The Dylan Project

Steve Gibbons / The Dylan Project
The First Two Albums
(RGF/DPDCD 066)

Road Goes On Forever Records is pleased to announce the acquisition of the first two albums recorded by The Dylan Project, ‘Steve Gibbons: The Dylan Project’ (initially released in 1998) and ‘Live At The Cropredy Festival 1999’ (initially released in 2001). These two albums were previously released by Woodworm Records, the label associated with Fairport Convention, but have not been available for several years.

The Dylan Project, as its name implies, is a group of seasoned musicians who perform, to considerable acclaim, songs written by Bob Dylan, whom all the group members regard with the greatest respect. Steve Gibbons (lead vocals, guitar and harmonica) wrote a song, ‘Colours To The Mast’, in appreciation of Dylan’s influence, and this is the only song on both albums which is not a Bob Dylan composition.

Steve’s cohorts on the first (studio) album include several members of Fairport Convention: Simon Nicol (acoustic guitar, vocals, etc.) was an original Fairporter, joining the group in 1967 as a teenager, while Dave Pegg (bass) worked with Steve Gibbons in Birmingham group The Uglys also in the second half of the 1960s before joining Fairport in 1969. Gerry Conway (drums) worked with such groups as Eclection, Fotheringay, Jethro Tull and was a member for six years of the band backing Cat Steven before joining Fairport. P.J.Wright (lead guitar, pedal steel, vocals), worked with Steve Gibbons for 20 years before launching his own bands, The Flying Tortellinis and Little Johnny England.

This hugely experienced group of musicians fronted by the legendary Steve Gibbons, have been touring regularly for the last ten years. On the 1999 live album, they were joined by the incredibly prolific Texas-born keyboard player John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick, whose credits include working with Pete Townshend for the last 30 years.

CD1: Steve Gibbons: The Dylan Project

1.Colours To The Mast
2.When The Ship Comes In (c)
3.Simple Twist Of Fate
4.Highway 61 Revisited
5.It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
6.Fourth Time Around
7.I Am A Lonesome Hobo (a)
8.Peggy Day
9.Stuck Inside Of Memphis With The Mobile Blues Again
10.Dark Eyes
11.Down Along The Cove
12.Absolutely Sweet Marie
13.I Want You
14.Winterlude
15.Ring Them Bells (b)
Bonus track
16.I Shall Be Released (live at Banbury)

CD2: The Dylan Project: Live At Cropredy Festival 1999

1.Colours To The Mast
2.She Belongs To Me
3.When The Ship Comes In
4.Sweetheart Like You
5.Simple Twist Of Fate
6.I Am A Lonesome Hobo
7.Absolutely Sweet Marie
8.Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You
9.Down Along The Cove
10.Just Like A Woman
11.You’ve Gotta Serve Somebody
12.Dark Eyes
13.Highway 61 Revisited
14.Like A Rolling Stone
Bonus Track
15.Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (live at Banbury)

Personnel:

CD1: Steve Gibbons (vocals, guitar, harmonica), P.J.Wright (guitars, dobro, pedal steel, Hammond organ, vocals), Dave Pegg (bass, mandolin, vocals, tambourine), Simon Nicol (guitars, bass, vocals), Gerry Conway (drums, percussion) plus (a) Ric Sanders (‘cosmic’ violin), (b) Ben Bennion, Mick Bullard, Maartin Allcock (vocals), (c) Chris Leslie (violin, vocals)

CD2: Steve Gibbons (vocals, guitar, harmonica), P.J.Wright (pedal steel, slide guitar), Simon Nicol (acoustic guitar, backing vocals), Dave Pegg (bass, backing vocals), Gerry Conway (drums), John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick (keyboards), plus Ric Sanders, Chris Leslie (violins)

Bonus tracks: Steve Gibbons (vocals, guitar, harmonica), P.J.Wright (pedal steel, slide guitar), Phil Bond (keyboards), Dave Pegg (bass, backing vocals), Gerry Conway (drums)