The Best Of Bob Dylan

A really good compilation

So here we have yet another Bob Dylan compilation album! This one is an import only released in Australia, the UK and Canada. We have most of the staple Dylan songs on this... "Don't Think Twice", "Blowin' In The Wind", "Mr. Tambourine Man", "Like A Rolling Stone", etc... there are only two tunes we get here that isn't on any other collection and that's "Oh Sister" - one of my favorites from the "Desire" album and fits perfectly behind "Tangled Up In Blue", and the alternate version of "Shelter From The Storm" - previously released on the "Jerry McGuire" soundtrack. Since I don't have that album, this is my first time hearing that fantastic (albeit slightly rough) version of the song! "Shelter" is probably my favorite song on "Blood On The Tracks" so an extra version is always welcome in my Dylan library!All these tunes are positioned well on the track-list - allowing them to flow smoothly ... the 74 min. playing time only feels like 30 mins. going by when listening to these masterpieces! Time flies when your having fun and that's what this collection is (along with Volume 2) - great FUN!!When scanning the setlist of songs here you may be missing "It Ain't Me Babe", "I Want You", "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" & "Rainy Day Women" - but not to fear - they all appear on Volume 2!So if you're an accomplished Dylan fan like myself and have all his individual albums there's really no need to get this - unless you're collecting all of Bob's compilations like I am - or if you're looking for a nifty way of obtaining another alternate take of "Shelter From The Storm" besides the one on "Bootleg 14".If you're new to Dylan, this is a FANTASTIC place to start your collection! If you're looking to expand further (which I suspect you will), I would recommend Volume 2 of this set... then after that you'll be diving into all of Bob's albums and won't look back!Enjoy!!

Sounds great

This album cuts right to the heart of the thorny question: "Can you be a true fan of an artist if you are primarily a fan of their greatest hits compilations?" Much as it hurts me to say this, my gut has always told me the answer is "no". Why does it hurt so much to arrive at this answer? First, I absolutely adore Creedence Clearwater Revival's Chronicle Volume I - it has to be one of my top 10 all-time favorite albums. But since I don't love any of CCR's "real" albums, I'm not a true fan of CCR according to my rigid standards for true fandom. It pisses me off to have to admit that. My second reason involves my girlfriend. She is hopelessly devoted to Bob Dylan's imported Best of 1 - I reckon it is her favorite album. And yet, she rarely listens to his other material. I mean, she has several of Dylan's albums, but it is Best of 1 that she returns to time and again. So, according to my standards, she's not a true Dylan fan. Don't get me wrong, she's more than just a casual fan. But a true fan? I fear not. In my opinion and (I suspect) those of several influences from my formative years (Chris S., David F., and Steve M.), a true fan appreciates most of, if not all of, an artist's works. So, I'll keep enjoying my Chronicle and N.G.A. will keep enjoying her Best of 1, but until we develop more complete appreciations of CCR and Dylan, respectively, we simply won't qualify as true fans.What do I think of Best of 1? That's easy. There are a bunch of amazing songs here and it would be foolish to even consider giving this album less than 5 stars. There's not much I can say about the individual songs that hasn't already been said more eloquently by countless others over the past 30 years. On this one album, you will hear timeless folk music, classic rock, and the roots of "the (alt-country) movement". Heck, Dylan even had a punk attitude long before that genre was born. Simply put, if you don't have any of Dylan's other albums and have at least a passing interest in popular music, this album belongs in your collection.

This treasure has all of Bob Dylan's greatest- Like A Rolling Stone, Don't Think Twice It's Allright, Times They Are A Changin, Mr Tambourine Man, Forever Young, Just Like a Woman, Blowin in the Wind, and the list goes on & on. Would've been complete if it had Tangled Up in Blue. Bob Dylan has an EXCELLENT live show- I saw him at the First Union Spectrum in Philadelphia PA on November 17th 2001- he has a great band- See him if you ever get the chance!Dylan has had such an influence on many other folk-rock artists out today:Counting Crows: "I wanna be like Bob Dylan"(Mr Jones)Hootie & The Blowfish: "Ain't Bobby so cool? I only wanna be with you. Yea I'm tangled up in blue, I only wanna be with you."(Only Wanna Be With You)LONG LIVE BOB DYLAN!