I admit, this could be one of those personal moments where I gush for a few minutes only to be drizzled with a few tepid comments. Here goes.
Brought to you by the somewhat legendary Lou Adler, the man behind The Mamas & The Papas, the Monterey Pop Festival, "Tapestry," and The Rocky Horror Horror Show, The Brothers & Sisters Of Los Angeles performing "Dylan's Gospel" was released in 1969 and featured a litany of session men and singers, including Ruby Johnson, Shirley Matthews, Clydie King, Patrice Holloway, Julia Tillman, Edna Wright and Merry Clayton, turning the songs of Bob Dylan into big, joyous church hymns.
I knew nothing of this record until I recently stumbled across a copy. Not everything works. I don't quite get the inclusion of "Lay Lady Lay," other than it was Dylan's current hit. (Adler's idea of a recessional hymn, maybe?)
But songs like "The Times They Are A-Changin," "I Shall Be Released," and "Chimes Of Freedom" are absolutely triumphant. Everything is given that "Oh Happy Day" treatment, and if you get beyond the odd combination of choir voices, pleading and exposing their souls to Quinn The Eskino, what you will find is a lost gem of a record.
01. The Times They Are A-Changin' (2:45)
02. I Shall Be Released (4:09)
03. Lay Lady Lay (3:24)
04. Mr. Tambourine Man (3:39)
05. All Along The Watchtower (3:28)
06. The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo) (3:33)
07. Chimes Of Freedom (4:33)
08. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight (2:22)
09. My Back Pages (5:05)
10. Just Like A Woman (2:54)
ZIP FILE
10 comments:
Thanks so much. This looks great!
This does indeed look like a gem! Thanks for finding and putting it up. Having downloading trouble with it, tho; seems to get stuck at repeated attempts at 1%. Help? Thanks again.
Hey Jon,
All is well with the download. Got thru it in less than a minute. Please keep trying. And please let me know.
Sal
i think bob is still walking around long branch n. j. looking in windows
Sal,
I dig this record!
Many Thanks!
Well, you probably knew you could count on a comment from me .
Great stuff! And I love the photo of Dylan mounted on the side of the church. (I once had a promo poster for Live 1966 in which he was in a true crucifixion pose--but that might have been pushing it). What I find most intriguing about this is that it predates Dylan's actual gospel phase by almost a decade, but the songs seem even more sacred. Guess Lou was really onto something here.
Many thanks, Sal!
Thanks for the rippathis, Sal. Found it as a cutout 20-some years ago and thought it more a curio than a lost gem, but am happy for the chance to give it a fresh listen!
Jeff
I like the sound of this,possibly the ideal Sunday record for the Dylan fan??
No probs with d/l,many thanks.
This is fabulous! i cant thank u enuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is quite fantastic. Thank your for sharing!!
Spencer
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