Search - Bob Dylan :: Collection 2: Freewheelin / Times Changin / Another Side of Bob Dylan

Three Astounding Records in One Collection

Zachary Hackett | Reno, Nevada | 05/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Freewheelin' - A Kind of Warning!



Released in March of 1963 this album, unlike his first, consists mostly of songs by Mr. Dylan himself. The songs, everyone a gem, seem to be a running commentary on what it must have been like to be in young in the early Sixties and getting mixed messages from those in power. JFK was alive with the promise of hope and a New Frontier, yet the war in Vietnam was hotting up.



Songs like the lead off "Blowin' in the Wind," "Talking World War III Blues," "A Hard Rain," and "Masters of War," which appears to be just as relevant now as it was forty years ago, seem to be a somber message of the turbulent times to come.



With "Don't Think Twice," "Girl From the North Country," and "Corrina, Corrina," Mr. Dylan shows us that he's not just about protesting and complaining, that he can sing the tender ballads as well, and why not, this was a time of hope, there was tenderness in 1963, however there were storm clouds on the horizon, Dallas and a full blown war were coming and this record seems to be a warning.



The Times They Are A-Changin' - Haunting!



The third Bob Dylan LP, better than the first two and a portent of things to come. Hard to top "Freewheelin'", but in my opinion Dylan did it here. This album opens with "The Times They Are A-Changin'", which is a ringing call to arms for America's youth. As valid today as it was in the 60s. If ever America needed a young troubadour to point out the error of her was, that time is now. "With God on Our Side" is a song I've heard down with different lyrics over the years. Dylan just subs in the lastest war or two and makes us see they are as senseless as all the rest. Then there is that Dylan song that John Lennon liked so much, "When the Ship Comes In," a mind numbing song in which Dylan paints countless pictures with his unique ability to use words. Nobody uses words the way Dylan does and nobody does it better. This LP stands as well today as it did back then. It is haunting.



Another Side of Bob Dylan - Freedom is Flashing!



There are probably boat loads of people out there who will disagree with me, but I think the best song on this album is "To Ramona". It's stood the test of time, this I know, because I've got in on my favorite Dylan playlist in iTunes. It ain't just no silly lovesong, it's a portrait painted in words. Words that will take you in, move you and leave you wanting more. "I Don't Believe You" is another song like that and it's also one of the songs he chose to electrify during his 66 tour. A powerful song with our without the band. Of course, everybody is familiar with "It Ain't me Babe," a song done by a lot of people, but in the end Dylan's version is the best. And if you don't believe, like I do, that America is losing her way, give a listen to "Chime of Freedom", and just maybe you'll change your mind."

Every Word is Significant, Important

Danielle Lane | Horseshoe, North Carolina | 06/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fortunately we've not come to the World War Bob Dylan sings about in "Talking World War III" on "Freewheelin'", but in today's times you have to wonder do you need a shotgun and a fall out shelter. Another song full of poetry is "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" of course everybody's who's anybody has heard this song, if not on this record, then the haunting version done during "The Concert for Bangledesh." Dylan has done so many excellent versions of this throughout the years, especially that version done with the Japanese orchestra, but this version is Bob Dylan raw and raging. Like "Masters of War" the song was topical then and it's topical now. It's just too danged bad that "All of the people can't be all right all of the time." But you can be right some of the time and that's good enough. Get this record, you'll be glad you did.



"The Times They Are A-Changing" the title song of the second album in this set is a song that will have you questioning your values, questioning your complacency. "The Ballad of Hollis Brown" and "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" will just plain make you mad. "North Country Blues" will make you weep for the coal minors and iron workers and those less fortunate. And "With God on Our Side" A song that Bob Dylan used to perform with Joan Baez a lot a long time ago will make you think. Every word in these songs is significant, every word important. This is another of those Bob Dylan records everybody should own. It should be like a rule.



I cannot describe the words and imagery conjured up on "Another Side" by Bob Dylan in the song, "The Chimes of Freedom." This is certainly on of the best songs, he or anyone has ever penned. You can find as much or as little in this song about America then and now, yourself then and now, things too numerous to mention walk through the phrases, words fail me, but they didn't fail the young Bob Dylan. Get this record, play this song, you'll see what I'm talking about. "I Shall Be Free No. 10" is a humorous rendition of Dylan's view of America. Some of the images and people mention might not be known by the children or grandchildren of the Boomers, but you can Google Barry Goldwater and the like if you want to get this funny song. At times, because Dylan goes between humor, protest and love songs, this record might seem a little uneven, because, for example, you're still laughing at "Motorpsycho Nitemare" when all of a sudden you're jerked right into the very serious, "My Back Pages." Didn't we all know more than our parents, weren't we all so much older then."

Three Masterpieces

Shane Shogren | Las Vegas, NV | 09/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These three records are masterpieces by anyone's opinion and are perhaps Dylan's best work. He was young and he was so good.



-- The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan --



Freewheelin' is Bob Dylan's second record. While his first was an album of mostly folk song covers with only two originals, this record had only two covers, the rest being originals and some of Bob Dylan's finest work. "Girl From the North Country" is one of my favorite songs, by anybody, and to think it was written by a twenty-one-year-old kid, almost half a century ago, way back in 1963.



"Master's of War" still seems valid today. Re, those masters of war, those seller's of guns, "There is one thing I know, though I'm younger than you, that even Jesus would never forgive what you do." Yet, despite those words that moved so many, all these years later the masters of war are still plying their trade. And, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention "Blowin' in the Wind," perhaps the best antiwar song ever written. Dylan asks nine questions about war and freedom, the answers to all of them, I'm afraid are, "Blowin' in the Wind."



-- The Times they are a-Changin' --



The opening track, "The Times they are a-Changin'" is a call to arms. It was heeded in the Sixties when the streets were filled with protesters, kids who wanted an end to the war in Vietnam. Dylan has sung this song countless times over the years, talking about the battle that is outside raging, but somehow we've forgotten this message, though we sing the words with Dylan at almost every concert he's given on his never ending tour. Sadly there are almost no protesters today. And it seems if one does raise a voice, bad things could happen to him.



Lord, I have to wonder if God ever was on our side. Bob Dylan doesn't think he was, but there are so many today who are convinced he is, maybe they should listen to this record. At least we've done something about the horrible racism Dylan sings about on "Only a Pawn in Their Game" and the haunting "Ballad of Hollis Brown," but we have a long way to go. I think all those people who are so against those who only want to better themselves by coming to America should be forced to sit down and listen to this record. That's what I think.





-- Another Side of Bob Dylan --



For me "Another Side" is all about "The Chimes of Freedom." Yes there are several other good songs on this record that marks a change for Bob Dylan from his so called "Protest Period" to a darker, deeper, more poetic kind of music. Poetry, Dylan had become a poet and to all of those who think there are hidden meaning in his words I have to say, "No, I don't think so." I think Dylan put it all out there, said what he meant and meant what he said. No hidden meanings, no secrets implied, but who needs 'em. "Chimes of Freedom" says enough, says if for a generation, for generations.



"Tolling for the Rebel, tolling for the rake, tolling for the luckless, the abandoned and the forsaked." What words, what power from this twenty-three-year-old singer who was already tired of leading a movement. Still, try as he might, he was the one the youth of his time looked up to, listened to, wanted to follow, but Dylan wasn't leading. Just imagine what this world might be like today if he had been. Maybe some of those misdemeanor outlaws who wound up in the White House might have been sidelined where they belonged. Ah, well, we'll never know.



Still, this is one fine record. "To Ramona" is one of the best songs ever written, the poetry so divine in this dark song. "It grieves my heart love, to see ya trying to be a part of a world that just don't exist." It's like he's singing about me, way before I was born, because I sure want to be a part of that world that doesn't exist. Ah, I was so much older than, older yesterday even. It's so sad sometimes, because like Dylan says, they "hype you and type you in making you feel that you gotta be just like them." I know I'm not making much sense, but get this record. Don't be like them, just do what you think you should do."