Even more Bob...., 6 Sep 2005

Santelli's insightful text covers the same time frame as the Scorcese documentary, and indeed Bob's own 'Chronicles,' and does a good job of filling in all the background without reading like the dry, factual chronology other books tend toward. You can read the whole thing in a couple of hours, probably less if you don't get caught up in all the truly pleasurable business of pulling out sheets of lyrics in Bob's hand on 60's 'Waldorf Astoria' notepaper, foldouts of 'Melody Maker' from 1965, assorted letters, contact sheets, and photos from his school yearbook. OK, maybe I am an anorak, but it's hard to describe the joy of seeing how the original cover of Guthrie's 'Bound for Glory' looked. Peppered with photographs and marketing paraphernalia, providing the kind of authentic period information it's hard to get from text alone, nothing in this book feels either out of place, or cynical at all. There's also a CD with 14 tracks of Bob interviews, from his first radio interview in 1961, to interviews with Scorsese from the forthcoming film. Hearing Dylan going from nervy, enthusiastic teenager to an engaging oldster recollecting early days with all the wit and humour of someone half his age is never less than fascinating, and somehow completely moving. There's an honesty and integrity here that's seldom seen.
The best recommendation is that even those who've never really been Dylan fans might enjoy this book. Oh, and on page 44, you get a pull out, cardboard stand-up Bob too. Now who wouldn't want that?

 Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)

His Back Pages, Front Pages & Everything Inbetween, 6 Oct 2005

It seems as though no expense has been spared. For example, instead of just printing a series of photos of Dylan and Baez, you get a neatly stapled little photo album, elsewhere contact sheets, and even the 'normally' printed photographs are superb, many never published before. There is a childish delight in accessing the sheer cornucopian variety of stuff the book holds neatly in its pages. The CD is great and gives full versions of the revealing (for Dylan anyway!) interview with his manager from 2001 that peppered the Scorsese film as well as a selection of historical encounters. Surprisingly, given the riches of the extras and the delights of the presentation, the text is pretty good and accurate too! I notice it sells for $45 in the States, so £18 is a bit of a bargain.

Go on, treat yourself to an early Christmas gift; for the price of a takeaway or a round of drinks you will have yourself your very own precious Dylan archive. (If you buy a takeaway too, you rich people, give your fingers a good wipe before touching this book, there are too many delicate treasures within to be ruined by sticky fingers!)

 Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you?