On July 30, The Second Disc reported on Bob Dylan: The Original Mono Recordings and the ninth volume of Dylan's acclaimed Bootleg Series, both due in stores on October 19. Well, Volume 9 has an official name and an official track listing. The Bootleg Series Volume 9: The Witmark Demos 1962-1964 will contain a whopping 47 songs (plus one fragment) recorded by Hibbing, Minesota's favorite son in demo form not only for M. Witmark & Sons, but for Leeds Music as well. 15 songs were recorded exclusively in demo form and make their debut here; the 2-CD set is topped off with a deluxe booklet containing rare photographs of Dylan from this period as well as notes by Colin Escott, a music historian and Tony Award-nominated playwright for Broadway's current hit Million Dollar Quartet.
The updated track listing reveals some shifts in song order. In addition, a few songs not previously thought to be included will appear, such as "Blowin' in the Wind," "Long Ago, Far Away" and "Walls of Red Wing." (Of course, there are still some songs missing that have been attributed to this period, but this treasure trove is nonetheless quite comprehensive.)
The Witmark Demos will be made available not only on CD, but as a 4-LP set. CD box set The Original Mono Recordings will also be released as a 9-LP set for those who missed out on pristine mono vinyl LPs of these albums the first time around! Dylan's official site is offering a number of pre-order bundles for both The Witmark Demos and The Original Mono Recordings; these exclusive bundles feature T-shirts and posters. You can check those out here, and then click on the jump for the official, updated track listing to The Witmark Demos.
Bob Dylan, The Bootleg Series Vol. 9: The Witmark Demos 1962-1964 (Columbia, 2010)
CD 1
- Man on the Street (Fragment)
- Hard Times in New York Town
- Poor Boy Blues
- Ballad for a Friend
- Rambling, Gambling Willie
- Talking Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues
- Standing on the Highway
- Man on the Street
- Blowin' in the Wind
- Long Ago, Far Away
- A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
- Tomorrow is a Long Time
- The Death of Emmett Till
- Let Me Die in My Footsteps
- Ballad of Hollis Brown
- Quit Your Low Down Ways
- Baby, I'm in the Mood for You
- Bound to Lose, Bound to Win
- All Over You
- I'd Hate to Be You on That Dreadful Day
- Long Time Gone
- Talking John Birch Paranoid Blues
- Masters of War
- Oxford Town
- Farewell
CD 2
- Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
- Walkin' Down the Line
- I Shall Be Free
- Bob Dylan's Blues
- Bob Dylan's Dream
- Boots of Spanish Leather
- Walls of Red Wing
- Girl From the North Country
- Seven Curses
- Hero Blues
- Whatcha Gonna Do
- Gypsy Lou
- Ain't Gonna Grieve
- John Brown
- Only a Hobo
- When the Ship Comes In
- The Times They Are A-Changin'
- Paths of Victory
- Guess I'm Doing Fine
- Baby Let Me Follow You Down
- Mama, You Been on My Mind
- Mr. Tambourine Man
- I'll Keep It with Mine
CD 1, Tracks 1-8, Leeds Music Demos, New York City, February 1962
CD 1, Track 9, New York City, June 1962
CD 1, Track 10, New York City, November 1962
CD 1, Tracks 11-17, New York City, December 1962
CD 1, Tracks 18-20, 22, 25, New York City, Winter 1963
CD 1, Track2 21, 23-24 & CD 2, Tracks 1-2, New York City, March 1963
CD 2, Tracks 3-6, New York City, April 1963
CD 2, Track 7 possibly Columbia Recording Studio outtake, New York City, April 1963
CD 2, Tracks 8-10, New York City, May 1963
CD 2, Tracks 11-17, New York City, September 1963
CD 2, Track 18, New York City, December 1963
CD 2, Tracks 19-20, New York City, January 1964
CD 2, Tracks 21-23, New York City, May/June 1964
All recordings are Witmark recordings/demos unless otherwise indicated. All information is to the best of our knowledge, as there are variances in available discographies.
Jacob says
Looks awesome. Masters of War is my favorite Dylan song, so I am very interested in hearing this version. I still need to pick up Vol 8 as well.
Ranasakawa says
I'll be getting this. This is the time Bob Dylan's rise to stardom began. Many great songs are here and I'm excited to hear them in alternative takes.