Editorial Review:

Album Description:
Ace is proud to present a 2008 double CD paying tribute to Theme Time Radio Hour hosted by Bob Dylan. For those that are new to the show, each radio program lasts an hour and has a different theme each week, often something simple like 'Drink', or 'Mother'. On the radio program each track is introduced by Dylan with his dry humor, eclectic interest and vast musical knowledge. On this CD set, though, Dylan himself does not appear; just selected tracks that he played on his shows. It's possible to regard this set as the best introduction to music ever.

This is the only officially-authorized release associated with the Theme Time Radio Hour. Its 50 tracks represent the first series of radio shows. The track-listing reflects Dylan's wide taste and ranges from Billie Holiday and George Jones, through Aretha Franklin to the Clash and the White Stripes. Although each track was chosen by Dylan for the radio show, the CD itself was compiled by the show's producer Eddie Gorodetsky and Ace's own Roger Armstrong.

The luxury package contains a 2-CD jewel case with an accompanying 48-page full color book, all in a cardboard slipcase. The sleeve notes include a track-by-track commentary by some of the world's great music writers including Barney Hoskyns, Colin Escott, Billy Vera and Fred Dellar. Each track, no matter how obscure, is illustrated with a sleeve, label shot or photo of the artist.

Other Theme Time Radio Hour compilations have concentrated on the very early material, essentially because that material was in the public domain and thus royalty payments could be avoided. As with all Ace releases, this is a fully legitimate production and royalties are paid on every track.









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Disc 1:

1. Turn Your Radio On - Grandpa Jones
2. Papa's On The Housetop - Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell
3. Shortnin' Bread - Paul Chaplain & His Emeralds
4. Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
5. Gun Fever (Blam Blam Fever) - The Valentines
6. Pistol Packin' Mama - Al Dexter & His Troopers
7. Pistol Packin' Mama - The Hurricanes
8. Homework - Otis Rush
9. He Will Break Your Heart - Jerry Butler
10. Take It Away Lucky - Eddie Noack
11. Buddy, Stay Off The Wine - Betty Hall Jones
12. Tears A Go-Go - Charlie Rich
13. Rich Woman - Li'l Millet & His Creoles
14. Laughin' & Jokin' - Ernie Chaffin
15. Me And My Chauffeur Blues - Memphis Minnie accompanied by Little Son Joe
16. If I Lose - The Stanley Brothers
17. I Sat And Cried - Jimmy Nelson
18. Beatnik's Wish - Patsy Raye & the Beatniks
19. Devil In His Heart - The Donays
20. Let's Invite Them Over - George Jones & Melba Montgomery
21. Don't Take Ev'rybody to Be Your Friend - Sister Rosetta Tharpe with the Sam Price Trio
22. Good Morning Heartache - Billie Holiday
23. Pouring Water on a Drowning Man - James Carr
24. I Drink - Mary Gauthier
25. Mother Earth - Memphis Slim

Disc 2:

1. Chain Of Fools - Aretha Franklin
2. Walk a Mile in My Shoes - Joe South & the Believers
3. Cry Tough - Alton Ellis & the Flames
4. Tommy Gun - The Clash
5. (Everytime I Hear) That Mellow Saxophone - Roy Montrell
6. Those DJ Shows - Patrice Holloway
7. I Ain't Drunk - Lonnie 'the Cat'
8. Eat That Chicken - Charles Mingus
9. Mama, Get Your Hammer - Bobby Peterson Quintet
10. How High The Moon - Slim Gaillard
11. Cool Water - The Sons of the Pioneers
12. Only A Rose - Geraint Watkins
13. I Walk in My Sleep - Berna-Dean
14. Stars Fell On Alabama - Jack Teagarden's Chicagoans
15. Mama Tried (The Ballad From Killers Three) - Merle Haggard & the Strangers
16. Big Long Slidin' Thing - Dinah Washington
17. Black Coffee - Bobby Darin
18. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water - The Cats and the Fiddle
19. Ain't Got The Money To Pay For This Drink - George Zimmerman & the Thrills with the Bubber Cyphers
20. Bottle And A Bible - The Yayhoos
21. Okie's In The Pokie - Jimmy Patton
22. If You're So Smart, How Come You Ain't Rich? - Louis Jordan
23. Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio - Santiago Jimenez
24. Mona - Bo Diddley
25. Roadrunner (Twice) - The Modern Lovers

Rating: - * No Dylan ... Nice collection of tracks, but has none of Bob Dylan's commentary and patter from the radio show. That makes this disk a huge disappointment to me. Rating: - * Boo, and may I add, Hiss. ... "Theme Time Radio Hour" would have faded away after the first 4 or 5 episodes, if it weren't for it being "BOB FRIGGIN' DYLAN" who is reading someone else's commentaries on someone else's record selections. And they're even managing to embarrass Dylan by what they write. Imagine--on the "Father" show alone (season 1, episode 7), there are FOUR factual errors that no one even bothered to check, much less correct (don't just take my word for it--download it from somewhere and listen yourself). Now, don't get me wrong--the music here is fine, if not the best that one could find. Hey, I'm a record collector with over 200,000 discs in my collection, so I'm a bit cloyed by a lot of stuff. But if you want a good overview of American music, this is NOT it. Or if you want anything that is "Dylanesque" in the least, this is ALSO not it. This is, "let's put Bob's name on a bunch of stuff we can license cheap, and see how much money we can make in the process." First, shame on you, Bob, for allowing your good name and persona to have been used by the creators of this melee. Second, shame on someone for trying to boil down 50 hours of scattershot music into something that someone would dare to call any type of introduction to music--much less an overview of 20th century culture--(both monickers which have been applied [elsewhere, thank goodness] to it), and then stamping Dylan's name on it to sell it. Bob, if you're listening, DON'T let yourself be screwed further by a THIRD (shudder) season of this show. I've bought everything you've ever released, and the show (as well as this set) has lowered my opinion of you almost irreparably. And you, music lover, if you're looking for a good overview of American roots music, check out practically ANYTHING on the Document label...or Yazoo, or Folkways, or...or just buy a few Dylan albums and go from there...but give this pale pastiche a pass. Rating: - * Faith Restoration or How I Learned To Cry Again ... In a world of immitators and regurgitated bland soundscapes, it's so refreshing to see brilliance in the music industry again. Call it a throwback if you will, I'll call it 'actual' entertainment. Either way you slice it there's no denying the musical knowledge stored inside Mr. Zimmerman's brain. I know the show is not entirely all his creation (so thanks go out to the producers, engineers, and everyone else who makes it possible.) but without him as the 'mouth-piece', the show wouldn't have the same style and class. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you for taking the time to produce a show that has obvious thought behind it. Looking forward to season 3 and what 'themes' may be in store........ Rating: - * Stompin Good Time Alan Fried ... This is like a nightmare I can not get away from this CD. I ordered Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour and I was sent Stompin Good Time Twice. I NEVER ORDERED THIS ITEM. I thought I had this streightend out. I returned the 2 copies ( At a cost to me of around $8.00 for postage) At least my credit card was not charged for 2 copies of this rather dismal looking CD. I thank you for this. I re-ordered Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour and I am shuddering now that I see you are asking me about Stompin Good Time! Please I beg you do not send this again. Your faithful customer, Diane Rating: - * Not Theme Time...but the next best thing ... So much about what I have come to love about music is falling away - "albums" are being replaced by singles downloaded from cyberspace, music magazines (so long No Depression) are shuttering their doors due to lack of ad revenue, and great record stores are closing by the dozen. Into these dangerous straits waded XM Radio and Bob Dylan with the Theme Time Radio Hour - a throwback to simpler times wherein Bob Dylan selects an hour's worth of choice cuts loosely centered around a "theme" like flowers, or marriage or coffee. The show has been a breath of fresh air - it's success due in equal measure to Dylan's pithy narrative style and his impeccable taste in popular music. What we have here is Ace Records' attempt to anthologize the radio show by choosing 50 cuts that have appeared on Theme Time. There is no "theme" and no Dylan. What we do get is 2 hours of music - most of it blues, R&B, and American roots music. Some of the choices are inspired, the Geraint Watkins cut, "Only a Rose" for example; others - two versions of "Pistol Packin Mama" - less so. The overall effect is akin to listening to a jukebox stocked by Dylan. One could do worse. The packaging is excellent, with track and artist information and a photograph to accompany every song. Sound is more than adequate as well. If you have access to XM radio by all means listen to Theme Time Radio Hour. If not, this makes a more than acceptable substitute.