Highway of Diamonds - Black America Sings Bob Dylan

Ace’s small but ever-evolving Black America Sings… series has been quiet of late, but it springs back into action this month with the 2-LP and CD releases of “Highway Of Diamonds” – a second dip onto the catalogue of Bob Dylan, as reimagined by some of the foremost African-American artists of the 20th century.

From almost the start of his songwriting career, Dylan’s words and music have impacted on black American music, with ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’, speaking to an America that was still mostly segregated and becoming an anthem for all colours and creeds.  As Dylan’s own career progressed, so did the number of covers he received, with a significant amount coming from what might be termed ‘non-traditional’ sources such as those heard here.
The 20 songs on “Highway Of Diamonds” continue the story that was told in part on the earlier “How Many Roads”  compilation, with an almost entirely different selection of artists lending their voices to some of the best songwriting of the 20th century, and an almost entirely different selection of songs (with the exception of ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ itself, which provides a common thread linking the story told across the two sets).
Big names from the worlds of soul, gospel and jazz, timeless songs and, for many, new ways of appreciating ever-durable material make “Highway Of Diamonds” as essential a purchase as its predecessor.

As ever, the great audio is complemented by a handsomely illustrated package on both CD and double vinyl, with a plethora of illustrations and in depth song-by-song-and-track-by-track annotation by Ace legend Tony Rounce.

 

1. A HARD RAIN'S A-GONNA FALL - THE STAPLE SINGERS
2. EVERYTHING IS BROKEN - BETTYE LAVETTE
3. JUST LIKE TOM THUMB'S BLUES - NINA SIMONE
4. GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY - NATALIE COLE
5. IT AIN'T ME BABE - MAXINE WELDON
6. IT'S ALRIGHT MA (I'M ONLY BLEEDING) - BILLY PRESTON
7. THE MIGHTY QUINN - SOLOMON BURKE
8. RAINY DAY WOMEN #12 & 35 - MERRY CLAYTON
9. SHELTER FROM THE STORM - CASSANDRA WILSON
10. THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN' - THE BROTHERS & SISTERS OF LOS ANGELE
11. TOMORROW IS A LONG TIME - HARRY BELAFONTE
12. BABY I'M IN THE MOOD FOR YOU - ODETTA
13. DON'T FALL APART ON ME TONIGHT - AARON NEVILLE
14. IF NOT FOR YOU - SARAH VAUGHAN
15. GEORGE JACKSON - JP ROBINSON
16. WHEN HE RETURNS - JIMMY SCOTT
17. I THREW IT ALL AWAY - THE BO-KEYS
18. DOWN ALONG THE COVE - JOHNNY JENKINS
19. EVERY GRAIN OF SAND - LIZZ WRIGHT
20. BLOWIN' IN THE WIND - THE CARAVANS