Search - Bob Dylan :: Greatest Hits: Vols. 1-3

The Three Greatest Hits Records of All Time

Ken Douglas | Landlocked in Reno | 01/29/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits came out after Bob Dylan's motorcycle accident. Colombia was undoubtedly trying to capitalize on Dylan's growing fame. They didn't have the man himself to make a new record, so they put this out and a fine job they did. Back then, somebody at Colombia really cared about how Dylan was presented to the public. From Roland Scherman's gorgeous cover photo to the inclusion of Milton Glasier's psychedelic poster of Dylan, this package is first rate and the material is first rate too. All of the songs were recognized by Dylan's fans as important and most were radio hits. However, the stunning "Positively 4th Street" which was recorded during the Highway 61 sessions was new and Dylan's fans loved it, probably because it sounded so much like "Like a Rolling Stone" and that's probably why it was left off of the record. Anyway, it was out now and helped make this one of Bob Dylan's all time best selling records.



Bob Dylan didn't release a new record in 1971, but instead issued several unreleased songs on his second Greatest Hits record. "Tomorrow is a Long Time," is a beautiful song recorded during Dylan's 1963 Town Hall Concert. This concert was released on the Trade Mark of Quality bootleg "While the Establishment Burns" and the show is brilliant. I'm guessing, wishing, hoping that one day Bob Dylan and CBS/Sony will release the show as part of the official Bootleg Series.



"Watching the River Flow" and "When I Paint My Masterpiece" were produced by Leon Russell and are both outstanding. "Watching the River Flow" was kind of a hit single and is really a rocker. "Masterpiece" makes its first appearance here. "The three songs recorded with Happy Traum are really beautiful and I would have loved to see a whole album done this way, what a joy that would have been. Still, we take what we can get from Mr. Dylan and are thankful for all he's given us. Like his first Greatest Hits record, this album was huge, going five times platinum which makes the first two Hits records his all time best sellers.



Dylan's third Greatest Hits compilation is a fine stand alone record. It opens with "Tangled Up in Blue" as does Blood on the Tracks, but just as you're thinking you're going to be hearing "Simple Twist of Fate" which you naturally expect to follow that opener, "Tangled" seques into "Changing of the Guard," which is a great song from Street Legal and from there we get the excellent rocker from Shot of Love, "The Groom is Still Waiting at the Alter." This is the best song on "Shot" and is well placed here.



It's also nice to be able to listen to "Brownsville Girl" from Knocked Out Loaded without having to listen to the rest of that record. It's the best song from the record and the only reason to own it in my opinion, with this record, you can pass on Loaded. Also the title song on Under the Red Sky is the only reason to own that record and you can get that here as well.



But the real gems here are "Dignity" and "Series of Dreams" which both seem like they are leftovers from Oh Mercy. They are great songs and until now unreleased. It's nice the way you get some new stuff with Dylan's Hit's or Best of Records. And it nice to get the haunting "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" on this record, a great way to end it. Every time I hear it, I'm put right in the movie."

Gotta Buy this One

JMS | San Jose, CA | 01/22/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This collection is a great jumping off point for those who are looking to get an overview of Dylan's lengthy and storied career. Of course, some great rarities and favorites didn't find their way onto these CD's. In a way, the whole thing is a bit of a misnomer given the importance of Dylan's albums taken as whole statements. But, if you are needing the essential songs of his recordings, this is the one without reservation to buy."