Album: Various artists, Theme Time Radio with Your Host Bob Dylan (Ace)

By Phil Johnson

Sunday 02 March 2008

There's no actual Bob Dylan but this canny double CD compilation of 50 songs aired on his celebrated XM Radio show is filled with wonders.

The original structural themings (Radio, Guns, Food, etc) are all mixed up so what we get is a bran-tub of old-timey blues, gospel, country, pop, R&B and a little jazz, reggae and punk ("Tommy Gun" by the Clash), with nary a duff track. Dylan seems attracted by linguistic quirks and strong, singular (even deranged-sounding) performances. Juxtaposed with the genius of Memphis Minnie, Aretha or Billie Holiday, it makes you yee-haw with joy.

Suggested Topics
Voices

Get your hands on an original Chapman Brothers artwork

elephant appealThe first 23 lots in our charity auction have now gone. But there are 22 more still up for grabs
Arts & Entertainment

Martin Scorsese: 'Leo wanted to do this film'

film
Travel

Winter escapes: Family fun in the Caribbean

travel

From rainforests and reefs to beaches and boat trips
News

The Oscars of Science

The Silicon Valley awards which treat scientists like rockstars
VIDEO
Arts & Entertainment
Beyonce's new album is 'as billowing and bountiful as that legendary booty'

From a duet with her own baby to (of course) Pharrell – Beyoncé's 'secret' album review

music
News
Ded Moroz (Father Frost) meets children in Moscow. The Russian equivalent of Father Christmas has been banned from state TV in Tajikistan

Father Christmas outlawed by Tajikistan TV

news
News
Just a day after cosying up to Joey Essex for a snap following Obama’s ‘inappropriate’ Mandela memorial ‘selfie’, the leader of the Labour party was at it again.

Another day, another selfie... Ed Miliband cosies up to Lily Allen

people
News

Humans are not smarter than animals...

science... we just don't understand them
Extras

The best Christmas wines

indybest
Arts & Entertainment
A photographer has been documenting discarded drug bags across south east London since January

Mapping London's drug use through discarded zipper bags

arts + ents
News
Megyn Kelly said it's a 'fact' that both Jesus and Santa Claus are white

It's a 'fact' that Jesus and Santa Claus are white, says this Fox presenter

people
News

What do Sarkozy, Beyoncé and Luke Skywalker have in common?

people
Arts & Entertainment
Jack Whitehall and Gemma Chan attend the British Comedy Awards

Whitehall crowned king of British Comedy Awards

comedy'Fresh Meat' star sees off stiff competition from Alan Carr, David Mitchell, Graham Norton, Lee Mack and Sarah Millican to win top prize
Arts & Entertainment
'Pussy riot butterfly' (Nadya, Masha & Katya), acrylic and collage on handmade paper, 2013

Stella Vine returns to take on Pussy Riot

arts + ents
Sport
QPR unveil plans for a new 40,000-seat stadium in Old Oak, west London

QPR unveils plans for new 40,000-seat stadium

sport
Life & Style

Nearly two thirds of global web activity 'is thanks to bots'

tech
Arts & Ents blogs

Friday Book Design Blog: The Mirror of the Sea, by Joseph Conrad

The Children’s Book Blog Christmas Countdown: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Children’s Book Blog Christmas Countdown: Christmas Stories by Michael Morpurgo

Independent
Travel Shop
Bruges by Eurostar
Three nights from £259pp Find out more
Classical Spain
Six nights from £599pp Find out more
South Africa
 15 nights from £1,999pp Find out more
Elephant Appeal donate now >
SPONSORED FEATURES

Five things to do for a fiver in London this December

This Christmas, you can park in one of NCP’s ten most popular London car parks for just £5 for six hours of parking at selected times during weekdays and the weekend.

Prizes & offers Business videos

Enter the latest Independent competitions

Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.

NCP Parking Business videos

Business videos from commercial thought leaders

Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.

NCP Parking Prizes & offers

ES Rentals

    Independent Dating
    and  

    By clicking 'Search' you
    are agreeing to our
    Terms of Use.

    The death of Nelson Mandela has exposed the failings of his successors

    The death of Nelson Mandela has exposed the failings of his successors

    John Carlin, author of ‘Invictus’, reflects on a momentous week that has shown South Africa at its best - but also, all too often, at its worst
    It’s not rocket science

    It’s not rocket science

    What advice would David Cameron give to his younger self?
    Licence to swill: James Bond's alcohol consumption puts him at 'high risk' of cirrhosis, liver disease, tremors... and impotence

    Licence to swill

    James Bond's alcohol consumption puts him at 'high risk' of cirrhosis, liver disease, tremors... and impotence
    All You Need Is.... a limited release

    Delight for collectors as Beatles release new album to defy EU copyright law

    The album features 59 previously unissued recordings including outakes
    'An old-fashioned romp, pure cinematic escapism'

    Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug

    For all its use of 3D and digital technology, this is an old-fashioned romp at heart – a piece of pure cinematic escapism
    Who dares tell Meryl Streep how to act? Step up George Clooney

    Who dares tell Meryl Streep how to act?

    Step up George Clooney
    Last orders: has the liquid lunch had its day?

    Last orders: has the liquid lunch had its day?

    To his cost, ex-Glencore trader Andrew Kearns has found being hungover a sackable offence, but the liquid lunch shaped many a day in days gone by
    Black British actors lead Globes nominees

    Golden Globes 2014

    Black British actors Idris Elba and Chiwetel Ejiofor lead nominations
    Chris Froome: 'You have to go beyond rationality'

    Chris Froome: 'You have to go beyond rationality'

    The rider on how he broke through the pain barrier this year to claim Tour de France victory and how it's changed his life – and ruined his shopping trips
    Rafa Benitez: Manchester City missed a golden opportunity to win their group – why no one told Manuel Pellegrini just doesn’t add up

    Rafa Benitez column

    Manchester City missed a golden opportunity to win their group – why no one told Manuel Pellegrini just doesn’t add up
    The death of Nelson Mandela: A last chance to offer last respects for Madiba

    A last chance to offer last respects for Madiba

    They came and waited patiently in their thousands for a momentary glimpse of their hero, Nelson Mandela
    We want women to sit at boardroom tables – but we fetishise motherhood

    Grace Dent

    We want women to sit at boardroom tables – but we also fetishise motherhood
    Church versus state: Scientology faces unholy war after court ruling

    Church versus state: Scientology faces unholy war after court ruling

    The Supreme Court judgment  has profound consequences, meaning it could gain charitable status – and opens the floodgates to claims by other organisations
    Your Money, Money, Money please - Abba ask fans for £195 pledges on crowd-funding website

    Your Money, Money, Money please

    Abba ask fans for £195 pledges on crowd-funding website
    Lost Peter Sellers films found in skip to be screened at festival

    Lost Peter Sellers films found in skip to be screened at festival

    The two thirty minute films have not been seen for 50 years