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Posted on 07/18/2013 6:01:15 PM PDT by TurboZamboni
One of Bob Dylan's least-heralded periods will be revisited with the release of "The Bootleg Series, Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait (1969-1971)" on Aug. 27 on Columbia Records.
The two-CD set -- which also will be available as an expanded, four-disc deluxe box -- gathers outtakes, live cuts and other previously unreleased material drawn largely from Dylan's 1970 albums "Self Portrait" and "New Morning."
And that wasn't a particularly well-liked time for the Minnesota native.
Greil Marcus' Rolling Stone review of "Self Portrait" opened with the oft-quoted line: "What is this s---?" That echoed the sentiment of many fans who were confused by the double album and its mish-mash of pop and folk cover versions, instrumentals and seemingly half-finished original songs with garish production from Bob Johnston. In 1991, it showed up at No. 3 in the book "The Worst Rock and Roll Records of All Time," behind Lou Reed's feedback-only album "Metal Machine Music" and "Having Fun with Elvis on Stage," a 1974 collection of Elvis Presley's onstage banter, but no actual songs.
Dylan has since said "Self Portrait" was a conscious effort to shake the Woodstock-era hippies who looked to him as a leader and weren't afraid to camp outside his home.
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
Dylan-the OTHER Zimmerman
I'm glad that I am finally going to hear some outtakes and B-sides from that much under-appreciated stage of Dylan's career.
A few years ago, Dylan put out a Christmas album that was widely panned but that is also a hidden gem that Dylan fans would be wise to check out.
Another mystery. Read the Rolling Stone article on this subject, it’s available online (I think it was RS where I read it just yesterday.) It’s the album everybody hated, including Dylan, for whom it was a sort of revenge on all those who demanded of him political leadership. The liner notes for this one wrote the Berkeley Dylanologist Greil Marcus, who was the one who wrote the review in the RS back then titled “What Is This Shit?”
There is also an interesting promotional Youtube vid with Al Kooper and David Bromberg in it. Some cuts are playing in the background to bait you, and they do sound good.
I always thought he did pretty well for a guy who can’t sing, can’t play the harmonica, and can’t play the guitar.
But he sure can write lyrics .
This will always be my favorite Dylan song — particularly for the lyrics:
Changing Of The Guards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1rc_y2cLPg
Great !
I was starting to worry not seeing the usual idiot “Dylan can’t sing” post for 4 posts and full 30 minutes!
Here’s that Lorring Stone (for our Asian readers) article that talks about the ugly background of Self-Portrait I. Dylan, you’ll note, says that he painted the cover in 5 minutes (if I remember colletry.) Check out the cover of Self-Portrait II. 7 minutes?
I really like “Quinn the Eskimo”.
The thing about Dylan at the time (Re: the RS revelations) is that he could act like a prima donna. Royalties were rolling in, why, even the Four Seasons had recorded an album of his songs, he didn’t give a damn. The motorcycle accident (which we don’t really know if it happened) the drug addiction, as discovered by A.J. Weberman going through Zimmerman’s garbage cans in the village, Zimmy was his own man.
Yes...One thing I have noted about Dylan and Jerry Garcia, is that they could have told their fans to jump off a cliff and the fans would ask “How High?”...but they never went there. The musical genius was in there...unlike the doped out wannabes with no legacy. No one but God to lead the way!
I like “Must Be Santa”.
the video is amusing and weird.
I thought his less than popular era happened when he declared himself to be a born again Christian.
Elvis stopped recording rock and roll records after he took a stab at You Ain't Nothin' But A Hound Dog.
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