2 comments about Rockin' 70's.

1. There are scores of compilations of 1970s "rock" available, but in most of them, listeners have to skip and wade through track after track of horrific Disco or trashy pop to find something that even rocks a little bit. How many rockers want to buy a compilation full of Disco pop one-hit-wonders just to get to that mediocre third-generation mix of Mississippi Queen? This set, however, is different. At this price for a three disc set, it seems almost tolerable to have one album's worth of good solid rock mixed in with Disco One-Hit-Wonder pap. But this set is not like that. First, all the tracks are being published by the original label, and the label has put together good quality masterings. Second, most of these tracks ROCK! This is the real stuff. You won't find too much garbagy discofied pap here. You will find classics such as BOC's Don't Fear The Reaper and Ian Hunter's Once Bitten Twice Shy, but you will also find the proto punk of Iggy and the Stooges, Molly Hatchet's air-guitar inducing Whiskey Man, and a good copy of Mountain's Mississippi Queen amongst other lesser known tracks such as Pacific Gas And Electric's Are You Ready which, while predominantly an R&B track, comes crashing through the speakers with some of the most intense guitar lines you'll hear. If you remember the rock of the 70s or if you want a brief lesson of what REAL rock was like in the 70s, give this one a try.
   No, I generally do not advertise things for free, but I rarely get so pleasantly surprised as I did when I found a compilation which just plain doesn't suck.



2. man, when i first saw this little compilation i thought to myself and i quote "i've gotta have this!!!", this box set is very complete, it has groups that are known, and groups that i had never heard before (frank marino, lake) and believe me they rock!!!
   so if you're looking for something different and refreshing, then don't hesitate and get this box set, it has a little bit of everything and the sound cuality is great!!!!
   viva jibaro!!!!!

5 comments about Platinum Collection.

1. I really don't get how FACE VALUE is a classic. "In The Air Tonight" is a classic, "You Know What I Mean" is one of Phil Collins' best (even if it isn't a "classic"). But the album that has these two songs just doesn't do all that much for the listener. If it had to be a triple CD set-thingy, there IS a GREAT Phil Collins album titled BOTH SIDES (1993). Although it supposedly didn't do as well as his earlier records, it's better than ...BUT SERIOUSLY and more emotional and intimate than NO JACKET REQUIRED. Now, THAT would have been a perfect trilogy of Phil Collins music. Instead they chose FACE VALUE just 'cause it has "In The Air Tonight" which in this day and age you can download for $1 off the internet, if you are so inclined...



2. Fifty bucks for 3 albums you can get for ten bucks each on their own. Do the math.



3. Wouldn't you think that song would be on one of these 3 albums? There was certainly enough space to place such a bonus song. It's only one of Phil's greatest platinum hits ever...



4. It always seems to be a very well case when a artist does very well and captures the 80's, but just doesn't recapture that triumph. That has happened to so many acts including Michael Jackson, Sting, Rick Springfield, and one of the most legendary artists of the era, Phil Collins. During that era, he achieved a double dose of extraordinary wonders in the music industry, with his solo status, and his time as the lead for Genesis. Yet, with all that time, his solo efforts really broke so much ground all over the world. During that time, he made so many great songs, but for a good collection of his music may seem like another story.
   
   Phil Collins Platinum Collection is a collection that consists of three of Phil's well recieved studio albums of the 80's: his solo debut, the Grammy-winning Album Of The Year No Jacket Required, and his 1989 album But Seriously. The albums each include a lot of great pop songs including One More Night, the infectious Sussudio, Phil's groundbreaking debut song, In The Air Tonight, Another Day In Paradise, and many others. The collection fairs well for some, while others might feel that it really is a waste of the dollar. The albums are great, but could've been remastered a little better. Another downside is that the collection overlooks a lot of good songs including You Can't Hurry Love, Against All Odds, Two Hearts, and Seperate Lives.
   
   All in all, Phil Collins Platinum collecton is good for anybody who doesn't have all 3 of these respective albums, but for anybody who has one of these records, this collection might not be worth buying... seriously!!
   
   Face Value: C
   
   No Jacket Required: B
   
   But Seriously: B+
   
   Price: C
   
   Remastering: C
   
   Overall: C+



5. This cd is actually Face Value from 1981, No Jacket Required from 1985 and ...But Seriously from 1989. There are no bonus tracks, different versions or anything to get excited about. I definately think it would be cheaper just to buy those three great cd's. I mean afterall, if you are a Phil Collins fan you probably already own one or two of these cd's.

5 comments about Live in Las Vegas.

1. This is a 4 CD featuring live performances by Elvis Presley from Las Vegas. Disc One features a complete concert from 8/24/69. This is an excellent concert. One peculiar feature of the CD is that a 6 and a half minute monologue by Elvis has been moved from the middle of the concert to the end of the CD. This was done so that you don't have to listen to it every time you play the CD, if you don't want to. Disc Two features a complete concert from 8/11/70. This is another excellent concert. There is one bonus song, "When the Snow is on the Roses", from a different concert that month. This is a nice, unrehearsed performance, but is rather poorly recorded. Disc Three features previously released live performances. The songs are from 2/70 and 2/72, with the 1970 songs being from On Stage February, 1970. Disc Four begins with four songs from Presley's unsuccessful 1956 Las Vegas run. The rest of the songs are from various concerts from 8/74, 3/75 and 12/75. These are good performances, but were not professionally recorded. The sound quality is sometimes subpar, but the songs are still worth hearing. This is a fine boxed set that Elvis fans will enjoy.



2. I play this box set often. Everything about it is awesome! I love the onstage banter, the humor, the GREAT singing...everything! Of course, not every single Vegas show is reflected in this set, but it gives you a nice variety of the Vegas years. The 1st and 4th cd are my favorites, and if you love Elvis (which you probably do, since you are reading this review), don't miss these amazing cd's!



3. What can I say,,, Elvis was the best entertainer that ever lived and his music will live on. "Live In Vegas" is Elvis' years in the 70's. Some of the songs are some that were not placed on vinyl or were rarely placed on vinyl. You will enjoy going back to the 70's and listening to Elvis again...



4. BMG are really doing a great job with Elvis Presley Box Sets of late and they do deliver once again with this one...Sure, we have heard all of the songs before but the beauty here is that we also get snippets from the early Las Vegas appearances in '56. The rawness of Heartbreak Hotel is still spine-tingling. For a young performer, he still showed at this young age to possess charm and charisma as he wooed the crowd. It is a good collection from some of this best 'live' performances spanning 19yrs ('56-'75)that really capture the magic that only Elvis had. Why did I not give it a '5' ? -beacuse you do get repetition over the 4 CD's. Nevertheless, the king still delivers, even from beyond the grave! - Really for Elvis fans, but will still please the casual observer.



5. Every Elvis song you can think of - all performed live!
   
   The recordings are of excellent quality as well -- and most of the performances are excellent
   
   highly recommended!

1 comments about Seconds Out.

1. This was their second live release, the first without Peter Gabriel, of course. This was done live in Paris in support of "A Trick of the Tail" and "Wind & Wuthering". However, when the band returned to the UK to mix the album, Steve Hackett gets sick of being a fifth wheel and leaves prior to album release in fall 1977. Released by Charisma/Virgin (as of 1982) outside the U.S. and Canada. I had the U.S. LP, but I got rid of that once I found the original import CD. Reissued 1994 (the other edition available here).

5 comments about Goth Industrial Club Anthems.

1. I'm a forty-something with pretty wide-ranging musical tastes, but a sucker for a catchy hook. My tastes in rock run to artists like Nine Inch Nails, Gary Numan, Supergrass, Led Zeppelin, Beck and just about everything on the Donnie Darko soundtrack. I like to branch out with compilations to get a taste for a genre that's unfamiliar to me, as I did here. What a revelation. Every song here is great. One after another. As I put them in iTunes, I kept waiting for a so-so tune, but it didn't happen.
   
   What is Goth (at least from these examples)? Pretty straightforward rock structure, a lot of minor keys, and very melodic. Generally quick tempos. Musically pretty sophisticated stuff. No doubt I'll be digging much deeper.



2. Alright, I bought this comp after my record collection was stolen at a CD release party i DJ'd. I had albums by, and the albums featuring, most of the artist and tracks on Disc one "Goth Side" and a few disc by some of the artist on the "Industrial Side", even once Dj'd a party that "Razed in Black" performed at, but alot of the songs were new to me (don't listen to alot of industrial.) Disc 3 "Remix Side" features some great mixes, aall of these disc read like a good playlist from your local goth/industrial night.
   
   This is probably one of the best comps I have heard and ranks up there with "Gothic Rock" Volumes 1 and 2. This is a much better choice if you are first getting into the scene, or giving as a gift for someone else as it covers the industrial as well.



3. An exceptional recall of some great alternative music, which was created before anyone called it "Goth".



4. The songs I recognized by title I already owned - they were often the reason I'd bought the original album. After getting this, I recognized many more by ear. This 3-disk set is damn impressive for the price - it bore a startling resemblance to sets played by local Goth or Industrial DJ's depending on the CD. The 3rd disc of remixes was a nice touch as well.
   
   Good songs and well put together. The only possible improvement would be some band info on the jacket.



5. no real opinion on the entire disc. Good collection for goth heads. Was just hoping "Join in the Chant" by Nitzer Ebb would be the 12" remix. It's not. It's the album version.

5 comments about Great Cyndi Lauper.

1. The name Cyndi Lauper brings music lyrics to my mind . I listened in the 80's and she never left me . My recent purchase has made me very happy since i have been trying to get this 3 cd set for quite a while. Anyways I will treasure this forever. Vol 1. Has many of her classics with 15 songs altogether. Vol 2 Features Change of Heart, I Drove All night and You Dont Know , along with 12 other songs. Vol. 3 has 14 songs and a few are: Witness, I'll Kiss You and I Dont Want To Be Your Friend. If you are a Cyndi Lauper fan from day 1 this is a good choice of variety to have in 1 set. 44 songs of Cyndi truly amazing.



2. I LOVE CYNDI LAUPER HER SHES SO UNUSAL ALBUM WAS ME & MY SISTERS FIRST ALBUM ALONG WITH THE GO GOS BEAUTY & THE BEAT!! CYNDI HAS SUCH A AMAZING VOICE AND SHE IS SO GREAT IN CONCERT!! MIKE & DAVID



3. For anyone who is nostalgic....
   this album is a great collection of Cyndi's work! Great buy at a great price!



4. Three discs of Cyndi Lauper, she of the flashy, thrift-shop style and powerful-pop vocals. It's crammed full of album tracks, hit singles, and several rare cuts (the B-side "Cold", the hard to find "The World Is Stone", and of course "Hole In My Heart", one of Lauper's best songs which never appeared on any of her albums). Still, the packaging is bare-bones, and the sequencing of the songs is all over the map (which keeps the listener on his toes as to what selection might be coming next, but is rather terrible in terms of Lauper's musical history). And couldn't they find a better photo of La Lauper herself? The one image they've got is something you might find on the internet after everything else about Cyndi has been considered.



5. THIS IS THE BEST {CYNDI LAUPER} COLLECTION TO DATE.
   THIS COVERS THE DECADES OF BOTH THE 80'S & 90'S.
   THEY ARE ALL THE ORIGINAL STUDIO VERSION SONG'S.
   IS HAS ALL OF HER #1 HITS, RARE SONGS & B~SIDES.
   THIS IS A 3/DISC BOX~SET THAT IS THE PRICE OF 1 REGULAR
   GREATEST HITS CD!
   THE SOUND IS GREAT FOR SONGS THAT ARE 20+ YEARS OLD.
   THIS SHOWS WHY {CYNDI LAUPER} WAS A PERSON WHO RULED THE
   RADIO AIR~WAVES & MTV IN THE 80'S.
   {CYNDI LAUPER} STILL SINGS THESE SONGS IN CONCERTS.I HAVE SEEN HER 3 TIMES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.AND SHE STILL GIVES 100% UNLIKE
   MADONNA & PRINCE WHO WANT TO FORGET THE 80'S.YOU ARE LUCKY IF THEY SING ONE OR TWO SONGS FROM THE 1980'S.
   {CYNDI LAUPER} WILL KEEP THE HITS ON THIS BOX~SET GOING
   UNTIL SHE DECIDES TO RETIRE.
   I BOUGHT HER FIRST ALBUM IN 1984 & I BOUGHT THIS BOX~SET IN 2004
   20+ YEARS AND I AM NOT TIRED OF THE SONG'S YET.
   AND THIS BOX~SET TUNED ME INTO SONGS THAT I MISSED IN THE 1990'S.
   AND I AM GLAD I FOUND THEM ON THIS SET.
   [CYNDI LAUPER THE BEST THE 1980'S GAVE US]!!!
   PICK UP THIS SET AND FIND OUT WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IN THE DECADES PAST.
   YOU WILL BECOME A FAN ALL OVER AGAIN WITH THIS SET;IF YOU ARE NOT
   ALREADY.PUT THESE CD'S IN THE OLD CD PLAYER AND TURN THE VOLUME ON MAX;AND JUST REMEMBER:AS LONG AS THE MUSIC PLAYS THE MEMORYS WILL NEVER FADE.
   {TONY~TONI~TON`E}/ROME,NEW YORK:HOME OF WOODSTOCK 1999/

5 comments about Simply Dusty.

1. This is an incredible book and the CD's are awesome! Dusty chronology as far as songs, when, where & why is noted page by page, as well as photographs throughout her career. It has early songs almost impossible to find as well as hits. 95 in all. A tribute to a great great singer and an interesting catalogue of the music and the times. Thoughts by other artists about Dusty's contribution throughout. Worth the price tag.



2. I ordered this & received the full size 11x11 book, not the 6x10 book like the description says. Great book & CD selections!



3. A wonderful collection for any Dusty fan or for someone looking to be introduced in a more sophisticatd way than to just buy her 'best of' albums. She is here in all her glory. A must for the Dusty devotee.



4. I have plenty of boxed sets, but none of them compare to this. The packaging is remarkable as well as the photos and the music. Dusty could make choking noises sound beautiful.



5. This set went out of print shortly after it's release for a redesign of the package; the result is amazing. I've never seen a boxed set design quite like this one, it's called an "ear book." It's "11 x 11" and fits on a bookshelf, the pages filled with photos, essays and extensive liner notes describing each song. The cd's are filled to capacity and while I wish the extended mix of "In Private" was here, there isn't enough room for the extra three minutes and the bulk of the material makes up for any shortcomings. The songs mentioned in the liner notes but missing such as the duets with Cilla Black, Spencer Davis, BJ Thomas, and the extended version of the Donna Summer co-penned "Sometimes Like Butterflies" can be found on the release "Heart & Soul" on the Varese Sarabande label. This boxed set should serve as a prototype for any collection attempting to be comprehensive as it contains all the hits and every album, including the abandoned projects, is represented. The closing track and Dusty's final recording "Someone To Watch Over Me" is stark and beautiful, it's the way any standard should be sung. Overall, for lack of a better term, I'd say this set is a masterpiece.

No comments about The Collection: Piano Man/52nd Street/Kohuept: Live in Leningrad.

5 comments about Cigarettes & Carrot Juice - The Santa Cruz Years.

1. This box gives us the first three CVB albums as originally released. Recent reissues have new track sequences with bonus material mixed in. This may not be a terrible idea, but I don't plan on buying them.
   
   The Vantiquities disc is an interesting collection of outtakes etc between both sides of the "Vampire Can Mating Oven" EP (1987). The latest version of Vantiquities (2004) adds five demos from the "Beloved/Pie" era, but sound quality is muddy throughout. Maybe the master tapes got lost. The disc in this box sounds MUCH better.
   
   The live album is a little disappointing. I saw them in 2002 (here in Santa Cruz) and when one of the songs broke down, David said: "Actually we're playing this stuff better than when we were a real band." True. They've gotten a lot better since 1990.
   
   This set is a great way to get the first three albums in their original form, with the original artwork, at a decent price. Vantiquities is a fun sampler of good-to-great leftovers. The live album is solid but no substitute for hearing them live. Five stars.
   
   [In case you were wondering: "II&III" contains the faster/polished version of "We're a Bad Trip". The earlier take is now a bonus track on the 04 reissue.]



2. My wife tried ordering this item thru a Amazon listed seller (caiman) December the 10th it was due to ship out in 3 days (for a x-mas present nonetheless), by end of January it had not shipped. I cancelled our order with caiman and tried to order thru AMAZON itself the same day Feb 3rd i believe. Here it is March the 20th. No nothing , just an endless extending wait. Apparently AMAZON & their sellers feel they can list items they dont , wont and cant stock. Dont waste your time. I just cancelled my order and bought it on E-BAY , it will ship tommorow. Forget Amazon, or unless you like being blown off endlessly by email with no LIVE person to talk to, then by all means order this thru Amazon (or Caiman!). I prefer to spend my money else-where, this has really soured me.



3. 5 great CD's with great songs like "Crossing Over" or "Mao Reminices About his Days in Southern China". The songs on Greatest Hits Played Faster, the live CD, sound better than the recordings on Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart or Key Lime Pie. It is relatively cheap for a 5 CD set.



4. In my wallet I keep a "want list" of music and movies for all of those times I find myself in a store and can't remember that album or movie I wanted. One of the first entries is "Camper Van Beethoven--First three albums". Finally, this wonderful boxed set is available. The collection includes, as stated, all of the band's work from the Santa Cruz years. The CD cases are cardboard miniature reproductions of the original album jackets and the fourth and fifth discs are rarities and a live disc. If you remember the fun of their music and haven't heard it for a while, get this set. It brought back memories of a less responsible time and the music, it seems, hasn't been remastered leaving the vocals slightly buried which was always a part of their sound I liked. They could entertain you with light ska instrumentals or rock with catchy guitar riffs. The extensive liner notes are interesting too, except the part where the writer tries to defend the band's selling out as not selling out but simply wanting to sign to a bigger label to make their music more available. No problem here with selling out if you don't change your music to do it; and that's exactly what they did. I feel their major label stuff just isn't as fun as the early stuff..... and Cracker was horrible. If you remember why you liked Camper Van Beethoven in the first place, buy this set.



5. Last year a friend of mine invited me to see Camper Van Beethoven on their recent limited reunion tour, and although I only had Key Lime Pie, their last full album of new studio material, I agreed. While still a pretty good record, their set proved "Key Lime Pie" to just scratch the surface of their musical diversity. Basic guitar pop songs would rest beside russian can can ska instrumentals, straight country ballads, hardcore punk satire and power-book enhanced Fleetwood Mac covers. Needless to say, I was intrigued by their earlier releases, and the next time I had enough cash to blow, I found myself the proud owner of this box set. Although the first disk is the best in my opinion, all three of the original albums show a creative, clever, unique, and musically talented band at work. In addition, the rarities colection camper vantiquities, despite being a compilation of 3 years worth of material, doesn't feel any more or less cohesive than the rest of their albums, a credit to their freewheeling style, and is far less mixed than one would expect from such a compilation. Finally disc five is a live album mostly drawn from what was to be their final tour in europe, which focuses on material from their two major label albums. While a bit dissapointingly slow for something called "Greatest Hits Played Faster", it still captures some fine perofmances of the band, and is a nice extra, though probably not something you'd want to buy the whole box set for if you already own the rest of the albums. All in all, if you're curious about the band or just want to hear some challenging but catchy diverse rock music, this is a great place to start.

5 comments about The Collection, Vol. 2: Freewheelin' Bob Dylan/Times They Are A-Changin'/Another Side.

1. This is a good deal on three of his strongest albums, the heart of his acoustic work. I hadn't heard these in complete form for literally decades. Some of the material remains as topical in this sad, sick Neo-Con era as it was when released. Those unfamiliar with Dylan will understand why he was so important "back in the day", those familiar with these releases will be pleased with the quality of both the sound and the packaging. No Dylan collection can be complete without these three discs, & this is a fine way to get them.



2. I bought this very product two years ago and I'm still loving it. Not only is this the logical place to start for people interested in Dylan, but it's a great deal.
   
   This collection contains Dylan's 2nd, 3rd and 4th albums. They are all acoustic. It's a great collection because you can really hear that evolution of a singer becoming very political, then the gradual pull from politics with "Another Side of Dylan", where he just wanted to write poetry.
   
   It's too bad they don't make a boxset with the next three albums, "Bringing It All Back Home", "Highway 61 Revisited", "Blonde On Blonde"... they would make loads of cash because those are the best records. You'll have to buy them individually. Stay away from Greatest Hits compilations, you want the big picture, trust me. Buy individual albums, you won't be disappointed.
   
   You should move through his material as he presented it. Start with the acoustic stuff, like this set, then make your way to the electric albums mentioned above. If you're new to Dylan, and this is your first purchase, start saving your pennies, because you'll be buying more of his albums in the near future. Guaranteed.



3. I was a junior back at Lakewood High School when Freewheelin' came out just two weeks after my seventeenth birthday. My dad brought it by the house (my parents were divorced) and really surprised me. I'd liked his first record, but I was still listening to The Kingston Trio, that kind of music. Lord I loved The Kingston Trio from the Hungry I record.
   
   But that all changed when I heard this record, which sadly I didn't play for a couple months. I'd been familiar with "Blowing in the Wind," who wasn't. Peter, Paul and Mary were coming out of every kid's transistor radio with that song. I really liked their In the Wind record, really liked them too, but that changed as well when I finally gave this record a good listen. I knew then Bob Dylan was the real deal. The Trios, both Kingston and Peter, Paul and Mary will always have a place in my heart and they reside on my MacBook, but they don't get played anymore. "Freewheelin'" changed that. Yes, they might have been singing about stuff that mattered, but Bob Dylan had a voice like a claw that reached into your gut and somehow made you care.
   
   Six months after the release of Freewheelin' John Kennedy was shot and everything changed. Listen to "A Hard Rain's a Gonna Fall." It's almost like Bob Dylan was trying to warn us.
   
   I was a senior at that same high school in Southern California when The Times They Are A-Changin" came out, I was waiting for it and I wasn't disappointed. From the opening song you knew, just knew the times were a-changin'. You wanted them to be, at least. Only two and a half months earlier JFK had been gunned down in Dallas and for a lot of us the times really sucked. LBJ was in the White House, the war in Vietnam was hotting up, black people were being clubbed to death in the south, oftentimes by the police, the Russians had big bombs pointed our way and we theirs.
   
   So when I put on this record, heard the first song in that gut wrenching voice, I wanted to believe, as did many, but sadly not all. "The Ballad of Hollis Brown" rang oh so true, it was an indictment of us all. The very long "With God on Our Side" -- a song I thought very strong back then, but doesn't seem to hold up, I don't know why -- really got me in the chest, especially since I was already in the Marine Corps, signed up, but not having to go till the day after graduation. Boy what a dumb thing that was I did, but kids are dumb and I was dumber than most. After listening to that real long track, I really wasn't looking forward to boot camp. I really didn't want to go.
   
   I can't say enough how much I love "One too Many Mornings". I play it all the time. In fact I play this whole record a lot, can't help it, it's just so good. If you close your eyes, sit back and really listen to this record, "Hollis Brown", "Hattie Carroll" and "Pawn" will make you cry and "When the Ship Comes In" will make you wonder. But for me the best track is still the title track, because it'll make you hope, it still does me.
   
   I really wanted Another Side of Bob Dylan as soon as it came out, however I was in Uncle Sam's clutches during the month of August in 1964, in the middle of boot camp. It wouldn't be until advanced infantry training at Camp Pendleton a few months later that I'd be able to get my hands on it and give it a listen. I had a month's liberty before going to Pendleton, but frankly, as much as I liked Dylan back then, I had more important things to do.
   
   My first listen disappointed me, because I really liked the earlier records, wanted more of his protest stuff. I was in the military, didn't like it and Vietnam was looming large. But when I got to "Chimes of Freedom" I fell in love, not only with the song, but with the whole record. To me, at the time anyway, it seemed like the whole record led up to and surrounded that song. Now years later I listen to a whole gang of songs on that record. Now I know, if I didn't back then, that every song on "Another Side" is a masterpiece, well all of them except the opener, which is better left to Sonny and Cher. Maybe it's the way he does it, I don't, but I've never been able to get behind "All I Really Want to Do."
   
   However the imagery in the rest of the songs Another Side is truly mind blowing. Can you just picture a "dirty rotten, doctor, commie rat." Not only can I, but I've been using that phrase for almost four decades. Lord has it been that long.
   
   "Ramona" is a song I never tire of. "My Back Pages" could a been a story about me and my dad. "Ballad in Plain D" is so good, so poetic, so hard to describe. I love this record, can't praise it enough.



4. There has never been anything like the talent of Bob. These three cd's are Dylan at his best. Who needs a band. A band would only get in the way. I am one of those that think Dylan is much better by himself. But nobody has ever come across as powerful as this music. There is not a weak song. I do like the 'times they are a changin' the best. To convey a message in such poetry and yet get the message thru for anyone to understand, is the reason why Bob will always be the best.



5. These three records are masterpieces by anyone's opinion and are perhaps Dylan's best work. He was young and he was so good.
   
   -- The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan --
   
   Freewheelin' is Bob Dylan's second record. While his first was an album of mostly folk song covers with only two originals, this record had only two covers, the rest being originals and some of Bob Dylan's finest work. "Girl From the North Country" is one of my favorite songs, by anybody, and to think it was written by a twenty-one-year-old kid, almost half a century ago, way back in 1963.
   
   "Master's of War" still seems valid today. Re, those masters of war, those seller's of guns, "There is one thing I know, though I'm younger than you, that even Jesus would never forgive what you do." Yet, despite those words that moved so many, all these years later the masters of war are still plying their trade. And, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention "Blowin' in the Wind," perhaps the best antiwar song ever written. Dylan asks nine questions about war and freedom, the answers to all of them, I'm afraid are, "Blowin' in the Wind."
   
   -- The Times they are a-Changin' --
   
   The opening track, "The Times they are a-Changin'" is a call to arms. It was heeded in the Sixties when the streets were filled with protesters, kids who wanted an end to the war in Vietnam. Dylan has sung this song countless times over the years, talking about the battle that is outside raging, but somehow we've forgotten this message, though we sing the words with Dylan at almost every concert he's given on his never ending tour. Sadly there are almost no protesters today. And it seems if one does raise a voice, bad things could happen to him.
   
   Lord, I have to wonder if God ever was on our side. Bob Dylan doesn't think he was, but there are so many today who are convinced he is, maybe they should listen to this record. At least we've done something about the horrible racism Dylan sings about on "Only a Pawn in Their Game" and the haunting "Ballad of Hollis Brown," but we have a long way to go. I think all those people who are so against those who only want to better themselves by coming to America should be forced to sit down and listen to this record. That's what I think.
   
   
   -- Another Side of Bob Dylan --
   
   For me "Another Side" is all about "The Chimes of Freedom." Yes there are several other good songs on this record that marks a change for Bob Dylan from his so called "Protest Period" to a darker, deeper, more poetic kind of music. Poetry, Dylan had become a poet and to all of those who think there are hidden meaning in his words I have to say, "No, I don't think so." I think Dylan put it all out there, said what he meant and meant what he said. No hidden meanings, no secrets implied, but who needs 'em. "Chimes of Freedom" says enough, says if for a generation, for generations.
   
   "Tolling for the Rebel, tolling for the rake, tolling for the luckless, the abandoned and the forsaked." What words, what power from this twenty-three-year-old singer who was already tired of leading a movement. Still, try as he might, he was the one the youth of his time looked up to, listened to, wanted to follow, but Dylan wasn't leading. Just imagine what this world might be like today if he had been. Maybe some of those misdemeanor outlaws who wound up in the White House might have been sidelined where they belonged. Ah, well, we'll never know.
   
   Still, this is one fine record. "To Ramona" is one of the best songs ever written, the poetry so divine in this dark song. "It grieves my heart love, to see ya trying to be a part of a world that just don't exist." It's like he's singing about me, way before I was born, because I sure want to be a part of that world that doesn't exist. Ah, I was so much older than, older yesterday even. It's so sad sometimes, because like Dylan says, they "hype you and type you in making you feel that you gotta be just like them." I know I'm not making much sense, but get this record. Don't be like them, just do what you think you should do.