If the Jack FM radio format, with its “play what we want” craptastic playlist, spells the end of traditional radio as a venue for exciting and entertaining music programming, then satellite companies like Sirius and XFM promise they will fill this void. To entice people to purchase the players and subscribe to the pricey monthly service, both companies have marketed their selection of channels by trotting out various celebrity DJs and specialty programs. One of the most shocking and intriguing was XM’s announcement of Bob Dylan as a weekly host. For the last 30 years, Mr Zimmerman has made sure to avoid the spotlight, and in particular, stayed away from television or radio interviews. Yet in the last year-and-a-half Dylan released a major documentary, has been interviewed by 60 Minutes, and published volume one of his autobiography. The recluse was warming to the attention, as long as it was on his terms.

Theme Time Radio Hour (with Bob Dylan) is clearly a program developed on Dylan’s terms. Dylan has created a program that adopts aspects of the great late-night music programs of decades past, where DJs are given free reign to play any song or musician they fancy. Moreover, he is able to evoke, as is evident with the name of the program, characteristics of the old 30s or 40s-era programs hosted by the Carter Family and Woody Guthrie that spoke about themes that hit close to home. These themes are what come to define each show, as Dylan chooses a particular topic like “Divorce” or “Mothers” and traces how they shape and define various styles of American music. That being said, the host does not take an aw-shucks sentimental approach to the topics, nor does he personalize things in any way. (It’s surprising that Dylan didn’t discuss his own experiences with divorce).

Overall, the shows are absolutely amazing and really highlight Dylan’s awareness and understanding of particular themes that course through American song, from the early country and blues songs of artists like Robert Johnson and A P Carter, to the more modern material of urban artists like L L Cool J (yes, even he gets played). Moreover, the dialogue and banter is thoroughly enjoyable, as the host riffs on various lyrics in the songs and throws in a good quip here or there—like in the episode about marriage where he cracks that “all marriages are happy, it's living together afterwards that's rough.” Aside from the comedic moments, there’s a great noirish mystery that courses through the program and is brought to mind right off the top, as the female DJ who introduces the program pipes in with “it’s nighttime in the city, and a nurse is smoking the last cigarette in the pack.” You can almost envision the steam coming out of the storm drains and the neon illuminating the dark streets as Dylan begins with a haunting tune by Muddy Waters.

You might wonder how you can find these shows, as they’re only available by satellite subscription. Dylan obsessives on the Internet have tried to make each show available to fans desperate to hear the shows. While this paper does not endorse illegal attempts to obtain these sought-after programs, let’s just say that they’re out there and you can find them if you want to hear them.