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Bob Dylan: Through the Open Window: Discs Two and Three

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Disc 2 contains selections from his first “real” concert, at the Carnegie Chapter Hall, a small venue next to Carnegie Hall. It happened almost exactly 64 years ago and was not a success; there were only about 50 people in the audience. Good thing someone there made a recording! There are also outtakes from his first album, and some songs he played at his friend Bonnie Beecher’s house in Minneapolis. Interesting to hear how his guitar playing has developed!  Disc 3 has some real highlights. There’s an early version of “Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues,” which Dylan was later supposed to sing on the Ed Sullivan Show. At the last minute, the CBS censors told him he’d have to pick another song, and he refused. Dylan never did appear on Sullivan. Other highlights are some Harry Belafonte and Victoria Spivey songs Bob played harmonica on, and what’s possibly the first-ever public performance of “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Dylan (probably) debuted this song at Gerde’s Folk City on April 16, ...
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Bob Dylan: Through the Open Window: Disc One

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 There was great excitement in Dylan-world this week, as the 18th bootleg collection, covering Bob’s very early years (1956-1963) was released on Halloween. While 84-year-old Bob is touring in Europe, fans who aren’t there are probably cracking open this set. This release came out in several formats, including CD, vinyl and streaming. Being a completist, of course I had to get the CD set, which has 8 CDs and a 123-page hardcover book by Sean Wilentz. The packaging seems great to me. The graphics and photos are excellent and everything seems sturdy. The set contains many tracks either never before officially released, or released only in very limited quantities. Some tracks have been circulating as bootlegs for years, but are of varying quality and not accessible to everyone. But how does it sound? I decided to document my progress through these 8 CDs, with the help of Ray Padgett’s excellent, detailed Substack review:  https://open.substack.com/pub/dylanlive/p/a-track-by-track...
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Album #40: Shadow Kingdom

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 Released June 2, 2023 It seems fitting to end my project with this album, Dylan’s last studio album to date. Recorded in early 2021 to accompany the film of the same name, it’s a collection of 13 songs from Dylan’s earlier career, plus one instrumental.  The album received rave reviews, and it deserves them. Dylan sounds great and his reinterpretations of these familiar songs are fascinating. They are all eminently recognizable, but transformed. The accompanying musicians, as always, are excellent. Dylan used no drums. The songs flow into one another,  which I don’t think he did on any other album, at least, not for every song.  My favorites on this album are “What Was It You Wanted” and “When I Paint My Masterpiece”. The only one I didn’t like in its new form was “Tombstone Blues”. He sings it very slowly.  I like it fast ;-)  The film this was used for is well worth seeking out. It was filmed on a soundstage in California, but is credited as being in the...
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Album #39: Rough and Rowdy Ways

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 Released June 19, 2020 This is the last album of original material Dylan has released (to date!) It received almost universal acclaim, landing on numerous “Best Albums of 2020” lists. Overall, it’s a quiet, intense album, capped with the 17-minute masterpiece “Murder Most Foul”. Dylan sounds great and the musicianship is excellent.  Hard to pick favorites here; “Goodbye Jimmy Reed,” “Crossing the Rubicon” and “Key West” are all great. “Murder Most Foul” never drags, despite its length. How does he do that?  If this is the last Dylan album with original songs, no one can complain.  Crossing the Rubicon: https://youtu.be/r3stG270JaM?si=GEHGC3xIlVSzZa0r
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Album #38: Triplicate

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 Released March 31, 2017 After two albums of standards, was Dylan done? Heck no! He released “Triplicate,” which was three CDs of 10 songs each. 30 more songs!  I really enjoyed listening to this, even if it wasn’t as exciting as listening to new, original material. Once again, his musicians are excellent and his delivery is appealing. The songs were again recorded live and in order, and I think you can hear Dylan becoming more comfortable with the material as he goes along.  My favorites were some of the ones I was less familiar with, including “Day In, Day Out,” “Why Was I Born,” and “Braggin’”, which especially suits his playful side (& I love the horn & the guitar solos): https://youtu.be/V-m38_TOKaU?si=SVy5y9TxmF6MMIga Unbelievably, I’m now up to his last (to date!) album of original material. It’s a masterwork. Stay tuned…
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Album #37: Fallen Angels

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 Released May 20, 2016 Another collection of Sinatra classics (all except “Skylark,” which apparently Sinatra never recorded; why??)  I enjoyed this album even a little more than “Shadows in the Night” - maybe I just like the song selections better, or they fit Bob’s voice better?  I’m not sure I’ll ever pick these albums over, say, “Blood on the Tracks” or “Love and Theft,” but they’re very nice. It’s fun to hear Dylan singing these songs that he must have grown up with, with so much feeling. The musical arrangements are excellent. Love the pedal steel guitar.  “Nevertheless” was a standout for me: https://youtu.be/b1nF2Ma9IZU?si=nVb8o7ptC8Ah1iAF
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Album #36: Shadows in the Night

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 Released February 3, 2015 An album of standards which had all been recorded by Frank Sinatra, this is certainly a change from the darkness and violence of Tempest. I think whether you like them or not depends on how you feel about Dylan’s voice (which is much smoother here than his voice on Tempest) and on how much of a traditionalist you are. I liked this album; his interpretations are full of emotion, and his musicians are great. It was recorded live, in track order.  My favorites here were “That Lucky Old Sun,” and “What’ll I Do,” which is one of my favorite songs. Irving Berlin could do anything.  What’ll I Do: https://youtu.be/PlrW5K8-5Iw?si=-_ZaokUDIEeeZ7IO What’ll I Do: Sinatra: https://youtu.be/VgJlNWdeElQ?si=bHca1uFmlazlNy8C
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