A famously — and deliberately — dreadful album: Dylan hurling the contents of his junk drawer at Dylanologists to throw them off his trail. It's a mess of out-of-tune covers, schlocky string arrangements, half-remembered folk tunes and some middling live tracks from 1969's Isle of Wight festival. "Copper Kettle" isn't bad, though.
Always like this. Still have mint vinyl(no turntable). Feasting on all the Dylan offered.
some interesting tracks on this album but it is hard from essential. mighty quinn is a hightlight as are the other live tracks with the band from the isle of wight festival.
Although this collection pales in comparison with Dylan's output at the time, it's still interesting and listenable and better than many others he's put out.
In 65, Bob said he was â??just a song and dance man.â?ť Hear it here, as he tries on songs and styles with 50 other musicians. Re: Boxer. Bob also covered Joni, Neil, Zevon, Henley, Stones. Wannabes? Please. The Boxer is a small town guy, beaten and lonely in NY. Think Bob might relate? And a fine sing-along, which is how itâ??s recorded â?? like most of the B. Tapes were too. None of it would matter if the songs werenâ??t there, and they are. Early Morning Rain is as fine as anything on P. Waves or N. Morning. Sadie, Gotta Travel On, Days of 49 would nicely fit on Band records/B. Tapes. (Instead of mentioning that the Band plays here, the critics above only whine that they donâ??t understand. Thanks, guys.) Several songs here would have been the 2nd best song on N. Skyline. In other words, itâ??s exactly like what else Bob was doing at the time. Kind of like, uhm, a SELF PORTRAIT. Not eternal, but FUN, and sweet. Get it, even if the critics donâ??t.
Maybe I am crazy but I have loved this recording from the first listen many years ago. Sloppy at times and shmaltzy at others but it is pure Dylan, warts and all. This is the 4th time around, buying Self Portrait, I feel good hearing it once again.
If the indie scenesters who got invites to the "I'm Not There" loft party really wanted those choice, difficult cuts to cover, they should've left the Basement Tapes well alone already and raided the "Self Portrait" fridge. "Alberta" is deliciously contagious yet loose, while "Days of '49" sounds terrific against today's freakfolk. I also predict that a tricked-out "All the Tired Horses" loop is going to make some DJ's career someday soon.
I have always liked this album...he can call it junk and out of tune, but it's classic Dylan. When I have my 150+ Dylan tracks on shuffle, these songs break it up nicely, and add variety to the mix.
Half a century into his career, Bob Dylan's amassed a gigantic catalogue of original material. He's released a string of greatest-hits albums, and his touring repertoire is well over 100 songs. But he's also got some remarkable songs that have been overshadowed by their companions — songs that, in anyone else's career, would be high points. In honor of Dylan's 70th birthday, we invite you to listen to these overlooked gems in isolation, away from the… more »
Bob Dylan didn't get to be the greatest living songwriter by repeating himself. He's reinvented his style and technique with nearly every record he's made in the course of his half-century career; he's been the political spitfire of The Times They Are A-Changin', the mysterious joker of The Basement Tapes, the domestic ruminator of New Morning, the indignant holy roller of Slow Train Coming, the aging Romeo of Time Out of Mind. The only constants… more »
