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Knockin' on Heaven's Door: Bob Dylan's New Bootleg Series Volume "Trouble No More" Explores The Gospel Years

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Bob Dylan's acclaimed Bootleg Series is back, and for its newest volume, it's taking aim at one of the most controversial, and misunderstood, periods of the Bard of Hibbing's musical journey.  Due from Columbia and Legacy on November 3, Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series Vol. 13 / 1979-1981 focuses on Dylan's so-called "gospel years," during which time he crafted some of his most enduring songs in praise of a higher power.  The Deluxe Edition features nine discs - 8 CDs and 1 DVD - and premieres 100 previously unreleased tracks, including 14 previously unreleased songs.  Trouble No More follows the series' 2014 release of The Basement Tapes - Complete, and massive 2015 set The Cutting Edge, chronicling Dylan's prolific 1965-1966 in music.

Much as Dylan had shocked the world in 1965 by "going electric," he did so a second time in 1979 with Slow Train Coming.  The first part of what was eventually a three-part album trilogy, Slow Train Coming introduced a Dylan who had clearly been changed by a newfound embrace of the Christian faith.  He poetically expressed this on such future classics as "Gotta Serve Somebody," "Precious Angel," "When He Returns," and "I Believe in You."  Dylan would continue his spiritual writing on Saved (1980) and Shot of Love (1981), and took his faith to the stage, as well - frequently turning the concert stage into a powerful pulpit.  Even when he returned to "secular" music, favorites from his gospel years remained entrenched in his repertoire.

The first two discs of Trouble No More present some of Dylan's most passionate live performances of his new gospel songbook, as recorded between 1979 and 1981. Most tantalizingly, his performances of songs he otherwise unreleased make their debuts here, including "Ain't Gonna Go to Hell for Anybody," "Ain't No Man Righteous, No Not One," and "Blessed is the Name."  The third and fourth discs offer a further potpourri of live and studio outtakes, including more unreleased songs ("Stand by Faith," "I Will Love Him," "Jesus is the One," "City of Gold," "Thief on the Cross" and many others), musical experiments, and alternate versions of studio tracks.  Discs 5-8 present two full concerts (each on two CDs), from Toronto (1980) and Earl's Court, London (1981).  During these, Dylan blended his current, intense and deeply personal material with selected classics like "Blowin' in the Wind," "Maggie's Farm," "Girl from the North Country," "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue," and "Like a Rolling Stone."  Other than one track ("Ye Shall Be Changed," on Disc 3), none of the tracks on Trouble in Mind have ever been commercially released before.

The deluxe box set is rounded out with a DVD which includes Trouble No More: A Musical Film, a new feature-length cinematic presentation combining unreleased footage from Dylan's 1980 tours with new material written by Luc Sante and performed by Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon (currently starring onstage in McCarter Theatre's production of Sam Shepard's Simpatico). Directed by Jennifer Lebeau, the film has been selected to premiere at the prestigious 2017 New York Film Festival.  Bonus material on the DVD includes complete, alternate live performances from this era.  The deluxe edition includes a hardcover book featuring an introduction by Dylan historian Ben Rollins with liner notes by Amanda Petrusich, Rob Bowman, and Penn Jillette.

In addition to the Deluxe Edition, Trouble No More will be available in 2-CD or 4-LP versions featuring the first two discs from the box set. (Pre-orders of the deluxe set from Dylan's official store will also include an exclusive bonus 2CD set of a live set in San Diego from November 28, 1979.) You'll find pre-order links below for The Bootleg Series Vol. 13, which promises to shed greater light on one of Bob Dylan's most remarkable periods.  All iterations of this collection are due on November 3 from Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings!

Bob Dylan, Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series Vol. 13 / 1979-1981 - Deluxe Edition (Columbia/Legacy, 2017)

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.  / Amazon Canada
4LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.  / Amazon Canada 
8CD/1DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

CD 1: Live

  1. Slow Train (Nov. 16, 1979)
  2. Gotta Serve Somebody (Nov. 15, 1979)
  3. I Believe in You (May 16, 1980)
  4. When You Gonna Wake Up? (July 9, 1981)
  5. When He Returns (Dec. 5, 1979)
  6. Man Gave Names to All the Animals (Jan. 16, 1980)
  7. Precious Angel (Nov. 16, 1979)
  8. Covenant Woman (Nov. 20, 1979)
  9. Gonna Change My Way of Thinking (Jan. 31, 1980)
  10. Do Right to Me Baby (Do Unto Others) (Jan. 28, 1980)
  11. Solid Rock (Nov. 27, 1979)
  12. What Can I Do for You? (Nov. 27, 1979)
  13. Saved (Jan. 12, 1980)
  14. In the Garden (Jan. 27, 1980)

CD 2: Live

  1. Slow Train (June 29, 1981)
  2. Ain't Gonna Go to Hell for Anybody (Unreleased song - Apr. 24, 1980)
  3. Gotta Serve Somebody (July 15, 1981)
  4. Ain't No Man Righteous, No Not One (Unreleased song - Nov. 16, 1979)
  5. Saving Grace (Nov. 6, 1979)
  6. Blessed Is the Name (Unreleased song - Nov. 20, 1979)
  7. Solid Rock (Oct. 23, 1981)
  8. Are You Ready? (Apr. 30, 1980)
  9. Pressing On (Nov. 6, 1979)
  10. Shot of Love (July 25, 1981)
  11. Dead Man, Dead Man (June 21, 1981)
  12. Watered-Down Love (June 12, 1981)
  13. In the Summertime (Oct. 21, 1981)
  14. The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar (Nov. 13, 1980)
  15. Caribbean Wind (Nov. 12, 1980)
  16. Every Grain of Sand (Nov. 21, 1981)

CD 3: Rare and Unreleased

  1. Slow Train (Soundcheck - Oct. 5, 1978)
  2. Do Right to Me Baby (Do Unto Others) (Soundcheck - Dec. 7, 1978)
  3. Help Me Understand (Unreleased song - Oct. 5, 1978)
  4. Gonna Change My Way of Thinking (Rehearsal - 2, 1979)
  5. Gotta Serve Somebody (Outtake - May 4, 1979)
  6. When He Returns (Outtake - May 4, 1979)
  7. Ain't No Man Righteous, No Not One (Unreleased song - May 1, 1979)
  8. Trouble in Mind (Outtake - April 30, 1979)
  9. Ye Shall Be Changed (Outtake - May 2, 1979)
  10. Covenant Woman (Outtake -February 11, 1980)
  11. Stand by Faith (Unreleased song - Sept. 26, 1979)
  12. I Will Love Him (Unreleased song - Apr. 19, 1980)
  13. Jesus Is the One (Unreleased song - Jul. 17, 1981)
  14. City of Gold (Unreleased song - Nov. 22, 1980)
  15. Thief on the Cross (Unreleased song - Nov. 10, 1981)
  16. Pressing On (Outtake - Feb. 13, 1980)

CD 4: Rare and Unreleased

  1. Slow Train (Rehearsal - 2, 1979)
  2. Gotta Serve Somebody (Rehearsal - Oct. 9, 1979)
  3. Making a Liar Out of Me (Unreleased song - Sept. 26, 1980)
  4. Yonder Comes Sin (Unreleased song - Oct. 1, 1980)
  5. Radio Spot January 1980, Portland, OR show
  6. Cover Down, Pray Through (Unreleased song - May 1, 1980)
  7. Rise Again (Unreleased song - Oct. 16, 1980)
  8. Ain't Gonna Go to Hell for Anybody (Unreleased song - 2, 1980)
  9. The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar (Outtake - May 1, 1981)
  10. Caribbean Wind (Rehearsal - Sept. 23, 1980)
  11. You Changed My Life (Outtake - April 23, 1981)
  12. Shot of Love (Outtake - March 25, 1981)
  13. Watered-Down Love (Outtake - May 15, 1981)
  14. Dead Man, Dead Man (Outtake - April 24, 1981)
  15. Every Grain of Sand (Rehearsal - Sept. 26, 1980)

CD 5 - Live in Toronto 1980

  1. Gotta Serve Somebody (April 18, 1980)
  2. I Believe In You (April 18, 1980)
  3. Covenant Woman (April 19, 1980)
  4. When You Gonna Wake Up? (April 18, 1980)
  5. When He Returns (April 20, 1980)
  6. Ain't Gonna Go To Hell For Anybody (Unreleased song - April 18, 1980)
  7. Cover Down, Pray Through (Unreleased song - April 19, 1980)
  8. Man Gave Names To All The Animals (April 19, 1980)
  9. Precious Angel (April 19, 1980)

CD 6 - Live in Toronto 1980

  1. Slow Train (April 18, 1980)
  2. Do Right To Me Baby (Do Unto Others) (April 20, 1980)
  3. Solid Rock (April 20, 1980)
  4. Saving Grace (April 18, 1980)
  5. What Can I Do For You? (April 19, 1980)
  6. In The Garden (April 20, 1980)
  7. Band Introductions (April 19, 1980)
  8. Are You Ready? (April 19, 1980)
  9. Pressing On (April 18, 1980)

CD 7 - Live in Earl's Court, London - June 27, 1981

  1. Gotta Serve Somebody
  2. I Believe In You
  3. Like A Rolling Stone
  4. Man Gave Names To All The Animals
  5. Maggie's Farm
  6. I Don't Believe You
  7. Dead Man, Dead Man
  8. Girl From The North Country
  9. Ballad Of A Thin Man

CD 8 - Live in Earl's Court - London - June 27, 1981

  1. Slow Train
  2. Let's Begin
  3. Lenny Bruce
  4. Mr. Tambourine Man
  5. Solid Rock
  6. Just Like A Woman
  7. Watered-Down Love
  8. Forever Young
  9. When You Gonna Wake Up
  10. In The Garden
  11. Band Introductions
  12. Blowin' In The Wind
  13. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
  14. Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Disc 9: Bonus DVD 

Trouble No More - A Musical Film

DVD EXTRAS:

Shot of Love

Cover Down, Pray Through

Jesus Met the Woman at the Well (Alternate version)

Ain't Gonna Go to Hell for Anybody (Complete version)

Precious Angel (Complete version)

Slow Train (Complete version)

 

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Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

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Comments

  2. I'll need to pick up the Clinton Heylin book that runs parallel to this project.

    Seems like the only real opportunity to get this audio material in one concise package. I'm sure the average Dylan fan will pass on this.

    The documentary film not on Blu-Ray? That and the weird cover are the real disappointments.

    Reply

  3. The Bob Dylan Bootleg Series to me has been one of the best reissue projects around. I am a little turned off by this one however. While I am glad that they are offering a 2 disc set (can't afford the 9 disc set), I would rather have the 2 disc set be equal to discs 3 and 4 (Rare And Unreleased), and not the Live Discs 1 and 2. I would rather hear studio outakes than live performances.

    Reply

    • It's amazing how the "Bootleg Series" has ballooned from the original idea of two or three cd sets of essential material to mammoth box sets containing everything but the kitchen sink.

      Reply

      • True. Since this Bootleg Series project started we have seen the labels and other artists offering different formats (Super Deluxe, Deluxe, Expanded etc. etc.). I guess Dylan and Columbia got hip to that and started doing the same. The last three (Basement Tapes , Cutting Edge, and 1966 Live performances) have had the multi-tiered approach.

        Reply

  4. Personally, I would have prefered to have the "Blood on The Tracks" sessions. The mix of rock & religion has always been an uneasy blend. The public has never been very receptive to this whether it is George Harrison singing about Krishna Conciousness, Pete Townshend singing about the Meher Baba or Bob Dylan singing about Jesus.
    Although "Slow Train Coming" was a hit, the follow-up albums "Saved" & "Shot of Love" met with diminishing commercial returns. Dylan didn't release any further "Born Again" albums.
    (Disclaimer: I'm secular, and not a believer or participant in religion, so that is my vantage point.)

    Reply

    • The public was receptive to Pete Townshend's Baba songs when they weren't aware that they were Baba songs, e.g. "Who's Next".

      As for Dylan's "diminishing commercial returns"--while secular albums such as 1983's "Infidels" and 1989's "Oh Mercy" received generally positive critical response, Dylan wouldn't have another top-ten album until 1997's "Time Out Of Mind".

      Conversely, some of Elvis Presley's most well-received albums were his three gospel albums, two of which earned him his only Grammy awards.

      A "Blood On The Tracks" set will happen.

      Reply

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