The Cactus Blossoms (from the album If Not for You (Bob Dylan Songs Vol. 1

The Cactus Blossoms (from the album If Not for You (Bob Dylan Songs Vol. 1

The Cactus Blossoms (from the album If Not for You (Bob Dylan Songs Vol. 1 available on Walkie Talkie Records) (by Bryant Liggett)
Musicians will never run out of Bob Dylan songs to cover; there are just too dang many tunes in his catalog. Bob Dylan’s gift to the world is not only this body of work, but a body of work other great musicians are putting their own spin on. They’ll keep coming, record after record as bands from every genre cover arguably the greatest songwriter ever. The Cactus Blossoms give Bob a shout on the short, but impactful, Bob Dylan Songs Vol. 1, sticking with four cuts from early on in Dylan’s career.
There’s subtle twang in “If Not for You” from 1970’s New Morning, but The Cactus Blossoms (Jack Torrey and Page Burkum) turn it into a bouncy and easy-going Roots Pop number. Ambient steel and bouncy piano and keys, along with great guitar fills are just part of this skippy cut with layered instrumentation; its killer. “To Ramona” from 1964’s Another Side of Bob Dylan is played close to the original in its pace, The Cactus Blossoms providing a bit of a Tex-Mex ballad vibe.  “Went to See the Gypsy” from 1970’s New Morning is dramatic and deep, and “Tell Me That Isn’t True” from 1969’s Nashville Skyline is turned into a soulful, R&B cut. Gospel organ gives it a gospel feel, the harmonies delivered sad and sullen, which fit the feeling of the songs sad love story.
Any Bob Dylan cover album should be reviewed on doing Dylan justice. The answer here is yes, their harmonies conveying Dylan’s always strong narratives, their instrumentation giving the cuts at times big presentation.
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