Odetta – Odetta Sings Dylan
Rarity - Sealed
Vocals – Odetta
Bass – Les Grinage
Guitar – Bruce Langhorne, Peter Childs
Written by Bob Dylan
1LP, standard sleeve
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : Black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Pallas
Label : Speakers Corner
Original Label : RCA Victor
Recorded at Studio RCA Victor Studios, New York City
Engineered by Bob Simpson
Produced by Jack Somer
Originally released in March 1965
Reissued in September 2003
Tracks :
Side A:
1. Baby, I'm In The Mood For You
2. Long Ago, Far Away
3. Don't Think Twice, It's Allright
4. Tomorrow Is A Long Time
5. Masters Of War
Side B:
1. Walkin' Down The Line
2. The Times They Are A Changin'
3. With God On Our Side
4. Long Time Gone
5. Mr Tambourine Man
Reviews :
"From 1965, Odetta Sings Dylan was one of the first albums entirely devoted to Bob Dylan interpretations, and one of the best. In part that's because the concept was still actually fresh then; in fact, other than an obscure 1964 album by Linda Mason, it was the very first album of Dylan covers. And in part it was because, unlike most of the artists who would take a swing at the concept, Odetta was actually a major folk musician, one who had done much to inspire Dylan himself.
But most of all, it was because the arrangements were excellent, featuring the guitar of Bruce Langhorne (who, of course, played on Dylan's Bringing It All Back Home and numerous 1960s folk and folk-rock recordings) and, one presumes, the bass of frequent accompanist Bill Lee (though the CD doesn't list session credits). Langhorne, the character who inspired "Mr. Tambourine Man," also plays some tambourine, particularly on "Baby, I'm in the Mood for You."
Although this is not a folk-rock album, as a result the arrangements have far more rhythm, swing, and imagination than most folk records of the era did. The song choices are good, too, not only including familiar tunes like "The Times They Are A-Changin'" and "Mr. Tambourine Man," but also some songs that hardly anyone has recorded.
Indeed, Dylan never did put "Long Ago, Far Away" or "Long Time Gone" on any of his official releases, and didn't release three of the other songs ("Baby, I'm in the Mood for You," "Walkin' Down the Line," and "Tomorrow Is a Long Time") in the 1960s. All of this is not to overlook Odetta's well-nuanced, bluesy vocal interpretations of the material, particularly on an extraordinary ten-minute version of "Mr. Tambourine Man." The 2000 CD reissue on Camden adds "Blowin' in the Wind" (from a 1963 album) and "Paths of Victory" (from a 1964 LP) as bonus tracks, nice additions that are stylistically consistent with the rest of the recording." AllMusic review by Richie Unterberger
Odetta Holmes (1930-2008) was 35 when she recorded this album. Died at 77 but was still performing right up until the year of her death. She had operatic training from the age of 13. She has heaps of albums out, and Bob Dylan has said of her, “The first thing that turned me on to folk singing was Odetta. I heard a record of hers in a record store, back when you could listen to records right there in the store. Right then and there, I went out and traded my electric guitar and amplifier for an acoustic guitar, a flat-top Gibson. Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues was just something vital and personal. I learned all the songs on that record."
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4.5 / 5 ; Discogs : 3.82 / 5 ; Record Mirror : 4 / 5