Sunday, April 21, 2013

Bob Dylan: Wigwam/Thirsty Boots (2013)



For Record Store Day 2013, Columbia put out a Bob Dylan single with an unreleased demo of "Wigwam" on the A side and a previously unreleased recording, "Thirsty Boots" on the B side. The songs are from the forthcoming Bootleg Series Vol. 10, which is rumored to consist of material from 1969 to 1973, likely meaning outtakes from Nashville Skyline, Self Portrait, New Morning, the Greatest Hits Vol. 2 sessions and the Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid soundtrack.

It's an effective tease for the next volume of the Bootleg series, which, era-wise, is certainly in more dangerous waters then most of the others. "Wigwam" is a demo version, dominated by piano rather then the brass section which Self-Portrait producer Bob Johnson employed. Even better is Dylan's sturdy take on Eric Andersen's 1966 ballad, "Thirsty Boots", which has the passion that so many of the tracks that actually made it onto Self-Portrait lacked.



(Sooner or later this song will get yanked down...)

Bob Dylan.com
Posted by jeffen at 6:42 PM
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16 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 22, 2013 at 1:27 AM

    Thanks, Jeffen. Didn't manage to get hold of a copy of this on the day. 'Thirsty Boots' is wonderful and I'm really looking forward to the next Bootleg Series.

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  2. AnonymousApril 22, 2013 at 3:17 AM

    I have never liked Wigwam.I know the Dutch loved it and made it a hit single in their country.Thirsty Boots is just not a strong song so I did not buy it either .

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  3. AnonymousApril 22, 2013 at 6:57 AM

    I can't believe we're getting more Self Portrait bullshit for a Bootleg Series. Are Bob's people so completely oblivious to what his fans want?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownOctober 15, 2013 at 11:11 AM

      I'm listening to it now and it's a blinder...

      Delete
    2. GeoffFebruary 25, 2014 at 5:56 PM

      I'm with John. After listening to Bootleg 10 - which I bet you have - how do you now feel, Anonymous. It's great stuff. - and enlightening.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousApril 22, 2013 at 7:05 AM

    The sleeve lists "Wigwam" as an "unreleased demo," but that is not right; it is not a demo at all. It is the same take that is on Self Portrait, minus the drum and horn overdubs. If you play the album version and the Record Store Day version at the same time you will find that they play perfectly in sync; every guitar fill, every vocal inflection - they are the same take. It is similar in approach to Let It Be... Naked by the Beatles.

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  5. AnonymousApril 22, 2013 at 7:39 AM

    the more self-portrait the better; i have loved it since i first bought it in 1970. in answer to greil marcus' question at the time: this stuff is great!

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  6. Campbie™April 22, 2013 at 8:47 AM

    This is a true delight-

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  7. AnonymousApril 22, 2013 at 11:08 AM

    I have to agree that Self Portrait outtakes are not exactly on the top of my list. It would have been a decent single album, but . . .

    Personally I'd vote for a Bootleg Series release of the Blood On The Tracks (New York) sessions, or a gospel release.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jokerman61April 22, 2013 at 11:58 AM

    Marcus Greil is so full of $hit...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Campbie™April 22, 2013 at 11:33 PM

      This is kinda a link to Harry Smith's Anthology-
      You are right in re Mr. Marcus's Review in June of '70. I remember reading same when Rolling Stone was 50 cents and hard to fond here in Montreal-
      Belle Isle is an offshoot of a Newfoundland Folk Song and one of them ballads that= tests true love. I went on too long here but you are right
      as ever
      Campbell

      Delete
  9. AnonymousApril 22, 2013 at 2:06 PM

    Hope that the new Bootleg Series will finally include 'Wanted Man'

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  10. AnonymousApril 22, 2013 at 3:06 PM

    what an honor for Bob Dylan to select Eric's gorgeous song to be included....Honestly, as much as I love Dylan, nobody sings that song as beautifully as Eric....

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousApril 23, 2013 at 3:43 AM

    Bob's vocal performance on the Masterpieces version of "Spanish Is the Loving Tongue" from this era (not the awful version released on "Dylan") is one of his best ever vocal performances. Period. Go check it out if you don't believe me.

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  12. AnonymousMay 20, 2013 at 12:56 AM

    Note that both Dylan and Eric Andersen had a personal relationship with Edie Sedgwick. Andersen appeared w/Edie in Warhol's film SPACE.

    http://www.warholstars.org/warhol/warhol1/warhol1f/space.html

    (Also Andersen and Warhol were both from Pittsburgh.)

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2013 at 12:25 AM

    Babe Ruth did not hit a home run on every at bat....but he hit enough of them to be still revered as the greatest,..only a small minded idiot person with nothing else to think about would expect him to hit a homer every time...

    ReplyDelete

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