Various Artists
How Many Roads: Black America Sings Bob Dylan
(Ace Records Import)

Aside from all the re-reviewing I’ve done over the past few weeks, listening again to the jazz I’ve been listening to all year in order to compile the Festive 50, the silver disc that has been giving me most pleasure is this one.

It’s a compilation of Bob Dylan songs that were covered (mostly in the late ’60s and early ’70s) by Black Americans singers who responded to the protest strain in Dylan’s music. Of course, it is all there in the lyrics and music, but it takes these spirited performances to really bring this aspect of such familiar music alive again in a completely fresh way.

And what performances! Some are by names I have known and loved for years – The Staples Singers, The Isley Brothers, Solomon Burke, Bobby Womack, The Persuasions, Nina Simone, Booker T Jones and the O’Jays – and they all turn in superb performances, but others are from artists new to me – O.V. Wright, Howard Tate, Marion Williams just to name those performing the first three tracks – and these are equally memorable.

Williams’ reading of I Pity The Poor Immigrant is remarkable in the way it gets beneath the skin of the song and reveals a strength that Bob himself didn’t quite manage. In fact, that’s true of the best of the tracks here – they lift the songs so high.

There are some hilariously contrary performances. Who would have thought Mr Tambourine Man would make a top funk work-out? Well, Con Funk Shun did , and show just how it can be done, and apparently made a dance-floor hit out of it.

If Womack’s performance of All Along The Watchtower doesn’t quite cut it, it’s not only because the great soul man struggles to remember the words, but also that Jimi Hendrix’s version has set the standard too high in our minds for others to compete.

My favourites, aside from Williams’ Immigrant, are the storming From A Buick 6 by Gary US Bonds, a seriously funky Most Likely You Go Your Way And I’ll Go Mine by Patti La Belle, Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You by Esther Phillips, O.V. Wright’s Blowing In The Wind, Howard Tate’s Girl From The North Country and The Staples’ deep reading of Masters Of War.

But really, with the exception of The Neville Brothers’ With God On Our Side (Aaron’s precious vocal style makes it feel like it’s about an hour long), I can listen to this nearly 80-minute long disc on repeat most of the livelong day.

Do seek it out!