Essential Bob Dylan [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Two discs of music don't exactly provide for a thorough overview of four decades of recording, particularly if the subject of the retrospective is one of the most important and prolific performers of his time. So The Essential Bob Dylan definitely skates over the leagues-deep oeuvre of Dylan, summarizing his monumental first half-dozen years in disc one and skirting over the following 34 years in disc two. Delving into Columbia's three Dylan greatest-hits packages (though curiously purging "I Want You," a genuine hit single in its day), Essential offers only a few surprises, opting for The Basement Tapes version of "Quinn the Eskimo" over the Self Portrait remake that made it onto Greatest Hits Volume II and tossing in "Things Have Changed" from the Wonder Boys soundtrack for completists. But this 30-track overview is designed with newcomers, not Dylanologists, in mind. --Steven Stolder

Tracks:

Blowin' In The Wind
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
The Times They Are A-Changin'
It Ain't Me, Babe
Maggie's Farm
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Mr. Tambourine Man
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Like A Rolling Stone
Positively 4th Street
Just Like A Woman
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
All Along The Watchtower
Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

Tracks:

Lay, Lady, Lay
If Not For You
I Shall Be Released
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Forever Young
Tangled Up In Blue
Shelter From The Storm
Hurricane
Gotta Serve Somebody
Jokerman
Silvio
Everything Is Broken
Not Dark Yet
Things Have Changed

Amazon.com

Two discs of music don't exactly provide for a thorough overview of four decades of recording, particularly if the subject of the retrospective is one of the most important and prolific performers of his time. So The Essential Bob Dylan definitely skates over the leagues-deep oeuvre of Dylan, summarizing his monumental first half-dozen years in disc one and skirting over the following 34 years in disc two. Delving into Columbia's three Dylan greatest-hits packages (though curiously purging "I Want You," a genuine hit single in its day), Essential offers only a few surprises, opting for The Basement Tapes version of "Quinn the Eskimo" over the Self Portrait remake that made it onto Greatest Hits Volume II and tossing in "Things Have Changed" from the Wonder Boys soundtrack for completists. But this 30-track overview is designed with newcomers, not Dylanologists, in mind. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

The Essential Bob Dylan is essential.......2007-03-01

Glad I bought this. I'm trying to replace the old vinyl albums I once had and this is a good start to my new collection of Dylan CDs. It satisfies the immediate need until I can afford all of the replacements.

Essential To American Culture.......2007-02-23

Bob Dylan is the greatest living American composer. As essential to his generation as Irving Berlin and Cole Porter were to theirs and sure to be remembered with the same reverence. This is a great collection of most of his finest work -- all remastered. An avid Dylan fan, I can't help but notice the absence of some of my favorites, like Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You, from Nashville Skyline and One More Cup Of Coffee, from Desire. I guess I would have liked to see a three disk Essential -- he certainly deserves one. That said, it is hard to argue with the song selections. For example, other than the original Greatest Hits collection, which was originally released in the '60's, this is the only other place you can find Positively 4th Street -- his follow-up single to Like A Rolling Stone.

If you want to purchase one disk for your CD collection that best represents Bob Dylan's body of work, this is the one to get.

Complete Dylan.......2007-01-16

This is the most complete of all the Dylan recordings I have and that dates back to the 60's.

Like The Old Days, Only Better.......2006-12-03

This is an excellent collection for those who were Dylan fans back in the sixties. Those of us in the room the first time I played these CDs could sing along with every single song. There isn't a bum tune in the bunch. But unlike those old records I have boxed up in the garage, all cuts sound clean.

I don't have anything profoud to say. I just want to recommend this collection to any old Dylan fans who want to hear it all again -- without the scratches.

"She wrote me a letter and she wrote it so kind" from Not Dark Yet........2006-09-15

I'm new to Bob Dylan's music and I must say I really loved this cd. I was unsure about listening to it since I wasn't all that enamoured with Dylan's voice but when you listen to music it just clicks into place. Dylan is a master at lyrics and mood. Each song has a unique mood or message that he conveys in what seems like an effortless manner. I fell in love with some of his songs of heartbreak and change.

This compilation is broken into two disks. disk one covers music originally recorded from 1962-1967 and disk two covers music originally recorded from 1969-1999. Bob Dylan life time of music is rather prolific so creating a compilation of his music into two disks must have been a huge undertaking but from a novice Dylan fan I think a great job was done.

I can say with out a doubt that disk one, which covers `62-67, is my favorite from the two although I loved both but I find myself listening to disk one over and over. I have been very moved by his deep emotion on unrealized love with "Don't think twice, It's all Right" and his reflection on every day struggles with "Subterranean Homesick Blues". So many of the songs on the first disc most people have heard recorded by other artists like "Mr. Tambourine Man", "All Along the Watchtower", and "Quinn The Eskimo" which speaks to his wonderful writing and appeal to other musical artists.

Disk two brought more great songs but they have a different feel to them, some how more impassioned and sensual with a touch of humility on life. You see the sensual side in "Lay Lady Lay" and impassioned views on justice with "Hurricane". There is even a little sadness in the second disc, you have to wonder how difficult the 1970's were for Dylan to be able to write so many songs that echoed in the hearts of others. Maybe that's why I like disc one.....less sad. I have to give a big shout out for songs like "I Shall be Released", "Tangled Up In Blue", and "Jokerman".

As I said before, I'm new to Bob Dylan's music but I can also say I am now a huge fan. I'd also like to mention the song "Not Dark Yet" from the second disc, it speaks of a soulful reflective Bob Dylan that I find quite nice.

Great writing, great feeling, great music.

girldiver:)

Average customer rating:

loving it!!
Essential or a fair collection
Essential Bob Dylan Import, Six Reviews in One
Pick this one over the American version
A Great Introduction To Dylan

Essential Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006830P
Release Date: 2002-07-09

Tracks:

Blowin' in the Wind
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Times They Are A-Changin'
It Ain't Me Babe
Maggie's Farm
It's All over Now, Baby Blue
Mr. Tambourine Man
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Like a Rolling Stone
Positively 4th Street
Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?
I Want You
Just Like a Woman
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
All Along the Watchtower
Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Lay Lady Lay
If Not for You
I Shall Be Released
You Ain't Going Nowhere
Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Tracks:

Forever Young
Tangled Up in Blue
Shelter from the Storm
Hurricane
Changing of the Guards
Gotta Serve Somebody
Blind Willie McTell
Jokerman
Tight Connection to My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love?)
Silvio
Everything Is Broken
Dignity [Original Version]
Not Dark Yet
Things Have Changed

Album Description

Every ebb and flow in popular music over the past 40 years can be heard here! Career spanning collection of 36 tracks. Digitally remastered. Columbia. 2002.

Album Details

Includes Six Tracks that Differ from the USA Version.

Customer Reviews:

loving it!!.......2007-03-12

bought this for a friend of mine.. He flipped when he saw it and had to play it right away..
Still loving it.. Dylan rocks!!
thanks for the quick service and great quality.

Essential or a fair collection.......2005-03-10

The key word is essential in many ways. It was a smart move not to call it "The best of" or any of those hokey catch phrases for someone's idea of sample mix.
There is enough Dylan to satisfy just about anyone. The first hand full of songs were also made famous by other singers and you have to get over trying to compare, unless like me it has always been Dylan first. Later you get to the good songs; He may not have personally thought so, but many of the songs struck a cord with me such as "Subterranean Homesick Blues."
To understand most of theses songs it would be best to buy a biography or watch one fro A&E. However with out knowing the man behind the song they will still standout in your mind for years.
Still "The Times They Are A-Changin"

Essential Bob Dylan Import, Six Reviews in One.......2003-10-01

Throughout the years the suits at Columbia, then Sony have tried to make more money of Mr. D by mixing and matching his material, not just in a Greatest Hits compilation, but as a "Best of Import" from Japan, Holland, Sweden, or some other far away place. They tout them as better, different, remastered, a gold version and lots of times they'll build these compilations around a song that hadn't appeared on any other album.

The current favorite is the wonderful song, "Things have changed," which shows up on five different sets available today.

"The Best of series Vol. 1 and Vol. 2" Imports are the only one of the 5 sets that you can get separately and, since they couldn't put "Things Have Changed on both CDs, they put "Shelter From The Storm," from the Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding move "Jerry Maguire" on the first disc. If you were to buy both discs in this set you'd be out over fifty bucks. Of course, there isn't a bad song on the discs, but if you're like me, you already own most of them.

"The Very Best of Vol. 1 & 2" Swedish version has 33 songs on it, all available elsewhere except, of course "Things Have Changed." The songs are about the same as on the other compilations and this one will set you back thirty-three dollars.

"The Ultimate Collection," is of course not the ultimate collection, but it is a collection of 33 songs, very similar in scope to the songs in the other collection and built around, "Things Have Changed." This version will shrink you wallet by thirty-nine dollars.

"The Essential Bob Dylan" double CD set has 30 songs on it and has a nice flow to it. Like the other compilations mentioned here it features "Things Have Changed." You'll have to fork over twenty-one dollars to get this one. It's the most reasonably priced of the bunch, and so it's the only one I'm giving five stars to.

"The Essential Bob Dylan" Import has six more songs on it and it'll cost you 16 more dollars. That's a lot of money to pay to get those extra six songs.

Okay after rounding them up and telling you a little about them, I have to say that I'm pretty disappointed in Sony about this group. Unlike "Greatest Hits, Vol. 2" which like these isn't really a Greatest Hits compilation, these CDs cost a whole gang of money and give us only one new song. "GH 2" gave us a half dozen new tunes, so we (not me, cuz I wasn't born yet) didn't feel ripped off when we bought it. Also, the "Biograph" compilation was stuffed with new songs. Ah well, my recommendation would be to buy the American version of "The Essential Bob Dylan" for twenty-one dollars and shine the rest of them on. Five stars for that one, four for the rest.

Reviewed by Stephanie Sane

Pick this one over the American version.......2003-02-27

Pay the extra $...bucks and get this version over the American one. The American version is skimpy, with less than an hour on disc 1, and just barely over an hour on disc 2, while this Australian version has over 77 minutes per disc, and includes more of his best material, including "I Want You", a hit that was left off of the American version.

A Great Introduction To Dylan.......2003-01-01

Featuring six bonus tracks (Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?, I Want You, Changing Of The Guards, Blind Willie McTell, Tight Connection To My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love?), Dignity (Original Version)) this is obviously the superior version.

Tracks:

Blowin' in the Wind
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Times They Are A-Changin'
It Ain't Me Babe
Maggie's Farm
It's All over Now, Baby Blue
Mr. Tambourine Man
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Like a Rolling Stone
Positively 4th Street
Just Like a Woman
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
All Along the Watchtower
Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

Tracks:

Lay Lady Lay
If Not for You
I Shall Be Released
You Ain't Going Nowhere
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Forever Young
Tangled Up in Blue
Shelter from the Storm
Hurricane
Gotta Serve Somebody
Jokerman
Silvio
Everything Is Broken
Not Dark Yet
Things Have Changed

Album Description

International pressing of this digitally remastered career-spanning two CD compilation featuring six additional tracks: 'Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window', 'I Want You', 'Changing Of The Guard', 'Blind Willie McTell', 'Tight Connection To My Heart' and 'Dignity' (Original Version). Every ebb and flow in popular music over the past 40 years can be heard here! 36 tracks total including 'Blowin' In The Wind', 'Like A Rolling Stone', 'All Along The Watchtower', 'Maggie's Farm', 'Lay Lady Lay', 'Jokerman' and many more. Columbia.

Customer Reviews:

Essential.......2007-02-17

The key word is essential in many ways. It was a smart move no to call it "The best of" or any of those hokey catch phrases for someone's idea of sample mix.
There is enough Dylan to satisfy just about anyone. The first hand full of songs were also made famous by other singers and you have to get over trying to compare, unless like me it has always been Dylan first. Later you get to the good songs; He may not have personally thought so, but many of the songs struck a cord with me such as "Subterranean Homesick Blues."
To understand most of theses songs it would be best to buy a biography or watch one fro A&E. However with out knowing the man behind the song they will still standout in your mind for years.
Still "The Times They Are A-Changin"

Average customer rating:

Essential Rock
Stevie Ray Vaughn , Bob Dylan , Santana , Cheap Trick , The Clash , Electric Light Orchestra , Cyndi Lauper , Ozzy Osbourne , The Byrds , and Men At Work
Manufacturer: Legacy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000R0ECEI

Product Description

TRACK LISTING: [1]. Pride And Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble [2]. Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper [3]. Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) [Mono] - The Byrds [4]. Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan [5]. Oye Como Va - Santana [6]. I Want You To Want Me (Live) - Cheap Trick [7]. Turn To Stone - Electric Light Orchestra [8]. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne [9]. London Calling - The Clash [10]. Down Under - Men At Work

Still Kissing Last Night's Smoke Stained Lips

Average customer rating:

Truly an original in a monochromatic landscape
wonderful!

Still Kissing Last Night's Smoke Stained Lips
Robert Blake
Manufacturer: Art of the Underground
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Alternative Folk | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000832GH4
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Tracks:

Hackensack Bar
One Monday Night
Kitchen
Salt and Lemon
Idaho
Forgiveness, Again
Last Night's Party
10th Street
Farm in New Hampshire
Reeks and the Wrecks

Product Description

The third solo album from this legendary Bellingham, WA folk singer. These are some of the most beautiful and moving acoustic songs ever written, with production that makes it sound like he's whispering the words right into your ear. Intense and beautiful, this album is an instant classic and a must-have for anyone who likes music. Robert is definitely his own animal. But a few decent reference points would be Bob Dylan, Billy Bragg, and Roky Erickson. From wild to mild, this record is an emotional roller-coaster with guitars, dobro, harmonica, and fiddle riding shotgun. This is ESSENTIAL!

Customer Reviews:

Truly an original in a monochromatic landscape .......2006-09-09

If you have the chance to see Robert Blake play live--RUN--do not walk, to see this genius. He is a troubadour, a storyteller, a poet, a wandering minstrel in the ancient sense. His songs are modern yet traditional, and are about perfectly ordinary things and the sublime moments in life at the same time. When others say its a roller coaster, they mean it. He takes you from the gutter to the heavens. His voice, music and energy will captivate and move you. If you can't see him live--buy this CD. It won't be quite the same, but it is damn fine music! Beyond his brilliance as a lyricist, he can rock--and make you want to dance using nothing but a solo guitar. Too bad there are no music samples in this listing. His music is all recorded by people in the same room at the same time. And he finds some great company in that room!

wonderful!.......2005-04-05

this album is an emotional roller coaster. each song contains a story that grabs my attention and locks it to a seat! Robert Blake's voice is one of the most unique voices out there, and very recognizable for his authenticity. i would recommend this album to anybody who is a fan of a great love story!

Average customer rating:

The Ultimate Collecton, Six Reviews in One
It Is What Is Says It Is

Essential Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Folk | Imports | Stores | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005JICE
Release Date: 2001-05-28

Tracks:

Blowin' in the Wind
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Times They Are A-Changin'
It Ain't Me Babe
Maggie's Farm
It's All over Now, Baby Blue
Mr. Tambourine Man
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Like a Rolling Stone
Positively 4th Street
Just Like a Woman
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
All Along the Watchtower
Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

Tracks:

Lay Lady Lay
If Not for You
I Shall Be Released
You Ain't Going Nowhere
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Forever Young
Tangled Up in Blue
Shelter from the Storm
Hurricane
Gotta Serve Somebody
Jokerman
Silvio
Everything Is Broken
Not Dark Yet
Things Have Changed

Album Description

Limited edition digitally remastered 2 CD collection includes 'Blowin' in the Wind', 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door', 'Jokerman', 'Hurricane', 'Not Dark Yet' and more. 36 tracks.

Album Details

All the Tracks of the Us Essential Collection plus Eight More: 'it's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding', Highway 61 Revisted', 'can You Please Crawl Out Your Window', 'i Want You', 'i Threw it all Away', 'on a Night Like This' and 'baby Stop Crying'.

Customer Reviews:

The Ultimate Collecton, Six Reviews in One.......2003-10-01

The current favorite is the wonderful song, "Things have changed," which shows up on five different sets available today.

"The Essential Bob Dylan" Import has six more songs on it and it'll cost you 16 more dollars. That's a lot of money to pay to get those extra six songs.

Reviewed by Stephanie Sane

It Is What Is Says It Is.......2002-07-12

Hands down, this import version is the best Dylan comp you'll find on the market today (but why couldn't they find it in them to include, "All I Really Want To Do?").

Average customer rating:

Essential Rock
Various Artists , Stevie Ray Vaughan , Cyndi Lauper , The Byrds , Bob Dylan , Santana , Cheap Trick , Electric Light Orchestra , Ozzy Osbourne , and The Clash
Manufacturer: Columbia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000JQY1HS

Product Description

Stevie Ray Vaughan "Pride & Joy", Cyndi Lauper "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", The Byrds "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season) (Mono)", Bob Dylan "Like a Rolling Stone", Santana "Oye Como Va", Cheap Trick "Surrender (Live)", Electric Light Orchestra "Turn to Stone", Ozzy Osbourne "Crazy Train", The Clash "London Calling", Men at Work "Down Under"

Average customer rating:

You Know Who
The Failure's Union
Manufacturer: Art of the Underground
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000833UH4
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Tracks:

5000 Pieces
Linear Park
Fan Club
Defection or Suicide?
I Feel the Same Songs About Her
You're the Coyote
Planes
Layer of Cotton

Product Description

Old fashioned fuzzy indie rock a la Dinosaur Jr., Sugar, Guided By Voices, Sebadoh, etc. The songwriting is awe-inspiring and the lyrics are very "heart on the sleeve". Somehow this escapes being an emo record which seems pretty rare in today's world of indie rock. These songs are instant classics, let's kiss!

Average customer rating:

Essential Bob Dylan

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000CCZQY6
Release Date: 2002-01-01

BOB DYLAN " THE ESSENTIAL " 36 HITS on 2 GOLD High Definition CDs SEALED!!

Average customer rating:

BOB DYLAN " THE ESSENTIAL " 36 HITS on 2 GOLD High Definition CDs SEALED!!
Bob Dylan
Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000MIENYY

Product Description

BOB DYLAN " THE ESSENTIAL " 36 HITS on 2 GOLD High Definition CDs SEALED!! Packaged in a beautiful Fold Open outer Cardboard Cover. Track listing ..... 1. Blowin In The Wind 2. Don'T Think Twice It's All Right 3. Times They Are A Changin (Orignal Source) 4. It Ain'T Me, Babe 5. Maggie's Farm 6. It's All Over Now Baby Blue 7. Mr Tambourine Man (Album Version) 8. Subterranean Homesick Blues 9. Like A Rolling Stone 10. Positively 4th Street 11. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? 12. I Want You 13. Just Like A Woman 14. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 15. All Along The Watchtower 16. Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) 17. I'Ll Be Your Baby Tonight 18. Lay Lady Lay 19. If Not For You 20. I Shall Be Released 21. You Ain'T Going Nowhere 22. Knockin On Heaven's Door 23. Forever Young 24. Tangled Up In Blue 25. Shelter From The Storm 26. Hurricane 27. Changing Of The Guards 28. Gotta Serve Somebody 29. Blind Willie Mctell 30. Jokerman 31. Tight Connection To My Heart 32. Silvio 33. Everything Is Broken 34. Dignity (Alternate Version) 35. Not Dark Yet 36. Things Have Changed Album notes Includes six tracks that differ from the USA version.

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