A Review of The Theme Time Radio Hour, hosted by Bob Dylan

The Theme Time Radio Hour, hosted by Bob Dylan

Broadcast 6/7/06 – This Week's Theme: Jail

Anyone who's read his interviews (or his autobiography Chronicles, Vol. 1) knows that radio was a huge influence on Dylan as a youngster, so it's really not too surprising that Bob would end up hosting a weekly radio show for XM Radio. And like Chronicles, the show is surprisingly good.

You could call them introductions, you could call them mini-commentaries, but Dylan has something of interest to say about each song. With more familiar songs, such as Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues," he might relate a bit of trivia. (Merle Haggard was an inmate in the audience during the live recording of the song.) To introduce a more obscure tune, he might tell you a bit about the artist, like Warren Storm – the Godfather of Swamp-Pop Music. (I kid you not.)

The credits at the end of the show name researchers, but having read Chronicles and the liner notes to the Dylan album World Gone Wrong, I wonder how much of the info Dylan relates comes straight from his own knowledge. My guess is quite a bit.

The delivery is often whimsical, playful, tongue-in-cheek; you can tell Dylan is having a great time. And you can't help but grin at his corny jokes ("Life in prison: here today...here tomorrow.") and goofy rhymes. Even in the XM ads that run throughout the week, Dylan ends his spiel with "The Theme Time Radio Hour, the best hour in American broadcasting." You can almost feel your pants leg being pulled.

All of Dylan's antics are great fun, but the highlight is the music itself. Sure, some of the tunes you've heard millions of times before ("Back On the Chain Gang," "Folsom Prison Blues"), but where else are you going to hear Bessie Smith's stunning "Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair" or "Prison Wall Blues" by Cannon's Jug Stompers? Some of the songs are no doubt meant to be funny, but even Andre Williams' "Jail Bait" throws a bit of merciless truth in your face. More importantly, Dylan introduces his audience to singers and bands that many listeners have probably never heard of, possibly bringing new fans to acts that have been gone for generations.

So there's Dylan, spinning tunes, spinning tales and having a great time...and maybe showing us a little bit of himself. What could be better than that?

Set List

Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash
21 Days in Jail – Magic Sam
Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair – Bessie Smith
Prisoner's Song – Warren Storm
Back on the Chain Gang – Pretenders
Jail Bait – Andre Williams
Prison Wall Blues – Cannon's Jug Stompers
Columbus Stockade Blues – Kenny Layne and His Bull Dogs
Nine Pound Steel – Joe Simon
Okie's in the Pokie – Jimmy Patton
Christmas in Prison – John Prine
In the Jailhouse Now – Sir Douglas Quintet
Jail Bird Love Song – Mississippi Sheiks
Riot in Cell Block #9 – Wanda Jackson
Sing Me Back Home – Merle Haggard
The Last Meal – Hurricane Harry