Self Portrait

Self Portrait

Self Portrait was released as a two album set. It has some good songs, including a few covers, but overall it is uneven. According to the notes in Biograph, at least part of the reason for releasing this is to prevent the bootlegging of the material. 

Self Portrait's 24 tracks includes three different components to it each with different personnel. Of them four are live songs with The Band, six are studio outtakes from the Nashville Skyline sessions, and the remaining ten tracks are from the Self Portrait sessions. His album Dylan is similar, of it's nine tracks seven of from Self Portrait and two from Nashville Skyline eras. The personnel on the songs representing Self Portrait is similar to New Morning. 

In the track selection I've included the credits. The album would have flowed better if the material was organized with different pieces sequenced together. One day I plan to take different Dylan odds and ends from albums like this, Biograph, Greatest Hits Vol. 2, different Bootleg Series releases and make my own CD to play. For example, extend Nashville Skyline by adding these tracks, and add the four live tracks that feature The Band with the odds and ends on numerous releases, found both Dylan and The Band's catalog's. 

Speaking of The Band, these four performances were from Dylan's his Isle of Wright performance, on 8/31/1969; the shows set list is listed below. Too, these live tracks are not sequenced together. The material is not as good as their tour in 1966 that was represented on Bootleg Series Volume 4, the 1974 tour represented on Before the Flood, or their mini set at The Last Waltz. Nevertheless, the four tracks are worthwhile for a collector. 
12. Like a Rolling Stone
17. Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)
21. Minstrel Boy
22. She Belongs to Me
More about the Bob Dylan and The Band recorded works.

Self Portrait is not a great album and is organized poorly. It is certainly missing a classic song, and for this time of Dylan career, usually a few per album were on par. However, there is some good material. It is kind of like the Bootleg Series before its time. What makes this album more desirable than what otherwise might be the case is the Nashville Skyline outtakes. That is one of my favorite Bob Dylan releases and this release includes another six tracks. 

by Barry Small © 

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Bob Dylan 

See individual song credits

Label - Columbia  
1970

The set list for the Dylan and The Band performance at the Isle of Wright performance, on 8/31/1969.

She Belongs To Me, I Threw It All Away, Maggie's Farm, Wild Mountain Thyme, It Ain't Me Babe, To Ramona, Mr. Tambourine Man, I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine, Lay Lady Lay, Highway 61 Revisited, One Too Many Mornings, I Pity The Poor Immigrant, Like A Rolling Stone, I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, Mighty Quinn, Minstrel Boy, Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35