Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan

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Barnes & Noble - Lisa Zhito
A little more than 20 years after Bob Dylan stunned the world by proclaiming himself a born-again Christian, his gospel legacy is given new life in a remarkable tribute. Dylan's importance to the world of gospel music can't be underestimated; to the faithful and even the casual Iistener, his songs from this period resonate as powerfully today as they did then, bringing to spiritual matters the same unwavering, astute eye that he brought to his songs of social commentary. Indeed, Dylan earned his first-ever Grammy for "Gotta Serve Somebody" off 1979's Slow Train Coming. Here, an all-star cast of gospel greats performs 11 songs taken from Slow Train Coming and Saved. ...
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04/01/2003 CD Ships first class from New York City. All items are official products and come with all the original inserts, unless otherwise noted.

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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Lisa Zhito
A little more than 20 years after Bob Dylan stunned the world by proclaiming himself a born-again Christian, his gospel legacy is given new life in a remarkable tribute. Dylan's importance to the world of gospel music can't be underestimated; to the faithful and even the casual Iistener, his songs from this period resonate as powerfully today as they did then, bringing to spiritual matters the same unwavering, astute eye that he brought to his songs of social commentary. Indeed, Dylan earned his first-ever Grammy for "Gotta Serve Somebody" off 1979's Slow Train Coming. Here, an all-star cast of gospel greats performs 11 songs taken from Slow Train Coming and Saved. Shirley Caesar opens this collection with a powerful take on "Gotta Serve Somebody," her forceful delivery of its cautionary lyric all the more chilling in a new era of Middle East violence, war, and political and corporate corruption. As for declarations of faith, Dottie Peoples's "I Believe In You" soars to heavenly heights, her performance packing an emotional wallop. Dylan himself appears with Mavis Staples on "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking," a rowdy, raucous track with a barroom ambience and a hefty dose of humor as the two legends chat about reading "Snoozeweek" and eating chicken. Other artists participating include Aaron Neville, the Fairfield Four, Sounds of Blackness, and Helen Baylor, to name a few. As tributes go, this collection admirably honors and educates fans about Dylan's enduring contribution to the gospel music world, and is a must-have for any serious collector.
All Music Guide - Thom Jurek
The concept of a compilation of Bob Dylan's gospel songs is certainly an idea whose time has come. That this does not feature Dylan performing the original versions of these songs is yet another. Executive producer Jeffrey Gaskill assembled a wide-ranging assortment of the hottest talent in the gospel arena, both past and present, to perform the songs from Dylan's Slow Train Coming and Saved albums, and producer Joel Moss extracted phenomenal performances from Shirley Caesar, the Fairfield Four, the Sounds of Blackness, Rance Allen, the Chicago Mass Choir fronted by Regina McCrary who sang backup for Dylan on the 1978 and 1979 tours when these recordings were originally done, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, Helen Baylor with Billy Preston, Aaron Neville, Dottie Peoples, Lee Williams & the Spiritual QC's, Mavis Staples, and Dylan himself performing a duet on a completely rewritten version of "Gonna Change My Way of Thinkin'". In addition, a reunion of Dylan's touring band from the period, which included Tim Drummond, Jim Keltner, and Spooner Oldham, performs on "Solid Rock" with the Sounds of Blackness. All of this is interesting, of course, but listeners know that all-star tributes fall short more often than not. This is no tribute, however, but a showcase of Dylan as one of the great gospel songwriters -- albeit 25 years after the fact. Caesar's version of the title track is a scorcher and would not have been out of place in a church pastored by James Cleveland. The Sounds of Blackness' "Solid Rock" does indeed rock -- it's funky, driving, and wrapped loosely around a minor-key trill and riff pulsing just ahead of the beat. Lee Williams & the Spiritual QC's' sweet, swinging read of "When You Gonna Wake Up" is smooth and haunting, like a more streetwise version of the Impressions, giving the groove in the tune a bluesier edge than the original. Peoples' "I Believe in You" could be a testimony in church, full of understated phrasing until she gets to the refrains when it breaks and the redemptive hope in the tune comes pouring from the center of her voice. The Fairfield Four's read of "Are You Ready" is standard fare for them, meaning, of course, that the performance is beautiful, stirring, and moving, but it is less recognizable as a Dylan tune than anything else here. Neville's "Saving Grace" suffers from his now overly sweet trademark manner of phrasing. Detroit's Rance Allen kicks it on "When He Returns." His baritone is reminiscent of C.L. Franklin's, and comes from the heart of the church. He understands this is a song of great hope and personal conviction. The slight quaver in his voice at the refrain reverses the track on itself; the listener can feel something of a universal connection to the grain in his voice which, at least for Allen, and Dylan too, is not a relative but an absolute truth. The set closes with the Dylan/Staples duet. Performed by Dylan's own touring band, this is a house-burning blues, ripping in the dark, razor-cut of Dylan's voice. Staples wanders in after about a minute, and after a pleasant and humorous exchange, joins Dylan on the funkiest, most apocalyptic track on the set. This is raw, furious, scorching blues-funk. This is not an exercise in reverence but revelation, the roar of struggle and resolution, with the singers staring into the void and seeing the blackness and horror, retreating from the edges and the drunkenness of fear to the font of refuge. This fine collection warrants a complete reappraisal of the records these tracks came from, as well as Shot of Love and Infidels. Perhaps it also warrants a compilation of Dylan's own versions as well -- it would hardly be untimely since he continues to perform many if not all of these songs today. If you buy one gospel record in 2003, let this be it.
Entertainment Weekly - Chris Willman
This tribute lets us hear these spirituals the way their writer probably heard 'em in his head. (A-)

This tribute lets us hear these spirituals the way their writer probably heard 'em in his head. (A-)
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 4/1/2003
  • Label: Sony
  • UPC: 696998901520
  • Catalog Number: 89015

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Gotta Serve Somebody @@Shirley Caesar
  2. 2 When You Gonna Wake Up @@Lee Williams & The Spiritual Qc'S
  3. 3 I Believe In You @@Dottie Peoples
  4. 4 Are You Ready @@Fairfield Four
  5. 5 Solid Rock @@Sounds Of Blackness
  6. 6 Saving Grace @@Aaron Neville
  7. 7 What Can I Do For You? @@Helen Baylor
  8. 8 Pressing On @@Chicago Mass Choir
  9. 9 Saved @@Mighty Clouds Of Joy
  10. 10 When He Returns @@Rance Allen
  11. 11 Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking @@Bob Dylan,Mavis Staples
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Bob Dylan Guitar, Vocals
Billy Preston Hammond Organ
Charlie Sexton Guitar
Glenn Alexander Guitar
Greg Mathieson Piano
Jim Keltner Drums
Joe Chemay Bass
Eddie Bayers Drums
Bruce Brody Hammond Organ
Larry Campbell Guitar
Larry Campbell Guitar
Shannon Ford Drums, Tambourine
Tony Garnier Bass
Paul Leim Drums
Adriane Lenox Background Vocals
Tony Maiden Guitar
Bill Maxwell Drums
Michael Merritt Bass
Spooner Oldham Hammond Organ
George Recile Drums
Brent Rowan Guitar
Mavis Staples Vocals
Fred Tackett Guitar
Terry Young Piano
Jeral Gray Sr. Piano
Percy Gray Jr. Choir Director
Gary Hines Choir Director
Sharay Reed Bass
Chris Byrd Hammond Organ
Scott Healy Piano
Keith Spentz Bass
Calvin Rodgers Drums
Wayne Barrett Guitar
Capathia Jenkins Background Vocals
Michael McElroy Background Vocals
Philip Feaster Hammond Organ
Gary "Bud" Smith Piano, Hammond Organ
Aisha Dehaas Background Vocals
Regina McCrary Vocals
Technical Credits
Joe Chemay Musical Director
Bill Maxwell Musical Director
Joel Moss Producer, Engineer, Liner Notes
Tom Piazza Liner Notes
Christopher Shaw Engineer
Terry Young Musical Director
Percy Gray Jr. Musical Director
Gary Hines Musical Director
Yvonne Staples Contributor
Ric Wilson Mastering
Horace Clarence Boyer Liner Notes
Scott Healy Musical Director
Charlie Eble Digital Editing
Jan Folkson Digital Editing
Michael McElroy Musical Director
Jeffrey Gaskill Liner Notes, Executive Producer
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