Dylan Country is a dive into the country pond without any clothing. Shout! Factory has released a set of pure country interpretations of Dylan classics in ways that you have never expected to hear. Of course, Dylan has country in his music, at times subtle and at times open but he has never tread upon the purity that is the underpinning of Dylan Country.
All the styles of country music are represented here in this set of previously released Dylan classics that include an Earl Scruggs (with Bob Dylan) version of "Nashville Skyline Rag"; Waylon Jenning's round of "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright"; and Kitty Wells' traditionalist rendition of "Forever Young."
Johnny Cash sings a "Folsom Prison" styled "It Ain't Me Babe" that is mexican music flavoured while Hank Williams, Jr colours "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight." I'm a little impartial to Glen Campbell's long out-of-print version of "If Not For You", a song popularized by Olivia Newton John but as much Campbell's as Dylan's and Newton-John's. His version is dead on with excellent vocalization and instrumentation which highlight Campbell's deftness with music. Tim O'Brien's rappish "Subterranean Homesick Blues" is entertaining and lean...nice!
This is a brave album release dependant on Dylan fans that find interest in hearing Dylan tunes re-imagined in the realm of Nashville and true Nashville fans curious how their favourite artists may handle Bob Dylan's lyrics. An inclusion of note is The Byrd's excellent version of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" from their Sweetheart of the Rodeo.
Rounded out by a bevy of stylish country performers like Willie Nelson ("Heartland"); Jerry Jeff Walker ("One Too Many Mornings"); a folkish Nanci Griffith with a stunningly beautiful ("Boots of Spanish Leather") and Emmylou Harris ("When I Paint My Masterpiece"), Dylan Country reveals the lack of borders that Dylan songs enjoy. And with interpretations this varied and rich, you're bound to find something in this collection to your liking.
Track Listing:
Nashville Skyline Rag (Earl Scruggs w/Bob Dylan) / Girl From the North Country (Country Gentlemen) / Don't Think Twice, It's Alright (Waylon Jennings) / It Ain't Me Babe (Johnny Cash) / I'll Be Your Baby Tonight (Hank Williams, Jr) / Love Minus Zero/No Limit (Buck Owens) / You Ain't Goin' Nowhere / If Not For You (Glen Campbell) / Subterranean Homesick Blues (Tim O'Brien) / Restless Farewell (Peter Ostroushko & Norman Blake) / Heartland (Willie Nelson) / When I Paint My Masterpiece (Emmylou Harris) / Sign On the Window (Jennifer Warnes) / One Too Many Mornings (Jerry Jeff Walker) / Boots of Spanish Leather (Nanci Griffith) / Forever Young (Kitty Wells).
