Given the number of different Bob Dylan compilations already available it was something of a nice surprise to learn of this European import, released to coincide with the great man's recent tour with Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits fame.
Nice because of the track listing, featuring lesser known songs taken from across Dylan's five decade oeuvre along with a few rarities previously unreleased or difficult to obtain on CD:
1. Trouble in Mind - previously unreleased on CD
2. Girl From the North Country
3. Most of the Time
4. She Belongs To Me
5. Billy 1
6. Shooting Star
7. Sugar Baby
8. You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
9. Tomorrow Night
10. Every Grain of Sand
11. Percy's Song
12. Born In Time
13. Boots of Spanish Leather
14. This Dream of You
15. Spanish is the Loving Tongue - previously available only on (the now deleted) 'Masterpieces' compilation
16. If You See Her, Say Hello
17. Moonshiner - previously available only on Starbucks exclusive 'Live at The Gaslight 1962'
Packaged in a rather tasteful digipak case with brief notes by Hanns Peter Bushoff, the whole thing makes for a very pleasant listening experience and is something of a must for die-hard fans.
List price is however an issue (it seems to fluctuate but I paid over £20). As such, it would be difficult to recommend to those looking to get into Dylan who will be better served - at least initially - by the 'Essential' or 'Dylan' compilations.
It is however fair to assume that doesn't appear to be the target audience. The hardcore will undoubtedly lap this up for the rare tracks alone...