Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series

I'll Keep It With Mine, complete with the producer accidentally recording, "keep doing what you're doing," over the tape, is one of my favorite Dylan tracks. It starts off so tentative and just builds and builds.

So has it been definitely decided who he wrote that for/about? Nico/Edie Sedgwick/someone else? Was reading the so far excellent, dense That Thin, Wild Mercury Sound late Friday night and there was some discussion about this.

From having read a little bit elsewhere, and via my own turn of mynd---think it might have been for whoever he was currently trying to pull, although if so, at least, far as I know, he didn't do like George Gershwin, according to some of his buddies: "I've been having a little trouble with this---listen, and see what you think. (Later) It will be our song."

I heard similar about Vinícius de Moraes from a Brazilian friend.

Can’t wait to hear this alt take of “She’s Your Lover Now” — one of my all-time favorites.

Sorry, I was suffering from a bit of mixed-up confusion. The real question was whether “I’ll Keep It With Mine” was written for Judy Collins, who first recorded it, or Nico. What I read seems to favor Nico slightly. “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat” was about Edie Sedgwick.

That Thin, Wild Mercury Sound is written by Daryl Sanders, an author with whom I am otherwise unfamiliar. I am however familiar with the author of this piece: https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/874-that-thin-wild-mercury-sound-bob-johnstons-work-with-dylan-cohen-cash-and-beyond/

Didn't know Collins did it! From 5, from 1965, so maybe she did it first. Just listened on YouTube: it's fast, an early folk-rock jangle 'n' lilt, a suggestion of Latin, might could've done better with congas and more bass, maybe any bass---she tries to ride it as carefully as possible, not rushing into the money shot chorus, but is not entirely successful, also her loud-soft dynamic doesn't quite go with the echo, I think--echo is distracting, getoutta here, but there is some potential otherwise, maybe with another producer
Then YouTube played her version of "Mama You Been On My Mind", changed to "Daddy": much better, just her and the fingerpickers, also fairly fast, but it works, the 'pickers are right with her (Baez also did a good version of this, even faster maybe, maybe a bluegrass cadence, words flying around, but no loss of clarity or feeling).
Of course then I played Fairport's "Keep It," so unfair, so killer.Denny handles the tempo and volume perfectly, like she's thinking out loud, word by word forming for the first time, then the chorus hits, pump up to the peak, let yourself back down, to more level ground, or looking out the window---in her/their version (she's got those other voices, players giving her room, helping her just enough, like Collins doesn't), the part about the reliable train and the weary conductor registers (and always did, even when I was a kid), as metaphorically and emotionally appropriate for her having to head into THAT chorus one more tyme---repeating her effects somewhat, but no prob, they work again---without pushing her/their luck---it's def not too long; YouTube says 5:38, which I never noticed on the album cover, never felt that long (which was pretty long for back then, I think).
This is remastered, so now I catch what I never had, after, "But how long can you search," it's "for what's lost." So now the thought occurs that, "Everybody will help you," which never did seem like a very Dylan sentiment, and she makes it seem a little teary, also "Some people are very kind," some sense of neg. experience along w irony, and so "Come on, give it to me," the almost regal desperate tender and maybe horny breakthrough to expression, reaching up and out to the other person---can see why Dylan would want to hear a woman singing this, for musical and other reasons, can imagine the song dealing with the way he felt, too, in some situation---wonder what he thought of this rendition? She got it from a tape or acetate circulating in the UK, not one of those special hotel meetings.
(Don't think he would have dared bring it to Collins with such a plan, at least judging by Hajdu's Positively 4th Street, in which Collins wanted to meet him early on, because who the fuck is this guy with all these amazing songs---so she invited him to lunch, and he babbled the whole time like an unnerved teen (my summary).
She got to be pretty good with his songs sometimes, but don't know that they ever got together again.

Oh I meant to say something about her interpretation makes me see Dylan as---not really that crazy/sure about that crowd, "Everybody," duh considering the crowd on John Wesley Harding etc

So this is streaming only? It's not mentioned on the Dylan website. I assume none of this is previously unreleased.

Sorry, I was suffering from a bit of mixed-up confusion. The real question was whether “I’ll Keep It With Mine” was written for Judy Collins, who first recorded it, or Nico. What I read seems to favor Nico slightly. “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat” was about Edie Sedgwick.

― Erdős-szám 69 (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, October 5, 2020 12:37 AM (six hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

As was "Just Like a Woman" iirc.

This revive sent me looking at Spotify and I realized that the entirety of The Cutting Edge (1965-1966) is now up on Spotify, whereas perviously only an excerpt had been. Some amazing stuff.

The new Best-Of seems to be streaming only, yes (to be clear, my subsequent remarks related to The Cutting Edge).

Oh, cool—this take of “115th Dream” has the crack-up/studio chatter that ended up on the album track!

One more thing about Fairport covering Dylan---Nashville Scene ballot comment reposted on Fairport post Liege and Lief thread:
Also in this (‘18) 50th year of FC, and released right before
said Anniversary concert (when they were
just headlining at the Cropedy festival, as usual),
we got Fairport and Friends’ (Fotheringay, Sandy Denny solo)
A Tree With Roots, gathering their Dylan covers, suitably
knotty and smooth enough when called for, even adding
a few kinks
----kicking off with their translation of “If You Gotta Go,
Go Now” into French language and cajun (?) music,
the latter pretty unusual on non-cajun radio in the 1960s,
but a UK hit nonetheless, their biggest ever, I think. They
(orig line-up, so sung by Judy Dyble, later crew with Denny
on lead vox) even covered “Jack O’ Diamonds." From the folk
song of that title, Bob Dylan took "Jack o' Diamonds is a hard
card to play, " for a long poem
on the back or sleeve of Another Side of Bob Dylan, but
apparently never recorded any musical application;
Ben Carruthers did, and gave D. a co-write credit.
Good discussion here, with links to both Fairport tracks and
Carruthers’
https://bob-dylan.org.uk/archives/8280
“Percy’s Song” is a rousing anti-anthem, like “Blowin in the Wind”:
both sway and march all ye right up through the brink
of unknowing. Percy’s friend bravely goes to confront the
mean ol’ judge, who slams the book on P. once again: he’s the
reckless driver, killed people, case closed. Narrator goes
right into the Headline News True Crime trope
---how can this be, he was always such a nice boy
--- refrain:”Turn, turn to the wind and the rain”
---so familiar, this mystery, so off-the-record Relatable, but somehow never in
a country (or other) song?

Wow, that Cutting Edge full content is huge !
Some great stuff indeed.
Lol at a whole disc of LARS takes.

you guys know there's an 18-disc version of the Cutting Edge set, too, right?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bootleg_Series_Vol._12:_The_Cutting_Edge_1965%E2%80%931966#Deluxe_edition_track_listing

Now that might be a little too much !

FYI, the entire Trouble No More is now available on Spotify as well. And, holy shit, this Girl From The North Country live in London is one of the greatest Dylan tracks ever.

Which album and/or playlist is that in?

On, even.

I assume it's Trouble No More disc 7 - pretty good version, for sure

Yes, Disc 7, Track 8. Damn. The arrangement almost reminds me of a Springsteen song off Live at the Main Point.

I have had the live "Lenny Bruce" off this set in my head for the last several days. Good lord.

Now that might be a little too much !

Yeah, that full version of the Cutting Edge was also ridiculously expensive iirc. I wasn't all that excited about having nine (or more!) different versions of the same song, so the nicely curated distillation was fine with me. When it comes to these Dylan sets I'm much more excited by lots of new live material than I am just demos.

One of the big reasons I love the “Trouble No More” box set is you can throw on any disc and it’s not just 6+ takes of “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go,” which is great but variety in this collection’s case goes a long way.

Yeah Trouble No More was one that I had no problem forking the $$ over for the full thing, but iirc it was priced pretty reasonably, even taking into account that it was half the size of Cutting Edge.

I have the vinyl Trouble No More which doesn't have the full Toronto and London shows, so I am digging it now that the entire thing is on Spotify.

The version of “One of Us Must Know” on the 2CD Cutting Edge set (“Take 19 alternate take”) is fire... it makes me feel like I’m hearing the song for the first time. It just pours out, in a total thin-wild-mercury emo flow...

(wish I could say something positive about the take of “Stuck Inside of Memphis” that follows it... weird time signature or something, definitely a misfire.)

(Mobile, not Memphis, duh)

I've found my favorite way to listen to the 6CD Cutting Edge on Spotify is to play it on shuffle so you avoid listening to 4 versions of the same song back to back.

Speaking of crazy time signatures—what’s going on in “Just Like a Woman” (Take 4 alternate take)? I don’t even dislike this one, it’s just really wild...

Wish I had a 2CD set containing just this BoB outtakes (no offense to the other albums represented here, but this set really takes off with “Visions,” halfway into disc 2).

Yeah, the really upbeat Visions are incredible.

Guys, come over here to comment on my theorizing: Tom Wilson, RIP

Looks like yall nailed it as closely as possible by now.

Rolling Thunder Collection
~Revisited~
Just in time for Fall, the limited edition collection from Barking Irons that envisions iconic looks from Bob’s career as modern everyday wear has been marked down 40% for this holiday season.

Featured in GQ, Rolling Stone, and Billboard, this may be your last chance to own a piece of this one-of-a-kind collection at reduced prices
more info and slick pix:
http://view.fans.legacyrecordings.com/?qs=f5adf0d43cae75f8f7ab5a58e7aa47cd9e5e2377cac7c8daa3f8321a38ccec7abd3cf191563b55e53d85b8cbfce61a3449a5960467960a5c04b4c4654e83980b8bcf46c8deaadef21a0c25809e408f7c

The only one I would buy is sold out.

Is someone gonna make copies of these out of cheaper fabrics, and call them "The Bootleg Collection"?

All of “Trouble No More” on spotify.

Not sure where to drop this, but came across this great (and very unofficial) bootleg, Days of 1978:

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

New album "1970" just announced

By Popular Demand, “Bob Dylan – 1970” to Be Released on February 26, 2021DEC 18, 2020

By Popular Demand, Bob Dylan – 1970 (50th Anniversary Collection) to Be Widely Released by Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings on February 26, 2021

3-Disc Collection of Previously Unavailable Studio Performances includes Complete May 1,1970 Session featuring George Harrison

December 18, 2020-New York, NY-Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, announce the forthcoming release of Bob Dylan – 1970, the first widely available pressing of a three-disc collection of long-sought-after studio recordings, on Friday, February 26.

The recordings on Bob Dylan – 1970 were first released in a limited edition on December 4 as part of the Bob Dylan – 50th Anniversary Collection copyright extension series (which began in 2012). The buzz surrounding the 1970 performances, notably Dylan’s studio sit-down with George Harrison on May 1, created a demand for a broader release of these historic tracks.

PRE-ORDER Bob Dylan – 1970

Bob Dylan – 1970 includes previously unreleased outtakes from the sessions that produced Self Portrait and New Morning as well as the complete May 1, 1970 studio recordings with George Harrison, which capture the pair performing together on nine tracks, including Dylan originals (“One Too Many Mornings,” “Gates of Eden,” “Mama, You Been On My Mind”), covers (the Everly Brothers’ “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” Carl Perkins’ “Matchbox”) and more.

Bob Dylan – 1970 comes housed in an 8-panel digipack featuring new cover art and liner notes by Michael Simmons.

Bob Dylan – 1970 (50th Anniversary Collection)

Disc 1

March 3, 1970

I Can’t Help but Wonder Where I’m Bound
Universal Soldier – Take 1
Spanish Is the Loving Tongue – Take 1
Went to See the Gypsy – Take 2
Went to See the Gypsy – Take 3
Woogie Boogie

March 4, 1970
Went to See the Gypsy – Take 4
Thirsty Boots – Take 1

March 5, 1970
Little Moses – Take 1
Alberta – Take 2
Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies – Take 1
Things About Comin’ My Way – Takes 2 & 3
Went to See the Gypsy – Take 6
Untitled 1970 Instrumental #1
Come a Little Bit Closer – Take 2
Alberta – Take 5

Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, piano
David Bromberg – guitar, dobro, bass
Al Kooper – organ, piano
Emanuel Green – violin
Stu Woods – bass
Alvin Rogers – drums
Hilda Harris, Albertine Robinson, Maeretha Stewart – background vocals

May 1, 1970
Sign on the Window – Take 2
Sign on the Window – Takes 3-5
If Not for You – Take 1
Time Passes Slowly – Rehearsal
If Not for You – Take 2
If Not for You – Take 3
Song to Woody – Take 1
Mama, You Been on My Mind – Take 1
Yesterday – Take 1

Disc 2

Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues – Take 1
Medley: I Met Him on a Sunday (Ronde-Ronde)/Da Doo Ron Ron – Take 1
One Too Many Mornings – Take 1
Ghost Riders in the Sky – Take 1
Cupid – Take 1
All I Have to Do Is Dream – Take 1
Gates of Eden – Take 1
I Threw It All Away – Take 1
I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) – Take 1
Matchbox – Take 1
Your True Love – Take 1
Telephone Wire – Take 1
Fishing Blues – Take 1
Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance – Take 1
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 – Take 1
It Ain’t Me Babe
If Not for You
Sign on the Window – Take 1
Sign on the Window – Take 2
Sign on the Window – Take 3

Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica
George Harrison – guitar, vocals (Disc 1, Tracks 20 & 24 and Disc 2, Tracks 2-3, 6-7, 10-11, & 16)
Bob Johnston – piano (Disc 1, Tracks 24-25 and Disc 2, Tracks 1-3)
Charlie Daniels – bass
Russ Kunkel – drums

June 1, 1970
Alligator Man
Alligator Man [rock version]
Alligator Man [country version]
Sarah Jane 1
Sign on the Window
Sarah Jane 2

Disc 3

June 2, 1970
If Not for You – Take 1
If Not for You – Take 2

June 3, 1970
Jamaica Farewell
Can’t Help Falling in Love
Long Black Veil
One More Weekend

June 4, 1970
Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie – Take 1
Three Angels
Tomorrow Is a Long Time – Take 1
Tomorrow Is a Long Time – Take 2
New Morning
Untitled 1970 Instrumental #2

June 5, 1970
Went to See the Gypsy
Sign on the Window – stereo mix
Winterlude
I Forgot to Remember to Forget 1
I Forgot to Remember to Forget 2
Lily of the West – Take 2
Father of Night – rehearsal
Lily of the West

Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica
David Bromberg – guitar, dobro, mandolin
Ron Cornelius – guitar
Al Kooper – organ
Charlie Daniels – bass, guitar
Russ Kunkel – drums
Background vocalists unknown

August 12, 1970
If Not for You – Take 1
If Not for You – Take 2
Day of the Locusts – Take 2

Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, harmonica
Buzzy Feiten – guitar
Other musicians unknown

I don't think I need this.

this is the copyright thing that dropped a couple weeks ago ... guess they saw the ebay prices and thought why not make a little money here.

It's good stuff! Nothing insanely revelatory, but an enjoyable listen if you're a New Morning fan.

So not an official Bootleg Series entry, looks closer to a widely-distributed copyright dump. Is this the same as the one that was released on like 100 copies last week?

Ha thanks tyler.

New Morning is def top 5 for me, I'm excited

Yeah, the blurb above says:

The recordings on Bob Dylan – 1970 were first released in a limited edition on December 4 as part of the Bob Dylan – 50th Anniversary Collection copyright extension series (which began in 2012). The buzz surrounding the 1970 performances, notably Dylan’s studio sit-down with George Harrison on May 1, created a demand for a broader release of these historic tracks.

Not a bootleg series release, but I thought this was the most suitable thread for it.

No worries, I appreciate the heads up! I'll definitely check this out, esp since I don't put the energy into chasing down those super limited copyright dump things.