Gotta Serve Somebody - The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)A crowd making their way to their destinations in a New York City subway: a blind man with his walking cane; another man doing a soft shoe dance; a woman putting some spare money in a hat; people spilling out of escalators, the humdrum of daily city life...Yet amid this concrete world of souls we see and hear Arlethia Lindsey singing a beautiful version of Bob Dylan's "Every Grain of Sand." Fittingly, this is how the DVD "Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan" begins and ends--along with official footage of Dylan himself at the piano in 1980, belting out a heartfelt "When He Returns." And the 80 minutes wedged in between these opening and closing scenes is well worth the $17.99. Jeff Gaskill, its executive producer, who, as a 17-year-old in May 1980, watched in stunned wonderment as Dylan delivered up his all-gospel show in Worcester, Massachusetts, should be saluted in a big way for creating and bringing forth this project.
I recently discovered that this DVD was featured at the 2006 Park City (Utah) Film & Music Festival--and won the Gold Medal for Excellence for Best Music Documentary. When it comes to Dylan's so-called gospel years, this is the ultimate DVD to watch and own. It is a stunning combination of musical performances in the studio by traditional and contemporary gospel artists who are covering Dylan's songs from "Slow Train Coming" (1979) and "Saved" (1980); this project is the companion piece to the Grammy-nominated CD, "Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan" (2003). Contrary to what one reviewer has suggested, this IS a documentary and brings with it professional graphics, directing, and editing--not to mention a powerful narrative.
In addition to the inspiring performances in the studio (I don't say this lightly), there are a number of interviews with the performers, as well as interviews with those who recorded and/or performed with Dylan back in 1979-1980: drummer Jim Keltner, guitarist Fred Tackett, keyboardist Spooner Oldham, producer Jerry Wexler, and singers Regina McCrary, Terry and Mona Lisa Young. Also featured are previously unpublished photographs of Dylan recording in Muscle Shoals Sound Studio during the sessions for "Slow Train Coming" and "Saved."
Oftentimes, when critics are interviewed, it can make for paralyzing analysis; however, in this DVD we hear from Alan Light, a longtime journalist who has obviously thought about this period of Dylan's career, and consequently issues some fresh insight. And for those who have never seen Paul Williams, author of "Dylan--What Happened?"--the groundbreaking book written right after Williams absorbed seven of Dylan's concerts in November 1979 (Dylan actually purchased copies for his friends)--we see and hear his unique take on this historical period of Dylan's life and career.
It's worth mentioning that this project is the only outside Dylan tribute project that Dylan himself became involved in. After becoming aware of the project and reportedly being honored by the artists who were choosing to cover these songs, he chipped in by rewriting his 1979 composition "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking" (featured as the closing song on the CD, a duet with Mavis Staples). This DVD is a wonderful extension of the CD and is something every Dylan fan and appreciator should have.
Just over 20 years ago, in 1985, Dylan said this: "Regina McCrary played with me for a while. She's the daughter of Preacher Sam McCrary from Nashville who used to have the old gospel group the Fairfield Four. Anyway, she would open these shows [Dylan's all-gospel gigs of 1979-1980] with a monologue about a woman on a train; she was so incredibly moving. I wanted to expose people to that sort of thing because I loved it and it's the real roots of all modern music, but nobody cared."
Well, now somebody cares: via this DVD, you can catch Regina McCrary leading the Chicago Mass Choir in a spiritually uplifting version of Dylan's "Pressing On"--as well as the Fairfield Four covering "Are You Ready?" Shirley Caesar's "Gotta Serve Somebody" will make most anybody care and Dottie Peoples, Helen Baylor and Rance Allen, doing "I Believe in You," "What Can I Do For You?" and "When He Returns," respectively, will likely open up your tear ducts.
If the real root of all modern music is gospel music, as Dylan has asserted, then this DVD will provide spiritual nourishment for anyone in these modern times--whether they find themselves in a subway or in their own living room.
Scott M. Marshall
Toccoa, Georgia (USA)
--Author (with Marcia Ford) of "Restless Pilgrim: The Spiritual Journey of Bob Dylan"
--Author of the four-part online series "Bob Dylan's Unshakeable Monotheism," located at http://www.jewsweek.com

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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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