Bob Dylan: Tell Tale Signs - The Bootleg Series Vol. 8
This excellent Bob Dylan Bootleg Series compilation differs from many of the others in that it covers a much wider time span and the recording sessions for Oh Mercy, Time Out Of Mind (with some carry-overs to Love & Theft), World Gone Wrong and Modern Times - a period from 1989 to 2006. Also included are songs recorded for movie soundtracks - the movies were North Country, Lucky You and Gods And Generals - as well as several live concert recordings.
The best version of the album is the three disc one. Because of the wide period covered, the collection almost plays out like a new album (particularly Disc One), and the quality of the tracks is simply outstanding, both as songs and in their superb sound. It in no way plays like a collection of ropey demos - all the songs are full ones. No false starts or Dylan stopping the band a few minutes in. I love it for that reason. It's a proper album as opposed to an obsessive's treasure trove.
My favourites are many - a slowed-down bluesy crawl of Mississippi (from Love & Theft but written initially for Time Out Of Mind), one of Dylan's finest non-album, previously-unreleased numbers in the beguiling Red River Shore, the lively and wonderful Dignity, the quiet, swampy blues of Tell Ol' Bill, the lovely Huck's Tune (check that beautiful bass) and the mysterious, rolling drums-powered Series of Dreams. Incidentally, the best version of Dignity is to be found on Side Tracks, part of the Complete Albums collection, also on The Best Of Bob Dylan, Volume 2.
A couple of numbers from Oh Mercy are given new lives here too, with a different ambience to them, Most Of The Time and a simply deliciously groovy Everything Is Broken. Dylan sounds as if he is loving doing some of these takes.
Born In Time is a fine unused track from the Oh Mercy sessions too, as is Dreamin' Of You from the Time Out Of Mind sessions. Just how good is the vibrant God Knows too? Why some of these didn't see the light of day is, as always with Dylan, a mystery. Use Can't Escape From You as an example. It puts me firmly in mind of the narrative song about the Titanic Tempest from 2012 in its melody and rhyme scheme. It is just beautiful - evocative and moving, both lyrically and melodically. Furthermore, many tracks in their alternative versions compete strongly with the versions Dylan eventually used. A track like Can't Wait from the Time Out Of Mind sessions is delivered in a fabulously bassy, deep form on its Disc One take, as is Ain't Talkin' from Modern Times. More great alternative arrangements of the Time Out Of Mind album's material would subsequently resurface on the Fragments box set.
The live cuts are gutsy, raw performances, particularly the two Love & Theft numbers covered, High Water (For Charley Patton) and Lonesome Day Blues. They positively bristle with down 'n' dirty bluesy muscle. Cold Irons Bound, from Time Out Of Mind, is great live as well.
The shorter, two disc version ends with a diamond of a number in the atmospheric, slow and dignified march of Cross The Green Mountain. For many, this is the finest previously unavailable cut on offer here. It's difficult to argue against that. It is one of Dylan's great, "later era" songs, where his ageing becomes more apparent, in his world-weary but comforting vocals. He's been a "grand old man" for about twenty-five years now, hasn't he? It began with Time Out Of Mind and was perpetuated with songs such as this one.
I love this collection, I love its deep, warm sound and its overall feel of enthusiasm. As I said, it plays like an album release in its own right and a damn good one at that.
You may also wish to check out my reviews of the original albums (click on the titles) -
