A Better Version of Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Volume 3

Most people who discover Bob Dylan’s music these days run across a song of his (or a cover of a song of his) in a film or on Pandora. If their interest is piqued, they’ll likely buy one of his greatest hits albums on a whim. The first Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits album was released in 1967 and was by all accounts a great compilation album. Despite the fact that only four years had passed, the folks at Columbia decided to ride the success of the first Hits album by pressing another one in 1971 that included songs from many of the same albums. Although the second Greatest Hits album would go on to become one of Dylan’s most successful records, it was only half-filled with fan favorites. Dylan insisted that some previously unreleased songs be included to appeal to existing fans, a gambit that payed off many times over. Dylan’s third Greatest Hits album, released in 1993, is an even stranger compilation of songs.

The album includes songs that span 18 years and feature few if any real hits. It’s more like a grab bag of some of the more recognizable songs from a random assortment of albums.

Here’s the track listing:

  1. “Tangled Up in Blue” from the album, Blood On The Tracks.
  2. “Changing of the Guards” from the album, Street-Legal.
  3. The Groom’s Still Waiting At The Altar,” b-side to the single, “Heart Of Mine.”
  4. “Hurricane” from the album, Desire.
  5. “Forever Young” from the album Planet Waves.
  6. “Jokerman” from the album, Infidels.
  7. Dignity,” previously unreleased.
  8. “Silvio” from the album, Down In The Groove.
  9. “Ring Them Bells” from the album, Oh Mercy.
  10. “Gotta Serve Somebody” from the album, Slow Train Coming.
  11. “Series of Dreams,” previously released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3.
  12. “Brownsville Girl” from the album, Knocked Out Loaded.
  13. “Under the Red Sky” from the album, Under The Red Sky.
  14. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” from the soundtrack to Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid.

With the exception of Under The Red Sky, none of these songs are bad. But if the goal was to sell lots of records and introduce listeners to some of Dylan’s less famous compositions, they could have put together a much better playlist.

As a matter of fact, I included five of the albums in this time frame on my list of Bob Dylan’s Top Ten Albums Of All Time. With all the good songs produced in this time period, why in the world did Dylan and Columbia subject listeners to eleven minutes of stream of consciousness in the form of Brownsville Girl when there are songs like Every Grain Of Sand and Born In Time out there? It just doesn’t make any sense. Obviously, if ten Dylan fans were tasked with putting 14 songs on a compilation album spanning this particular time frame, they’d come up with 14 different playlists. But despite their differences, I’m sure that none of the compilations would include the mediocre Under The Red Sky.

If I was tasked with creating a “hits” album that was designed to sell lots of records and attract new fans, and I had to work within the date range and track length already established (I’d add an extra song in lieu of the lengthy Brownsville Girl), I could put together a much better album. I’d limit any individual album to two songs on the compilation, and I’d choose the tracks by their lasting quality.

Here are my 15 picks, in chronological order:

  1. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” from the soundtrack to Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid.
  2. “Forever Young” from the album, Planet Waves.
  3. “Never Say Goodbye” from the album, Planet Waves.
  4. “Tangled Up In Blue” from the album, Blood On The Tracks.
  5. “If You See Her, Say Hello” from the album, Blood On The Tracks.
  6. “The Hurricane” from the album, Desire
  7. “Changing of the Guards” from the album, Street-Legal.
  8. “Where Are You Tonight (Journey Through Dark Heat)” from the album, Street-Legal.
  9. “Slow Train” from the album, Slow Train Coming.
  10. “Heart Of Mine” from the album, Shot Of Love.
  11. “Every Grain Of Sand” from the album, Shot Of Love.
  12. “Dark Eyes” from the album, Empire Burlesque
  13. “Most Of The Time” from the album, Oh Mercy.
  14. “Shooting Star” from the album, Oh Mercy.
  15. “Born In Time,” an outtake from the Oh Mercy sessions, later released on Tell Tale Signs.

I’m sure there are any number of people who would gripe that this song or that song should be included. They’d probably have a valid point, but I think this particular list of tracks makes a better and more fluid compilation of songs that introduces the listener to some of Dylan’s lesser known works. If I was also allowed to include some bootlegs/outtakes to appeal to existing fans, I would add these songs to bring the track count to a nice, even 20:

  1. “Goin’ To Acapulco,” previously released on The Basement Tapes.
  2. “Blind Willie McTell,” previously released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3.
  3. “Caribbean Wind,” previously released on Biograph.
  4. “Series Of Dreams,” previously released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3.
  5. Dignity,” previously unreleased.

Now that would be a great compilation album, and a great introduction to Bob Dylan’s underrated work between 1971 and 1993.

A Better Version of Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Volume 3
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