I’m very tempted by the new 6-CD deluxe box set of The Cutting Edge but until I actually order it, this “Best of” 2-CD set will do nicely. These discs are full of alternate takes of classic Bob Dylan songs from the recording sessions of Dylan’s Bringing It All back Home, Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde. The sound is great and the accompanying booklet provides plenty of facts about the songs and the recording sessions. If you’re a Bob Dylan fan, this is a must-buy. Check out the interview with Al Kooper on recording “Like a Rolling Stone” below. GRADE: A
SET LIST:
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
If I remember correctly, there’s also an 18-disc set that includes multiple takes of many iconic songs from these albums . Bill posted about it a few days back and my comment was, has George ordered this yet?
Deb, I’m VERY tempted to buy the deluxe edition you refer to. AMAZON will be offering sales for Prime members later this month. I might be making my move then.
I can’t understand the lyrics in most of his newer work. And by newer I mean after the mid=seventies.
Patti, I’m with you on Dylan’s “recent” singing. I mainly listen to Bob Dylan songs from the 1960s and the early 1970s.
The big set isn’t even tempting me. I think this double CD will do nicely.
Bill, if AMAZON gives me enough incentive, that deluxe set is mine!
This is the Dylan I like. Lost interest after NASHVILLE SKYLINE.
Jerry, I pretty much lost interest in Dylan after NASHVILLE SKYLINE, too. Of Dylan’s later work, OH, MERCY is my favorite.
These are definitely my favorite Dylan albums. We last saw him in concert (with Paul Simon) in 1999 and won’t be repeating that experience. I’ll check this one out.
OK, I’m ordering this one, not the $99 6-CD set, let alone the 18-CD set to come.
I’m just fine with the 3 CDs of those three albums that I’ve had for ages, plus I also have the Greatest Hits CD.
Rick, one of the CDs in the deluxe edition of this set is full of versions of “Like a Rolling Stone.” I would buy that box set just to have that one CD!
some of my favorite songs are listed, but sadly not “lay, lady, lay” (apologies in advance if I didn’t use proper punctuation, Rick)
Maggie, I’m sure “Lay Lady Lay” is on the deluxe edition.
Wow! Thanks, George for bringing up memories again …
Desolation Row was and still is one of my favourite songs – and the others from that time too, of course.
I remember those were the days when you would really think about buying an LP – cost around 20 DM in Germany (around 5$ at the time), that was a lot of money for us students. So usually one bought the record and the others copied it to Compact Cassette …
And Bob had the best musicians with him: Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield whom we lost so early and others …
A bit OT:
I’m still playing the Super Session in my car radio regularly – Dylan’s music is a bit of a problem on the road, because my wife’s English ain’t so good …
Wolf, I had a feeling you might be a Dylan fan. You would love this 2-CD set!
George, just found it in the catalogue of German specialist JPC (for those who don’t like Amazon …) 19€ for 2 CDs- so when I’m back in Germany I’ll get me an Xmas present …
My wife will get Eric Clapton’s 2CD/2DVD combo “Slowhand at 70 – live at the Royal Albert Hall” (33€).
What do you have as a present for your wife?
Hey, wouldn’t that be anice topic for your site? We’ve got only 6 weeks …
Wolf, my wife usually gives me a big “hint” about Christmas presents. I’ll be posting about holiday gifts in the weeks ahead.
I love this era of Dylan as well as Blood on the Tracks. Ordering this one today.
Scott, like you I love these songs and the sound Dylan came up with in the Sixties. You’re really going to enjoy this set!
Got my copy today! I know what I’ll be doing all weekend!
Scott, you’ll enjoy the alternative “takes” of these classic Dylan songs. It really gives an insight into the creative process.