Bob Dylan Gets the JEM Treatment

The “JEM Records Celebrates” series, which has previously honored the work of artists like John Lennon, Brian Wilson, David Bowie and Ray Davies, now turns its attention to the work of Bob Dylan. These fabulous tributes are always a joy to listen to, and this latest entry is no exception. Bob Dylan is an artist whose rich catalog is certainly worthy of celebration.

There are several distinct periods of his expansive discography which long-time fans continue to enjoy, discuss and debate. Do you embrace his folk beginnings? The electric-tinged rock years? The controversial “born-again” phase? The modern troubadour era? They’re all well represented on this outstanding disc, which, as always, features JEM’s supremely talented roster of artists providing their superb interpretations of Dylan classics.

 

Every track on this must-have record is fabulous, from The Cynz’s edgy, hard-rocking version of “Neighborhood Bully,” to The Midnight Callers’ emotional rendition of “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.” The High Frequencies offer up a relentless run through of “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” while The Airport 77s turn “It Ain’t Me, Babe” into a raucous guitar romp. The Half Cubes bring the fun to the forefront on their brightly colored cover of “The Mighty Quinn,” and The Weeklings give “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” a different spin, much like they’ve done with their inventive reworkings of tunes like Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire.”

The song selection on this edition of “JEM Celebrates” is one of the best in this series. The On and On’s roll up with a rollicking “Meet Me In The Morning,” while The Jive’s “I Ain’t Gonna Go To Hell For Anybody” is a high-energy version of a non-album track Dylan performed during his live shows in 1980.

If you’re looking for a side helping of psych-pop served up with your Dylan vibes, look no further than The Grip Weeds’ excellent “This Wheel’s On Fire,” and The Anderson Council’s sublime reading of “Queen Jane Approximately.” The power pop side of JEM is well represented by Nick Piunti’s sunshine-dappled “Mr. Tambourine Man” and Paul Collins’ pop/rock infused “Stuck Inside of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again.”

As an iconic songwriter and musician, Bob Dylan already has a number of tribute discs dedicated to him, but JEM Records Celebrates Bob Dylan is absolutely one of the best. The “JEM Records Celebrates” series knocks it out of the park every time because all of the top-notch artists involved; they bring real passion and power to these beloved songs.

These bands truly make Dylan’s deeply revered compositions their own, giving them an often unique style and sound that nevertheless pays homage to the originals. It’s clear that they love and respect the artists they pay tribute to as much as we do. This magnificent album is well worth adding to your collection. JEM Records Celebrates Bob Dylan will be released on August 21.

-John Visconti

Photo: Bob Dylan (Xavier Badosa, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)