Bob Dylan-Together Through Life (2009)

Artist: Bob Dylan

Label: Columbia

Format: 2XCD + DVD

Catalog Number: 88697 51697 2

Year of Release: 2009

Country and Year of Edition: US 2009 CD + Bonus Theme Time Radio Friends & Neighbors CD (Porter Wagoner and the Wagonmasters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, T-Bone Burnett, Doc Guidry, Moon Mulligan, Jerry McCain, George Jones & Melba Montgomery, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Carole King, Ronnie & The Delinquents, The Rolling Stones, Luke The Drifter, War) + DVD Roy Silver The Lost Interview

Sell Price: $4.39

Sell Date: 12/31/24

Condition: VG+/VG+

Discogs Last Sold: 10/17/24 NM/VG+ $10.00

Low: $2.00

Median: $4.85

Average: $6.25

High: $34.94

Current low price: $2.79

Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 48

Have/Want: 797/31

Where Sold: Hoover, AL

Time It Took To Sell: 13 years

Where and When Bought: new fancypants edition online when it came out

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: A

Sad To See It Go: No

Together Though Life came out quick with little pre-announcement. At the time it gave the impression of a "lesser work." This was primarily co-written with Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. "Life Is Hard" was originally for a film My Own Love Song directed by Oliver Dahan. Dahan wouldn't have had a problem if Bob laid a whole soundtrack worth of songs at his feet and ultimately Bob was a heavy contributor, although it was never officially released as a Soundtrack album per se. 16 songs, many of which didn't make this record. Maybe these will be bonus tracks when the record gets a reissued deluxe treatment on its 20th or 25th anniversary.

Of course, a Dylan "lesser work" can often be assessed and reassessed again through the lens of time and a still growing catalog. Bob has wrapped up his 4-year pre-announced touring timeline for 2020's Rough and Rowdy Ways, so maybe there will be another new set of songs sooner rather than later.

This particular package included an edition of Theme Time Radio Hour that aired on Sirius XM, Friends & Neighbors. There is also a DVD interview added where hilarity is supposed to ensue, but you can't stream it so I won't blow the surprise. You'll just have to track one down.

What are my favorites here? Hands down "If You Ever Go To Houston." Better get yourself right, indeed. Next for me is "This Dream Of You" because it has a refrain designed perfectly for Bob presentation: "...is this dream of you that keeps me living ooooooonnnnn." The single "Beyond Here Lies Nothing" that kicks of the album makes plain with David Hidalgo that this is a different kind of 00's Dylan release, augmenting his touring band sound, not replicating it. The song that became the albums standard bearer in the next decade was "Forgetful Heart" which fit side by side with the Sinatra standards Bob was focusing on. This was a song for Gladhands, Al Jolson style.

As for the rest, the non-Parton character "Jolene" (or was it the same Jolene from another writer's point of view?) had the most live traction, with a Blues instrumental response to Bob's character that makes the song.

It's All Good!

Links For Further Review

Other Bob Dylan Titles Discussed

Bob Dylan (1962)

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963)

Highway 61 Revisited (1965)

Blonde On Blonde (1966)

Nashville Skyline (1969)

New Morning (1970)

Watching The River Flow b/w Spanish Is The Loving Tongue (1971)

Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (Original Soundtrack Recording) (1973)

Planet Waves (1974)