BROTHERS & SISTERS, THE
DYLAN'S GOSPEL (LIGHT IN THE ATTIC)
* Liner notes interviewing Lou Adler, Merry Clayton & Edna Wright with archive photos * Remastered from the original stereo 1/4" tapes Of all the great back catalogs in the history of rock, Bob Dylan's is among the most covered, his acolytes ranging from The Byrds to Adele via Manfred Mann and Guns N' Roses.
But something tells us you won't have heard anything quite like Dylan's Gospel by The Brothers and Sisters, a choir of Los Angeles session singers brought gloriously to the fore for a very special, one-off record.
Originally released in 1969 on Ode Records, this rare and sought-after album finds the California collective covering a clutch of Dylan classics in the era's revolutionary gospel style.
Produced by Lou Adler, soon to work his magic on Carole King's mega-successful Tapestry, and arranged by Gene Page, noted for his work for Motown, the performers were largely unknown, but many went on to find great acclaim.
Merry Clayton, the powerhouse singer best known for sparring with Mick Jagger on Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" (and star of the recent documentary 20 Feet from Stardom), appears here, as does Edna Wright of The Honeycones and Gloria Jones who recorded the original version of "Tainted Love" in 1965.
The cast of 27 singers also includes Ruby Johnson, Shirley Matthews, Clydie King, Patrice Holloway, Julia Tillman and more.
The tracklist includes some of the best-loved Dylan songs from the singer songwriter's most productive decade, including "Lay Lady Lay", "All Along The Watchtower", "My Back Pages" and "Just Like A Woman".
Presented in this long-overdue reissue by Light In The Attic, this oft-overlooked album is a must for fans of Dylan.
The word of Dylan has rarely sounded so stirring.