BOB DYLAN – THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ SESSIONS & OUTTAKES (CD)

Description

While Dylan’s second album, a collection of rare tracks from his folk era, has been re-released as “THE FREEWHEELIN’ BOB DYLAN RADIO STATION DISC & SESSIONS,” an updated version of its release from over 10 years ago, “THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ OUTTAKES,” a compilation of rare tracks from his third album, remains sold out since its release over 10 years ago.

Released in 2014, this album was highly praised by fans as a compact and convenient compilation of rare tracks from “THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'” that were available at the time. However, it has not been reissued or upgraded in the same way as “THE FREEWHEELIN’ BOB DYLAN RADIO STATION DISC & SESSIONS.”

　As a result, a gray-area CD appeared that completely copied “THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ OUTTAKES” and even padded it with live recordings from the same year, but this is also proof of how excellent the original album was.

　Furthermore, with the film released last year still readily available on streaming services, the demand for rare recordings of early Dylan is only increasing. The box set “THROUGH THE OPEN WINDOW 1956-1963,” officially released last fall, was also a release that came about within this trend.

　Naturally, demand for “THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ OUTTAKES,” which was released more than 10 years ago, is not only continuing but is increasing. And so, this release is finally becoming a reality. Fortunately, the time that has passed since the last release has allowed for the discovery of new recordings and upgrades from the “THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'” sessions. Therefore, this is not just a simple re-release, but a complete overhaul of the content, upgraded to “SESSIONS & OUTTAKES.”

　In particular, the previous release was titled “OUTTAKES” because it only contained two session recordings for the album, but new recordings were discovered last year, expanding the session portion. On the other hand, there are also alternate takes of the album’s title track with different key performances, which were originally official releases but have now become hard to find, ironically increasing their value.

　Not only have valuable alternate takes been added, but new outtakes have also been discovered last year, resulting in an increased number of tracks. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that tracks like “Farewell” have improved sound quality compared to the previous release.

　What’s shocking is that, as you can hear from the outtakes, Dylan recorded multiple takes of himself accompanying the songs on piano, but all of them were never released. Now the recording order of the sessions has been completely determined, and it has even become clear that most of these piano songs were not recorded as warm-ups, but rather concentrated in the latter half of the session. To top it all off, he even played “Key to the Highway” on piano, but that was also ultimately shelved.

　Furthermore, the previously unreleased mono mix files compiled in the latter half are now difficult to obtain, and there are even more tracks here that can only be heard here than last time. As a result, tracks such as “Lay Down Your Weary Tune” from “BIOGRAPH” and the instrumental “Suze (The Cough Song)” released in “BOOTLEG SERIES 1-3” can be enjoyed in a more raw, analog-like, and intimate way that only mono can offer, compared to the officially released stereo versions.

　Following the continued bestseller “THE FREEWHEELIN’ BOB DYLAN RADIO STATION DISC & SESSIONS,” the highly anticipated re-release of “THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'” has finally arrived, upgraded in both content and sound quality, as a collection of sessions and outtakes in the highest possible sound quality throughout. The wait is over!

(60:51)
SESSIONS
1. The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Alternate take 23rd October 1963)
2. Ballad Of Hollis Brown (Early version from “Freewheelin” sessions 14th November 1962)
3. One Too Many Mornings (Take 1 24th October 1963)
4. Boots Of Spanish Leather (Take 5 6th August 1963)

OUTTAKES
5. Farewell (Take 5 6th August 1963)
6. Eternal Circle (Incomplete early version 7th August 1963)
7. Bob Dylan’s New Orleans Rag (Remake, Take 3 7th August 1963)
8. Bob Dylan’s New Orleans Rag (Incomplete New Remake, 7th August 1963)
9. Hero Blues (Take 3 12th August 1963)
10. Eternal Circle (Take 4 12th August 1963)
11. Percy’s Song (Alternate Take 24th October 1963)
12. East Laredo Blues (Take 1 23rd October 1963)
13. Key To The Highway (Take 1 23rd October 1963)
14. That’s All Right Mama / Sally Free And Easy (Take 1 23rd October 1963)
15. Lay Down Your Weary Tune (Take 1 24th October 1963 Mono Acetate Mix)
16. Percy’s Song (Take 1 23rd October 1963 Mono Acetate Mix)
17. Suze (The Cough Song) (Take 1 24th October 1963 Mono Mix)