The opportunity to hear anew songs you thought you knew well, is a welcome event. It’s something that every Dylan fan has right now with the recent release of Rory Block‘s Positively 4th Street. Where does one start (or end) in choosing which songs to include in a Bob Dylan tribute album? Upon hearing Block’s vibrant and affecting renditions, it’s clear that she chose the songs that spoke deeply to her on an emotional level, and we are the lucky ones for that.
Taking a break from her award-winning Power Women of The Blues series, which has shone a light on women songwriters and performers over her three most recent albums, Rory Block throws her skills as a finger-picker and traditional blues arranger behind one of the greatly respected leading artists and songwriter of all-time: Bob Dylan. Performing all instruments herself, Rory Block combines acoustic and slide guitars, as well as drums and acoustic bass, to create a one-of-a kind arrangement of Dylan’s songbook.
Equally as sublime as Block’s performances is the CD itself. The entire package (liner notes, imagery, organization, layout) matches the music. For an artist as prolific as the 7 Time Blues Music Award winner is, this is worth applauding, Block and co-producer Rob Davis have delivered in glorious fashion.
I love this album. Don’t believe me? Stop by my place in Woodstock today, where I’ll be swimming to it (on repeat most of the afternoon)… and maybe even into the moonlight.
Track list:
- Everything Is Broken
- Ring Them Bells
- Like A Rolling Stone
- Not Dark Yet
- Mr. Tambourine Man
- Positively 4th Street
- A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall
- Mother Of Muses
- Murder Most Foul
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