Originally
published in The Aquarian Weekly
November
12, 2008
Bob Dylan
Bootleg Series Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs
Sony Legacy
For the last
17 years,
Columbia
Records has been
gathering Bob
DylanÕs demos,
alternate
takes, unreleased
songs, and
live performances
for the
outstanding Bootleg
Series. The
just released eighth
volume of the
series, titled Tell
Tale Signs, is
one of the finest
installments
in the venerable
series.
Volume 8
consists of
recordings
from the period
1989-2006.
That means it
includes
material from
sessions and
performances
that occurred
during one of
DylanÕs
strongest eras.
Critically
praised albums from
the period
include Time Out
Of Mind, Love
And Theft, Oh
Mercy, and
Modern Times.
The collection
is available in
a two-disc,
27-song edition
with extensive
liner notes, and
in a deluxe
three-disc package
that youÕll
need to raid your
piggy bank to
be able to afford.
The thing is,
that third disc
included in
the expensive
version needs
to be heard.
Find a way to
get it. Christmas
is nearly
here.
For me, the
live songs stand
out. Fiery
versions of ÒHigh
Water (For
Charley Patton)Ó
from disc one,
ÒRing Them
BellsÓ from
disc two, ÒCold Irons
Bound,Ó
recorded at Bonnaroo
in 2004, and a
stunning
ÒThings Have
Changed,Ó both
included on
the bonus disc,
showcase DylanÕs
continuing
vitality as a
performer, and
indicate that
his songwriting
powers have
not diminished
one bit.
Dylan has been
critical of
Daniel LanoisÕ
production of
Oh Mercy, and
Time Out Of
Mind, and here
an attempt is
made to set
the record straight
by including
alternate takes,
including
three separate and
distinctly
different alternate
takes on ÒMississippi,Ó
which
appeared on
Time Out Of
Mind, and two
different
interpretations
of ÒMost Of The
Time,Ó which
appeared on Oh
Mercy. There
are a number of
other songs
presented in
unreleased
versions from
these
sessions.
All of this is
just scratching
the surface of
this wonderful
collection
though. Tell Tale
Signs is
easily one of the best
albums of the
year. At 67 years
of age, Bob
Dylan remains a
living,
breathing master. Grab
this.
In A Word: Imperative
Grade: A+
—by
Ken Shane