Bob Dylan knows how to curate a compilation of rock history, and THEME TIME RADIO HOUR is an admirable attempt to consolidate his feverish ear for bluesy new torch carriers like the White Stripes and oft-forgotten reggae gems like Alton Ellis & the Flames. Disc Two, in particular, surprises by beginning with Aretha Franklin's iconic "Chain Of Fools" and leading a dizzying tour through a half-century of black American (and, in the Clash's case, black-inspired) music, leaning heavily on jazz and R&B. Its companion is a more raucous affair, thanks to the inclusion of Jack and Meg White, but also to seminal bluesmen like Otis Rush. Consider THEME TIME an expert-level Cliff's Notes for those without satellite radio.

That Bob Dylan -- is there anything he can't do? After distinguishing himself as a songwriter, recording artist, concert attraction, author, filmmaker, and actor, Dylan added "disc jockey" to his r‚sum‚ in 2006 when he began hosting Theme Time Radio Hour on XM Satellite Radio. Dylan's show quickly gained a passionate following, as much for Dylan's witty and insightful commentary about music as for the rich variety of tunes he unearthed for his broadcasts, dating from the '30s to the present day and representing a startling array of styles and genres. Given that Dylan is one of the most bootlegged performers of the rock era, it was all but inevitable that pirate discs of Dylan's radio shows would start circulating, but Dylan, his radio producer Eddie Gorodetsky, and the folks at Ace Records have offered fans an authorized alternative with this two-disc set containing 50 songs that have appeared on Theme Time Radio Hour. Unfortunately, Dylan himself is largely absent from this album; his introductions and between-song patter don't make the cut, and his astute commentary hasn't been included in the accompanying 48-page booklet, though each song does merit a well-written paragraph focusing on the tune, its artist, and its background. Also, while each episode of Dylan's radio show focuses on a different topic -- "Luck," "Drink," "Flowers," "Jail," "Mother," and the like -- this set doesn't attempt to follow such a thematic continuity, instead pulling random songs from various broadcasts, though at least listeners are informed which episode featured what song. Still, this set leaves no doubt that Bob Dylan knows a great song when he hears one, and there are 50 thoroughly enjoyable and often rare recordings collected on the Theme Time Radio Hour album. Dylan's knowledge and appreciation of popular music is deep, and there are wonderfully idiosyncratic examples of jazz (Charles Mingus' "Eat That Chicken"), rhythm & blues ("Buddy, Stay Off the Wine" by Betty Hall Jones), country (Eddie Noack's "Take It Away Lucky"), soul (an amazing alternate take of Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools"), pop ("Black Coffee" performed by Bobby Darin), reggae ("Gun Fever" by the Valentines), rock ("Bottle and a Bible" by the Yayhoos), and a few destinations that defy convenient categorization ("Beatnik's Wish" by Patsy Raye & the Beatniks). This only scratches the surface of what's to be found in this set, just as Theme Time Radio Hour only offers a relatively brief overview of what Dylan has uncovered for his radio audience, but what's here is all fine and fascinating stuff, and with any luck this will be the first of several albums devoted to the cream of Bob Dylan's record collection and the riches to be found within. ~ Mark Deming

Uncut (p.98) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Beguilingly autobiographical, THEME TIME...is a tantalising cousin of his memoir, CHRONICLES....Deliciously unique."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.118) - 5 stars out of 5 -- "The selections cross time and genre: gospel, country, rock 'n' roll, girl groups, blues, jazz, jump R&B, rude-boy reggae and punk rock."

Record Collector (magazine) (p.106) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t remains a good source for some of the rare songs Dylan plays, probably revealing more about himself in his picks than he does anywhere else."