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Reviews (24)

This is a Spectacular Album
This album is BIG. The headliners are legends, the playlist is awesome and the music is overwhelming. Maybe you'll find there's a song or artist that isn't your favorite but there is so much to like about this that it's a no risk deal.

Some of my favorie parts: Booker T and the MGs backed almost everyone - their set with Neil Young was as good as his best stuff with Crazy Horse, absolutely stratospheric. George Harrison was perfect. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers turned Rainy Day Women into its own party. My Back Pages might be the best song I've ever heard on any album - and it's not just Clapton, despite what the listing says. He sings a verse, as does McGuinn, Petty, Young, Dylan and Harrison. Play it loud, it will give you goosebumps. This doesn't take away anything from Johnny Cash, Richie Havens, the O'Jays, Tommy Makem and The Clancy Brothers and everyone else but it would start to sound like I copied the liner notes to list everyone who makes this album a really special treat.

OK, what could have been better? The Band only made it onto the album for one song - that was good but I would have enjoyed more. They are The Band, after all. And yeah - Stevie Wonder got a little preachy but he still played great. So when someone makes a perfect album, we can all get that. Until then, this one is going to get played a lot at my house.

If you like Dylan, you'll love this!
Growing up being a big fan of the Bryds, how could one not enjoy listening to Dylan played by some of the worlds finest musicians. There has never been a better rendition of Mr. Tambourine Man. My Back Pages with Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, George Harrison is also something special.

Stevie Wonder gets carried away with his intro to Blowing in the Wind, but fast forward 2&1/2 minutes and you will miss the only misery of this CD. The end of this double CD has Dylan singing. It makes you appreciate how special his music is when sung by these top performers. It also shows off what Dylan does best - song writing.

Wanna hear Dylan with an Irish accent? Buy the CD. I can't think of a better way to spend 2 hours in the car. I own over 500 CD's and this one is my favorite.

Something For Everyone
I'd give this 5 stars, but there are a bunch of tracks that force me to hit the "skip" button on my CD player. The rest is good enough to boost the rating back up to 4 stars.

Reviews (5)

Not a bad track here!
There may not be any Top40 hits on this CD but there isn't a track here that isn't worth repeated listening. If you've like them before then forget reading any further, just buy it and enjoy!

This CDs showcases an older, more sophisticated Booker T. & the MGs -- a polished, relaxed and confident sound. The track mix is excellent from the quiet jazzy sound of "Let's Wait Awhile" to the Hammond-organ-driven funk of "Mo' Greens" and the title track. There's even a bit of musical humor here--if you're old enough to catch the reference to Clyde the camel in "Camel Ride".

In short, this is a terrific set of music and well deserves a spot in your collection.

The MG's return! A mixed set.
Released in 1994, "That's the Way It Should Be" marked the MG's first record together since 1977's very disappointing (and somewhat disco-ish) "Universal Language." "That's the Way" marked the MG's return to the formula that made albums like "Soul Limbo" and "Hip Hug-Her" so great. Unfortunately, the songs here (both covers and originals) don't quite measure up to the standard of the songs on those great early-period albums (although "Sarasota Sunset" comes very close). Another problem is the sonic studio sheen that drains the energy from the songs. I saw the MG's playing these tunes live in 1994 and they sounded much more forceful--a live set of these tunes would have been much better.

Reviews (22)

Gospel According To Dylan
Your opinion of "Gotta Serve Somebody" will probably hinge on your opinion of Bob Dylan's foray into gospel music with his albums "Slow Train Coming" and "Saved," from which these songs are taken. For me, it was one of the most exciting periods of his post-60s career, full of the same fire and conviction that fueled his change from folkie to rocker 10+ years earlier. So I had high expectations for this album, wanting to hear what the songs would be like performed by true gospel singers. It was worth the wait! Without getting into any philosophical discussion of the songs, they were great gospel inspired rock & roll, and now they are proven to be great pure gospel as well. The added bonus of Bob rewriting and performing "Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking" with Mavis Staples makes this CD a must have.

Dylan songs well-served by gospel greats
Bob Dylan's voice and songs are so uniquely his own that it's a rare artist who can cover the man without inviting unflattering comparisons. But on "Gotta Serve Somebody," that's not a problem. The bright lights of gospel music assembled to interpret the songs Dylan wrote for 1979's "Slow Train Coming" and 1980's "Saved" make themselves right at home. This is THEIR turf more than Dylan's, and the performances only prove what many of us knew all along: that Dylan's controversial "born-again" period was among his most fertile. The best songs from Dylan's collaboration with the Lord not only stand comfortably beside the best work in his canon, but also hold their own in the entire gospel genre.

The topper, for me, is "Pressing On," and the Chicago Mass Choir give it the epic performance it deserves, one at least equal to Dylan's own version on "Saved." The Sound of Blackness do right by the same album's "Solid Rock," and Aaron Neville lends his admirable pipes to a lovely rendition of "Saving Grace." One of Dylan's overly preachy and arrogant Christian tracts, "When You Gonna Wake Up" from "Slow Train Coming," gets a dramatic overhaul from Lee Williams and the Spiritual QCs that is one of the album's highlights.

Of course, Dylan also wrote some clinkers during this period. The title track of "Saved" never gave off sparks and it doesn't do it here despite a valiant effort from the Mighty Clouds of Joy. The provocative lyrics and an energetic performance made "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking" a highlight of "Slow Train Coming," but the monotonous song didn't merit a revival and Dylan's noisy duet with Mavis Staples on the new version is saved only by the brief conversation between the two during the intro. It has a delightfully loony quality that one wishes had found its way into Dylan's film "Masked and Anonymous."

The main quibble I have with this disc is what was not included. Where's "Every Grain of Sand," the one unquestioned masterpiece from this period? Its absence doesn't detract from the excellence of what is here, but if any song has earned a place in this lineup, it's that one.

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Reviews (46)

Natalie's "Snowfall" inspires artistic windfall
Natalie Cole's 1991 project of her father's material, "Unforgettable," was indeed a touching and artistically sound tribute. Then 1993's "Take a Look" proved its predecessor was no fluke and flaunted jazz chops all her own. But by 1996 the nostalgia kick had worn thin; more swing, more strings, and another technology-provided duet with dear old Dad made "Stardust" seem far too familiar. The time was definitely right for Natalie to return to (mostly) pop music, and "Snowfall on the Sahara" ranks as her true crowning moment of artistic glory. Nothing on "Snowfall" feels particularly retro, but the album offers all the elements of a classic record from a 70's singer: impeccable taste in songs, strong arrangements, and a top-notch voice in top form singing the hell out of the material.

The title track is one of the smoothest blends of pop and soul radio has been treated to in recent years, and "Say You Love Me" (from "Dreamgirls") ranks as one of Natalie's most seductive ballads ever...intricate production and a unique, sampled exhale make the track just as innovative as it is commercially appealing. Cole also displays some delightfully unexpected musical tastes as she covers Bob Dylan (with a rousing "Gotta Serve Somebody"), Judy Collins (on a stately "Since You Asked") and Taj Mahal (which appropriately kicks off with Natalie saying "Just when you think you know me...think again!" before offering drum samples and bluesy guitar licks). Fans of her jazzier work won't be left out in the cold, however: the Patti Page staple "With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming" gets an affectionately sentimental reading, "Everyday I Have the Blues" has a deceptively sunny swing, and "His Eyes, Her Eyes" is a mature and gorgeously-arranged piece of modern jazz.

The bluesy "Reverend Lee," a longtime favorite among female singers, proves every bit of Natalie's vocal abilities, but she truly pulls out all the stops on the finale, a soulful, go-for-broke belting of "Stay With Me" that gives new meaning to the phrase "big finish." Bursting at the seams with strong compositions and stellar performances, "Snowfall on the Sahara" came at just the right time for fans who were ready to hear Natalie move on from straight jazz, as well as for pop lovers who needed a dose of maturity amidst the youth-obsessed music world it was bravely released into. A career album in every sense.

Natalie's back and she's got a wonderful new album!
The Natalie Cole and Diana Ross issue is old; they are two great entertainers who should both be given a whole lot of respect! I have been a Natalie Cole fan for years. She never ceases to amaze me. Natalie's new album, Snowfall On The Sahara, is full of emotion. She uses her voice like a beautiful instrument. I really like the variety of songs that Natalie chose for this album. I especially love the way she sings A Song For You, Snowfall On The Sahara, Reverend Lee, Corinna, Say You Love Me and Gotta Serve Somebody. I highly recommend Snowfall On The Sahara; the album is slammin' and yet it's smooth! You'll be touched by the message Ms. Cole is delivering in song. Enjoy!

A Diamond
I had read a review of Natalie Cole's "Snowfall" CD, but with all the wonderful music available, had never picked up a copy until I saw a used copy at a pawn shop, of all places. WOW! What a magnificent diamond this CD is! Ms. C & I have been making up for lost time!

Reviews (12)

Almost perfection
One of the great undiscovered/unheralded albums of the 90's. Too bad, it's almost perfection. What a combination - Dylan's devastatingly insightful lyrics and Judy's vulnerable, beautiful voice. And recorded with a rock band, not the soft-pop sound Judy so often does, for authentic Dylan-ness. Judy was there, singing, strumming and we-shall-overcoming, when these songs were written. She is one the few singers who can interpret these songs with such genuine artistic authority. Love Minus Zero/No Limit and Bob Dylan's Dream will make you cry.

Judy Sings Just Like A Memory!
This is really a lovely album by a more mature Judy Collins, who is still in full voice and ready to rock and roll a little around the edges in delivering what she characterizes as an open love letter to Bob Dylan and his music. Like a number of notable others like Joan Baez, Leonard Cohen, Tom Rush, and Peter, Paul, And Mary, Judy was around to watch as Bob Dylan emerged from obscurity to become the voice and the conscience of a generation. This, then, is her tribute to that phenomenon. Her choice of songs to use to celebrate him is telling in and of itself.

She opens with "Like A Rolling Stone", delivered in a jazzy folk style that really is a quite novel interpretation of the much-recorded song. Next is "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue", followed by a "Simple Twist Of Fate", delivered in a more traditional folk style. Her selections range from the very well known, such as "Just Like A Woman" and "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" to the more obscure, such as "Sweetheart Like You" and "Dark Eyes". I especially like her interpretation of "Gotta Serve Someone", from Dylan's brief born-again phase, and the reworking of "With God On Our Side", a song made famous by Joan Baez in the early 1960s. All in all, this album turns out to be exactly what Judy claims she wanted it to be, a very personal expression of love and admiration for the work of a man with amazing songwriting talents and a very sustained career that now stretches over some forty years. Enjoy!

a bad idea thirty years too late and gone horribly wrong
First, Judy still has a beautiful voice.

So, if you are a hard-core Judy Collins fan AND you have never heard the original version of these songs OR covers by others like the Byrds, the Band, Jimi Hendrix, Sting, Aaron Neville, etc, etc, AND you enjoy pretentious sacchrine synthetic syrupy sentimental arrangements of great songs, ....maybe, just maybe give it a try.

If you are a Dylan fan in any of his incarnations, forget it.

I realize Collins is a friend and sincere admirer of Dylan. And my friend who lent it to me likes it. But each time I played it for other colleagues in my office, it had them doubled over in guffaws and fits of horse laughs before she got out the second line of the first track (Like a Rolling Stone). The fits got progressively worse as the song progressed.

I give it one star for humor. Its other redeeming quality is that it could have been worse.

Features

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Reviews (3)

The best movie!
I really enjoyed this movie, it is more enjoyable than previous MLK movies. The soundtrack is awesome!

MUSIC FOR A REVOLUTION
The only bad thing about the BOYCOTT soundtrack is that it is so hard to get a copy. The music is about the civil rights movement. It's about love and respect of self and of other people. It's also about necessary sacrifice and struggle and finally, it's about God's love. There are all types of cuts, religous, jazz, blues, and freedom. The voices range from the very well known current (Stevie Wonder), to old school (Nat King Cole) to virtual unknowns.
There could not have been a better soundtrack for this project. It's great relaxation and thinking music. The song's, KING and ELLA'S SONG, are true gems and keepers. We are energized and left challenged with the thought, WE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM CANNOT REST UNTIL IT COMES.

Features

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Asin: B000000SU6
Sales Rank: 386994

Features

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Reviews (1)

Asin: B00005B1GO
Sales Rank: 160355

Reviews (7)

Why?
Why not just get a Dylan album? I could understand maybe seeing them live, but why buy this when you can get the real thing?

Dylan Heaven on Earth!
Folks, this is the REAL deal. Joel Gilbert MUST be the luckiest man on earth, to be blessed with the talents to PLAY these songs and do them justice is an amazing gift; but he also has the look, the passion, and the VOICE as well. I have every CD Bob Dylan has ever released, I love DYLAN; THIS cd is a MUST have for any true Dylan fan. The band has an added edge about them with their sound being spot on for the touring Dylan sound I was lucky enough to hear twice last year. Joel is to be commended too in that he gives the fans something from each era of Dylan's rich legacy, complete with the Dylan sneer and cynicism on Like a Rolling Stone. If anything some of the songs have a little more bite thanks to being produced in the here and now. Excellent guitar work and harmonica play. Things Have Changed is personal favorite, and this version is phenomenal. On Hurricane, you can FEEL Joel's anger and outrage. Positively 4th street is another piece of cathartic relief, you can feel the daggers in every word. There is something here for everyone, Flawless musicianship, great songs, excellent production. Try it, you will be glad you did!!

Reviews (5)

Another great guitarist
This has turned into one of my favourite CD's and I will buy everything else released by this outstanding talent. The musik can take you away on some of the more lay back tunes and bring tears to your eyes. The heavier material will make a dead man dance and the variety on this CD is brilliant. The definitive version of BLACK MAGIC WOMAN is worth the price alone and it is not even the best track on this outstanding CD. Nothing negative to be added, pure pleasure and inspiration if you are a guitar player. BUY IT NOW, everyone I've played it to is now a fan, despite no one having heard of him before.

Check It Out Now!
Pretty good! I dont have any complaints. Its a very soild CD

Reviews (12)

Top Notch Electric Blues Rock
If you like Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, or any guitar oriented, hard rockin', electric blues then YOU WILL DIG THIS CD. In the the tradition of Jimi (included here is a great cover of Crosstown Traffic) Scott Holt takes a classic song by Bob Dylan, in this case "You Gotta Serve Somebody", and absolutely nails it. Another standout cut (esp for those with 'relationship' problems) is "All You Give Me Is The Blues", with its near classic refrain. When you add in the special guests (including Buddy Guy himself), this CD pretty much has it all for guitar lovers like me. As for only giving it 4 stars: I am an extremely tough grader who reserves 5 stars for albums I consider to be ALL TIME classics. My advice? BUY THIS CD NOW! And go see Scott Holt playing with Buddy the next time they come anywhere near to you.

It sounds really great
Wow. I knew that he's playing with Buddy Guy, and that's why I bought this CD. I don't regret a penny. What a great modern, electric blues. Listen to the song with Buddy Guy, incredibly funky, and a great "crosstown traffic" too. A fantastic guitar player who's well accompanied : Double Trouble and Band of Gypsys.

Editorial Review

Asin: B00005OC7W

Asin: B0000633IF
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

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Reviews (5)

Oh! I love that beautiful unique voice & it shines here
I just got this today & I cant believe that AN sings gospel songs so beautifully. "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus" that song got me buying this gem of a CD. "Steer me right" is great. "Oh happy day' reminds of Sister Act2 remember that young boy in the choir?& AN gives this song a new feel to it. Remember Sam Cook for a long time ago on " A change is gonna come" what a beautiful sad song. " Amazing Grace" has that different AN voice Oh! man what a cd. Actually all songs are great. I noticed a 1 star by one of the reviewers & my feeling is that people who do not appreciate music must not put bad reviews unnecessarilly as it misleads other potential buyers into thinking that a cd is bad whereas its not the case.This is the best cd for me so far

utterly superb!!!
I am 16 years old and I dont care much for gospel music, because it usually has no musical depth. But Aaron Neville is absolutely superb! He has golden vocal chords and shades of Al Green and Kieth Green can be found in Aaron's voice. If you are looking for some awesome gospel music Aaron Neville's Believe is the place to find it!!! Peace to one and all !!!

Aaron Mcknight-music fanatic

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