While this week's new release list is a tad lighter than we've seen in recent weeks, there are nonetheless some very noteworthy titles to talk about...not the least of which is Tell Tale Signs, the eighth volume in Bob Dylan's Bootleg Series of rare, live, and unreleased gems.
Tell Tale Signs focuses on the period from 1989's Oh Mercy right on up through Dylan's much more recent creative renaissance on the albums Time Out Of Mind, Love & Theft, and 2006's brilliant Modern Times.
What makes this set such an essential purchase is that while many of the songs here, like "Mississippi," "Everything Is Broken," and "Someday Baby" will be familiar to Dylan fans, the alternate versions offered up here are often so radically different from those released on the original albums as to constitute a new Dylan album altogether.
"Mississippi" for example is barely recognizable in an early, stripped-down version (one of three offered here if you buy the three-disc version), until Dylan sings the chorus. "Most Of The Time," awash in Daniel Lanois atmospherics on the Oh, Mercy album is likewise stripped down to the sort of a bare core of Dylan on guitar and harmonica that wouldn't be at all out of place on his earlier, more folk-influenced albums. There are also a number of great new songs, including the bluesy Time Out Of Mind outtake, "Marchin' To The City."
The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs - Rare and Unreleased 1989-2006 is available in both one- and two-disc versions, as well as a deluxe three-disc package, and comes with the usual booklet featuring liner notes and track-by-track analysis. If you're anything like me, you'll need everything here.
In non-Dylan related news, Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders make their long awaited studio return this week with Break Up the Concrete. Wu-Tang Clan assemble all of their numerous members and sub-clans minus Old Dirty Bastard for Soundtracks from the Shaolin Temple. Wishing you a Merry Christmas this week are the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Neil Sedaka, and George Strait.
Josh Hathaway returns to the NAR contributor's circle this week to confess that he actually still listens to Oasis, and is about to plunk down 100 bucks for the deluxe version of their new one. In the meantime, Mark Saleski remembers the first time he ever heard the Clash on the eve of their first live album, some 25 years after the fact.
Article comments
1 - Donald Gibson
It's more like Chrissie Hynde as the Pretenders. She sacked Martin Chambers (the only other living original member) and gathered a brand new batch of players (including Jim Keltner on drums).
2 - Glen Boyd
She sacked Chambers? Wow, thats harsh man...especially since hes the one guy who didn't leave the band "the hard way" if you know what I mean?
On the other hand, Keltner's a great drummer...
-Glen
3 - Donald Gibson
I've been in the presence of Chrissie Hynde yelling at someone. I'm not altogether sure that death wouldn't be a better way to go...
4 - Josh Hathaway
Keltner is a great drummer. You guys have to check out the new BB King if you haven't yet. He's great on it.
My Dylan arrived tonight, so I'll be listening at work tomorrow!!
5 - Glen Boyd
I did see Chrissie cussing out the audience at an outdoor Neil Young show one year for barbequing hamburgers if that counts.
Josh, the Dylan is freaking amazing. Hopefully you got the thre disc version (or at least the two disc). Its great shit.
-Glen
6 - Donald Gibson
Yeah, that counts. I was hanging out in the lobby of the venue before the show when Chrissie came out to yell at a lady wearing a fur coat. She wouldn't let her inside til she brought the coat back to her car.
7 - Tom Johnson
If anyone gets that three disc edition, I hope they'll be seeding disc three out to torrent sites. At that ridiculous, disgusting, putrid, stink-ridden, assholish, vomit-inducing, bad thing price, they'd better be expecting everyone who gets those to be farming out copies to everyone they know. God, I'm pissed as hell about this - this beats the crap out of the Walmart exclusives. I hope this deluxe set tanks. Fuck off, Dylan & Columbia, you thieving shit-asses. It's kind of like they're asking people to steal music, isn't it?
8 - Heartwing
Yep, Chrissie yells alot! She yelled at me for taking her picture at a concert recently. Yelled even more at someone else for the same thing. Pretty much was hostile to the whole audience all evening. Sigh...tortured rock star. Still like her tho...