DVD Compilation #02

“Here he is, he’s yours” says the announcer and then “split as quickly as possible, there’ll be no closing remarks, get to the next workshop” definitely a different time. Then you see Bob and Joan mobbed and Joan is so cool; sings a little a cappella and signs the autographs; what a beautiful lady.

Newport ’65, what a shock it must have been to hear an electric Dylan!

The Johnny Cash video is average quality but the duet is still very enjoyable.

Earl Scruggs and his banjo; this shows how music really crosses generational gaps and cultures; what a show this would have been to attend.

Then you have Bob in his prime at the Bangladesh concert with George Harrison; great video & sound & set list. I’d like to know who the other guitar player in the red tank top with long blond hair. What a great concert! I wonder if those in attendance knew how lucky they were.

The world of John Hammond is great however unfortunately brief it is.

SNL; “Gotta Serve Somebody” is a fantastic version complete with the soul sisters on backing vocals. The keyboard solo seemed a little off to me though. This set of Bob’s religious music really has an affect even on a non-religious person.

The Nashville segment is of pretty poor quality although “Masters of War” is a good electric version and would be great if a better copy existed.

A fantastic collection; mostly great picture and sound quality; one you definitely want to get.

My favourite disc of the unofficial Dylan "Anthology" series. Compilation #2 captures Dylan in his white-hot mid-60s period, switching from acoustic folk music to electric, blues-based rock and roll, as well as his mid-70s Rolling Thunder renaissance.

The historic 1965 Newport Festival clips are worth the price of admission alone, footage that hardcore VHS collectors like myself rarely or never saw. (It would be great to see the complete film, "Festival" directed by Murray Lerner, which includes footage by other American music legends, Johnny Cash and Son House.)

Speaking of Cash, the Nashville studio footage (a duet of "One Too Many Mornings") is of fine quality: warm colours and crisp sound. Dylan's Johnny Cash footage (long bootlegged on CD) finally rears its head on this DVD. A lost treasure from 1969, the picture quality here is good (but not great) considering its age. The highlight here is the duet of "Mornings" by Cash and his guest who strum acoustic guitars side-by-side.

Another surprise gem is Dylan's country turn ("East Virginia Blues") lifted from the 1970 doc, "Earl Scruggs, His Family and Friends" probably sourced from a low-generation videotape that was transferred from film. Like the Cash studio footage, the picture and sound quality are superb.

More common clips are Dylan's acoustic set from the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh in New York (hands-down the highlight of this all-star benefit concert), and his rather subdued "Hurricane" performance at 1975's World of John Hammond TV special. Again, both clips feature sharp picture and rich sound.

The 1979 SNL clips include all three songs (reruns feature one to two) and are found on "The Gospel Years" DVD. The 1978 Nashville concert footage is the weak link on an otherwise perfect compilation. The footage is out of place on a disc crammed with historic performances, suffering from medicore editing (dark, distant angles of Dylan & band intercut with Woodstock-esque shots of fans at an outdoor concert--from where?) and drop-outs from the high-generation video source. A better Dylan gospel performance can be found on the above-mentioned "Gospel Years" disc.

Despite the last clip, Compilation #2 stands out as an essential addition to any Dylan collection, spanning two peaks of Dylan's long, colourful career. Get it.

- A. Tong



Saturday Night Live (10/20/79)
Nashville, Tennessee (12/2/78)

The John Hammond PBS-TV special is unbelievably good, not to mention an engaging performance by the Maestro ... can't beat that Rolling Thunder stuff, even with a scratched disc (ha, just kidding).

Overall, the DVD captures the essentials for the time period chosen and in better quality throughout than previously-circulated VHS.

If you don't like this disc then you don't like Dylan (you sorry dog).

Cheers!


Lempi-Maki from the lower reaches of the Upper Great Lakes.