Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series

2. License to Kill (live) – Late Night with David Letterman, March 22, 1984

But no "Jokerman"?? Huge missed opportunity, imo.

Yes, big omission. I think I know why - when it gets to the harmonica solo, Dylan stops after one note because he notices he has the wrong harmonica (in the wrong key). The band ends up playing the verse unaccompanied as Dylan waits for the correct harmonica. He does get it and nails a good solo to finish the song. (Ironically, Dylan already cut out a few verses to fit the song into the TV broadcast, so the final result basically ended up with one extra "empty" verse.) I think Dylan's camp ditched it because of this "mistake," and it's possible they didn't want to fix it with editing because they feared a backlash from fans.

FWIW, it's actually very easy to fix in editing. It's so easy, you can even apply a similar fix to the videotape - it's a little tricky because the picture edit and sound edit have to be at different spots while creating the illusion that everything is still in synch within the second or two bridging those edits, but I did it years ago on easy-to-use Mac programs. What's cool is that Dylan himself makes this possible - not just in sound by having the band repeat a verse, but he actually steps off and back on camera at the right spots (i.e. repeating the same movements when he takes the second try at a harmonica solo). Since Late Night was always taped, I'm guessing he thought they could edit out the mistake if he gave them something to work with, but of course they didn't and broadcast it as is.

Remember, they played three songs: "Don't Start Me Talkin'" would've been very welcome too. They should just issue a DVD or BD somewhere with all three performances, I'd rather have the complete video rather than just the audio anyway.

yeah weird omission — maybe dylan can't stand that he screwed up the harmonica solo?

Ah, missed Tyler's post - yes, probably, but he nailed it on the second try.

At first glance, everything I'd want may be contained within Discs 3 through 5.

1 & 2 don't look interesting - I'll have to wait and see, but it's not my favorite era and an excellent "Angelina" is already on BS Vol. 1-3. (I was hoping for a better studio version of "Caribbean Wind," but alas one may not exist.) I think the good stuff from the 1980-1981 studio sessions may already circulate (along with a lot more that's underwhelming), but we'll see.

3 & 4 could be interesting, but the only tracks that are likely keepers IMHO are the alternate "Jokerman," "Blind Willie McTell" (presumably a full-band version) and "Someone’s Got a Hold of My Heart" (I'm guessing the previously unofficial bootlegged outtake or something very similar - that version is great, FAR better than what was used on BS Vol. 1-3). Maybe "Foot of Pride" too but it would be hard to beat the one on BS Vol. 1-3. If the rest is similar to what's been bootlegged, it may not be very exciting. (Not bad either but nothing I'd miss over what's been released.)

5 could be a useful way to salvage Empire Burlesque into a decent album. We'll see, but I always thought with a lighter hand in the mix and less overdubs, you could've taken the best tracks from that LP and combined them with the alternate "When the Night..." from BS Vol. 1-3 and "New Danville Girl" (included here) to create a fine LP. No masterpiece but every bit as good as any Tom Petty album...Petty's Heartbreakers, some members of the E Street Band and Lone Justice drummer Don Heffington play on virtually every good track from those sessions.

Am I correct that discs 1 & 2 are what will be the standalone shorter version?

Am I correct that discs 1 & 2 are what will be the standalone shorter version?

That's what they've done in the past, but since the box set is now strictly chronological, no way.

For anyone who has mixed feelings about this era (not a fan of the albums but a fan of some material if not all of it), it could help to reconfigure something new from the previous released outtakes as well as this box set. I'm skeptical that any of these could ever be truly great albums, but they can be much better. I would probably do something like this:

Shot of Love

Side A:
1. Shot of Love
2. Caribbean Wind (the live version is easily the best, but it may stick out too much as a soundboard recording)
3. Property of Jesus
4. Lenny Bruce
5. The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar

Side B:
6. Dead Man, Dead Man
7. In the Summertime
8. Angelina ( BS Vol. 1-3 version, but maybe the new one will be better?)
9. Every Grain of Sand

Infidels

Side A:
1. Jokerman
2. Sweetheart Like You
3. Man of Peace
4. Foot of Pride (BS Vol. 1-3 version will be tough to beat)

Side B:
5. Someone's Got a Hold of My Heart (from The Genuine Bootleg Series Vol. 1 which may be the one on the new box set)
6. Blind Willie McTell (I prefer the acoustic version but a full-band version without the flub may fit better - could be what's on the box set)
7. I and I
8. Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight

Empire Burlesque
(could be the alternates from the box set if they're good takes that aren't weighed down by effects and overdubs)

Side A:
1. Seeing the Real You at Last
2. I'll Remember You
3. New Danville Girl (probably what's on the new box set, but also on The Genuine Bootleg Series Vol. 1)

Side B:
4. Trust Yourself
5. Emotionally Yours
6. When the Night Comes Falling from The Sky (BS Vol. 1-3 version, but we'll see what the new box set has)
7. Something's Burning, Baby
8. Dark Eyes

That's what they've done in the past, but since the box set is now strictly chronological, no way.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking. Doesn't make sense to just excise those two discs, but I know that's been the pattern.

I think they already said that except for three tracks, all songs are previously unreleased versions.

Yeah, they even named the three tracks. I was referring to whether or not previously bootlegged tracks (unofficially but not officially released) would be on this new box set. It's also possible they dug up alternates of outtakes that are arguably better than what's been unofficially released or previously/officially released in the Bootleg Series - there's a few on Tell Tale Signs that are like that, but it's usually a similar (but noticeably different) version that's more of an improvement in terms of sound quality.

frankly i can't wait to hear every disc of this

otm

What of the "Third man" 4lp version?

Some more details:

Terry Gans says "Blind Willie McTell" will be "the familiar unreleased take we are all familiar with. There is about 20 seconds extra piano at the start that has been edited out and about two minutes at the end they have edited out.”

That would be this version:

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

"20 seconds" at the start and "two minutes at the end" must refer to the original uncut and unfaded recording - there's no way you can edit that much on the bootlegged version with chopping off large chunks of the actual song. I just wish they did something with that cough, like cut in a line from another take. (These were all digital multi-track recordings.)

Also, the Third Man 4 LP set seems to drop "Blind Willie McTell," "Something's Got a Hold of My Heart" and "New Danville Girl" - major omissions IMHO:

https://thirdmanrecords.com/news/third-man-records-announces-vault-package-49-bob-dylan-springtime-in-new-york-the-bootleg-series-vol-16-1980-1985

*without chopping

Ah, missed this: "The songs on the Third Man Vault will be the ONLY vinyl release of those 42 songs. There is NO material overlap between the 2xLP version from Sony/Legacy and the 4xLP release from Third Man."

So by design the 4 LP set goes after what's leftover after Sony/Dylan's camp cherrypicked the best stuff for the 2 LP/2 CD Sony set..

(I'm guessing the 2 CD set is the same as the 2 LP set...)

Man, that's just asking to be taken to Flipper City

I need to make a playlist of best Dylan-on-piano moments like "Blind Willie McTell."

i'm sure they left just enough over from the 4lp + 2lp sets to make a record store day release down the line.

Is Third Man some kind of record company that releases extra / different copies of The Bootleg Series?

It's hard enough to keep up as it is !!

Birdistheword et al: No way could I cut out 'tight connection to my heart' - enjoyable on EB and redeemed even more by the GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY musical.

Yes 'Someone's Got a Hold of My Heart' is related but is it better? Not that I recall.

It's funny to reflect that GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY is not a real Dylan LP (but it's Columbia maybe?) but contains some of the best recent versions of Dylan material.

The 'tight connection' on it really is the best thing that ever happened to that song.

Third Man is Jack White's Label/Pressing Plant operation that specializes in different limited run analog geegaws.

ImportCDs has deluxe version for $93.

Pretty excited about this one. I binged Dylan hard for a long while and skipped the last two bootleg releases. Just went back and ordered relatively cheap used copies so soon I will have Too Much Dylan. Stoked.

oh, the price was the only thing holding me back. thank you!!

€125 on Amazon Germany. A bit much for me. Maybe some shops will offer it for less.

Bob Dylan’s 'Infidels'-era Bootleg Series won’t arrive until September, but a source close to the Dylan camp tells us they’re already thinking about a 25th anniversary reissue of 'Time Out of Mind' for the next one https://t.co/dXMINYPoDk

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) July 23, 2021

That would be great

Much less attracted by the also-mooted pre-fame box set.

give me an early 90s set with all the takes of Froggy Went a-Courtin'

my bootleg series wishlist
- a Rolling Thunder 76 set
- a Rundown Rehearsals set
- Time Outtakes of Mind
- Maybe something similar to this Springtime thing that handles the latter half of the 1980s?

I'd like a NET set, but that'll be a tough one to compile. I'm not even sure they have great tapes for most shows - Rosen himself said the bootlegs often sounded better than the recordings they made from the board.

yeah, i think the NET stuff would be best served as a separate thing altogether, like a Dicks Picks situation. They should just use audience tapes (I think they've used some here and there previously) — there really are some amazing ones.

Really enjoying the "Too Late" linked above ^^ and released this week. Sounds like a sibling of "Tangled Up In Blue" with this arrangement, one I'd never heard before. (Had never heard "Foot of Pride.")

They’ve already covered TOOM outtakes on Tell Tale Signs, but I would love to hear a better master of the album.

also the Supper Club shows please

"Too Late" sounds to me like a very early draft of "Jokerman."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUT7N8RYgSI

Yeah, I love outtakes like this - I feel like every great artist has them, and they generally show why they're a cut above most. It's a good song and a lesser artist probably would've put it out or just polished it up if they managed to come up with this, but Dylan kept working at it and came up with a truly great track in "Foot of Pride."

Anyway, it does sound like an early run-through, like Dylan's got a complete draft of the words down but wants to try it over some basic music. There's a bit of a "Like a Rolling Stone" vibe and the acoustic guitar part recalls the basic riff from the Beatles "I've Got a Feeling."

yeah, it's odd hearing those lyric delivered without the anger of "Foot of Pride."

I was listening to "Pretty Saro" the other day and his vocals are just stunning, I don't know if I've ever heard him sing so beautifully.

Pretty Saro gets me every time.

Complete Masked & Anonymous sessions or GTFO

They’ve already covered TOOM outtakes on Tell Tale Signs, but I would love to hear a better master of the album.
in terms of the TOOM sessions, tell tale signs was just the tip of the iceberg apparently

The multi-tracks alone for TOOM are interesting because they had a shitload of people playing on that record. Jim Dickinson talked about this and kind of complained how much of that was lost (i.e. there are two drummers but that's not even discernible on the final mixes). He derided the finished mixes as "monitor mixes" which shouldn't be taken too literally - given how meticulous Lanois and Howard can be, if something's muted or buried, it's done so for a reason. But it does suggest that something like a 5.1 mix could be interesting, and I think contractually that would have to come from Lanois. I don't think Lanois would ever remix his stereo mixes, but I can see him doing 5.1 and adding more stuff back in due to the wider soundscape. Then again, how many people have 5.1 setups?

And yes, "Pretty Saro" was genuinely a lost classic - no one knew about it as it was never bootlegged. It's probably better than anything Dylan's released from that era, which may not be saying much, but it was a truly great discovery.

I think it was Duke Robilard that complained about most of his bits on TOOM were reduced to whatever bled into Dylan's mic. He also did a cover of "Love Sick" arranged the way it was on an earlier, to him superior take.

ooh it’s would be first in line if there’s that kinda stuff on offer. I love that record so hard and I respect the seductive production job but I’d love to peer deeper into the mire. I can’t think of a Bootleg Series retreading the same ground so maybe TTS was intended to close that door.

*I not “it’s”, jeeze

The only thing nobody's asked for:

all the takes from UNDER THE RED SKY!

Lost solos from "Slash" and Reg Dwight!

The Bootleg Series Vol. 17: Wiggle 'Til You Vomit Fire, 1989-1991

Loool!

Wow, never heard this “Pretty Saro” until you guys just mentioned it.

:)