A Contrarian's View of Dylan

Most people see Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid as nothing more than a really long super-maxi-single for "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" with several unnecessary re-mixes of the B-Side, "Billy". While it's hard to argue that there are any other songs on this album (or any other album by Dylan or not) as good as "Knockin'", if you're only interested in Bob for his words you're going to miss a whole lot here. It is easily Bob's most instrumental heavy album (and since it's really a soundtrack, that's too be expected). Most people can't even really tell these songlets apart. Which means they miss all the fun goofy humor in the banjo-laden "Turkey Chase" (my second favorite song on the album). And of the songs that do have words, you get three different vocal versions of "Billy" (numbered 1, 4 and 7 for some reason) as well as another instrumental. Sure, all three offer up pretty close to identical lyrics - all which are little more than dumbed-down Cliff's Notes versions of the plot of the movie. Musically they do each convey a subtly different mood. Okay, "Billy" is not a particularly great song, but despite its reputation as an all-time classic, "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" actually is. And regardless of Eric Clapton or Axl Rose's attempts to steal this song, the Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid version remains the definitive one. Sure, this album is a lost great classic, but it's certainly worth more than just that one song.

Final Theme Will Chill Your Soul

This is the sound track for the movie of the same name starring Kris Kristoferson, Rita Coolidge, Slim Pickens and, of course, Mr. D. himself. All of the music is instrumental, , except for "Knockin' on Heaven's Door and the two and a half versions of Billy. Personally I love the instrumental stuff, but if you don't you can get "Heaven's Door," on a lot of compilations, but without this record, you'll miss out on "Billy." Four stars for this one, even though "Turkey Chase," is a hoot and the beautiful and haunting "Final Theme will chill your soul.

Reviewed by Stephanie Sane

lonesome western on the run......

Great album to throw in and get taken into the old west, acoustic guitars with simple dusty boots and gun slingin' singin'. If you have ever driven' through AZ. or CO. and felt like becoming a cowboy (cowgirl) then this album will be a favorite for that person inside you. If your looking for a Dylan album for your collection, get Blonde on Blonde.