Tracks
- Out in the Street
- I Don't Mind
- The Good's Gone
- La-La-La-Lies
- Much Too Much
- My Generation
- The Kids Are Alright
- Please, Please, Please
- It's Not True
- I'm a Man
- A Legal Matter
- The Ox
My Generation is an unpolished album. The album is loud and noisy and the production quality is low. Those are not bad qualities, just descriptive ones.
The album is uneven, too. There are too many styles that just don't fit together seamlessly. The two James Brown covers don't fit in well, even though they are good songs. My Generation, The Kids Are Alright, I'm a Man and The Ox belong on a separate album. Or perhaps the songs could have been grouped more cohesively.
This album is definitely the start of something new—a louder and heavier rock and roll sound. For that it is worth listening to. Make sure to listen to the UK mono release. The deluxe edition has the UK release in stereo, but it doesn't do justice to the album. The stand out songs are: I Don't Mind, The Good's Gone, My Generation, The Kids Are Alright, Please, Please, Please, I'm a Man and The Ox.
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Tracks
- Like a Rolling Stone
- Tombstone Blues
- It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
- From a Buick 6
- Ballad of a Thin Man
- Queen Jane Approximately
- Highway 61 Revisited
- Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
- Desolation Row
Highway 61 Revisited is a feisty album. The half of the album is a relentless blast of manic energy. Both the music and Dylan have a lot to say, and the music is kinder than Dylan's words.
Bob Dylan continually puts more meaning in one line of lyrics than other rock and roll artists put in their albums. I don't claim to understand everything he has to say, but it sure makes listening more interesting.
There isn't a bad song on this album. Dylan surely knows how to rock. This album is worth owning. It takes some time to get used to, but the music is great and Dylan's voice just drips with scorn. Like a Rolling Stone, Tombstone Blues, From a Buick 6, Ballad of a Thin Man and Desolation Row are my favorites.
★★★★★★★★★★
Tracks
- Mr. Tambourine Man
- I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better
- Spanish Harlem Incident
- You Won't Have to Cry
- Here Without You
- The Bells of Rhymney
- All I Really Want to Do
- I Knew I'd Want You
- It's No Use
- Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe
- Chimes of Freedom
- We'll Meet Again
Mr. Tambourine Man is a lively album. All the songs have a really rich and full sound. Yet, they lose steam right away and it's hard to stay interested. Also, the vocals drone on and on, and sound like they are being sung in slow motion.
This album does not excite me. I don't enjoy listening to two of the three singers. One sounds like he's in on a joke you're not and the other sounds both whiny and smarmy. The notable songs are Mr. Tambourine Man, I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better Here Without You, All I Really Want to Do, It's No Use, Don't Doubt Yourself and Chimes of Freedom.
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Tracks
- Strolling Down the Highway
- Smokey River
- Oh How Your Love Is Strong
- I Have No Time
- Finches
- Rambling's Gonna Be the Death of Me
- Veronica
- Needle of Death
- Do You Hear Me Now?
- Alice's Wonderland
- Running from Home
- Courting Blues
- Casbah
- Dreams of Love
- Angie
Bert Jansch is a somber album. Needle of Death captures the essence of this album so well, but even the instrumental songs are sad and lonely. The music and Bert Jansch's voice together are haunting, yet compelling.
Many of the songs are so brief that you're not sure
you've heard them at all. Despite just having a guitar to accompany the
singing, the music is rich.
The folk artists featured so far on the 1001 Albums list have consistently sung about mature themes. Bert Jansch continues this trend by covering the dark and lonely sides of life and love.
I really enjoyed this album. This certainly isn't a pick-me-up album, but it is worth listening to. All of the songs with singing: Strolling Down the Highway, Oh How Your Love Is Strong, I Have No Time, Rambling's Gonna Be the Death of Me, Needle of Death, Do You Hear Me Now?, Running from Home, Courting Blues and Dreams of Love are excellent. The instrumentals: Casbah and Angie stand out among the others, which are still nice interludes.
★★★★★★★★★☆
Tracks
- Drive My Car
- Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
- You Won't See Me
- Nowhere Man
- Think for Yourself
- The Word
- Michelle
- What Goes On
- Girl
- I'm Looking Through You
- In My Life
- Wait
- If I Needed Someone
- Run for Your Life
Rubber Soul is a fine album. Each song not only has its own identity, but it also fits together well with the other songs to form a very consistent album. This album has also avoided the sappy-love-song trap and instead deals with a variety of topics, some of which are more mature love songs.
This album shows not only how the Beatles have matured as songwriters but it also shows how rock and roll is maturing and stepping further away from its blues and country roots. Once again the Beatles have pushed the boundary of rock and roll out a little further as Brian Wilson understood clearly. Let the arms race begin!
This is an album worth owning. All the songs are excellent, except maybe for What Goes On. However, I've always liked songs that Ringo sings on.
★★★★★★★★★★
Once again the Beatles have received ten stars. I expect
that will continue for the remainder of their albums. Maybe some people
will think their albums don't deserve ten stars, but what I have been
surprised to discover, at least according to albums found on the 1001
Albums list, is that the Beatles have continually been the trail blazers
of the rock and roll genre. There's always a new and refreshing sound
and approach that wasn't there before when one of their albums comes up to be listened to.
Tracks
- Every Day I Have the Blues
- Sweet Little Angel
- It's My Own Fault
- How Blue Can You Get?
- Please Love Me
- You Upset Me Baby
- Worry, Worry
- Woke Up This Morning (My Baby's Gone)
- You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now
- Help the Poor
Live at the Regal is a masterful album. B.B. King is in complete control. He has the audience eating out of his hand by the second song. His guitar-playing, his singing and his confidence demonstrate an intimate understanding of each and every song.
It is his guitar-playing that stands out, at least with respect to the 1001 Albums list. No one has yet to make the guitar as important as a piano or a singer's voice. The Rolling Stones have come close.
There also seems to be quite a bit of overt misogyny going on in the lyrics and in some of the comments B.B. makes to the audience. What's surprising is that the women in the audience are applauding it. Which is worse: overt or covert misogyny?
This music is certainly worth listening to. The stand out songs are everything but the opening and closing songs.
It's impressive how significant this album is to the blues-based rock and roll musicians that will soon be arriving on the scene. Listen to this album to find out which of your favorite bands borrowed directly from the blues in general and B.B. King specifically.
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Tracks
- Part 1: Acknowledgement
- Part 2: Resolution
- Part 3: Pursuance"/Part 4: Psalm
A Love Supreme is a transcendent album. It's as if four musicians are playing in four separate rooms unaware of each other, yet playing the same pieces without foreknowledge.
If you don't have this album, buy it now. For me, it ranks up there with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in greatness and universality.
That, at the end of time, this album will no longer exist is unjust and saddens me.
★★★★★★★★★★
Tracks
- Do You Wanna Dance?
- Good to My Baby
- Don't Hurt My Little Sister
- When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)
- Help Me, Ronda
- Dance, Dance, Dance
- Please Let Me Wonder
- I'm So Young
- Kiss Me, Baby
- She Knows Me Too Well
- In the Back of My Mind
- Bull Session with the 'Big Daddy'
The Beach Boys Today! is a light and fluffy album. All of the songs sound really nice and the close harmony is especially good. There are a few rocking songs, but the majority of the songs are ballads.
I didn't really like the fade in and fade out on Help Me, Ronda and the sound adjustment on Do You Wanna Dance? It felt amateurish.
The Beach Boys also suffer from writing sappy love songs. At least their ballads and singing style made them more tolerable and sound a little more mature.
This album certainly shows a more refined style of rock and roll songwriting, even though the lyrics are mediocre. It's worth listening to, but I would tear my hair out if I were subjected to the ballads over and over. Not surprisingly all but one of the stand out songs: Do You Wanna Dance?, Don't Hurt My Little Sister, Help Me, Ronda, Dance, Dance, Dance and Kiss Me, Baby are not ballads.
And thankfully with the advent of digital music, you can finally purge the album of the obnoxious Bull Session with the 'Big Daddy'. Whatever purpose it served then is now presumably gone.
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Tracks
- Ole Man Trouble
- Respect
- Change Gonna Come
- Down in the Valley
- I've Been Loving You Too Long
- Shake
- My Girl
- Wonderful World
- Rock Me Baby
- Satisfaction
- You Don't Miss Your Water
Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul is heavy, sexy album. Otis Redding seduces us with a voice that is as smooth as silk and as rough as gravel. When the music is slow it comes with a mean groove and when it's more lively it borders on being funk.
Otis Redding does well re-imaging contemporary hits. However, I didn't really like the use of horns on Wonderful World and Satisfaction.
While the songs are super, they don't jell into a cohesive album. It's more like a greatest hits compilation. It's still worth listening to. The songs that stand out are Ole Man Trouble, Respect, Change Gonna Come, Down in the Valley, I've Been Loving You Too Long, My Girl and Rock Me Baby.
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Tracks
- Subterranean Homesick Blues
- She Belongs to Me
- Maggie's Farm
- Love Minus Zero/No Limit
- Outlaw Blues
- On the Road Again
- Bob Dylan's 115th Dream
- Mr. Tambourine Man
- Gates of Eden
- It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
- It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Bringing It All Back Home is a complex album. The first half is electric and the second half is acoustic. The songs are enjoyable. Some are slow and ponderous and others are lively and silly.
The lyrics are certainly are the most important feature of this album. Each line is easy enough to understand. However, what emerges is either impenetrable or utter nonsense.
Perhaps Dylan's music isn't meant to play second fiddle to the lyrics. But rather, it is essential to the lyrics. It's in the tone of his voice or how he strums his guitar or what note he's hitting. So he's trying to evoke emotion more than meaning. It certainly seems to apply to this album.
Putting prejudice aside, this album is certainly worth listening to. Subterranean Homesick Blues, Maggie's Farm. Love Minus Zero/No Limit, Outlaw Blues, On the Road Again, Mr. Tambourine Man, Gates of Eden and It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) are the highlights.
★★★★★★★★★☆
Tracks
- The Witch
- Do You Love Me
- Roll Over Beethoven
- Boss Hoss
- Dirty Robber
- Have Love, Will Travel
- Psycho
- Money (That's What I Want)
- Walkin' the Dog
- Night Time Is the Right Time
- Strychnine
- Good Golly Miss Molly
Here are the Sonics is a manic album. The Sonics have turned rock and roll on its head. The play loud and fast and they scream. Even the themes of their original songs are different from anything anyone's singing.
This kind of rock and roll isn't just raw, it's bloody. What the Beatles and the Rolling Stones are doing seems quaint in comparison.
It's too bad the sound quality sucks. It's all treble and no bass; it's like listening to the band through an aluminum tube.
This is an amazing album and is well worth listening to. They do good cover songs, but it's their originals that are superb. It could have been a game changer, but the Sonics seemed to have fallen off the earth after this. I guess they were ahead of their time.
The album might not seem very good at first. I did enjoy it the first time I heard it, but it took a while to really grow on me. The Witch, Do You Love Me, Boss Hoss, Have Love, Will Travel, Psycho, Money (That's What I Want), Walkin' the Dog, Strychnine and Good Golly Miss Molly are great songs.
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Tracks
- Mean Woman Blues
- High School Confidential
- Money (That's What I Want)
- Matchbox
- What'd I Say, Part 1
- What'd I Say, Part 2
- Great Balls of Fire
- Good Golly, Miss Molly
- Lewis' Boogie
- Your Cheatin' Heart
- Hound Dog
- Long Tall Sally
- Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
Live at the Star Club, Hamburg is an explosive album. It's one loud, raucous song after another for the first twenty or so minutes. Then, there's a slow three-minute song and, a final burst of energy for the final ten minutes. If Jerry Lee Lewis were a celestial star, this was a supernova of a performance. He is a madman who is so intense and who plays so fast that he leaves your head spinning and your jaw hanging open in awe and wondering what in the hell is going on.
In just over 30 minutes he's put more energy and intensity into one album than every other band and performer has on this whole 1001 Albums list combined. Jerry Lee Lewis put on one of the finest and most exciting performances I've ever heard. His energy and excitement is infectious.
This is undoubtedly one of the best albums ever made. There isn't a blemish on this album. It is an album everyone should own. I can't believe it isn't more popular.
★★★★★★★★★★
Tracks
- I've Got a Tiger By the Tail
- Trouble and Me
- Let the Sad Times Roll On
- Wham Bam
- If You Fall Out of Love With Me
- Fallin' for You
- We're Gonna Let the Good Times Roll
- The Band Keeps Playin' On
- The Streets of Laredo
- Cryin' Time
- A Maiden's Prayer
- Memphis Tennessee
I've Got a Tiger by the Tail is an enjoyable album. There are a mix of slow and lively songs, and there are even a couple of harder-edged songs.
The first half of the album is strong, but the second half of the album is a mixed bag. There are a three slow songs that grind the album to a halt: If You Fall Out of Love With Me, The Band Keeps Playin' On and Cryin' Time. I'd blame the country style and not the band though. That is, you either like it or you hate it.
I listened to the album enough times for it to hook me if it was going to, but it didn't. It's worth listening to at least and I wouldn't complain if someone put it on, but I won't be pining for later. It's also worth listening to if only to hear what country and western music sounded like before and what it's going to sound like in the future. Of course, that would not have been clear back in 1965, but what would have been clear is that country music is changing, too. Certainly, Buck Owens was ahead of his time.
The stand out songs are I've Got a Tiger by the Tail, Trouble and Me, Let the Sad Times Roll On, Wham Bam, Fallin' For You, We're Gonna Let the Good Times Roll, The Streets of Laredo, A Maiden's Prayer and Memphis Tennessee.
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Tracks
- Route 66
- I Just Want to Make Love to You
- Honest I Do
- Mona (I Need You Baby)
- Now I've Got a Witness
- Little by Little
- I'm a King Bee
- Carol
- Tell Me
- Can I Get a Witness
- You Can Make It If You Try
- Walking the Dog
The Rolling Stones is quite good. It's energetic, but not exciting. The songs consist mostly blues covers, but they have been given a rock and roll treatment that has a much harder edge than anything that has come before.
This album didn't appeal to me the first time I heard it, but I've come to appreciate it. It's not just unpolished, it's raw. The role of the lead guitar is a novel one on Mona (I Need You Baby), Tell Me and Walking the Dog and that's what makes this album worth listening to. Besides those three songs, the other stand outs are: I Just Want to Make Love to You, Honest I Do, Little by Little and King Bee.
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Tracks
- Mama Said
- You Don't Own Me
- Do Re Mi (Forget About the Do and Think About Me)
- When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes
- My Colouring Book
- Mockingbird
- Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa
- Nothing
- Anyone Who Had a Heart
- Will You Love Me Tomorrow
- Wishin' and Hopin'
- Don't You Know
A Girl Called Dusty is a surprising album. The songs are mostly catchy, but the highlight is definitely Dusty Springfield's singing. She has one of the more distinctive and powerful voices. She could hold her own against Sam Cooke or Ray Charles.
Most of the songs are about love. That seems to be the running theme through most albums. Singing about love isn't the problem, it's just that the lyrics are often so sappy. But there's some more serious songs like You Don't Own Me. Do Re Mi is a catchy yet tiresome. Mockingbird would seem to fall into the same camp, but Dusty's vocals are outstanding. Don't You Know is a a real show-stopper.
This is a really good album. Dusty's voice is stunning. I was not expecting this album to be as good as it is. It certainly took listening to it several times to appreciate it. The album's only weakness is being uneven. Mama Said, You Don't Own Me, When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes, My Colouring Book, Mockingbird, Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa, Anyone Who Had a Heart, Will You Love Me Tomorrow, Wishin' and Hopin' and Don't You Know are the stand out tracks.
★★★★★★★★★☆
Tracks
- Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)
- Cry to Me
- Won't You Give Him (One More Chance)
- If You Need Me
- Hard, Ain't It Hard
- Can't Nobody Love You
- Just Out of Reach
- You're Good for Me
- You Can't Love Them All
- Someone to Love Me
- Beautiful Brown Eyes
- He'll Have to Go
Rock 'n' Soul is a good album. However, it doesn't inspire me when I listen to it. Solomon Burke is has a powerful voice and there's strong emotion coursing through many of the songs.
The title of the album suggests it's a rock and roll album as well as a soul album. Solomon Burke certainly sings in a similar way to James Brown and Sam Cooke, but the music is completely different. The music on this album is more closely related to the blues. And there's certainly little relation to rock and roll. Again, it's musically more like the blues, like Fats Domino's rock was more blues than rock and roll.
I should like the album more than I do. Maybe it's because I was spoiled with two outstanding live soul albums. Whatever the problem is, it's certainly an album worth listening to. The second half of the album is stronger than the first half. The first half has catchier songs, but the second half the songs are more emotional. The stand out songs are: Cry to Me, Won't You Give Him (One More Chance), Can't Nobody Love You, You Can't Love Them All, Someone to Love Me, Beautiful Brown Eyes and He'll Have to Go.
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Tracks
Olympia 64 (1964)
- Amsterdam
- Les Vieux
- Tango Funèbre
- Le Plat Pays
- Les Timides
- Les Jardins Du Casino
- Le Dernier Repas
- Les Toros
Brel en public : Olympia 64 (1988)
- Amsterdam
- Les timides
- Le dernier repas
- Les jardins du casino
- Les vieux
- Les toros
- Tango funèbre
- Le plat pays
- Les bonbons
- Mathilde
- Les bigotes
- Les bourgeois
- Jef
- Au suivant
- Madeleine
[There are two versions of this album—A 1964 version titled Olympia 64 which features only eight tracks, and a 1988 version titled Brel en public : Olympia 64 which contains the complete performance. There is also a 2003 version titled Enregistrement Public à l'Olympia 1964 which has the same track listing as the 1988 version. The 1988 version is presented in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, but I am evaluating the 1964 version since that's what people would have heard then. It's not clear whether the editors and reviewer were aware of the different versions. It's doubtful that the 1964 version is available anyway.]
Olympia 64 is an entertaining album. Jacques Brel is an animated and expressive chanteur who wears his heart on his sleeve. His performance is mesmerizing. It's a shame that my French is so poor.
I was hooked on this album the first time I heard it. Amsterdam, Le dernier repas, Les jardins du casino and Tango funèbre are amazing.
★★★★★★★★★★
Tracks
- A Hard Day's Night
- I Should Have Known Better
- If I Fell
- I'm Happy Just to Dance with You
- And I Love Her
- Tell Me Why
- Can't Buy Me Love
- Any Time at All
- I'll Cry Instead
- Things We Said Today
- When I Get Home
- You Can't Do That
- I'll Be Back
A Hard Day's Night is a fantastic album. It's full of simple, but catchy songs. Musically, the album is consistent, yet full of variety. There are songs that have a hard edge, there are slow songs, and there are upbeat pop songs. Thematically, though, every song is about love and relationships. It's time for that ship to sail.
I considered the first Beatles album to make this list to be a game changer. This album suggests the Beatles themselves are game changers. In the context of the 1001 Albums list, the Beatles are on a different level from everyone else. I suspect that remains true regardless of the list.
This album is worth listening to over and over again. It always sounds fresh. There isn't a bad song, but the exceptional ones are: A Hard Day's Night, I Should Have Known Better, If I Fell, And I Love Her, Can't Buy Me Love, Any Time at All, Things We Said Today, When I Get Home, You Can't Do That and I'll Be Back.
★★★★★★★★★★
Tracks
- The Girl from Ipanema
- Doralice
- Pra machucar meu coração
- Desafinado
- Corcovado
- Só danço samba
- O grande amor
- Vivo sonhando
Getz/Gilberto is a bland album. While there's nothing wrong with a laid-back style, it seems there's no energy and very little feeling, save some of Stan Getz's playing on the last two songs. The other trouble is that the songs are very hard to tell apart.
It's the kind of album that you can put on without worrying about offending anyone, but perhaps that's because no one will notice it playing. The only stand out song is The Girl from Ipanema.
Maybe I will listen to this again after finishing with the list to see if I still feel the same way.
★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Tracks
- Introduction to James Brown "Mr. Dynamite" / Theme
- I'll Go Crazy
- Try Me
- Think
- I Don’t Mind
- Lost Someone
- Medley: Please, Please, Please/You’ve Got The Power/I Found Someone/Why Do You Do Me/I Want You So Bad/I Love You, Yes I Do/Strange Things Happen/Bewildered/Please, Please, Please
- Night Train
James Brown 'Live' at the Apollo is an uneven album. Most of the songs are between two and three minutes long, but Lost Someone and the medley are over ten and six minutes long, respectively. The total album is a little over a half hour long, so those two songs take up more than half the album.
Despite the imbalance, the music is really exciting and fun. James Brown does a great job winning over the crowd. This recording captures the crowd's response well. If it hadn't, Lost Someone and the medley and, subsequently, the whole album would have fallen flat. It's quite clear that James Brown can win over a crowd just as well as Sam Cooke can.
It's a very good album, but after listening to it a few times Lost Someone loses its freshness and becomes quite tedious. It's certainly one of the best songs on the album; the others being I'll Go Crazy, Think and the medley.
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Tracks
- Solo Dancer
- Duet Solo Dancers
- Group Dancers
- Trio and Group Dancers / Single Solos and Group Dance / Group and Solo Dance
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is chaotic. There is no apparant structure to most of the pieces. There are bright bursts of clarity and order that emerge, but they are quickly dissolved by the madness.
When I first listened to it, I thought it was impenetrable noise. However, I listened to it a few more times and discovered its beauty. I heartily recommend this album. The music is profound.
★★★★★★★★★★
Tracks
- Feel It
- Chain Gang
- Cupid
- Medley: It's All Right/For Sentimental Reasons
- Twistin' the Night Away
- Somebody Have Mercy
- Bring It On Home to Me
- Nothing Can Change This Love
- Having a Party
Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 is a raw and sexy album. Sam Cooke is irresistible. When he first comes on stage, the crowd is subdued. Then from one song to the next he builds up the sexual tension and by the end of the show he's got them whipped into a frenzy and ready to go home to let their sexual urges take over.
The style of music is something that hasn't been encountered on the 1001 albums list yet. Most of the songs have a slow groove with either Sam singing or a saxophone playing. There's certainly a relation to the blues with the groove. Anyway, it's hypnotic, seductive and fun.
This album instantly became one of my favorites when I first heard it. It's a perfect album to put on when you've had a bad day, but it's also a prefect album to put when you've had a great day. Chain Gang, Cupid and the last half of the album: Twistin' the Night Away, Somebody Have Mercy, Bring It On Home to Me, Nothing Can Change This Love and Having a Party are amazing. Feel It and the It's All Right/For Sentimental Reasons are great too. What a great album.
★★★★★★★★★★
Tracks (Artists)
- White Christmas (Darlene Love)
- Frosty the Snowman (The Ronettes)
- The Bells of St. Mary's (Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans)
- Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (The Crystals)
- Sleigh Ride (The Ronettes)
- Marshmallow World (Darlene Love)
- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (The Ronettes)
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (The Crystals)
- Winter Wonderland (Darlene Love)
- Parade of the Wooden Soldiers (The Crystals)
- Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (Darlene Love)
- Here Comes Santa Claus (Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans)
- Silent Night (Phil Spector and Artists)
A Christmas Gift for You from Phillies Records is a festive album. If you like Christmas music, then you will enjoy this collection of popular, secular Christmas songs produced by Phil Spector and performed by Darlene Love, The Crystals, The Ronettes and Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans. If you don't, then this album may help change your mind.
If you are used to Bing Crosby and Jimmy Durante performing Christmas songs, this album may take a bit of getting used to, but Phil Spector has definitely stayed true to the songs' traditional sound. However, he has given them his "Wall of Sound" treatment, which just means a strong emphasis on percussion and bass to create a bigger, fuller sound. It is quite effective.
There are some odd moments on White Christmas, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. They don't detract from the song, but they are certainly unnecessary. Phil Spector's farewell speech at the beginning Silent Night is also a bit out of place.
This album is worth listening to during the Christmas season to put you in a festive mood.
★★★★★★★★★☆
Tracks
- Blowin' in the Wind
- Girl from the North Country
- Masters of War
- Down the Highway
- Bob Dylan's Blues
- A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall
- Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
- Bob Dylan's Dream
- Oxford Town
- Talkin' World War III Blues
- Corrina, Corrina
- Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance
- I Shall Be Free
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan is a philosophical and poetic album. Bob Dylan has a lot to say; it's clever and it isn't trivial. Of course, it isn't the deep kind of philosophy you'd get from a university philosophy class. It's also a poetic album, but it isn't the poetry you'd read in a university literature class. But neither is the point; Dylan is just starting the conversation.
The music is simple, but the messages are strong. More complex music may have been just a distraction.
This is another album that must be listened to. It's not as complete a game changer like With The Beatles is, but it opens the door to lyrics with more substance, which certainly had been missing in most of the previous albums. All the songs are quite good, but the best ones are: Blowin' in the Wind, Girl from the North Country, Masters of War, Bob Dylan's Blues, A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall, Talkin' World War III Blues and I Shall Be Free.
★★★★★★★★★★
