The Bootleg Series Vol. 12: The Cutting Edge 1965–1966
Bob Dylan · 2015
145 min · 36 tracks · blues · folk rock · jazz
A treasure trove of raw, acoustic demos showcasing Bob Dylan's creative evolution during a transformative period.
Why this album works
This installment of the Bootleg Series provides unprecedented insight into Dylan's songwriting process, revealing alternate takes of classic tracks that have defined American music. The album received critical acclaim for its authenticity and depth, highlighting the cultural significance of Dylan's work during the 1960s.
- Best for
- deep dive into creative process intimate acoustic storytelling moments exploration of lyrical evolution
- Context
- Released in 2015, this collection captures Bob Dylan's artistic peak during the mid-1960s, following his celebrated albums 'Bringing It All Back Home' and 'Highway 61 Revisited'. At this point in his career, Dylan was shifting from folk music icon to rock innovator, experimenting with new sounds and lyrical complexities.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Tom Waits· Frank Zappa· Prince· Chicago· Blood, Sweat & Tears· Bette Midler· The Pointer Sisters· Steely Dan
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Love Minus Zero/No Limit (take 2, acoustic) 3:10
- 2 I’ll Keep It With Mine (take 1, piano demo) 4:11
- 3 Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream (take 2, solo acoustic) 6:17
- 4 She Belongs to Me (take 1, solo acoustic) 2:57
- 5 Subterranean Homesick Blues (take 1, alternate take) Standout 2:38
- 6 Outlaw Blues (take 2, alternate take) 3:29
- 7 On the Road Again (take 4, alternate take) 2:31
- 8 Farewell Angelina (take 1, solo acoustic) 5:28
- 9 If You Gotta Go, Go Now (take 2, alternate take) 2:50
- 10 You Don’t Have to Do That (take 1, solo acoustic) 0:50
- 11 California (take 1, solo acoustic) 3:05
- 12 Mr. Tambourine Man (take 3, with band, incomplete) 3:23
- 13 It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry (take 8, alternate take) 3:28
- 14 Like a Rolling Stone (take 5, rehearsal) 1:44
- 15 Like a Rolling Stone (take 11, alternate take) Standout 5:56
- 16 Sitting on a Barbed‐Wire Fence (take 2, unreleased take) 3:58
- 17 Medicine Sunday (take 1, early version of Temporary Like Achilles) 1:01
- 18 Desolation Row (take 2, piano demo) 2:00
- 19 Desolation Row (take 1, alternate take) Standout 11:16
Disc 2
- 1 Tombstone Blues (take 1, alternate take) 7:29
- 2 Positively 4th Street (take 5, alternate take) 4:24
- 3 Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? (take 1, alternate take) 4:05
- 4 Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues (take 3, rehearsal) 5:39
- 5 Highway 61 Revisited (take 3, alternate take) 3:30
- 6 Queen Jane Approximately (take 5, alternate take) 6:02
- 7 Visions of Johanna (take 5, rehearsal) 7:40
- 8 She’s Your Lover Now (take 6, rehearsal) 4:58
- 9 Lunatic Princess (take 1) 1:20
- 10 Leopard‐Skin Pill‐Box Hat (take 8, alternate take) 3:26
- 11 One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) (take 19, alternate take) 5:10
- 12 Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again (take 13, alternate take) 4:03
- 13 Absolutely Sweet Marie (take 1, alternate take) 5:01
- 14 Just Like a Woman (take 4, alternate take) 5:19
- 15 Pledging My Time (take 1, alternate take) 3:22
- 16 I Want You (take 4, alternate take) 2:51
- 17 Highway 61 Revisited (take 7, false start) 0:32
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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