As per most months, I was handing over a sizable chunk of
my hard-earned to the Sounds Of The Universe record emporium in Soho the other
day, when I became aware of a belting gospel song being played in the
shop. “There are many here among us, who feel life is but a joke”, I found
myself singing along to a familiar song. This is cool, I thought, but couldn’t
immediately place it. “What is this, pray tell, dear storekeeper?” I enquired. Swiftly into my eager
outstretched hand was placed a new heavyweight vinyl reissue of Dylan’s Gospel by The Brothers and
Sisters. Oh yeah, of course, “All Along The Watchtower”. Originally released, I
was told, in 1969 on Ode Records and produced by Lou Adler; all ten tracks are gospel
versions of Bob Dylan songs. “Please place this on my pile forthwith”. And
so he did.
For Bobcats with a penchant for big voices in little
churches this truly is heaven sent. Adler collected together all the best
backing singers in LA and recorded them in a specially set-up studio. He did a
remarkably job as the production is fantastic; with a small rhythm section of
bass, drums, organ and piano these sound pure backwater church not Hollywood studio
at all. A quick squizz down the list of brothers and sisters in this choir reveals
some familiar names: Merry Clayton, Clydie King, Gloria Jones, Patrice
Holloway, Billy Storm and many more.
Nobody Sings Dylan Like Dylan, they say, and it’s true
but I bet he was knocked out when he heard the treatment his songs were given
here. I can’t pick favourites here, it’s all magnificent beatific Bobness.
Dylan’s Gospel by
The Brothers And Sisters is out now on Light In The Attic Records. Here's a short film about the album.
No comments:
Post a Comment