Award winning documentary

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Product Description

In 2003 an all-star cast of gospel singers took Bob Dylan's gospel compositions and created a GRAMMY-nominated album. Now Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan features roof-raising performances by these spirited artists while documenting the making of the album of the same name, interweaving bracing reinterpretations with interviews of these celebrated gospel artists. It also presents commentary by musicians including Jim Keltner, Spooner Oldham, Fred Tackett, and Regina McCrary, who recorded and performed with Bob Dylan during his gospel period. Legendary record producer Jerry Wexler and respected music journalists Paul Williams and Alan Light also offer insights on this fascinating body of work. This musical documentary also premieres 1980 footage of Bob Dylan performing "When He Returns," the first archival performance released from this important era. Featured Performances: Solid Rock (Sounds of Blackness), Gotta Serve Somebody (Shirley Caesar), I Believe In You (Dottie Peoples), Saving Grace (Aaron Neville), What Can I Do For You? (Helen Baylor), Are You Ready (The Fairfield Four), Saved (Mighty Clouds of Joy), Pressing On (Chicago Mass Choir) and V.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34740 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-02-07
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 82 minutes

Amazon.com
Gotta Serve Somebody - The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan is all about redemption. That's apparent enough in the music, where the struggle between sin and salvation is inherent in the tunes that are interpreted here by a host of superb gospel artists. But in a larger sense, the very existence of this DVD (and the Grammy-nominated CD that preceded it in 2003) can be viewed as redemption for Dylan himself, who weathered another controversy and emerged, if not triumphant, then certainly vindicated. When he plugged in an electric guitar in 1965, he was labeled "Judas" by the folkie faithful; ironically, when he turned to Jesus some 15 years later, proclaiming himself born again and releasing Slow Train Coming and Saved, the outcry was even louder. But once again Dylan has the last laugh, as now, a quarter of a century after the fact, it's clear that the material on those recordings was his strongest not only since 1975's Blood on the Tracks but perhaps since his '60s heyday. The quality of the songs lies in what Jerry Wexler, co-producer of the two Dylan albums, describes as the "immaculate funk" of the music, and especially in the heartfelt simplicity (especially by Dylan standards) and emotional directness of the lyrics; clearly, that's what attracted great gospel singers like Shirley Caesar (singing "Gotta Serve Somebody," the most recognized song on the two Dylan albums), Dottie Peoples (a powerful version of the beautiful "I Believe in You"), the Mighty Clouds of Joy (a rockin', sanctified "Saved"), the Fairfield Four (the stirring, a cappella "Are You Ready"), and the angel-voiced Aaron Neville ("Saving Grace") to this project. We also get Dylan himself, performing "When He Returns" at a 1980 concert, along with an animated rendering of his original "Gotta Serve Somebody." Hallelujah, y'all. --Sam Graham

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Customer Reviews

. These songs represent each and every descendant of humanity
Gotta Serve Somebody is a well-produced music documentary that showcases highly-skilled and creative artists in studio recording sessions. Individually, and inter-dependently, they attempt to reach personal pinnacles of expression in their interpretations of some well-chosen Dylan `gospel' songs. Opportunities to view musicians recording in a studio are rare; recording sessions produced with such attention to technical details of filming are even rarer and Gotta Serve Somebody may be in a class all its own. Some of the vocalists are well-known; others are probably known to followers of gospel music; their performances are strong and triumphant - even delicate and powerful, at the same time - as they react to the lyrics and the other musicians. Each and every musician, not only the vocalists, is emotionally invested in this music; their collaboration during recordings is a focus, in itself. The interviews with musicians are enlightening but the film is mostly about Bob Dylan's music. Dylan obviously chose gospel as the most easily identifiable and naturally adaptive style to express his words and sentiments in these songs. The music, lyrics excluded, is worthy of reflection to anyone who is interested in what constitutes `great artists' - their development through time and their exploration of nearly every possible genre as a means of personal expression. The lyrics reflect Dylan's personal longing for salvation and joy in the mystery of his own transformation, in contemporary Christian religious vernacular. For those who think that his gospel songs are best left to people with similar religious beliefs, adjust your attitudes. These songs represent each and every descendant of humanity who thinks, wonders, stumbles and falls, and seeks direction outside of what is only obvious and potentially disappointing. It isn't the target of salvation, but the act of seeking it that is, in itself, redemptive.

Terrific Music! Could have used less commentary...
I really like Bob Dylan's albums that he devoted to faith and God. I know many people find this period of his carreer odd or even annoying but I think it was really courageous of him to write and sing what he felt no matter what people thought - he was and still is his own person!

The artists who sing on this film are all terrific musicians. This is one of the best features of this DVD. They also give great commentary on what the songs mean to them which is interesting to hear and gives their renditions of the songs that much more force and intensity.

What is not so interesting are some of the historians and writers who comment on Dylan and this period of his career. They try to explain it or justify it etc. I think that the songs and the artists comments would have been sufficient leaving it up to the viewer to decided his or her own opinion on Dylan and these Gospel songs.

I do recommend this DVD though highly and I think the CD would also be a great purchase!

glorious
So beautiful, glorious. A higher calling to one of the musical greats of the last half century and more. I'm keeping the faith. My thanks to everyone involved in this sublime and incredible rediscovery. Mr. Dylan, it still stands.