CD Review
Various Artists
Blues On Blonde On Blonde
Telarc (2003) CD-83567
12 tracks, 67 minutes.
by Craig Ruskey
Review date: May/June 2003
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award"
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by The Blues Foundation
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If there's one good thing about the trend of blues tribute CDs, it's that they should hopefully send
curious, enthusiastic listeners back to the CD racks looking for the object of the tribute itself, be it
Hound Dog Taylor, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Howlin' Wolf, or countless other greats. It can be
helpful to the estates of these long lost heroes, considering that very few ever earned what they
deserved, but things become particularly confusing when a tribute comes from blues artists, but isn't
directed at a bluesman or a blues album. Such is the case with Telarc's new Blues On Blonde
On Blonde. There's little question that Bob Dylan has risen to the status of musical icon as a
brilliant songwriter and performer, but if there's one person that doesn't need the extra exposure many
blues greats do, it's Dylan. Perhaps guitarists Eric Bibb, Clarence Bucaro, and Anders Osbourne all
claim Dylan as an influence, and they acquit themselves well here, as do Walter Trout, Sue Foley, Joe
Louis Walker, Sean Costello, and others, but regardless of what anniversary it is of the landmark
Blonde On Blonde release, it seems a bit senseless to gather this group of talent to celebrate
Dylan's magic in the blues community. Aside from extolling praise on a few bluesmen and covering the
occasional blues number, Mr. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat himself has never been one of the
more prolific blues interpreters. There are some solid performances on this tribute, but no moments of
brilliance like those shown when the original album was released decades ago. But that wasn't a blues
record, and this isn't really one either.
www.telarc.com
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