Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series

I got the 2-disc set for Christmas. So far I've listened to the 1st disc. I already knew and loved most of the songs from the original studio albums, and in a few cases at least I think I still prefer the studio versions (especially the ones on Saved vs some of the early live performances where it seems like the road-testing of the songs improved them), but some of the performances reveal whole new sides of the songs or feature a particularly great vocal, so this for me is well worth having.

To me it's worth it just for the super cool intro he does for Solid Rock...

"Gonna do a request tonight. Somebody shouted out a song called Solid Rock. Hanging onto a solid rock made before the foundation of the world, is that the one you mean?"

haha yeah that's great

Just finished the new Clinton Heylin book accompanying the set.... Some of it familiar from Behind The Shades but a good deep read on the period nonetheless

I just wish Property Of Jesus was on the 2 cd live set, that's always been my favorite fire and brimstone Bob song.

I dug out "Slow Train Coming" recently because of this set, and liked it more than I thought I was going to.

So, may be back 'on the bus' regarding this set,

Has anyone watched the dvd documentary? My local art house theatre is doing a one time showing of the doc in a few weeks and was wondering if it was worth catching.

I'm amazed and touched to find that (12-13 years ago) I started this thread!

Came here seeking views on TROUBLE NO MORE. Will read with interest. I just have the 2CD set.

I didn't recall that there was a whole Clinton Heylin book on this. (Is there any Dylan he hasn't written a book about?)

Though quite a Dylan fan I have NEVER heard the Christian LPs before -- most of these songs come to me totally new. I find it remarkable that he played dozens of concerts, for months, playing ONLY the new songs, nothing from before c.1978 -- very unlike what he went back to doing later in the 1980s I think.

My sense is that the Christian message doesn't get in the way too much for me (though it's not my kind of message, especially as, as all know, it's so hectoring and aggressive) - maybe many of the other LPs had this kind of lyrical material anyway, just less concentrated? -- and the big bonus seems to be the band.

Heylin book just came out last fall as a companion to the new Bootleg Series (a la his recent 1966 book). haven't read it yet, but plan on it ...
EZ, just finally watched the DVD and it's great. Michael Shannon sermons might be a little iffy for some, but I don't know, they add an interesting wrinkle ... I do wish that they'd also have included the complete Toronto show in pristine quality, but I guess YouTube will have to suffice for now. The semi-staged rehearsal footage at Rundown Studios is pretty interesting — the version of "Abraham Martin & John" that comes at the end is kind of stunning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbveLDvePDQ

Would love a whole album made up of these Dylan / Clydie duets ... they sound amazing together here. There's an uncirculating session from 1982 apparently:

Rundown Studios

Santa Monica, California

1 June 1982

Clydie King session.

1. Standing In The Light

2. Average People

3. Average People

4. Average People

5. In The Heat Of The Night

6. Dream A Little Dream Of Me

Clydie King (vocal), Bob Dylan (organ, guitar, bass), Jimmie Haskell (piano).

oh yeah, that's a great little performance!

you have to be kind of fearless to sing with Bob like that, but here it totally works

From MVD Entertainment Group:

https://mvd.cloud/300dpi/MVD0843D.jpg

Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs Of Bob Dylan
Coming to DVD and digital formats February 9th

Features an intense performance from Bob Dylan, plus performances from Aaron Neville, Shirley Caesar, Dottie Peoples, and many others during behind-the-scenes making of the Grammy-nominated compilation "Gotta Serve Somebody" released 15 years ago

"The best African-American covers of Dylan songs since Jimi Hendrix."
- The New York Times
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AWgnsYECLo
Marking the fifteenth anniversary of GRAMMY-nominated album Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan, MVD Entertainment Group will reissue the film of the same title. Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan features an intense Bob Dylan performance from 1980 of "When He Returns" as well as powerful performances and interviews with Aaron Neville, Shirley Caesar, Fairfield Four, Mighty Clouds of Joy, and Dottie Peoples, reflecting on their faith and connections to Dylan's Christian music.

Now, with the November release of Columbia Records' "Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series Vol. 13 / 1979-1981," a further exploration of that period has taken place, which began with this album and film. "It was an honor to have made an impression on the great artist himself with these recordings," said the film's producer Jeffrey Gaskill. From 2009 to 2011, Bob Dylan opened 40 concerts around the world with Gonna Change My Way of Thinking (his Grammy-nominated new version re-written and recorded for Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan with Mavis Staples.) in concert halls in Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong, London, Beijing, Shanghai, Adelaide and this performance in Tel Aviv (video HERE).

Just a month after his recording with Staples he would kick off a new tour in Stockholm Sweden and perform Solid Rock (what many consider the theme song to his gospel era concerts) for the first time in over twenty years. Dylan would continue to perform this rousing song as well as other gospel era songs at numerous concerts across Europe and beyond. The two-time Grammy nominated compilation would be released on Sony/Columbia one year later on April 1, 2003

"This gospel music was Bob Dylan's ultimate rebellion, and it took much more courage than strapping on an electric guitar," said Gaskill. The film offers historical insights into this Bob Dylan era provided by Jim Keltner, Fred Tackett, Spooner Oldham, and Regina McCrary - all of whom performed and recorded with Dylan at the time. Famed record producer Jerry Wexler, who produced the records, and music journalists Paul Williams and Alan Light, also disclose insights.

PRESS QUOTES:

"The best African-American covers of Dylan songs since Jimi Hendrix."
-The New York Times

"Another corner of American music has, appropriately, claimed Dylan as its own."
- Associated Press

"Even agnostics may now agree there was something nearly supernatural about Dylan's mastery of an unlikely idiom--black gospel."
- Entertainment Weekly

TRACK LISTING
Arlethia Lindsey - Every Grain of Sand
Bob Dylan - When He Returns
Sounds of Blackness - Solid Rock
Shirley Caesar - Gotta Serve Somebody
Dottie Peoples - I Believe in You
Aaron Neville - Saving Grace
Helen Baylor - What Can I Do For You'
The Fairfield Four - Are You Ready
Great Day Chorale - In the Garden
Mighty Clouds of Joy - Saved
Chicago Mass Choir featuring Regina McCrary - Pressing On
Rance Allen - When He Returns

looks pretty cool to me! the album is on Spotify but not streamable in my area:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0gJ0twaeXyBLPs8Nyiqjs0

haha wait though the Mavis/Bob song is available and has a pretty hilarious skit!

TROUBLE NO MORE - I must now have played the 2CDs about 20 or 30 times each.

Favourites include:

guitar on first 'slow train coming';

speed of second 'slow train coming'.

Groove on first 'gotta serve somebody';

Bo Diddley rhythm on second 'gotta serve somebody'.

Graceful music and possible Knopfler pastiche on 'precious angel'.

'Solid rock' especially the intro to it as 'RE-QUEST'.

Slick groove and kooky delivery on 'do right to me baby'.

Lead guitar riff on 'saved'.

Band introductions on 'are you ready?' and Dylan asking if someone will tell him if he's ready.

'Shot of love' like a prototype for 'high water'.

Scorching, remarkable 'groom's still waiting at the altar' with chorus lyric quite different from the record - 'tell her I still think she's neat'!

'Shot of love' like a prototype for 'high water'.
yeah, I can totally see that

yeah this is becoming a favorite of mine

I'll add:

everyone going ecstatic and just screaming blessed is the name of the Lord forever over and over

surely Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers brought out the best in 80s Dylan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfHfkZOeuNM

yeah i have recently got some bootlegs from dylan/petty tours and it's interesting that he's doing christian material way after infidels and the official "end" of the christian period

yeah it seems to me that the Christian period never ended

haha, doesn't the petty / dylan video end with "In The Garden"? not even a "light" christian song like "every grain of sand" ...

some good 80s dylan speeches during those shows, lol

You know back in the States Ronald Reagan is a big hero to a lot of people. Sylvester Stallone he's also a hero. Ever heard of him? Or over here maybe Mad Max is a hero? Yeah we got a lot of heroes over in the United States at the moment. Michael Jackson, he's one of the biggest. And my good friend Bruce Springsteen. He's turned into quite a hero these days. I'll tell you something. I don't care nothing about none of these people. I got a different hero. He might have lived a long time ago, but you know what was good yesterday is still good today. He's the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I don't know if these current heroes are gonna be. (before In The Garden)

Way later on, somebody asked him, "Do you still believe in those songs?" "I do when I'm singing them."
Thanks for the Hard To Handle link, that's the best quality I've seen for it on the 'Tube (saw it on VH-1 in the 80s, hope it's still got Stevie Nicks singing lead on "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," everybody killin' it). Not as creative as some of his other live presentations, but as dynamic arena-rock, sweatin' to the oldies, still pretty strong. Makes me want to check Live At Budokan and Real Live, but prob advantage here re hooking up with a long-pre-existing, cohesive crew.

"Do you still believe in those songs?" "I do when I'm singing them."

:D

I thought I was still on the Morrissey thread for a moment there...

On the Rolling Thunder set when he says “Just Like A Woman? Ok... we’ll try that”—was he taking requests?

Not as creative as some of his other live presentations, but as dynamic arena-rock, sweatin' to the oldies, still pretty strong
yeah it's not too subtle, but it's one of the few times where he (kinda) pulled the arena thing off

out in november
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/715d3t-sELL._SL1500_.jpg

ooooh

http://nodepression.com/article/more-blood-more-tracks-update-bob-dylans-bootleg-series

fuck yeah, this can only be good

love all the anecdotes about the recording, maybe more good stories will surface

damn I'm hyped for this

maybe they will also address the original tempo thing?

I bet they include both versions

actually, looking at the tracklist, that seems unlikely

This would also benefit from a 2 disc release. I dislike listening to several versions if a track in a row. *ducks*

(I'll buy the full set though)

Re tempo:

Engineers went back to the master tapes to correct the speed of the album and remix it. Some believe that one of the CDs in both editions will be a remixed and speed corrected version of BOTT. For those interested, here are the specifics of how much faster the songs on the album are compared to the original master takes:

​

Tangled Up in Blue 2.30%
Simple Twist of Fate 2.30%
You're a Big Girl Now 2.28%
Idiot Wind 2.25%
You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go 2.21%
Meet Me in the Morning 2.35%
Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts 1.74%
If You See Her, Say Hello 0.68%
Shelter From the Storm 0.68%
Buckets of Rain 0.61%

​
^^ from Reddit

The 1-2 of “Thief on the Cross” into “Pressing On” on disc 3 of Trouble No More is so good. That “Pressing On” version in particular gets me choked up.

I dislike listening to several versions if a track in a row. *ducks*

― Duke, Wednesday, September 19, 2018 2:01 PM (twelve minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

(I'll buy the full set though)

― Duke, Wednesday, September 19, 2018 2:03 PM (ten minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

(a) I do too, and (b) I won't. There gotta be a distilled version, like always(?)

This would also benefit from a 2 disc release. I dislike listening to several versions if a track in a row. *ducks*

looks like there's a one-disc / 2LP distillation

I'm not enough of a head to immediately grasp (from that "ISIS Magazine" post) what exactly this material is? Is it the famous "New York session"?

these are (more or less) the complete NY sessions for blood on the tracks, most of which have never been bootlegged. the famous acetate has been booted ad nauseam over the years, and then a handful of things have been officially released on biograph and the original bootleg series (and a few other places). but a lot of these recordings haven't been heard by the general public before.

Cool, man... I knew this day would come

yeah it'll be interesting — it definitely is a lot of alt takes of the same songs, but I get the feeling there's going to be a fair amount of differentiation in approach, lyrics, arrangements, etc.

I just dislike repeats as a listening experience. I got the full Basment Tapes set, but find myself listening to the 2 disc version for pleasure.

If I may say so, Tyler, guys like you are made to be curators of this stuff for guys like me.

If there's a 2-disc version, will it be called 2 Blood 2 Furious?

here's the whole shebang:

BOB DYLAN
MORE BLOOD, MORE TRACKS
THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 14
1 CD / 2LP

Tangled Up in Blue (9/19/74, Take 3, Remake 3)

Simple Twist of Fate (9/16/74, Take 1)

Shelter From The Storm (9/17/74, Take 2)

You’re a Big Girl Now (9/16/74, Take 2)

Buckets of Rain (9/18/74, Take 2, Remake)

If You See Her, Say Hello (9/16/74, Take 1)

Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts (9/16/74, Take 2)

Meet Me in the Morning (9/19/74, Take 1, Remake)

Idiot Wind (9/19/74, Take 4, Remake)

You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (9/17/74, Take 1, Remake)

Up to Me (9/19/74, Take 2, Remake)

All Tracks Recorded
A & R Studios
New York 9/16 – 9/19/1974

Tracks Recorded 9/16 & 18
Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, harmonica

Tracks Recorded 9/17 & 19
Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, harmonica
Tony Brown – bass

All songs written by Bob Dylan

BOB DYLAN
MORE BLOOD, MORE TRACKS
THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 14
6 CD Deluxe Edition

DISC 1

A & R Studios
New York
September 16, 1974

If You See Her, Say Hello (Take 1) – solo
If You See Her, Say Hello (Take 2) – solo – previously released on The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3: Rare and Unreleased, 1961-1991
You’re a Big Girl Now (Take 1) – solo
You’re a Big Girl Now (Take 2) – solo
Simple Twist of Fate (Take 1) – solo
Simple Twist of Fate (Take 2) – solo
You’re a Big Girl Now (Take 3) – solo
Up to Me (Rehearsal) – solo
Up to Me (Take 1) – solo
Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts (Take 1) – solo
Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts (Take 2) – solo – included on Blood on the Tracks test pressing

Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, harmonica

DISC 2

A & R Studios
New York
September 16, 1974

Simple Twist of Fate (Take 1A) – with band
Simple Twist of Fate (Take 2A) – with band
Simple Twist of Fate (Take 3A) – with band
Call Letter Blues (Take 1) – with band
Meet Me in the Morning (Take 1) – with band – edited version included on Blood on the Tracks test pressing and previously released on Blood on the Tracks
Call Letter Blues (Take 2) – with band – previously released on The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3: Rare and Unreleased, 1961-1991
Idiot Wind (Take 1) – with bass
Idiot Wind (Take 1, Remake) – with bass
Idiot Wind (Take 3 with insert) – with bass
Idiot Wind (Take 5) – with bass
Idiot Wind (Take 6) – with bass
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Rehearsal and Take 1) – with band
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Take 2) – with band
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Take 3) – with band
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Take 4) – with bass
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Take 5) – with band
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Take 6) – with band
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Take 6, Remake) – with band
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Take 7) – with band
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Take 8) – with band

Bob Dylan: vocals, guitar, harmonica
Eric Weissberg, Charles Brown III, Barry Kornfeld: guitars
Thomas McFaul: keyboards
Tony Brown: bass
Richard Crooks: drums
Buddy Cage: steel guitar (5-6)

DISC 3

A & R Studios
New York
September 16, 1974

Tangled Up in Blue (Take 1) – with bass

A & R Studios
New York
September 17, 1974

You’re a Big Girl Now (Take 1, Remake) – with bass and organ
You’re a Big Girl Now (Take 2, Remake) – with bass, organ, and steel guitar –included on Blood on the Tracks test pressing and previously released on Biograph
Tangled Up in Blue (Rehearsal) – with bass and organ
Tangled Up in Blue (Take 2, Remake) – with bass and organ
Spanish is the Loving Tongue (Take 1) – with bass and piano
Call Letter Blues (Rehearsal) – with bass and piano
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Take 1, Remake) – with bass and piano
Shelter From The Storm (Take 1) – with bass and piano – previously released on the Jerry McGuire original soundtrack
Buckets of Rain (Take 1) – with bass
Tangled Up in Blue (Take 3, Remake) – with bass
Buckets of Rain (Take 2) – with bass
Shelter From The Storm (Take 2) – with bass
Shelter From The Storm (Take 3) – with bass
Shelter From The Storm (Take 4) – with bass – previously released on Blood on the Tracks

Bob Dylan: vocals, guitar, harmonica
Tony Brown: bass
Paul Griffin: keyboards (2-9)
Buddy Cage: steel guitar (3)

DISC 4

A & R Studios
New York
September 17, 1974

You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Take 1, Remake 2) – with bass
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Take 2, Remake 2) – with bass – previously released on Blood on the Tracks

A & R Studios
New York
September 18, 1974

Buckets of Rain (Take 1, Remake) – solo
Buckets of Rain (Take 2, Remake) – solo
Buckets of Rain (Take 3, Remake) – solo
Buckets of Rain (Take 4, Remake) – solo

A & R Studios
New York
September 19, 1974

Up to Me (Take 1, Remake) – with bass
Up to Me (Take 2, Remake) – with bass
Buckets of Rain (Take 1, Remake 2) – with bass
Buckets of Rain (Take 2, Remake 2) – with bass
Buckets of Rain (Take 3, Remake 2) – with bass
Buckets of Rain (Take 4, Remake 2) – with bass – previously released on Blood on the Tracks
If You See Her, Say Hello (Take 1, Remake) – with bass – previously included on Blood on the Tracks test pressing
Up to Me (Take 1, Remake 2) – with bass
Up to Me (Take 2, Remake 2) – with bass
Up to Me (Take 3, Remake 2) – with bass
Buckets of Rain (Rehearsal) – with bass
Meet Me in the Morning (Take 1, Remake) – with bass – previously released on the “Duquesne Whistle” 7” single
Meet Me in the Morning (Take 2, Remake) – with bass
Buckets of Rain (Take 5, Remake 2) – with bass

Bob Dylan: vocals, guitar, harmonica
Tony Brown: bass (1-2, 7-20)

DISC 5

A & R Studios
New York
September 19, 1974

Tangled Up in Blue (Rehearsal and Take 1, Remake 2) – with bass
Tangled Up in Blue (Take 2, Remake 2) – with bass
Tangled Up in Blue (Take 3, Remake 2) – with bass – included on Blood on the Tracks test pressing and previously released on The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3: Rare and Unreleased, 1961-1991
Simple Twist of Fate (Take 2, Remake) – with bass
Simple Twist of Fate (Take 3, Remake) – with bass – previously released on Blood on the Tracks
Up to Me (Rehearsal and Take 1, Remake 3) – with bass
Up to Me (Take 2, Remake 3) – with bass – previously released on Biograph
Idiot Wind (Rehearsal and Takes 1-3, Remake) – with bass
Idiot Wind (Take 4, Remake) – with bass
Idiot Wind (Take 4, Remake) – with organ overdub – included on Blood on the Tracks test pressing and previously released on The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3: Rare and Unreleased, 1961-1991
You’re a Big Girl Now (Take 1, Remake 2) – with bass
Meet Me in the Morning (Take 1, Remake 2) – with bass
Meet Me in the Morning (Takes 2-3, Remake 2) – with bass

Bob Dylan: vocals, guitar, harmonica
Tony Brown: bass

DISC 6

A & R Studios
New York
September 19, 1974

You’re a Big Girl Now (Takes 3-6, Remake 2) – with bass
Tangled Up in Blue (Rehearsal and Takes 1-2, Remake 3) – with bass
Tangled Up in Blue (Take 3, Remake 3) – with bass

Sound 80 Studio
Minneapolis, MN
December 27, 1974

Idiot Wind – with band – previously released on Blood on the Tracks
You’re a Big Girl Now – with band – previously released on Blood on the Tracks

Sound 80 Studio
Minneapolis, MN
December 30, 1974

Tangled Up in Blue – with band – previously released on Blood on the Tracks
Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts – with band – previously released on Blood on the Tracks
If You See Her, Say Hello – with band – previously released on Blood on the Tracks

Bob Dylan: vocals, guitar, harmonica, organ (4-5), mandolin (8)
Tony Brown: bass (1-3)
Chris Weber: guitar (4-6, 8)
Kevin Odegard: guitar (6)
Peter Ostroushko: mandolin (8)
Gregg Inhofer: keyboards (4-8)
Billy Peterson: bass (4, 6-7)
Bill Berg: drums (4-8)

All songs written by Bob Dylan except Spanish is the Loving Tongue (traditional, arranged by Bob Dylan)

New York sessions originally engineered by Phil Ramone

Minneapolis sessions originally engineered by Paul Martinson

and here's a teaser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl6GOxZsZsg