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Rating: Music & Cinema: a risky duo, often challenging. The soundtracks by Vangelis ("Blade Runner", "Chariots of Fire") are undeniably beautiful; the soundtracks by Guccini and De André, for as immense songwriters as they are, are often boring and forgettable ("Signore e signori buonanotte", "Ilona arriva con la pioggia": the latter film contains "Smisurata preghiera" not among the peaks of the De André-Fossati duo). In short, composing a soundtrack is difficult and dangerous. Bob Dylan knows this well, or rather, believes he knows it. After portraying the character of Alias in the beautiful "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid," Dylan is tasked by uncle Sam Peckinpah to compose a fairytale and bittersweet soundtrack. Initially, Dylan produces a masterpiece: "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," then a couple of good songs, and finally some very forgettable music very similar to certain Italian ballads in the style of Angelo Branduardi. The result is an unusual album, well-crafted, yet not overwhelming: "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid" is a whimsical album, somewhat sentimental, at times even tedious.
Dylan fills the album with typically western ballads, not very suited to him, brandishes an impressive violin score, and uses melodic and electric guitars without much conviction. The result, mind you, is not despised: half of the album is more than interesting, the problem is the other half. Excluding the wonderful masterpiece "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," and some good ballads among which "Billy" stands out, the rest is pompous late 19th-century music with not particularly devastating guitar solos. Nevertheless, it would be unfair to rail against Dylan. "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid" is just a curious interlude perhaps not entirely successful, where Bob takes a break after the triumphs of "Like A Rolling Stone" and "Just Like A Woman." It's pointless to deny, however, that the phase of artistic decline is now in full swing: "Desire," dated 1976, will be the last great tail-end from a brilliant artist who, throughout the sixties, was a prophet, a rocker, a pioneer, a more mature and courageous Springsteen. With all due respect to the Boss and the many fans scattered around the world.
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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By ilsuonatorejones
Dylan’s voice, fading in at the death of the ex-sheriff, is one of the pinnacles of cinematography.
If it were just for 'Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door' the album would deserve a 5.
