Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits, Vol. 3

Personnel includes: Bob Dylan (vocals, guitar, harmonica); Ronee Blakely (vocals); Brendan O'Brien (guitar, bass, background vocals); Mason Ruffner, Danny Kortchmar (guitar); Scarlet Rivera (violin); Steve Douglas (saxophone); Alan Clark (piano, organ); Barry Beckett (keyboards, percussion); Benmont Tench (keyboards); Nathan East (bass); Jim Keltner, Pick Withers, Kenny Aronoff (drums); Cyril Neville (talking drum); Waddy Wachtel, Al Kooper, Roger McGuinn, Don Was, Brent Mydland.
Producers include: Don Devito, Bob Dylan, Chuck Plotkin, Mark Knopfler.
Photographer: Randee St. Nicholas.
What could the poet, who has been called the spokesman of his generation, possibly have to offer on a third greatest-hits compilation?
Quite a lot, and by listening to these selections you realize the depth of Bob Dylan's musical inventory. This eclectic, quirky collection provides his best literate epics ("Brownsville," written with Sam Shepard), enigmatic gems ("Tangled Up In Blue" from the brilliant BLOOD ON THE TRACKS), masterful gospel classics (STREET LEGAL's "Changing Of The Guard"), effective political narratives ("Hurricane") and timeless pop classics ("Forever Young" and "Knockin' On Heaven's Door"). For the most part, these rock, folk, gospel and blues cuts are selected from less celebrated albums like OH MERCY, DOWN IN THE GROOVE and KNOCKED OUT LOADED. They should serve as entreaties to return to those overlooked treasures.
With all this album's pedigree, the unlikely show-stopper is the previously unreleased "Dignity"--it causes one to pause and note the continuing awesomeness of Dylan's craft and limitless lyrical talent. This album serves as a lesson to all aspiring singer-songwriters. GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 3, indeed--from an artist whose every song is complex perfection.