Search - Bob Dylan :: Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

HAUNTING (Billy the Kid Lives)

Michael Swofford | Pacific Palisades, California | 11/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've owned maybe six copies of this album & they all disappeared (to New Mexico?) when I loaned 'em out in late-party generosity. So I again bought a copy & will not loan this'un! But the music is haunting, "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," though covered my many, never sounded this good. The film (Pechinpah) is finally beginning to get serious attention amongst the DVD bunch & the music fits most any element. A must for any Dylan collection. Great price, too."

Dylan's best foray in the film world....

Grigory's Girl | NYC | 12/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dylan has made many forays into the film world, and honestly, they've been mostly disasters (Renaldo and Clara, Hearts of Fire). Many musicians attempt to be filmmakers, but for some strange reason, they just can't. They come across as preachy and pretentious (Renaldo's "acted" segments are painfully bad). But this foray, which was Dylan's first entry into the film world (if you don't count documentaries about him), is his best. His soundtrack to Peckinpah's film is superb, and it really enhances the film greatly. In fact, a more conventional score wouldn't have worked. It is an essential component to the film. It can also be listened to on its own. The opening theme is one of the most haunting, soulful compositions that Dylan ever wrote. It invokes a lot of feelings and images on its own. Billy 1 is the best of the Billy songs (with excellent lyrics), and Knockin' on Heaven's Door is a great single. The film itself is fantastic, but only in its 123 minute version. This album came in a time when Dylan had kind of disappeared from the scene, and the stuff he was putting out (like Planet Waves, which came after this), was really bad. So this album is a breath of untouched air from a rather bad period for Dylan. This album isn't just for Dylan completists, it's for even a casual fan."

A one-off musical adventure

Paulo Alm | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 11/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bob Dylan's soundtrack for Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid might be one of his most underrated works. Recorded in California in early 1973, this is a most unique experience in his career. First of all, most songs are instrumentals. And no, they don't need any lyrics. There's a soothing atmosphere to them and it feels as if Dylan allows us right into his place by the woods where a fire crackles beside running streams under the light of a magical moon and acoustic guitars, flutes, bongos, tambourine, fiddle, banjo, voices, harmonium, cellos, bass intertwine in harmony...



And then there is Dylan singing passionately - his voice different once again. He doesn't sound like he did on his previous album New Morning(1970) or Planet Waves which was recorded a few months after in November '73. Yet another side of the master! The original version of Knockin' On Heaven's Door is pure classic and belongs 100% among the other songs. Billy 1, 4 & 7 are great variations on the same theme with Dylan's voice sounding strong and melodically different in each one! Such joy.



With that in mind, this music should be taken as a whole.



There's nothing like this in Dylan's recorded output so the fact that Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid is a one-off musical adventure makes it all even more worthwhile! I'll be eagerly awaiting for a proper remastered version of this sadly forgotten yet most treasured and timeless piece of music.



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