Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series

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

OK that really is too many duplicate versions for me, I'm out.

lol haha, it definitely is a lot. the cutting edge repeats are (generally) interesting just because it's mostly full-band recordings, so you get to hear the musicians developing the tune. not sure how much the more stripped down stuff will hold up. but who am i kidding, i'm a lost cause when it comes to this stuff. i'm in!

It's cool that the 1CD version doesn't use any of the previously released takes.

yeah, that should be a good listen — i imagine for non-insane people it'll suffice (unless "spanish is the loving tongue" is like some incredible 18-minute version, haha)

Yeah, I don't need 12 takes of Buckets of Rain. I'd have been tempted by a reduced 3 disc set or something. A pity. Single disc version for me

So the "previously released on BOTT" cuts will be special in what way? Slowed down to "the right" speed, as suggested above?

yeah, seems that way.

but duke what if on the "i ain't no monkey but i know what i like" line in "buckets" bob switches out different animals — "i ain't no hamster but i know what i like"

Q: You're a big Dylan fan... why didn't you buy the whole 6-disc shebang?
A: Papa's bankbook wasn't big enough!

I'm intrigued by the 'speed-corrected' versions but 6 discs is mental and I'm kinda happy with my ragged Blood on the Tapes.

speaking of curating, this does a pretty good job of grabbing some highlights from the cutting edge 60s set: http://albumsthatneverwere.blogspot.com/2018/08/bob-dylan-medicine-sunday.html

awesome, thanks

I need to check that blog more often

very cool. (check out the "Super Secret Bonus")

but duke what if on the "i ain't no monkey but i know what i like" line in "buckets" bob switches out different animals — "i ain't no hamster but i know what i like"

― tylerw, Thursday, 20 September 2018 19:11

Haha. That's it, I'm sold

haha

this is going to rule, I can feel it

There's a terrific verse I'd never heard, in the version of "Leopard-Skin Pillbox Hat" linked above:

Honey, can I be your chauffeur, Honey can I be chauffeur
Well, you can ride with me, honey I'll be your chauffeur
Just as long as you stay in the car, if you get outside and walk you just might tumble over
In your brand new... (etc.)

This is also v. cool:

Medicine Sunday appropriately concludes with the epic that never was, “She’s Your Lover Now”. Using pieces of Takes 15 and 16 on The Cutting Edge, I was able to create a complete performance of the song by editing a proper intro onto take 15 and crossfading into take 16 at the point where the band trails off, hopefully giving the illusion that The Hawks intentionally stopped playing and Dylan finished the song solo. A further edit was made at the outro so that Dylan concludes with the tonic of the song, giving it a resolve and a remorseful vocal improvisation to end the album.

I love that song so much...

She'll be standing on a barstool, with a fish head and a harpoon, and a fake beard plastered on her brow
Better do something quick, she's your lover now

Downloaded. Thanks Tyler

The album from that blog ^^ is great. I'd never heard that version of Johanna (Freeze Out) - it's like it's fallen through some weird time slip and landed midway through Highway 61.

yeah I gave it a good listen last night, really impressive edits there

has that Sidetracks comp been discussed at all here? is that the only place you can get "George Jackson"? (I should look upthread, but...)

The 7" single (which I may still have somewhere) incl. an acoustic solo version, dunno where that is nowadays, but Spotify has the other side, labelled as the Big Band Version, ho-ho: mainly it's got a beat, and black gospel singers on the chorus, eventually seconded by steel guitar---atypical of the times, and taken by some (like me) as a solidarity-of-the-People move:
https://open.spotify.com/track/2led9vlFlwVVpEBt9TSyae
Also it's on youtube--via this site if you want to see the lyrics etc. too
https://revolutionaryfrontlines.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/george-jackson-a-song-by-bob-dylan-1971/

oh I'm familiar with the song, was more curious about that comp - is it just a copyright hedge?

I have the "Side Tracks" CD -- I think it was released in Japan only?

George Jackson was included on the "Masterpieces" comp from 1978

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masterpieces_(Bob_Dylan_album)

xxp -- Looks like "Side Tracks" was released on 3xLP for Record Store Day in 2013, and 2CD in Japan.

If You See Her, Say Hello - Take 1 is out
https://open.spotify.com/track/4o8ASl77G362BEVsp3TuvB

The one I always come back to. The ultimate breakup song

The ultimate Tangier-relocation song.

re: "George Jackson," Masterpieces has the "Big Band Version" and Sidetracks has the "Acoustic Version." The single is always pretty cheap and has both, personally go with the BBV. There's a live cover by Fairport Convention on the Tree with Roots compilation of Fairport and friends Dylan covers that came out last month to mark the 50th anniversary of the Basement Tapes acetate arrival in London.

If you want to do a deep dive on GJ: http://www.searchingforagem.com/1970s/1971George.htm

Love that take of IYSH,SH, stoked for this.

Hey, thanks for mentioning that collection! Mr. D. cover got Fairport on Tops of the Pops:
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/fairport-convention-sing-bob-dylan-new-compilation-tree-roots/

And lots of live on there, cool. Thanks Spotify.

Just listening to the (magnificent) I Was Young When I Left Home from No Direction Home and wondering if the rest of the Minnesota Tapes are worth tracking down or if they're even available?

That early period is really killing me right now.

Surely easy to track down? Tylerw to thread!

I confess I've sort of gone off very early Bob. That may change again.

The sonic embodiment of mid-October.

the mono mixes that were released in the box the few years ago really turned me around on the early albums

Greil Marcus does an in-depth thing on the new "Blood on the Tracks" set here: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/real-life-rock-top-ten-746600/

he's one of those canonized journalists where I can't understand a word of his writing

Especially once the Weissberg outfit was out of the room, with their eight consecutive takes on the stupid hoedown “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome when You Go” — yeah, that’s a real heartbreaker of a breakup song, especially if you can’t remember the name of the person you’re supposedly breaking up with — the New York performances are pure, real, acoustic, searching, pure, anguished, soulful, unencumbered and pure. You can see right through them, to the person who’s singing! It’s like reading his autobiography! This is the truth!

seems so insider-y