Rise

Format

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  74010014 x CD  £20.00

Label

Fontana International

Bob Dylan

Chimes of Freedom The Songs of Bob Dylan Honouring 50 Years of Amnesty International

Fifty years after its founding in 1962 (the year Bob Dylan released his first album), Amnesty International continues to do lifesaving work for prisoners of conscience and victims of injustice throughout the world. In 1977, it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Since the 1970s, Amnesty's Secret Policeman's Ball concerts and records have generated funds for the promotion of human rights and raised awareness of discrimination, state censorship, police brutality, torture, the death penalty, and genocide. AI currently has over three million supporters.

As for Bob Dylan, few artists have been offered accolades to match those laid at his feet. He's among the greatest poets of our age, a transformational figure in the history of music. There's not a singer or songwriter alive who doesn't owe a debt to his wit and wisdom, and thousands cover his inspiring, compassionate songs every day. They line up to perform on albums like this one, and there's a Dylan tribute disc for every genre you can name: pop, rock, blues, reggae, country, folk, classical, jazz. While most of these are heartfelt, many are uninspired or insipid, and few are memorable.

Fortunately, this four-CD compilation is both musical and meaningful. The renowned performers on Chimes of Freedom possess not only ample talent but also a deep feeling for the political and personal messages that Bob communicates. And they clearly support Amnesty International, whose anniversary they celebrate. None of them accepted any money for their work (nor did producers, arrangers, engineers, or studios), thereby maximizing their assistance to AI. The music and the cause mesh perfectly.

In 1992, Dylan and his legendary contemporaries held the greatest concert ever produced in his honor. Neil Young, Eric Clapton, The Band, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Roger McGuinn, Stevie Wonder, Lou Reed, Johnny Winter, Ron Wood, Richie Havens, Chrissie Hynde, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, and others expressed love and gratitude for the man and his music. Such a laudatory gathering will never be repeated, but the names on this new 73-track compilation provide evidence of Dylan's continuing relevance.

Nearly all of the tracks are new studio recordings, but Joan Baez, Sugarland, Adele, My Chemical Romance, Dierks Bentley, The Dave Matthews Band, and Marianne Faithfull each contribute previously unreleased live tracks. There are giants like Johnny Cash, Pete Townshend, Sting, Mark Knopfler, Patti Smith, Steve Earle, Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, Bryan Ferry, Sinead O'Connor, Jeff Beck, Taj Mahal, Kris Kirstofferson, Eric Burdon, and Pete Seeger, among others, as well as more recent stars: The Avett Brothers, Raphael Saadiq, Rise Against, Diana Krall, Ziggy Marley, My Morning Jacket, Lenny Kravitz, Angelique Kidjo, Seal, Lucinda Williams, and many more. And of course Bob himself is here in the form of his original 1964 song "Chimes of Freedom."

A majority of the most acclaimed Dylan anthems are covered, but in over five hours of playing time, there's plenty of room for rarely-heard songs, unusual interpretations, and little-known groups and individuals. Of course, that's a selling point for those of us who like to explore new music. The inclusion of a few performers may irritate those who are not fans (Miley Cyrus, anyone?), yet almost all of them do credit to Amnesty and to Bob's music (with the horrifying exception of Ke$ha, who groans, sobs, and screeches like she's on an epic bender). Listening to the variety of styles represented reveals the universality of Dylan's melodies and lyrics and the pervasive influence he has had on our culture. May it also motivate listeners to lend their support to AI and to human rights.

Tracklist

• Disc: 1
  1. Raphael Saadiq - Leopard
  2. Patti Smith - Drifter's Escape
  3. Rise Against - Ballad of Hollis Brown
  4. Tom Morello The Nightwatchman - Blind Willie McTell
  5. Pete Townshend - Corrina, Corrina
  6. Bettye LaVette - Most of the Time
  7. Charlie Winston - This Wheel's On Fire
  8. Diana Krall - Simple Twist of Fate
  9. Brett Dennen - You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
  10. Mariachi El Bronx - Love Sick
  11. Ziggy Marley - Blowin' in the Wind
  12. The Gaslight Anthem - Changing of the Guards
  13. Silversun Pickups - Not Dark Yet
  14. My Morning Jacket - You're A Big Girl Now
  15. The Airborne Toxic Event - Boots of Spanish Leather
  16. Sting - Girl from the North Country
  17. Mark Knopfler - Restless Farewell
  Disc: 2
  1. Lenny Kravitz - Rainy Day Woman # 12 & 35
  2. Steve Earle and Lucia Micarelli - One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below)
  3. Blake Mills - Heart Of Mine
  4. Miley Cyrus - You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
  5. Billy Bragg - Lay Down Your Weary Tune
  6. Elvis Costello - License to Kill
  7. Angelique Kidjo - Lay, Lady, Lay
  8. Natasha Bedingfield - Ring Them Bells
  9. Jackson Browne - Love Minus Zero/No Limit
  10. Joan Baez - Seven Curses
  11. The Belle Brigade - No Time To Think
  12. Sugarland - Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You (Live)
  13. Jack's Mannequin - Mr. Tambourine Man
  14. Oren Lavie - 4th Time Around
  15. Sussan Deyhim - All I Really Want To Do
  16. Adele - Make You Feel My Love (Live)
  Disc: 3
  1. Ximena Sariñana - I Want You
  2. Neil Finn with Pajama Club - She Belongs to Me
  3. Bryan Ferry - Bob Dylan's Dream
  4. Zee Avi - Tomorrow Is A Long Time
  5. Carly Simon - Just Like a Woman
  6. Flogging Molly - The Times They Are A
  7. Fistful Of Mercy - Buckets Of Rain
  8. Joe Perry - Man Of Peace
  9. Bad Religion - It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
  10. My Chemical Romance - Desolation Row
  11. RedOne featuring Nabil Khayat - Knockin' on Heaven's Door
  12. Paul Rodgers & Nils Lofgren - Abandoned Love
  13. Darren Criss featuring Chuck Criss & Freelance Whales - New Morning
  14. Cage the Elephant - The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
  15. Band of Skulls - It Ain't Me, Babe
  16. Sinéad O'Connor - Property of Jesus
  17. Ed Roland and The Sweet Tea Project - Shelter From The Storm
  18. Ke$ha - Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
  Disc: 4
  1. Maroon 5 - I Shall Be Released
  2. Carolina Chocolate Drops - Political World
  3. Seal & Jeff Beck - Like A Rolling Stone
  4. Taj Mahal - Bob Dylan's 115th Dream
  5. Dierks Bentley - Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) (Live)
  6. Mick Hucknall - One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)
  7. Thea Gilmore - I'll Remember You
  8. State Radio - John Brown
  9. Dave Matthews Band - All Along the Watchtower (Live)
  10. Michael Franti - Subterranean Homesick Blues
  11. We Are Augustines - Mama, You Been On My Mind
  12. Lucinda Williams - Tryin' To Get To Heaven
  13. Kris Kristofferson - Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)
  14. Eric Burdon - Gotta Serve Somebody
  15. Evan Rachel Wood - I'd Have You Anytime
  16. Marianne Faithfull - Baby Let Me Follow You Down (Live)
  17. Pete Seeger - Forever Young
  18. Bob Dylan - Chimes Of Freedom