Bootleg Series Vol. 7

Bob Dylan - 
The Bootleg Series Vol. 7 
No Direction Home: The Soundtrack

RARE BOB DYLAN RECORDINGS SURFACE ON LATEST ENTRY IN 'BOOTLEG SERIES'

Press Release
Columbia recording artist Bob Dylan's No Direction Home: The Soundtrack - The Bootleg Series Vol. 7 will arrive in stores August 30th on Columbia/Legacy. This latest edition in the critically acclaimed "Bootleg Series" is the companion soundtrack to the two-part feature-length film, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, a Martin Scorsese picture. The film will make its U.S. premiere on the Public Broadcasting System's "American Masters Series" over the course of Monday and Tuesday nights, September 26-27th, respectively.

The two-CD chronologically sequenced package contains 28 Bob Dylan tracks -- 26 of them previously unreleased -- comprised of rare private recordings, live concert, television and festival recordings, and 12 alternate takes of songs from his Columbia LP recording sessions in New York and Nashville during this period. The songs range in time from 1959 (a high school recording of "When I Got Troubles," most likely the first original song he ever recorded), to 1966 (alternate takes of "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat" and "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" from the Blonde on Blonde album recording sessions, as well as "Ballad of a Thin Man" and "Like A Rolling Stone" from the legendary 1966 UK tour).

Many of the songs or tracks are introduced in the film for the first time in history, or are representative of times and places covered in the film, while others are alternate takes of classic tracks that were unearthed during the making of the film. For example, the version of Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land" performed in 1961, at the intimate Carnegie Chapter Hall in New York City, was never known to have existed on any tape until now.

On the other hand, the No Direction Home film version of "Mr. Tambourine Man" is taken from the Newport Folk Festival, July 1964; while the CD version presents -- for the first time -- the first complete take of the song with Ramblin' Jack Elliott, recorded at Columbia Studios the month before. The track is then followed on the CD by "Chimes of Freedom" from Newport '64.

Archivists and researchers reviewed more than 400 hours of recordings by Bob Dylan in the preparation of "No Direction Home." The two CDs will be packaged with a 60-page color book housed in a slipcase. The book will include separate liner notes written by Andrew Loog Oldham, and Al Kooper who sheds light on the Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde recording sessions in New York and Nashville (for which he played organ and served as musical director). An authoritative track-by-track delineation is also included.

The first feature-length film biography ever produced on the artist, "No Direction Home" is narrated in its entirety by Dylan. In addition to hours of black-and-white and color archival footage and photography, it features exclusive interviews with Joan Baez, photographer John Cohen of the New Lost City Ramblers, Allen Ginsberg, Tony Glover, Al Kooper, Bruce Langhorne, Paul Nelson, Suze Rotolo, Pete Seeger, Dave Van Ronk, Izzy Young of the Folklore Center, and many others.
Source: Columbia/Legacy - Press Release 7/13/05   

Order: CD No Direction Home: The Soundtrack 

Editor notes - The CD is called The Soundtrack, but it is not the same material as on the film. As noted in the liner notes, "The  compilers of this collection used the songs in the film as a reference point, finding alternate takes, rare live recordings, and unreleased tracks that amplify the pivotal sequences in the film and avoid duplication with previously released tracks." It is similar in nature to the first edition of The Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3. 

The flow of the CD offers a good historic flow of Dylan's early career. I enjoy Dylan's post folk material more so I tend listen to the second disc. The renditions included are generally completely different than the released versions, and are quite good. A majority are from Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde on Blonde, and several songs feature The Band.

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Notes: 
Disc 2
Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 includes Michael Bloomfield
Tracks 10 - 12 w/ the Band (drummer varies)

Bob Dylan Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica

Label - Sony 8/30/2005

A 60-page color book housed in a slipcase. The book will include separate liner notes written by Andrew Loog Oldham, and Al Kooper who sheds light on the Highway 61 Revisited, and Blonde on Blonde recording sessions in New York and Nashville (for which he played organ and served as musical director). An authoritative track-by-track delineation is also included.

Booklet excerpt - The Bootleg Series Vol. 7 has an essay by Al Kooper. A few notes from that relating to Blonde on Blonde read "Just a few credits to pass out that have been hidden over the years. Joe South is playing the soul guitar on "Stuck Inside..." He is also playing the great bass line on "Visions of Johanna." We, of course, all learned to treasure his talents on "Down in the Boondocks," "I knew You When," and "The Games People Play." Wayne Moss plays the amazing 16th note guitar lick that recurs each chorus in "I Want You." The first time he came up with that my jaw dropped--not only for that lick, but for the effortlessness he played it with..." 

There is more to read in the essay including Charlie McCoy's simultaneous trumpet and bass contributions on " Most Likely You Go Your Way...."

Bob Dylan website special promotion.
Order The Bob Dylan Scrapbook & No Direction Home: The Bootleg Series Vol. 7 for the special bundle price of only $49.98 (29% off). You'll also get a bonus Dylan CD containing 6 tracks recorded at Bob Dylan's October 26, 1963 concert at Carnegie Hall, New York City and free standard shipping on your entire order.

Bob Dylan "Bob Dylan Live At Carnegie Hall"

1. The Times They Are A-Changin'
2. The Ballad of Hollis Brown
3. Boots of Spanish Leather
4. Lay Down Your Weary Tune
5. North Country Blues
6. With God On Our Side