When Bob Dylan saw the light, his fans saw only red. Even for a musician whose periodic reinventions caused plenty of controversy, Dylan's conversion to Christianity in late 1978 was a particularly tough sell. In the mid-'60s, his audience had recoiled when he picked up an electric guitar and went himself from traditional folkie to folk-rocker. For those diehard fans, the idea of born-again proselytizing from the irreverent creator of "Subterranean Homesick Blues" and "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" made as much sense as Pat Boone crooning for the MC5.

When the dust finally cleared, Dylan's stint as Christian rocker was relatively short-lived. After a handful of religious albums -- "Slow Train Coming" in 1979, "Saved" in '80 and "Shot of Love" in '81 -- he eventually returned to the secular world. Since then, Dylan's oeuvre from those years has been embraced by gospel music circles. Gotta Serve Somebody -- The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan is a pleasant, if unremarkable, examination of that artistic time, bringing together some of the biggest names in gospel for covers of Dylan's Christian compositions.

Directed by Michael B. Borofsky (who produced a number of interviews in Martin Scorsese's vastly superior No Direction Home: Bob Dylan), this quasi-documentary reviews Dylan's Christian period by speaking with a smattering of music critics, Dylan biographers, musicians and record biz observers. It makes for a compact depiction of that time, if not an especially illuminating one.

Oh, well; no matter. The music is the real attraction here. As a non-Christian and casual Dylan fan, I am hardly the target audience for this DVD, which chronicles the 2003 making of a compilation album by the same name. Fortunately, the tracks showcased here are joyous and resonant. The bulk of music transcends religious boundaries.

There are some terrific numbers. Dottie Peoples' rendition of "I Believe in You" highlights her sonorous vocals against a spare, Muscle Shoals-styled rhythm section. The Chicago Mass Choir is fronted by Regina McCrary (who toured with Dylan during his Christian period) for a rousing cover of "Pressing On," while the Sounds of Blackness soar with the "immaculate funk" of "Solid Rock." The Mighty Clouds of Joy are incendiary in the no-frills gospel of "Saved."

The songs and performers include:

It is disappointing that most of the songs are presented in such an uninspiring manner. The performances take place in recording studios, the singer often in profile with the obligatory cutaways of studio musicians doing their thing. You might hear the angels sing, but don't expect to see 'em. That lack of imagination is especially glaring in the cuts by Caesar and Neville, both of whom deliver comparatively listless covers.

The picture is a standard 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The video presentation is adequate, albeit flat and occasionally amateurishly lit. Colors bleed slightly in a few scenes.

Very good sound quality, as you would hope and expect. A DVD option lets you play the entirety of selected songs rather than the often-truncated versions featured in the documentary.

There is only one bonus track, but it's a dandy. A 1983 music short for Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" merges primitive animation with the singer's mesmerizing composition. Even with the DVD's handful of captivating cover versions, this Dylan original is the best thing on the disc.

Good music, but this is one DVD not especially interested in preaching to the unconverted. It helps to appreciate Bob Dylan, and it really helps to appreciate gospel.