Bob Dylan

It starts with the sound of rain. A woman's voice tells us it is night in the city, and a nurse is smoking the last

cigarette in the pack. Then comes a nasal, gravelly voice, more familiar in song: 'It's time for Theme Time Radio Hour.

Dreams, schemes and themes.' The career of Bob Dylan, radio DJ, has begun.

Once the most iconic recluse in the music business, Dylan will spring a surprise on fans next month by broadcasting a

weekly music show across America. His debut behind the mic, due to be broadcast on 3 May, has been heard exclusively in

advance by The Observer.

As the quaint title, Theme Time Radio Hour, implies, it is a simple format, even old-fashioned. Taking a different theme

each week, Dylan introduces his favourite records with a wry line or pithy anecdote, then lets the music do the talking.

First is 'weather'. Sounding utterly imperturbable in his new role, he drawls in characteristically rhythmic tones: 'Today's

show, all about the weather. Curious about what the weather looks like? Just look out your window, take a walk outside. We're

gonna start out with the great Muddy Waters, one of the ancients by now, who all moderns prize.' He has been provided with a

digital recording kit so that he can present the hour-long programme from home, studio or tour bus. He sends a playlist to XM

Satellite Radio's researchers, who then assemble the music around his narration.

Future shows will be built around themes such as 'cars', 'dance', 'police' and 'whisky' and also feature special guests

including songwriter Elvis Costello, film star Charlie Sheen, Penn Jillette, the TV illusionist, and comedians Sarah

Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel. Dylan will read and answer selected emails sent by listeners - a thrill for fans who have

regarded him as a Messiah-like figure of unreachable mystique.

The playlist for the first show ranges from Muddy Waters's 'Blow, Wind, Blow' to Dean Martin's 'I Don't Care if the Sun

Don't Shine', from Jimi Hendrix's 'The Wind Cries Mary' to Judy Garland's 'Come Rain or Come Shine'. The list, much of it

from the Fifties, offers a fascinating insight into the sources of Dylan's musical inspiration. But there is no place for the

counter-culture hero's own nod to meteorological mischief, 'Blowin' In The Wind'.

Radio is a natural return to Dylan's roots. In his youth, Robert Zimmerman, as he was then called, was an avid listener,

first to blues and country music stations broadcasting from New Orleans, then to the first stirrings of rock'n'roll.

It took three years for XM's chief creative programming officer, Lee Abrams, to persuade Dylan, 65 next month, to do the

show. He said: 'With Theme Time Radio Hour, Bob redefines "cool radio" by combining a sense of intellect with edginess in a

way that hasn't been on radio before. Bob has put a lot of work into his XM show, and it's clear that he's having a good time

behind the mic.'

Bob's playlist choices

Blow, Wind, Blow - Muddy Waters

You Are My Sunshine - Jimmie Davis

California Sun - Joe Jones

Just Walking in the Rain - The Prisonaires

After the Clouds Roll Away - The Consolers

Let the Four Winds Blow - Fats Domino

Raining in my Heart - Slim Harpo

Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra

The Wind Cries Mary - Jimi Hendrix

Come Rain or Come Shine - Judy Garland

It's Raining - Irma Thomas

Stormy Weather - The Spaniels

Jamaica Hurricane - Lord Beginner

A Place in the Sun - Stevie Wonder (Italian version)

Uncloudy Day - The Staple Singers

I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine - Dean Martin

Keep on the Sunny Side - The Carter Family