Don't Take Everybody to Be Your Friend - Carroll, Roy
Good Morning Heartache - Drake, Ervin
Pouring Water on a Drowning Man - Baker, Drew
I Drink - Gauthier, Mary
Mother Earth - Chatman, Peter
Track Listings (25) - Disc #2
Chain of Fools - Covay, Don
Walk a Mile in My Shoes - South, Joe
Cry Tough - Ellis, Alton
Tommy Gun - Headon, Nicholas
(Every Time I Hear) That Mellow Saxophone - Blackwell, Robert
Those DJ Shors - Robinson, William
I Ain't Drunk - Cation, Lonnie
Eat That Chicken - Mingus, Charles
Mama, Get Your Hammer - Bishop, Walter
How High the Moon - Hamilton, Nancy
Cool Water - Nolan, Bob
Only a Rose - Watkins, Geraint
I Walk in My Sleep - Bartholomew, Dave
Stars Fell on Alabama - Parish, Mitchell
Mama Tried [From Killers Three] - Haggard, Merle
Big Long Slidin' Thing - Kirkland, Leroy
Black Coffee - Burke, Sonny
I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water - Miller, Eddie
Ain't Got the Money to Pay for This Drink - Armstrong, Frank
Bottle and a Bible - Anderson, Terry
Okie's in the Pokie - Patton, Jimmy
If You're So Smart, How Come You Ain't Rich? - Bishop, Walter
Ay Te Dejo en San Antonio - Jimenez, Santiago
Mona - McDaniel, Ellas
Roadrunner (Twice) - Richman, Jonathan
Ace is proud to present a 2008 double CD paying tribute to Theme Time Radio Hour hosted by Bob Dylan. For those that are new to the show, each radio program lasts an hour and has a different theme each week, often somethin... more »g simple like 'Drink', or 'Mother'. On the radio program each track is introduced by Dylan with his dry humor, eclectic interest and vast musical knowledge. On this CD set, though, Dylan himself does not appear; just selected tracks that he played on his shows. It's possible to regard this set as the best introduction to music ever. This is the only officially-authorized release associated with the Theme Time Radio Hour. Its 50 tracks represent the first series of radio shows. The track-listing reflects Dylan's wide taste and ranges from Billie Holiday and George Jones, through Aretha Franklin to the Clash and the White Stripes. Although each track was chosen by Dylan for the radio show, the CD itself was compiled by the show's producer Eddie Gorodetsky and Ace's own Roger Armstrong. The luxury package contains a 2-CD jewel case with an accompanying 48-page full color book, all in a cardboard slipcase. The sleeve notes include a track-by-track commentary by some of the world's great music writers including Barney Hoskyns, Colin Escott, Billy Vera and Fred Dellar. Each track, no matter how obscure, is illustrated with a sleeve, label shot or photo of the artist. Other Theme Time Radio Hour compilations have concentrated on the very early material, essentially because that material was in the public domain and thus royalty payments could be avoided. As with all Ace releases, this is a fully legitimate production and royalties are paid on every track.« less
Ace is proud to present a 2008 double CD paying tribute to Theme Time Radio Hour hosted by Bob Dylan. For those that are new to the show, each radio program lasts an hour and has a different theme each week, often something simple like 'Drink', or 'Mother'. On the radio program each track is introduced by Dylan with his dry humor, eclectic interest and vast musical knowledge. On this CD set, though, Dylan himself does not appear; just selected tracks that he played on his shows. It's possible to regard this set as the best introduction to music ever. This is the only officially-authorized release associated with the Theme Time Radio Hour. Its 50 tracks represent the first series of radio shows. The track-listing reflects Dylan's wide taste and ranges from Billie Holiday and George Jones, through Aretha Franklin to the Clash and the White Stripes. Although each track was chosen by Dylan for the radio show, the CD itself was compiled by the show's producer Eddie Gorodetsky and Ace's own Roger Armstrong. The luxury package contains a 2-CD jewel case with an accompanying 48-page full color book, all in a cardboard slipcase. The sleeve notes include a track-by-track commentary by some of the world's great music writers including Barney Hoskyns, Colin Escott, Billy Vera and Fred Dellar. Each track, no matter how obscure, is illustrated with a sleeve, label shot or photo of the artist. Other Theme Time Radio Hour compilations have concentrated on the very early material, essentially because that material was in the public domain and thus royalty payments could be avoided. As with all Ace releases, this is a fully legitimate production and royalties are paid on every track.
CD Reviews
Great compilation and presentation!
Joe Lewis | grand rapids mi | 05/25/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This review is for the first instalment of "Theme Time Radio Hour, With Your Host, Bob Dylan" but I see that Amazon has also somehow attached this review to a different "Theme Time Radio Hour" compilation that I know nothing about. This review is for the CD with the close-up of the old radio on the cover, not the one with Bob's portrait on the cover.
Anyway, this is one of the best Theme Time Radio Hour presentations where Dylan's commentary is absent. I notice that many people are buying these compilations thinking that they will include Dylan's commentary, but they don't. It's just the music. (Get the deluxe version of his latest album if you'd like to hear a disc with his DJ patter, which is fascinating in itself.) The booklet is extremely well-done, as good as or better than any in The Bootleg Series, with many photos of those old artists and the cool old 45 single labels etc., with very informative and well-written info about each song.
The music is very eclectic and wide-ranging, some of it 21st-century though most tends to be from the '50s, '40's and '60's. Many styles, from punk to blues to old-timey country, proto-rock, reggae, R&B, gospel, etc. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed most of the songs, though I can see how some people wouldn't like this or that genre. The sound quality on most is surprisingly good, and where it is bad, it has that haunting, "listening in the dark to that weird AM station that sometimes bleeds through" quality that can make a song so evocative of another time and place. If you aren't too narrow-minded in your musical taste, this is highly recommended."
Why bother?
C. Barry | 02/06/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Without Bob doing the introductions and explanations, this is simply one of many collections of songs. To suggest that it in any way gives the listener a sense of what Theme Time Radio is like would be ridiculous. The context within which the songs appear is vital to the full appreciation of what this show is about. The shows themselves are easily found by either subscribing to XM/Sirius online for only 7.99 per month and recording them yourself, or by doing a simple search for downloads of the shows on the net. Go ahead and buy the collection, but don't for one minute think it will give you an idea of what the show is like."
Faith Restoration or How I Learned To Cry Again
Darren Scott Gerlach | 07/16/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In a world of immitators and regurgitated bland soundscapes, it's so refreshing to see brilliance in the music industry again. Call it a throwback if you will, I'll call it 'actual' entertainment. Either way you slice it there's no denying the musical knowledge stored inside Mr. Zimmerman's brain. I know the show is not entirely all his creation (so thanks go out to the producers, engineers, and everyone else who makes it possible.) but without him as the 'mouth-piece', the show wouldn't have the same style and class. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you for taking the time to produce a show that has obvious thought behind it. Looking forward to season 3 and what 'themes' may be in store........"
Great collection....but not perfect
JEM | CT | 07/17/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This 50-song collection of various blues, country, rock, jazz, r&b and old-time Americana comes from Bob Dylan's highly-lauded Sirius XM radio show - which Dylan may or may not continue to do in the future.
Each show would have a different theme and Dylan would play songs based on that particular theme. Besides the always interesting, and usually obscure, playlist, Dylan would provide fascinating and entertaining commentary, which may include everything from household tips, anecdotes about the artists featured, quotes from old poets and philosophers, email readings, or vintage radio air checks and promos. Radio shows like this, unfortunately, do not exist anymore (John Peel, why did you have to leave us?). Dylan proves, in his deep, ravished voice, that if he had never become a legendary singer-songwriter, he could have just as easily become a legendary disk jockey. The man is a joy to listen to.
This collection, put out by Ace Records, features many wonderful songs - sometimes strange, always interesting. The packaging is excellent. It includes commentary on each song and artist (including notes by Colin Escott and Barney Hoskyns, among others) and there are many pictures and reproductions of old record sleeves. This set was put together with love and attention.
The only complaint about this set is that Dylan's commentary is missing. These are just the songs, by themselves. Anyone familiar with the show will be disappointed by the lack of Dylan. Perhaps his anecdotes wouldn't work though, when taken out of the context of each show. Even a lot of the songs themselves sound better when listened to within each particularly-themed context. The songs are selected, seemingly, at random from dozens of the programs.
Still, there are so many good selections on here that it's hard to complain too much, as long as you have eclectic musical tastes. From James Carr to The White Stripes to some strange act called George Zimmerman & The Thrills with The Bubber Cyphers Band, the joys are endless. This is a excellent history of the last hundred years of music.
For anyone wanting to hear Dylan though, I suggest picking up the deluxe edition copy of his new album Together Through Life. Included, is a complete broadcast of the "Friends & Neighbors"-themed show that Dylan aired on Aug. 23, 2006 (episode #17). This will give you an excellent taste of what the show is all about.
Do yourself a favor though and purchase both of these sets - you certainly can't go wrong."
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1