun. There is a whole vista of music opened up, connections made and new favourites acquired. It was a pleasant surprise to find my second favourite single of all time - ‘Roadrunner (Twice)’ by Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers – if only to promote the feeling that I shared something with the host of the show. An equally delightful inclusion is Geraint Watkins’ ‘Only A Rose,’ recognition of the sideman’s immense talents.
The set starts with ‘Turn Your Radio On,’ recorded in the 1960s by Louis Marshall Jones, under the alias of Grandpa Jones, which he had been using since the ‘30s. The two discs then wind their way through a clutter of ephemera given new life by appearances on Dylan’s show. Names such as Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell or Paul Chaplain & His Emeralds are joined by The White Stripes, Otis Rush, Jerry Butler and more.
The raunch of ‘Me And My Chauffeur Blues’ by Memphis Minnie (accompanied by Little Son Joe) rubs up against the gospel blues of ‘Don't Take Ev'rybody To Be Your Friend’ by Sister Rosetta Tharpe (with The Sam Price Trio) and the earnestness of ‘Good Morning Heartache’ by Billie Holiday. The soul of James Carr’s ‘Pouring Water On A Drowning Man’ slaps against the confessional ‘I Drink’ by Mary Gauthier. Later, in an apt segue, ‘Cry Tough’ by Alton Ellis & The Flames leads into ‘Tommy Gun’ by The Clash.
There is a 48-page booklet included in the package and detailed notes on each of the selections by a variety of writers, including Colin Escott, Barney Hoskyns, Jim O’Neal and Fred Dellar. Not a word from Dylan - his hand is unseen.
For Bob Dylan there are no musical boundaries – and bravo for that!
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