Overall, this is a great disc to start your Dylan collection and will ultimately leave you wanting more.


The greatest American poet of the past century   September 17, 2000
Thomas Lapins (Orlando, Florida USA)
48 out of 52 found this review helpful

No point in going over each song. There is no greatest hit collection to compare to this one. If you're clueless to Dylan and his music, and you're a thinking human being with the slightest sense of humanity and poetry in your soul, buy it, listen to it, listen to it, listen to it. He was the voice of the 60's that stretches beyond, above, behind and everywhere else. So many have given their interpretations of his songs. I never get tired of hearing a new Dylan song re-interpreted. I'm energized when I hear a Dylan tune on the radio. I mean, how can you not feel the eternal pain of "Blowin' In The Wind", the TRUTH of "Like A Rolling Stone", the poetry of "Mr. Tambourine Man", the cutting insights of "It Aint Me Babe", the words of "Positively 4th Street". There is no replacement "singer" or "writer" to compare to Dylan. He changed all of us in ways we have all lost sight of. Thanks, Bob.


A fine introductory sampler; give it a break!   September 28, 1999
20 out of 22 found this review helpful

Those who bash this best-of for not being complete enough are, I think, missing the point; "Greatest Hits" was never intended to be anything like a definitive overview of Dylan's early work. It was, quite simply, an attempt by Columbia Records to cash in on a hot talent and, simultaneously, provide consumers with "new" product while the artist himself pieced himself back together (physically, mentally, and artistically). Crass? Exploitative? Shameless? You betcha. But in spite of its unholy origins, "Greatest Hits" works.

For one thing, there's absolutely no filler here; every cut is a stone-cold classic. (Granted, that's not because of any special care on Columbia's part but because Dylan is incapable of writing a totally worthless song.) For another, it functions admirably well as a "starter kit"; I, for one, was first introduced to Dylan's work though this album; if not for "Greatest Hits" to whet my appetite I might never have gone on and discovered his "real" albums.

That said, I have to wonder why Columbia didn't take a little more care with the reissue CD. Sure, the remastered sound is a marked improvement, but why not throw in a few bonus tracks? And couldn't a decent booklet with liner notes and session information have been provided? If and when the rest of Dylan's catalog is reissued, I hope Columbia gives them more the kind of treatment they've given the Byrds and Miles Davis. Those complaints aside, I see no reason to be ashamed of owning, and liking, this CD.


Only the tip of the iceberg   May 15, 1999
Steve Hyden (Eau Claire, WI USA)
16 out of 18 found this review helpful

For an artist of Bob Dylan's stature, greatest hits packages just don't cut the mustard. This overview of Dylan's early 60s work is completely inadequate as a complete representation of his Bobness' work. Every album the guy did during this period was brilliant from beginning to end. Any serious Dylan fan will yearn to hear "Tombstone Blues" after "Like a Rolling Stone," or "Girl From the North Country" after "Blowin' in the Wind." Forget this disc, stop being a cheapskate, and shell out the money for as many Dylan records from the 60s as you can afford. Then consume his 70s work, maybe half his 80s records, and soak in his renaissance in the 90s. If you insist on buying this, just know you're seriously missing out on the rest of the best body of work rock n roll has ever produced.


Great introduction to Dylan; 10 '60s classics   September 26, 2006
S. J. West (Eads, TN United States)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

Bob Dylan has made some fine albums in his lifetime, especially in the '60s. Albums like THE FREEWHEELIN' BOB DYLAN, BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME, HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED, and BLONDE ON BLONDE (among others) are cohesive pieces of work and rock classics. He did, however, also have some great singles and this concise but perfect compilation demonstrates. Though it was released as a stop-gap as Dylan recovered from his motorcycle accident, BOB DYLAN's GREATEST HITS remains the perfect single disc distillation of Dylan's '60s work.

"Blowin' in the Wind" hails from THE FREEWHEELIN' BOB DYLAN. This song has such a mature viewpoint that it's hard to believe it came from a kid in his 20s.

The protest classic "The Times They Are A-Changin'" comes from the album of the same name. "It Ain't Me Babe" is from ANOTHER SIDE OF BOB DYLAN. Though I like the cover by Johnny Cash and June Carter, I still prefer Dylan's more understated orginal.

BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME was originally divided into acoustic and electric sides and each wisely gets one track. The wonderfully noise-ridden "Subterranean Homesick Blues" represents the electric side while "Mr. Tambourine Man" comes from the acoustic side. Again, the Byrds did a great job on their cover, but Dylan's original is still the best (and contains some of his greatest lyrics).

My favorite Dylan record of this period, HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED, has only one song on here but it's a good one. "Like a Rolling Stone" was his first genuine hit single and is still one of his best known songs.

The double disc BLONDE ON BLONDE is represented by the opener "Rainy Day Women..." (who could forget that chorus), the aching "I Want You," and the pretty but pointed "Just Like a Woman."

In addition to these album classics, the non-LP single "Positively 4th Street" made it's album debut on this record. It's a great song and, while it's unfortunate it never made it onto one of his proper albums, it's right at home with these other Dylan classics.

This was the first Dylan album I bought and I would reccomend it to others looking for their first Dylan album. Then I would move on to the double disc GREATEST HITS, VOL. II then start getting his original albums. Dylan is one of rock's most proflific performers, but this short but sweet compilation is a great place to start.