Bob Dylan: Coming Of Age

In recent years, Bob Dylan hasn't exactly been resting. He has been writing books, digging around in his attic for vintage recordings, touring, and participating in a feature length biography by a major film maker. And pretty soon he'll be eligible for Social Security.

In a career that began more than 40 years ago, Dylan has written more than 500 songs, released 50 albums, staged nearly 2,000 live performances, acted in feature films, written books, been nominated for the Nobel prize and appeared in a Victoria's Secret TV commercial. For a guy who has proudly projected the image of a crotchety iconoclast, that's a pretty successful mainstream career.

As he approaches an age (he turns 65 in May) at which many folks are thinking about retirement and relaxation, Dylan seems to be cranking things up a notch. In the space of a few weeks, we've seen

• a two-part Martin Scorsese documentary on PBS and BBC (also available on DVD)
• Volume 7 of his "Bootleg" series (a two-CD set containing the music from the documentary)
• an illustrated biography and CD of early interviews and a performance
• a collection of rare live performances (available only at Starbucks)
• a current European tour, following a spring/summer U.S. tour

If there's any hint of "winding down" in all of these releases, it is in the fact that it is all retrospective. Although there isn't any "new" material, there is a wealth of previously unreleased (except on the actual bootleg market) performances from the formative years of Dylan's storied career. All of these recordings are significant, musically and historically.

No Direction Home (DVD) concentrates on the years 1961-66 and includes previously unreleased performance and studio footage, and interviews with the artist and many of his contemporaries.

Bootleg Series Volume 7: No Direction Home (CD) features key songs from the film, plus some "bonus" rare and previously unreleased recordings

Live At The Gaslight 1962 (CD) is a collection of 10 songs recorded at New York City's Gaslight Cafe, previously available only in bootlegged from, now available only at Starbucks.

The Bob Dylan Scrapbook 1956-1966 (Book/CD) contains photographs, interviews, and memorabilia accompanied by a CD of early interviews and a rare performance.

Whatever else he is or has done, it would be hard to find anyone who had more influence on late 20th century music than Bob Dylan. For that reason alone, these CDs, DVDs and books are essential to an understanding and appreciation of this living legend of rock.