The Album Review Club - Week #147 - (page 1942) - Blonde On Blonde - Bob Dylan

I cannot stand Maggie May. I like the title track a lot though.
Funny I would rate it a 3 out of ten and for me that's a poor score perhaps the equivalent perhaps of a 1wo 2 from you (LOL).

Maggie Bell drags the title track to listenable for me but you have to wait a while , its ok but not one I would lose any sleep over if I never heard it again.
 
Funny I would rate it a 3 out of ten and for me that's a poor score perhaps the equivalent perhaps of a 1wo 2 from you (LOL).

Maggie Bell drags the title track to listenable for me but you have to wait a while , its ok but not one I would lose any sleep over if I never heard it again.

I don't think there is a duff track on the album. His voice has never been bettered in his career and the band are at their loose, freewheeling best.

Mandolin Wind and Reason to Believe are stand outs. Maggie May overplayed/heard. Side 2 edges Side 1.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Every Picture Tells a Story"Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood6:01
2."Seems Like a Long Time"Theodore Anderson4:02
3."That's All Right / Amazing Grace"Arthur Crudup / traditional; arranged by Stewart6:02
4."Tomorrow Is a Long Time"Bob Dylan3:43
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Henry"Martin Quittenton0:32
2."Maggie May"Stewart, Quittenton5:15
3."Mandolin Wind"Stewart5:33
4."(I Know) I'm Losing You"Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland, Cornelius Grant5:23
5."(Find a) Reason to Believe"Tim Hardin4:05
 
Hard to add what’s already been said by so many wonderful reviews

It’s a great pick and I think this genre of country/rock is probably the most likely to get a positive reaction - lovely melodies, hooks, clear voice and you can just instantly ‘get it’ with only a week to listen

Really loved this Album , every song hooks you in especially ‘Right In Time’ - surprised this one’s not been highlighted more, it’s such a lovely song, when she sings ‘oh my baby’ in the build up to the chorus just stirs the soul! Outstanding track

‘Can’t let go’, ‘Metal Firecracker’ and ‘I Lost It’ the other standouts but all songs are strong helped by a very good backing band

8/10
 
I don't think there is a duff track on the album. His voice has never been bettered in his career and the band are at their loose, freewheeling best.

Mandolin Wind and Reason to Believe are stand outs. Maggie May overplayed/heard. Side 2 edges Side 1.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Every Picture Tells a Story"Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood6:01
2."Seems Like a Long Time"Theodore Anderson4:02
3."That's All Right / Amazing Grace"Arthur Crudup / traditional; arranged by Stewart6:02
4."Tomorrow Is a Long Time"Bob Dylan3:43
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Henry"Martin Quittenton0:32
2."Maggie May"Stewart, Quittenton5:15
3."Mandolin Wind"Stewart5:33
4."(I Know) I'm Losing You"Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland, Cornelius Grant5:23
5."(Find a) Reason to Believe"Tim Hardin4:05
I think that breakdown sums up why I'm not too interested in Rod Stewart - he has a decent voice and I like the odd song, but he only wrote three songs on the album and two of those were co-writes!
 
I think that breakdown sums up why I'm not too interested in Rod Stewart - he has a decent voice and I like the odd song, but he only wrote three songs on the album and two of those were co-writes!
So we are eliminating any album that has cover versions on it now ;-)
 
Hmm mighty fine album , not sure it’s a 10 though
there’s a couple that might IMHO
If it appeared on this thread, Copperhead Road would be a 10 from me.

It's not perfect, but for me, a 10 means that it's above a certain threshold and that album ticks so many boxes.

The title tracks is in my top 5 songs of all time - a genuine jaw-dropper that has everything and I can still remember the first time I heard the late Roger Scott play it. The first half of the album is perfect, not a note wasted, brilliant songs, superb production - shotgun drums, guitar that really bites and the story songs/lyrics are the best I've heard in the genre.

The second half can't live up to the first but is more than good enough.
 
So we are eliminating any album that has cover versions on it now ;-)
Obviously, it's each to their own, but I just don't see the point this type of album. If you're not going to write your own material, I'm, not interested. I know that rules out a lot of albums, but there's more than enough songwriters who write stuff I like.

I do have a few cover albums - Springsteen and Mellencamp - but in these cases it's more about the arrangements and playing than the songs. I know Bruce has a soul covers album out next month, and whilst he has more than earned the right to do it, I probably wont even listen to it, never mind buy it!

Rod Stewart on the other hand seems to do nothing but bland cover albums these days. I'm sure he was OK when he started out, but he's found a much better way of making money now and good luck to him.
 
Obviously, it's each to their own, but I just don't see the point this type of album. If you're not going to write your own material, I'm, not interested. I know that rules out a lot of albums, but there's more than enough songwriters who write stuff I like.

I do have a few cover albums - Springsteen and Mellencamp - but in these cases it's more about the arrangements and playing than the songs. I know Bruce has a soul covers album out next month, and whilst he has more than earned the right to do it, I probably wont even listen to it, never mind buy it!

Rod Stewart on the other hand seems to do nothing but bland cover albums these days. I'm sure he was OK when he started out, but he's found a much better way of making money now and good luck to him.
He was a lot better when he started and I'm surprised you dismiss this album without (seemingly) knowing it. You seem to like arrangements, instruments such as mandolins and 'gritty' music. This has it in spades. Anyway, whatever. I'm hardly qualified to preach about musical prejudices.
 
He was a lot better when he started and I'm surprised you dismiss this album without (seemingly) knowing it. You seem to like arrangements, instruments such as mandolins and 'gritty' music. This has it in spades. Anyway, whatever. I'm hardly qualified to preach about musical prejudices.
Because I know it is Rod Stewart and he hasn't written much on it, I wouldn't normally listen.
If it came up on here I would listen and judge accordingly, but he'd definitely lose points for not writing most of the songs.

You may have noticed in my review of Lucinda Williams' album I made a point of calling out the cover version - fortunately it was an excellent performance and one cover on an otherwise superb album is fair enough. However, if there would have been two or three covers, or the one cover that wasn't that great, this would definitely have lost her one or two points.

I like to think I'm harsh but fair (and maybe a bit weird when it comes to my general dislike of covers!)
 

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