Springtime in New York
1980-1985
[New York] : Columbia/Legacy, [2021]
Format: Music CD
Description: 2 audio discs : CD audio, stereo ; 4 3/4 in.
If Bob Dylan's Bootleg series of archival releases -- now in its fourth decade -- has taught fans anything, it's that preconceived notions about his catalog are often proven erroneous. Entries such as Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait (1969-1971) and Vol. 13: Trouble No More 1979-1981 offered substantive counterarguments for the criticism the source albums received. Vol. 16: Springtime in New York 1980-1985 begins with the thoroughly slagged final outing in his Christian trilogy, Shot of Love (1981), and continues through the more warmly greeted albums Infidels (1983) and Empire Burlesque (1985). It reveals the many musical directions Dylan was traveling in simultaneously. Over 57 tracks and five discs, his sometimes radical experimentation with musicians (Sly & Robbie served as the rhythm section on Infidels), material, and production styles posits that he was seeking a way forward not out of restlessness but because he was lost -- he would release the execrable Knocked Out Loaded and Down in the Groove over the next few years. The songs leading to and from Shot of Love are represented on the first two discs. There's a stellar rehearsal version of "Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)," and a supercharged Bo Diddley-esque "Jesus Met the Woman at the Well." the scorching garage rocker "Borrowed Time" was created on the spot. There are many covers too. Dylan delivers the yacht rock hit "This Night Won't Last Forever" without irony, as well as Hank Williams' "Cold Cold Heart," a fine read of the Temptations' "I Wish It Would Rain," a swampy "Mystery Train," and an awful "Sweet Caroline." Discs three and four showcase material from the Infidels sessions. There's a (different) gospel-infused read of "Blind Willie McTell" and an alternate mix of "Jokerman" with a prophetic vocal that brings Mark Knopfler's and Mick Taylor's guitars way up front. After two versions of "Too Late," we get a third in the ragged blues "Foot of Pride." Outtakes of "Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight" and "I and I" are superior to the album takes. The Empire Burlesque material offers "Enough Is Enough," penned on tour and performed only three times, and a Late Night with David Letterman performance of "License to Kill" with the Plugz. There is also a loose, soulful alternate version of "Tight Connection to My Heart." The squalling, shambolic garage rocker "Straight A's in Love" was previously unissued. One of the two versions of "When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky" contains a disco beat in a rocking context. The 12-minute "New Danville Girl" is fantastic, but eventually became the inferior "Brownsville Girl." Closer "Dark Eyes" (an alternate take) was composed because producer Arthur Baker wanted an acoustic track. Springtime in New York was curated and produced by Jeff Rosen and Steve Berkowitz. They went beyond the call of duty in sonic clarity, warmth, and selection; further, Damien Love's liner notes are detailed, authoritative, and wonderfully enthusiastic. Whether Shot of Love warrants deeper appreciation now is debatable, but this box set wonderfully showcases Dylan's lengthy, complex creative journey that only got rockier as the decade wore on. ~ Thom Jurek
Series: Dylan, Bob, 1941- Bootleg series ; v. 16.
Contents:
Disc one. Angelina (Shot of Love outtake) (6:41) -- Need a woman (rehearsal) (5:13) -- Let's keep it between us (rehearsal) (5:15) -- Price of love (Shot of Love outtake) (4:16) -- Don't ever take yourself away (Shot of Love outtake) (4:09) -- Fur slippers (Shot of Love outtake) (2:49) -- Yes sir, no sir (Shot of Love outtake) (2:22) -- Jokerman (Infidels alternate outtake) (6:13) -- Lord protect my child (Infidels outtake) (4:18) -- Blind Willie McTell (Infidels outtake) (4:26) -- Don't fall apart on me tonight (Infidels alternate take) (5:29) -- Neighborhood bully (Infidels alternate take) (4:11) -- Too late (Infidels outtake) (6:16) -- Disc two. Foot of pride (Infidels outtake) (5:55) -- Sweetheart like you (Infidels alternate take) (3:42) -- Someone's got a hold of my heart (Infidels outtake) (4:24) -- I and I (Infidels alternate take) (4:27) -- Tell me (Infidels outtake) (5:01) -- Enough is enough (live) (4:17) -- Tight connection to my heart (has anybody seen my love) (Empire Burlesque alternate mix) (5:13) -- Seeing the real you at last (Empire Burlesque alternate take) (4:26) -- Emotionally yours (Empire Burlesque alternate take) (3:37) -- Clean cut kid (Empire Burlesque alternate take) (4:42) -- New Danville girl (Empire Burlesque outtake (11:52) -- Dark eyes (Empire Burlesque alternate take) (4:58).
UPC: 194398688329
Availability | |||
---|---|---|---|
Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
CD POPULAR Dyl | Cooper (Forest Acres) | Music CD | In |
Title from disc label.
Compact discs.
All tracks previously unreleased, except "Don't ever take yourself away".
Liner notes by Damien Love (55 pages : illustrations, chiefly color) with track-by-track commentary printed on container insert.
Sound recording.
Produced by Jeff Rosen and Steve Berkowitz. Original sessions for Shot of love produced by Chuck Plotkin and Bob Dylan, for Infidels produced by Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler, for Empire burlesque by Bob Dylan; mixed and mastered by Mark Wilder, Steve Addabbo and Chris Shaw.
Performed by Bob Dylan, vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica.
Compact discs.
All tracks previously unreleased, except "Don't ever take yourself away".
Liner notes by Damien Love (55 pages : illustrations, chiefly color) with track-by-track commentary printed on container insert.
Sound recording.
Produced by Jeff Rosen and Steve Berkowitz. Original sessions for Shot of love produced by Chuck Plotkin and Bob Dylan, for Infidels produced by Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler, for Empire burlesque by Bob Dylan; mixed and mastered by Mark Wilder, Steve Addabbo and Chris Shaw.
Performed by Bob Dylan, vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica.