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Rating:
Dylan tries his hand at cinema, playing the role of Alias in Sam Peckinpah's western film.
Certainly, his performance is not Oscar-worthy, partly because he has few lines, among them reading can labels and the legendary response to the question "Who are you?": "What a question". Enlightening.
Who is Bob Dylan, Alias, otherwise known as Robert Zimmerman, who has wandered across musical genres for years?
Someone who finally, after five years, pulls a new masterpiece out of the hat. Not the album, that's just a soundtrack, not particularly outstanding. But a certain "Knockin' On Heaven's Door". Does the title ring a bell?
Dylan's voice, fading in at the death of the ex-sheriff, is one of the pinnacles of cinematography. The song is one of the highest points in the history of music. Its original version is magnificent in its simplicity, but none of the other Live versions, or covers, is lacking, with the exception of the pathetic performance on "MTV Unplugged".
The rest of the album, almost entirely instrumental, offers little, with a bit of violins here and there, mainly guitars. The other sung piece, "Billy", is a good song. An atmospheric album, to be listened to on a train, say, between Bologna and Modena, that is, between the Via Emilia and the West.
If it were just for "Knockin'" the album would deserve a 5. If you don't own this version, do yourself a favor and get it, as an alternative to the Live 1975 version.
There's also more, which is not unforgettable.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
07 Knockin' on Heaven's Door (02:32)
Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark to see
I feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore.
That long black cloud is comin' down
I feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
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Other reviews
By Viva Lì
"Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door" is a masterpiece amidst a whimsical, somewhat sentimental album.
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid is just a curious interlude perhaps not entirely successful.
