It's about time the record-buying public was offered up a decent, updated Dylan compilation! After all, artists with far less in the way of cultural influence, sales figures, or sheer release numbers have put out many more retrospective collections. Think of this, then, as your Dummies' Guide to Dylan. And for those who really aren't sure if they like the reedy Poet of a Generation® or not, there's even a single CD Cliffs Notes-sized version. For everyone else, there's a triple-disc edition with deluxe packaging and nifty artwork. Even the most marginal fan might quibble with the selection--shouldn't, like, half of it be taken from The Basement Tapes, rather than just one tune?--but there's not a mediocre song on here. It's a tad surprising that the songs are arranged chronologically, rather than grouped by grand themes, the way Johnny Cash's music was on his Love, God, Murder set. But then it is such a pleasure to watch Dylan's progression, to listen as he so quickly works through his influences, goes electric, discovers country music and then God—and then finally somehow wraps it all up together like some alchemical, one-man version of Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music. No matter how you wrap it up, or which commercials it acts as the soundtrack to, or what professors might try to eulogize it to death, this is music that remains as thrillingly alive today as a rattlesnake coiled and hissing in your boots tomorrow morning. --Mike McGonigal

DYLAN is a career-spanning retrospective of Bob Dylan's music. This definitive Bob Dylan collection chronicles the artist's four decades of groundbreaking studio recordings, as well as his unparalleled influence on popular music and culture. DYLAN serves as both a comprehensive introduction for new fans and an expansive, cherished overview for long-time Bob Dylan devotees. The 3 CD deluxe version is housed in a red cloth covered box with a magnetic hinged lid. The DYLAN logo is debossed on the outer lid, and the inside is covered in black velvet fabric with the Columbia logo gold foiled on the inside of the lid. Each CD is housed in an individual inner and outer sleeve. The outer sleeve art is iconic Dylan imagery while the inner sleeves are replica classic Columbia LP sleeves. The CDs themselves are replica vinyl discs. The 40 page booklet is perfect bound and contains extended liner notes and rare photos. Finally each box includes 10 limited edition postcard lithograph prints focusing on pivotal moments in Dylan's career.

1. Song To Woody 2. Blowin In The Wind 3. Masters Of War 4:32 4. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right 5. A Hard Rains A-gonna Fall 6. The Times They Are A-changin 7. All I Really Want To Do 8. My Back Pages 9. It Ain't Me Babe 10. Subterranean Homesick Blues 11. Mr. Tambourine Man 12. Maggie's Farm 13. Like A Rolling Stone 14. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue 15. Positively 4th Street 16. Rainy Day Woman # 12 & 35 17. Just Like A Woman 18. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I' Ll Go Mine) 19. All Along The Watchtower 20. You Ain't Goin Nowhere 21. Lay, Lady, Lay 22. If Not For You 23. I Shall Be Released 24. Knockin On Heaven's Door 25. On A Night Like This 26. Forever Young 27. Tangled Up In Blue 28. Simpel Twist Of Fate 29. Hurricane 30. Changing Of The Guards 31. Gotta Serve Somebody 32. Precious Angel 33. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Al Tar 34. Jokerman 35. Dark Eyes 36. Blind Whillie Mctell 37. Brownsville Girl 38. Silvio 39. Ring Them Bells 40. Dignity 41. Everything Is Broken 42. Under The Red Sky 43. You're Gonna Quit Me 44. Blood In My Eyes 45. Not Dark Yet 46. Things Have Changed 47. Make You Feel My Love 48. High Water 49. Po Boy 50. Someday Baby 51. When The Deal Goes Down