features in: Album Chart of 1973 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s |
Dylan’s first album in three years was his first film soundtrack LP. He also had an acting part in the movie. There’s a certain purity and freshness to much of this work that is very heartening for the left-field Dylan fan like me. “Main Title Theme (Billy)” is a delicious instrumental guitar-picking starter of the melodious Americana variety. It’s immediately followed in the same vein by “Cantina Theme (Workin’ For The Law)”. The excellent “Billy 1” is next, the album’s first vocal track, and it takes a real back to basics approach – it’s noticeable that Dylan shines brightly when he plays it this way. The tune is laced with just a hint of Mexicana – in November 1972, Dylan and his family moved to Durango, Mexico, where filming took place. It seems the influence was very positive here. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” was the albums biggest hit, but is probably the worst piece here, what with its tedious middle-of-the-road outlook. “Billy 4” is a late album highlight – it’s really quite a joy to hear Bob Dylan back strumming his guitar and singing coolly with such genuine passion. Bob’s back. It’s music to my ears…
The Jukebox Rebel
12–Mar–2012
Tracklist |
A1 | [06:07] Bob Dylan - Main Title Theme (Billy) (Robert Zimmerman) Film Score / Incidental |
A2 | [02:57] Bob Dylan - Cantina Theme (Workin’ For The Law) (Robert Zimmerman) Songwriter |
A3 | [03:57] Bob Dylan - Billy 1 (Robert Zimmerman) Folk |
A4 | [02:17] Bob Dylan - Bunkhouse Theme (Robert Zimmerman) Songwriter |
A5 | [01:30] Bob Dylan - River Theme (Robert Zimmerman) Folk Rock / Americana |
B1 | [03:34] Bob Dylan - Turkey Chase (Robert Zimmerman) Country |
B2 | [02:32] Bob Dylan - Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (Robert Zimmerman) Soft Rock / A.O.R. |
B3 | [05:23] Bob Dylan - Final Theme (Robert Zimmerman) Songwriter |
B4 | [05:04] Bob Dylan - Billy 4 (Robert Zimmerman) Folk |
B5 | [02:10] Bob Dylan - Billy 7 (Robert Zimmerman) Folk |