Critics might argue that Bob Dylan has not had a great album since "Infidels" a decade ago. That momentary lapse, however, will not stop Dylan from going down in history as the greatest songwriter of his generation.
Perhaps the ultimate tribute to Dylan-the-songwriter came last October when Columbia Records celebrated Dylan's 30th anniversary with a four-hour concert at Madison Square Garden in New York.Now Columbia has released audio and video versions of "Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration," or what Neil Young appropriately dubbed "Bob-Fest."
The 28-song recording features a virtual who's who of the best and brightest songwriters covering favorite Dylan tunes. The collection features Johnny Cash and his wife June Carter singing "It Ain't Me Babe," as well as their daughter Rosanne Cash performing "You Ain't Going Nowhere" with Mary-Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin.
The celebration explodes out of the blocks with John Mellencamp's cover of "Like a Rolling Stone," complete with keyboardist Al Kooper repeating his original organ part from 1965, and "Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat."
Stevie Wonder is a couple notches above stellar with his soulful rendition of "Blowin' in the Wind," and Young - the songwriter most often compared to Dylan - is sensational with his incendiary delivery of "All Along the Watchtower" (quite possibly the finest cover of that tune since Jimi Hendrix's classic rendition).
Other highlights include Eric Clapton's cover of "Don't ThinkTwice," which becomes a blues masterpiece under Slowhand's touch, and one-time bandmates the Band doing "When I Paint My Masterpiece." And Lou Reed's version of "Foot of Pride" is stunning.
One of the most eclectic cuts is by members of Pearl Jam singing "Masters of War," while the title of "most interesting" cover has to go to Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Young, Clapton, George Harrison and Dylan, who combine to inject new life into "My Back Pages" (Young and Clapton actually trade guitar licks on this one).
The video version offers the concert footage and additional gems not included on the album, such as footage of early Dylan interviews and performances, Booker T & the MG's version of "Gotta Serve Somebody" and the Nanci Griffith-Carolyn Hester duet on "Boots of Spanish Leather."
"Celebration" does nothing but enhance Dylan's reputation as "the best" songwriter of the generation. And it offers hope that Dylan's music will be with us for generations to come as new disciples carry the torch.