Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series

Jeepers, 18-disc is like Dylan (or whomever is in charge here) trying to out-Fripp Fripp on those massive King Crimson sets!

Awhile back one of Dylan's people told Rolling Stone that full session boxes (with the "Like A Rolling Stone" date being cited) was a direction that they were keen to pursue with the Bootleg Series.

Tbf, as far as throwing meat to the animals goes, that's great. I do like the idea of making it available, as long as there is an equivalent curated version as well, like they did with the Basement Tapes. Way back when I was happy to pay for the complete Stooges "Funhouse" sessions, but I'd be lying if I said I'd ever listened to the entire thing more than once. Was that the first "here's everything" set released?

miles is where i really remember it becoming a thing. there was a box set of the layla sessions but i don't know if it was as thorough as the funhouse box. i listen to the miles boxes not infrequently, i've listened to the funhouse box more than once but not nearly as much as say the in a silent way box. in both cases it's when i'm working on or preoccupied w/ something else, comparable to putting an album on repeat for hours only w/ the added potential of discovery, which since i never particularly focus on the recording is present each time i play it.

Elvis "Complete Sun Sessions" - 1987

I played the "Complete Fun House" a fair bit, but I don't know if I could do it now.

six hundred goddamn dollars:
http://bobdylanbox.shop.musictoday.com/page/MinimalSplash

Yeah, Sun Sessions, like Robert Johnson ... good examples, but they're also really limited in terms of actual takes, per the tech of the time, less "here's everything we have" and more "this is all there is." Even the Miles boxes are still just a couple of discs/takes of each 20 minute track. I think "Funhouse" might be the first example of truly emptying the studio vaults of everything. I kind of wonder how many records (if any) warrant an 18-disc warts and all deconstruction...

xpost It's like they did the math and realized how few people would actually pay for that, so priced it accordingly to make up for the discrepancy. Apparently Dylan Inc. has pegged the number of worldwide obsessives at 5000.

With nine mono singles additional.

is there a tracklist for the 2CD version

you know...music piracy does have a time and place

18-disc tracklisting:

http://www.bobdylan.com/us/thecuttingedge_completetracklisting

2CD tracklisting

DISC 1

1. Love Minus Zero/No Limit - Take 2 (1/13/1965) acoustic
2. I’ll Keep It with Mine - Take 1 (1/13/1965) piano demo
3. Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream - Take 2 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
4. She Belongs to Me - Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
5. Subterranean Homesick Blues - Take 1 (1/14/1965) alternate take
6. Outlaw Blues - Take 2 (1/13/1965) alternate take
7. On the Road Again - Take 4 (1/14/1965) alternate take
8. Farewell, Angelina - Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
9. If You Gotta Go, Go Now - Take 2 (1/15/1965) alternate take
10. You Don’t Have to Do That - Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
11. California - Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
12. Mr. Tambourine Man - Take 3 (1/15/1965) with band, incomplete
13. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry - Take 8 (6/15/1965) alternate take
14. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 5 (6/15/1965) rehearsal
15. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 11 (6/16/1965) alternate take
16. Sitting on a Barbed Wire Fence - Take 2 (6/15/1965) unreleased take
17. Medicine Sunday - Take 1 (10/5/1965) early version of Temporary Like Achilles
18. Desolation Row - Take 2 (8/4/1965) piano demo
19. Desolation Row - Take 1 (8/4/1965) alternate take

DISC 2

1. Tombstone Blues - Take 1 (7/29/1965) alternate take
2. Positively 4th Street - Take 5 (7/29/1965) alternate take
3. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window - Take 1 (7/30/1965) alternate take
4. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues - Take 3 (8/2/1965) rehearsal
5. Highway 61 Revisited - Take 3 (8/2/1965) alternate take
6. Queen Jane Approximately - Take 5 (8/2/1965) alternate take
7. Visions of Johanna - Take 5 (11/30/1965) rehearsal
8. She’s Your Lover Now - Take 6 (1/21/1966) rehearsal
9. Lunatic Princess - Take 1 (1/27/1966)
10. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat - Take 8 (2/14/1966) alternate take
11. One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) - Take 19 (1/25/1966) alternate take
12. Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again - Take 13 (2/17/1966) alternate take
13. Absolutely Sweet Marie - Take 1 (3/7/1966) alternate take
14. Just Like a Woman - Take 4 (3/8/1966) alternate take
15. Pledging My Time - Take 1 (3/8/1966) alternate take
16. I Want You - Take 4 (3/10/1966) alternate take
17. Highway 61 Revisited – Take 7 (8/2/1965) false start

All tracks previously unreleased except Disc 1, track 2, Biograph; Disc 1, track 8, The Bootleg Series, Volume 1-3.

lol $600 ...
isn't that basically the price for the 80 DISC grateful dead set that just came out?

But did that come with a leopard print spindle? Or a certificate of authenticity?

omg this is fantastic news!!!
crazy project
piracy ftw, will prob get the vinyl version for 99 usd
but v happy they're doing this

I expect that the list price also takes into account the likelihood of piracy

lol $600 ...
isn't that basically the price for the 80 DISC grateful dead set that just came out?

― tylerw, Thursday, September 24, 2015 10:34 AM (28 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

It is! And the 70+ disc Europe '72 box was $400!

FWIW, I'll likely buy the 2CD set and won't even consider dedicating the time/effort into downloading the 18 disc set since there's no way that I'd ever make it through even once. Ten versions of Mobile in a row? Dylan academics only.

Europe 72 was worth the $400!

11. California - Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
9. Lunatic Princess - Take 1 (1/27/1966)

these are the only songs I don't recognize from bootlegs

interesting that none of the hotel tapes stuff qualifies. it's from the same period, but not studio so maybe that's why

That's on disc 18 of the big box.

lunatic princess also goes under the title" i dont' wanna be your partner" - http://aquariumdrunkard.info/upload/2-06%20I%20Wanna%20Be%20Your%20Partner%20-%205.%2010.%201965.mp3
here's "california"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX7hCaR6iAc

oops guess that first link won't work -- it's here (with a few other rarities from the period): http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2014/01/23/odds-ends-dylans-1965-fragments/

That link seems to..

Some part of me would love to listen to the 18-disc version. Then again, Dylan more or less released 18 albums between 1962 and 1980, and considering I'm still trying to get to the bottom of those I'm not entirely sure what would be gained by scraping the bottom of one of them.

i think 18 discs sounds like a fun thing to dig into over time, but i definitely can't justify the cost...
might prefer it if they did smaller "immersion" sets for biabh, h61 and BoB...

I vaguely recall listening to a compilation of Infidels outtakes that went on for hours - it was a pleasure then

I'll keep it with mine.

do u see?

Now, too much of nothing. Can make a man feel ill at ease.

Open the CD changer door, Richard!

I got kinda obsessed a few years ago and listened through the entireties of a 1965 complete bootleg (including live stuff) of like a million disks, and the same for 1966. it was...kind of a drag in the end?

What's on the 6-CD version of this? (asking for a friend too lazy to search)

Every third track from the big version.

Just 100 takes of Tombstone Blues.

"the sun's not yellow it's pigeon! ... no wait that's not it."

[but seriously]

Bob Dylan
The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12
(6 CD Deluxe Edition)

DISC 1:
1. Love Minus Zero/No Limit - Take 1 (1/13/1965) acoustic, incomplete
2. Love Minus Zero/No Limit - Take 2 (1/13/1965) acoustic
3. Love Minus Zero/No Limit - Take 3 remake (1/13/1965) acoustic
4. Love Minus Zero/No Limit - Take 1 remake (1/14/1965) electric
5. I'll Keep It with Mine - Take 1 (1/13/1965) piano demo, previously released on Biograph, 1985
6. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue - Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic, previously released on The Bootleg Series, Vol. 7, 2005
7. Bob Dylan's 115th Dream - Take 1 (1/13/1965) acoustic, incomplete
8. Bob Dylan's 115th Dream - Take 2 (1/13/1965) acoustic
9. She Belongs to Me - Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
10. She Belongs to Me - Take 2 Remake (1/13/1965) acoustic
11. She Belongs to Me - Take 1 Remake (1/14/1965) electric
12. Subterranean Homesick Blues - Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic, previously released on The Bootleg Series, Vol. 1-3, 1991
13. Subterranean Homesick Blues - Take 1 remake (1/14/1965) electric
14. Outlaw Blues - Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
15. Outlaw Blues - Take 2 Remake (1/13/1965) electric
16. On the Road Again - Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
17. On the Road Again - Take 4 (1/14/1965) electric
18. On the Road Again - Take 1 remake (1/15/1965) electric
19. On the Road Again - Take 7 remake (1/15/1965) electric
20. Farewell, Angelina - Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic, previously released The Bootleg Series, Vol. 1-3, 1991
21. If You Gotta Go, Go Now - Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
22. If You Gotta Go, Go Now - Take 2 (1/15/1965) electric
23. You Don't Have to Do That - Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic, incomplete

DISC 2:
1. California - Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
2. It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - Take 1 (1/15/1965) acoustic, demo
3. Mr. Tambourine Man - Takes 1 - 2 (1/15/1965) incomplete, with band
4. Mr. Tambourine Man - Take 3 (1/15/1965) incomplete, with band
5. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry - Take 1 (6/15/1965)
6. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry - Take 8 (6/15/1965)
7. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry - Take 3 (7/29/1965)
8. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry - Take 3 remake (7/29/65)
9. Sitting on a Barbed Wire Fence - Take 2 (6/15/1965)
10. Tombstone Blues - Take 1 (7/29/1965)
11. Tombstone Blues - Take 9 (7/29/1965) previously released on The Bootleg Series, Vol. 7, 2005
12. Positively 4th Street - Takes 1-3 (7/29/1965)
13. Positively 4th Street - Take 4 (7/29/1965)
14. Positively 4th Street - Take 5 (7/29/1965)
15. Desolation Row - Take 1 (8/4/1965)
16. Desolation Row - Take 2 (8/4/1965) piano demo
17. Desolation Row - Take 5 remake (8/2/1965)
18. From a Buick 6 - Take 1 (7/30/1965)
19. From a Buick 6 - Take 4 (7/30/1965) released in error on first pressing of Highway 61 Revisited, 1965

DISC 3:
1. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 1-3 (6/15/1965)
2. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 4 (6/15/1965)
3. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 5 (6/15/1965)
4. Like a Rolling Stone - Rehearsal (6/16/1965)
5. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 1 (6/16/1965)
6. Like a Rolling Stone - Takes 2-3 (6/16/1965)
7. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 4 (6/16/1965) released on Highway 61 Revisited, 1965
8. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 5 (6/16/1965)
9. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 6 (6/16/1965)
10. Like a Rolling Stone -Take 8 (6/16/1965)
11. Like a Rolling Stone - Takes 9-10 (6/16/1965)
12. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 11 (6/16/1965)
13. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 12 (6/16/1965)
14. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 13 (6/16/1965)
15. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 14 (6/16/1965)
16. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 15 (6/16/1965)
17. Like a Rolling Stone - Master take - lead guitar isolated track
18. Like a Rolling Stone - Master take - vocal and guitar isolated track
19. Like a Rolling Stone - Mast take - drums and organ isolated track
20. Like a Rolling Stone - Master take - piano and bass isolated track

DISC 4:
1. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window - Take 1 (7/30/1965)
2. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window - Take 17 (7/30/1965 released in error on the first pressing of Positively 4th Street single
3. Highway 61 Revisited - Take 3 (8/2/1965)
4. Highway 61 Revisited - Take 5 (8/2/1965)
5. Highway 61 Revisited - Take 7 (8/2/1965)
6. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues - Take 1 (8/2/1965)
7. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues - Take 3 (8/2/1965)
8. Just Like Tom Thumb's blues - Take 13 (8/2/1965)
9. Queen Jane Approximately - Take 2 (8/2/1965)
10. Queen Jane Approximately - Take 5 (8/2/1965)
11. Ballad of a Thin Man - Take 2 (8/2/1965) incomplete
12. Medicine Sunday - Take 1 (10/5/1965)
13. Jet Pilot - Take 1 (10/5/1965) Previously released on Biograph, 1985
14. I Wanna Be Your Lover - Take 1 (10/5/1965)
15. I Wanna Be Your Lover - Take 6 (10/5/1965)
16. Unknown Instrumental - Take 2 (10/5/1965)
17. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window - Takes 5-6 (11/30/1965)
18. Visions of Johanna - Take 1 (11/30/1965)
19. Visions of Johanna - Take 5 (11/30/1965)

DISC 5:
1. Visions of Johanna - Take 7 (11/30/1965)
2. Visions of Johanna - Take 8 (11/30/1965) previously released on The Bootleg Series, Vol. 7, 2005
3. Visions of Johanna - Take 14 (11/30/1965)
4. She's Your Lover Now - Take 1 (1/21/1966)
5. She's Your Lover Now - Take 6 (1/21/1966)
6. She's Your Lover Now - Take 15 (1/21/1966) previously released on The Bootleg Series, Vol. 1-3, 1991
7. She's Your Lover Now - Take 16 (1/21/1966) solo piano
8. One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) - Take 2 (1/25/1966)
9. One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) - Take 4 (1/25/1966)
10. One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) - Take 19 (1/25/1966)
11. Lunatic Princess - Take 1 (1/27/1966)
12. Fourth Time Around - Take 11 (2/14/1966)
13. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat - Take 3 (2/14/1966)
14. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat - Take 8 (2/14/1966)

DISC 6:
1. Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again - Take 1 (2/17/1966)
2. Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again - Rehearsal (2/17/1966)
3. Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again - Take 5 (2/17/1966) previously released on The Bootleg Series, Vol. 7, 2005
4. Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again - Take 13 (2/17/1966)
5. Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again - Take 14 (2/17/1966)
6. Absolutely Sweet Marie - Take 1 (3/7/1966)
7. Just Like a Woman - Take 1 (3/8/1966)
8. Just Like a Woman - Take 4 (3/8/1966)
9. Just Like a Woman - Take 8 (3/8/1966)
10. Pledging My Time - Take 1 (3/8/1966)
11. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) - Take 1 (3/9/1966)
12. Temporary Like Achilles - Take 3 (3/9/1966)
13. Obviously 5 Believers - Take 3 (3/10/1966)
14. I Want You - Take 4 (3/10/1966)
15. Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands - Take 1 - (2/16/1966)

DISC 3:
1. Like a Rolling Stone - Take 1-3 (6/15/1965)
…

lol

Amazingly, on the same day as the LARS session, producer Tom Wilson added the guitars and drums to "The Sound of Silence." Pretty good day for folk-rock.

Wait, if that is true that would in theory explain why Al Gorgoni was absent from the final version of LARS, causing the musical chairs shift of Dylan to guitar, Paul Griffin to piano and Al Kooper to organ- have I got it right?- except that Tom Wilson was presumably present at both sessions so Al could have been too, but maybe rules are different for producers and musicians.

B-b-but where did you get the date from?

Different info here:
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/who-plays-bass-sounds-of-silence.145605/

...15th June 1965, overdubs supervised by Tom Wilson, produced by Bob Johnston

Oh wait, I read yours wrong, sorry, same info.

See that others here are also thinking they don't want to listen to several takes of the same song back to back which was my initial response. Not sure how much variation there would be, was he heavily rethinking in terms of speed, melody etc from take to take?

But not sure how else it could have been done , or exactly how much this wasa pick of tracks out of. I'm assuming this isn't everything he recorded at the time. Since this covers 2 years,and all.

THink like with the Basement Tapes I'll get the 2cd and d/load the full set and possibly work my way through it. Did with the Basement tapes but that had more different actual songs.

Do people actually sit through these things and compare different versions in a row on a regular basis or are people likely to rip them, I guess a cd player does tend to have a programmable function though i never use it. Just seems like an odd listening choice to just have loads of the same song. Dunnit?

It seems to be the idea of "let's just program it in chronological order and the heck with the listener."

Wikipedia says SoS session was immediately after LaRS

Thanks for contents of 6-CD, Tyler, but got enough of this that I think I'll pass, until find nice-priced used, at least.I made the same resolution re Complete Basement Tapes, and then succumbed, but like stevo says, that one has more different actual songs. This has so many takes of the same familiar titles that I'm not really tempted. So far.

The great thing about collecting Dylan was that he always had tons of unreleased *songs*. When it gets down to deathslog toward creation of the long-known result (as happened much more often with the Beatles), not exactly suspenseful, most of the time.

otm.

Ah, released version of LaRS was Take 4 from June 16. Never mind, nothing to see here.

The great thing about collecting Dylan was that he always had tons of unreleased *songs*. When it gets down to deathslog toward creation of the long-known result (as happened much more often with the Beatles), not exactly suspenseful, most of the time.

― dow, Thursday, September 24, 2015 7:43 PM (5 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

seems like there should be a lot of stuff from 75 (Rolling Thunder Tour Bootleg Series) to 1989 (where Tell-Tale Signs Bootleg series starts)??

man if there were Street Legal outtakes and shit I'd be all over that....I guess Blind Willie McTell was from Infidels sessions but outside of that there hasn't been a ton...

weren't some of the Christian era tours supposed to be pretty smokin?