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Bob Dylan met Columbia Records’ John Hammond on September 14, 1961 at the apartment of folksinger Richard Farina and his then-wife Carolyn Hester.  Dylan had been invited to Carolyn’s rehearsal session as a harmonica player.  Hammond later told the story of being so impressed with the young man from Hibbing, Minnesota that he decided to sign him on the spot.  A subsequent audition took place, and when Dylan – then dazzling audiences at Gerde’s Folk City on a bill shared with The Greenbriar Boys – showed up for Hester’s Columbia session on September 29, he was presented with a recording contract. The rest is history.  Now, the beginnings of Dylan’s long career are being revisited by Columbia and Legacy Recordings on the eighteenth installment of the artist’s long-running Bootleg Series.

Through the Open Window: The Bootleg Series Vol. 18 (1956-1963) arrives October 31 on 8 CDs as well as 2CD and 4LP “highlights” editions, all chronicling Dylan’s earliest days from Minnesota to Greenwich Village.  The full 139-track box set opens with a December 24, 1956 recording at a music store in St. Paul, MN and culminates with the official premiere (newly mixed) of Dylan’s complete October 26, 1963 Carnegie Hall concert which took place just a few months before the February 1964 release of his third studio album, the landmark The Times They Are A-Changin’ (his first to feature all original compositions).  The highlights releases offer 42 tracks from the larger set.

The lion’s share of the music on this Bootleg volume is previously unreleased and/or new to wide-release CD, with some tracks having previously appeared on the rare “copyright collections” and others on past Bootleg volumes.  The first disc opens with private and home recordings from the young troubadour in various venues across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New Jersey between 1956 and 1961.  The set then continues with Dylan’s 1961 recordings at New York City’s Gaslight Café – a subsequent 1962 show was released on CD back in 2005 – as well as recordings from such storied Village venues as Gerde’s and The Folklore Center.  The latter venue sponsored Dylan’s Carnegie Hall debut on November 4, 1961 at the small Chapter Hall on the building’s fifth floor; songs including “This Land Is Your Land” and “Pretty Polly” have been included from that date.

Though rare live material (much of which was never intended for release or even in front of the public) is the main draw here, Through the Open Window includes various studio outtakes from Bob Dylan, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, and The Times They Are A-Changin’, as well.  Along the way, Dylan is joined by artists including Carolyn Hester (with an alternate take of “I’ll Fly Away” from that first Columbia session), Jim Kweskin, Dave Van Ronk, Harry Belafonte, Big Joe Williams, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul, and Mary.

The hardcover book in the 8CD format includes a 125-page essay by historian Sean Wilentz, placing Dylan’s performances into full context of the era.  Over 100 rare photographs are also included as well as tape box images and memorabilia.

Through the Open Window: The Bootleg Series Vol. 18 (1956-1963) is a deep dive for listeners into the roots of Dylan’s career – one which is still thriving today as evidenced by the packed crowds greeting his appearances this year on the Outlaw Festival (on which he performed alongside the likes of Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, and Wilco).  From his interpretations of traditional melodies through early versions of future standards such as “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” and “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” these recordings form the foundation of Dylan’s art and career.  Look for this set in all formats on October 31 from Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings.  You’ll find the track listing and pre-order links below along with discographical annotation intended for reference only.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The Bootleg Series Vol. 18: Through the Open Window, 1956-1963 (Columbia/Legacy, 2025)

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

* included on 2CD or 4LP

CD 1

1. Let the Good Times Roll (Terlinde Music Shop, St. Paul, MN – 1956) *
2. I Got a New Girl (Informal Recording, Hibbing, MN – 1959) *
3. San Francisco Bay Blues (Informal Recording, Minneapolis, MN – 1960)
4. Jesus Christ (Informal Recording, Minneapolis, MN – 1960) *
5. East Virginia Blues (Informal Recording, Madison, WI – 1960)
6. K.C. Moan (Informal Recording, Madison, WI – 1960) – Bob Dylan with Danny Kalb *
7. Hard Travelin’ (Informal Recording, Madison, WI – 1960) – Bob Dylan with Danny Kalb *
8. Pastures of Plenty (Informal Recording, East Orange, NJ – 1961)
9. Remember Me (Informal Recording, East Orange, NJ – 1961) *
10. Song to Woody (The Gaslight Cafe, NYC – 1961)
11. Talkin’ Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues (The Gaslight Cafe, NYC – 1961)
12. Ain’t No Grave (Informal Recording, NYC – 1961)
13. I Ain’t Got No Home (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN – 1961)
14. Death Don’t Have No Mercy (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1961)
15. Devilish Mary (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1961)
16. Introduction: Riverside Church (Riverside Church, New York, NY – 1961)
17. Handsome Molly (Riverside Church, New York, NY – 1961)
18. Introduction: See That My Grave is Kept Clean (Gerdes Folk City, New York, NY – 1961)
19. See That My Grave is Kept Clean (Gerdes Folk City, New York, NY – 1961)
20. The Girl I Left Behind (Gerdes Folk City, New York, NY – 1961)
21. Introduction: Pretty Boy Floyd (Gerdes Folk City, New York, NY – 1961)
22. Pretty Boy Floyd (Gerdes Folk City, New York, NY – 1961) – Bob Dylan with Jim Kweskin
23. Railroading on the Great Divide (Gerdes Folk City, New York, NY – 1961) – Bob Dylan with Jim Kweskin *
24. Introduction: Fixin’ to Die (Folklore Center, New York, NY – 1961)
25. Fixin’ to Die (Folklore Center, New York, NY – 1961) – Bob Dylan with Dave Van Ronk
26. I’ll Fly Away (Carolyn Hester Alternate Take, New York, NY – 1961) – Carolyn Hester with Bob Dylan

CD 2

1. Introduction: In the Pines (Carnegie Chapter Hall, New York, NY – 1961)
2. In the Pines (Carnegie Chapter Hall, New York, NY – 1961)
3. Gospel Plow (Carnegie Chapter Hall, New York, NY – 1961)
4. Introduction: Young But Daily Growing (Carnegie Chapter Hall, New York, NY – 1961)
5. Young But Daily Growing (Carnegie Chapter Hall, New York, NY – 1961)
6. Man on the Street (Carnegie Chapter Hall, New York, NY – 1961)
7. This Land is Your Land (Carnegie Chapter Hall, New York, NY – 1961)
8. Pretty Polly (Carnegie Chapter Hall, New York, NY – 1961)
9. Man of Constant Sorrow (Bob Dylan Rehearsal, New York, NY – 1961) *
10. House Carpenter (Bob Dylan Outtake, New York, NY – 1961)
11. You’re No Good (Bob Dylan Alternate Take, New York, NY – 1961)
12. He Was a Friend of Mine (Bob Dylan Outtake, New York, NY – 1961) *
13. Ramblin’ Round (Bob Dylan Outtake, New York, NY – 1961) *
14. Story: East Orange, New Jersey (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1961) *
15. Stealin’ (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1961)
16. Po’ Lazarus (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1961) *
17. Dink’s Song (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1961) *
18. I Was Young When I Left Home (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1961) *
19. In the Evening (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1961)
20. Baby, Let Me Follow You Down (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1961)
21. Cocaine (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1961) *

Tracks 10 and 12 released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare and Unreleased) 1961-1991 – Columbia C3K 47382, 1991

CD 3

1. The Death of Emmett Till (WBAI-FM, New York, NY – 1962)
2. Conversation: Folksinger’s Choice, 1 (WBAI-FM, New York, NY – 1962)
3. Roll On, John (WBAI-FM, New York, NY – 1962)
4. Conversation: Folksinger’s Choice (WBAI-FM, New York, NY – 1962)
5. Hard Times in New York Town (WBAI-FM, New York, NY – 1962)
6. Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues (Informal Recording, New York, NY – 1962)
7. Ballad of Donald White (Informal Recording, New York, NY – 1962)
8. Midnight Special (The Midnight Special Rehearsals, New York, NY – 1962) – Harry Belafonte with Bob Dylan
9. Midnight Special (The Midnight Special Alternate Take, New York, NY – 1962) – Harry Belafonte with Bob Dylan
10. Wichita (Three Kings and the Queen Album Version, New York, NY – 1962) – Big Joe Williams with Bob Dylan
11. It’s Dangerous (Kings and the Queen, Volume Two Album Version, New York, NY – 1962) – Victoria Spivey with Bob Dylan and Big Joe Williams
12. Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance (Gerdes Folk City, New York, NY – 1962)
13. Talkin’ New York (Gerdes Folk City, New York, NY – 1962) *
14. Corrina, Corrina (Gerdes Folk City, New York, NY – 1962) *
15. Deep Ellum Blues (Gerdes Folk City, New York, NY – 1962)
16. Introduction: Blowin’ in the Wind (Gerdes Folk City, New York, NY – 1962)
17. Blowin’ in the Wind (Gerdes Folk City, New York, NY – 1962)
18. Rambling, Gambling Willie (Freewheelin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1962)
19. (I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle (Freewheelin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1962) *
20. Rocks and Gravel (Freewheelin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1962) *
21. Paths of Victory (Broadside Office, New York, NY – 1962)
22. Train A-Travelin’ (Broadside Reunion Album Version, New York, NY – 1962)
23. Hiram Hubbard (The Finjan, Montreal, Quebec, Canada – 1962)
24. Quit Your Low Down Ways (The Finjan, Montreal, Quebec, Canada – 1962)
25. Let Me Die in My Footsteps (The Finjan, Montreal, Quebec, Canada – 1962) *
26. Ramblin’ on My Mind (The Finjan, Montreal, Quebec, Canada – 1962)
27. Blue Yodel No. 8 (Mule Skinner Blues) (The Finjan, Montreal, Quebec, Canada – 1962)

Track 10 released on Three Kings and the Queen – Spivey LP-1004, 1964
Track 11 released on Kings and the Queen (Volume Two) – Spivey LP-1014, 1970
Tracks 12-17, 19 and 23-27 released on The 50th Anniversary Collection – Columbia (no cat. #) (U.K.), 2013
Track 18 released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare and Unreleased) 1961-1991 – Columbia C3K 47382, 1991
Track 20 released on True Detective (Music from the HBO Series) – Harvest 2547432889, 2015
Track 22 released on Broadside Ballads Vol. 6 (Broadside Reunion) – Folkways/Broadside FR 5315, 1972

CD 4

1. Baby, Please Don’t Go (Freewheelin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1962)
2. Worried Blues (Freewheelin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1962)
3. Baby, I’m in the Mood for You (Freewheelin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1962)
4. Bob Dylan’s Blues (Freewheelin’ Alternate Take, New York, NY – 1962)
5. Introduction: Tomorrow is a Long Time (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1962)
6. Tomorrow is a Long Time (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1962) *
7. This Land is Your Land – The Last Verses (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1962)
8. Long Time Gone (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1962)
9. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall (The Gaslight Cafe, New York, NY – 1962)
10. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right (The Gaslight Cafe, New York, NY – 1962) *
11. Barbara Allen (The Gaslight Cafe, NYC, New York, NY – 1962)
12. The Cuckoo (The Gaslight Cafe, New York, NY – 1962) *
13. That’s All Right (Freewheelin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1962)
14. Mixed-Up Confusion (Single Alternate Take, NYC, 1962)
15. Ballad of Hollis Brown (Freewheelin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1962)
16. Kingsport Town (Freewheelin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1962)
17. Whatcha Gonna Do? (Freewheelin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1962)
18. Hero Blues (Freewheelin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1962)
19. I Shall Be Free (Freewheelin’ Alternate Take, New York, NY – 1962)

Tracks 1-4 and 13-19 released on The 50th Anniversary Collection – Columbia (no cat. #) (U.K.), 2013
Tracks 9-12 released on Live At The Gaslight 1962 – Columbia/Legacy A 96016, 2005

CD 5

1. The Ballad of the Gliding Swan (BBC-TV, London, 1963) *
2. Only a Hobo (Broadside Ballads Album Version, New York, NY – 1963)
3. John Brown (Broadside Ballads Album Version, New York, NY – 1963) *
4. All Over You (Informal Recording, New York, NY – 1963) – Bob Dylan with Happy Traum and Gil Turner
5. Oxford Town (Witmark Demo, New York, NY – 1963)
6. Bob Dylan’s Dream (Town Hall, New York, NY – 1963)
7. Introduction: Walls of Red Wing (Town Hall, New York, NY – 1963)
8. Walls of Red Wing (Town Hall, New York, NY – 1963)
9. Introduction: Tomorrow Is a Long Time (Town Hall, New York, NY – 1963)
10. Tomorrow Is a Long Time (Town Hall, New York, NY – 1963)
11. Dusty Old Fairgrounds (Town Hall, New York, NY – 1963) *
12. Introduction: Pretty Peggy-O (Town Hall, New York, NY – 1963)
13. Pretty Peggy-O (Town Hall, New York, NY – 1963)
14. Who Killed Davey Moore? (Town Hall, New York, NY – 1963)
15. Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie (Town Hall, New York, NY – 1963)
16. James Alley Blues (Informal Recording, New York, NY – 1963)
17. I Rode Out One Morning (Informal Recording, New York, NY – 1963)
18. House of the Rising Sun (Informal Recording, New York, NY – 1963) *
19. Talkin’ World War III Blues (Club 47, Cambridge, MA, 1963)
20. Masters of War (Freewheelin’ Alternate Take, New York, NY – 1963) *
21. Girl from the North Country (Freewheelin’ Alternate Take, New York, NY – 1963) *

Tracks 2-3 released on Broadside Ballads Vol. 1 – Broadside BR-301, 1963
Tracks 5-6 released on The Bootleg Series Vol. 9: The Witmark Demos 1962-1964 – Columbia/Legacy 88697 76179-2, 2010
Tracks 7-8, 11-14 and 18 released on The 50th Anniversary Collection 1963 – Columbia/Legacy 88883 79970-1 (U.K.), 2013
Track 15 released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare and Unreleased) 1961-1991 – Columbia C3K 47382, 1991

CD 6

1. Introduction by Cordell Reagon (SNCC Rally, Greenwood, MS – 1963)
2. Only a Pawn in Their Game (SNCC Rally, Greenwood, MS – 1963)
3. Blowin’ in the Wind (SNCC Rally, Greenwood, MS – 1963)
4. Eternal Circle (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1963)
5. Liverpool Gal (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1963) *
6. West Memphis (Party, Minneapolis, MN – 1963) – Bob Dylan with Tony Glover
7. North Country Blues (Newport Folk Festival, RI – 1963)
8. With God on Our Side (Newport Folk Festival, RI – 1963) – Bob Dylan with Joan Baez
9. Playboys and Playgirls (Newport Folk Festival, RI – 1963) – Bob Dylan with Pete Seeger
10. Blowin’ in the Wind (Newport Folk Festival, RI – 1963) – Bob Dylan with Joan Baez, Peter, Paul & Mary, The Freedom Singers, Pete Seeger
11. Slate: Boots of Spanish Leather (The Times They Are A-Changin’ Sessions, New York, NY – 1963)
12. Boots of Spanish Leather (The Times They Are A-Changin’ Alternate Take, New York, NY – 1963) *
13. Seven Curses (The Times They Are A-Changin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1963) *
14. Farewell (The Times They Are A-Changin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1963)
15. Bob Dylan’s New Orleans Rag (The Times They Are A-Changin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1963)
16. Moonshiner (The Times They Are A-Changin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1963) *
17. Introduction by Joan Baez (Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, New York, NY – 1963)
18. Troubled and I Don’t Know Why (Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, New York, NY – 1963) – Bob Dylan with Joan Baez
19. Introduction by Ossie Davis (March on Washington, D.C. – 1963)
20. When the Ship Comes In (March on Washington, D.C. – 1963) – Bob Dylan with Joan Baez
21. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll (Party, Los Angeles, CA – 1963) *
22. The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Informal Recording, Los Angeles, CA – 1963) *
23. One Too Many Mornings (The Times They Are A-Changin’ Alternate Take, New York, NY – 1963)
24. Key to the Highway (The Times They Are A-Changin’ Outtake, New York, NY – 1963)

Track 13 released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare and Unreleased) 1961-1991 – Columbia C3K 47382, 1991
Track 15 released on The 50th Anniversary Collection 1963 – Columbia/Legacy 88883 79970-1 (U.K.), 2013

CD 7-8: Live At Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – 10/26/1963

1. The Times They Are A-Changin’
2. Ballad of Hollis Brown
3. Introduction: Who Killed Davey Moore?
4. Who Killed Davey Moore? *
5. Boots of Spanish Leather
6. Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues
7. Lay Down Your Weary Tune *
8. Introduction: Blowin’ in the Wind
9. Blowin’ in the Wind *
10. Introduction: Percy’s Song
11. Percy’s Song
12. Seven Curses
13. Walls of Red Wing
14. Introduction: North Country Blues
15. North Country Blues *
16. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall *

1. Talkin’ World War III Blues *
2. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
3. Story: Hootenanny Hoot
4. With God on Our Side
5. Only a Pawn in Their Game *
6. Introduction: Masters of War
7. Masters of War
8. Introduction: The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
9. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
10. Introduction: When the Ship Comes In
11. When the Ship Comes In *

Disc 7-8 newly mixed

Disc 7, earlier mixes of Tracks 1-2, 5, 7 & 15 and Disc 8, Track 4 released on Live at Carnegie Hall – Columbia/Legacy CSK 17254, 2005
Disc 7, earlier mixes of Tracks 4 and 6 released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare and Unreleased) 1961-1991 – Columbia C3K 47382, 1991
Disc 7, earlier mixes of Tracks 8-13 and Disc 8, Tracks 1-2 and 5-9 released on The 50th Anniversary Collection 1963 – Columbia/Legacy 88883 79970-1 (U.K.), 2013
Disc 7, earlier mixes of Track 11 and Disc 8, Track 11 released on No Direction Home: The Soundtrack – The Bootleg Series Vol. 7 – Columbia/Legacy C2K 93937, 2005