Stick's Picks Vol. 5: The Unbooted Series: 1996
This compilation involves songs selected only from concerts that have never been professionally bootlegged by a known company, be it Crystal Cat, Scorpio, Rattlesnake, etc…
This compilation involves songs selected only from concerts that have never been professionally bootlegged by a known company, be it Crystal Cat, Scorpio, Rattlesnake, etc…
The people that put those sets out did a great job at picking over and using the best tapes of 1996 in terms of sound and performance. However, I did feel there is more to be heard, and set out to make this compilation in hopes that you will take a deeper look at 1996 and seek out more than Soul and Christiania for your collection.
Yet there are many reasons concerts go unbooted, and you know then as well as I do.
Disc 1:
1. Pretty Peggy-O (Aarhus, Denmark 6-15-96)
2. Positively 4th Street (Aarhus, Denmark 6-15-96)
3. Friend Of The Devil (Aarhus, Denmark 6-15-96)
4. Girl From The North Country (Aarhus, Denmark 6-15-96)
5. Man in the Long Black Coat (Ann Arbor, MI 5-14-96)
6. Senor (Jean, NV 10-19-96)
7. I’ll Remember You (Jean, NV 10-19-96)
8. One Too Many Mornings (Jean, NV 10-19-96)
9. Tears of Rage (Springfield, MA 4-16-96)
10. Mama, you been on my mind (Springfield, MA 4-16-96)
Disc 2:
1. Love Minus Zero (Chattanooga, TN 11-03-96)
2. God Knows (Chattanooga, TN 11-03-96)
3. Never Gonna Be the Same Again (Chattanooga, TN 11-03-96)
4. Queen Jane Approximately (Austin, TX 10-27-96)
5. Shelter From the Storm (Davenport, IA 11-16-96)
6. I Want You (Akron, OH 11-23-96)
7. Simple Twist of Fate (Akron, OH 11-23-96)
8. Born in Time (Akron, OH 11-23-96)
9. When I Paint My Masterpiece (Poughkeepsie, NY 5-01-96)
10. I Shall Be Released (with Jewel) (Providence, RI 4-18-96)
Cleveland 5-17-96 almost made it, but in the end all the drunkards howling for Hurricane and using the slower songs to discuss everything but Dylan killed its chances.
The great, truly wonderful Hollis Brown from July 25th in Sweden had to be cut because of a couple wretched jerks yelling right next to the tape throughout the whole thing. I’ve not been this bummed out at a crowd than the one on this tape in some time, and what a shame, its one hell of a version. If you can stand it, please trade for the tape, Bob needs to be heard through the din.
Sadly, one of the only wonderful airings of I & I 1996, the one in question here being from September 9th Milwaukee, was a great tune but the talkers next to the tape just killed it. How a couple of people could talk louder than I & I when that song really gets going is bewildering to me.
As much as I really enjoyed the Charleston, WV show, (November 6th) my copy has too much hiss to include some of the gems found there on this compilation. Uneven and lower quality sound forced edits of some really beautiful songs (especially in the fall swing) and some songs, while in great sound, simply were not sung with the same quality.
In my opinion, Bob started the year off still glowing with energy from 1995, and that carried him and the boys wildly through April and most of May. The second half of May finds our players in need of breath, then they catch fire again and so much more in June, the best month of the year performance-wise as far as I’m concerned.
After a month like June, July can’t help but be a bit of a letdown, and they did wind down a bit, ending up back in the States for the first week of August then taking more than 2 months off to remember what their families look like before striking out yet again in October.
The energy is there once more as the west coast is treated to a string of quality performances, some of which are included in this set. The concerts seem a bit uninspired during the last week but Bob and the boys quickly right the ship.
Come November, the final month of touring for the year, we enjoyed better results, and they ended things properly with a fantastic concert in Akron, Ohio on November 23rd. (no less than 3 tracks from that gig are included in this project so you can hear for yourself how much Bob wanted to end his year right)
The list of casualties Jokerman was performed only a handful of times in 1996; I just didn’t hear a version that sounded good enough to be included. The best unbooted airing to me if you’re interested is from October 17th. In general though Bob was either bored, tired, more interested in something else, or was brilliant but the sound quality wasn’t up to standard. A shame, but those are the breaks.
It would very interesting to read an essay exploring Bob’s use of the number 2 slot in his set lists. There are 6 second slot songs in this set, but there were three times as many second slot songs that auditioned for the job.
My deepest thanks to Dean (dnoishere) for the brilliant and lovely mastering job, to Bill and his CD & CDR Field Recordings date index, without which I would be lost, and to Ian for all the trades, I couldn’t have explored this year as deeply if not for your help. I’d also like to thank Mr. Moliken for his reviews.
My track by track review:
Pretty Peggy-O
Talkers in the crowd have the uncanny ability to look into my mind, see what song I’m looking forward to hearing the most, and then start talking right through it.
Now, this wasn’t time it wasn’t bad enough to cut from the project, but there were moments that had me close to putting my fist through my speaker. However, Bob is singing so great on this though I can deal with it, and it’s really not as bad as it usually is.
Taken from the concert two days before the famous Berlin gig that Kiss the Stone later turned into “Soul”, it’s easy to see that Bob was building up a goodly amount of energy within him. Apparently the taper was as well!
Positively 4th Street
I was temped to include the entire concert he played in Aarhus, Denmark 6-15-96, but decided against it as I wasn’t blown away by everything he played. Still my favorite 4 are included to start this set off, so I think I made the right call in freeing up time constraints.
Friend of the Devil
Another great one from Aarhus. Bob is in fine voice and for a change we get to hear a little of the band as well. I wish he played this song more often, as a fan of the Dead it's a blast to hear Uncle Bob's take on it. Gotta love the way he chops at the end of the words here, just hacking away with a big grin on his face, just like Jerry used to have.
Girl From the North Country
Fine playing by the band on this track and Bob obviously digs what they're doing because he breaks out and sings in his distinct curls again, a sure sign he wants to do a good job. His guitar is perhaps a little too excited at times, but I don't care. Then he whips out the harp and kicks a little ass, just in time to warm up for our next number...
Man in the Long Black Coat
Bob recaptures his 1995 form here and then some. The drums are chilling and Bob is bent on bringing heaven and hell together on stage all at once. The apocalypse has arrived. If you're bad-tripping this one might drive you mad. I suggest listening to a happier song at once. Turn this off and run for your life, Bobby is shaking hands with something mean and he's not slowing down to left you off if you get sick and want out. One of the best songs of the year.
Senor
Another travel journal song of sorts that gives us a chance to catch a little bit of breath. Well, a little bit. Bob gives a mournful and questioning narrative, very nice, if a little blunt. But the message of the song is like that; love is a series of questions, and sooner or later you grow tired of asking them, so you act. And that’s the cliffhanger this song leaves us hanging at…
I’ll Remember You
I put this song here because it seemed an appropriate sequel to the youthful adventure of Senor. An older take on the hunt for love and the scheme of hearts, Bob is melancholy and earning his pay here.
One Too Many Morning
What a great, timeless live song this is! One of my favorites of all-time live, rarely sings this badly, and this is no exception. The warble is priceless.
Tears of Rage
Hey, no chorus from Larry and Charlie? Oh yeah, this is 1996, and Bob takes it alone here. By doing so Bob keeps the song focused and cuts sharply to the emotional core of love and the lonely, bitter reflection that follows when things don’t go your way. Laced with irony, chills come when Bob can no longer simply sing and starts to yell the lines, rising higher and higher…
Mama, You Been On My Mind
This song brings the first disc to a close. I’m pleased with the way this disc turned out because the undercurrent of emotional turmoil that seemed to hang around Bob in 1996 is brought forth and examined a bit here.
As deep as he takes us, this wistful tune brings us back up to the surface in fine form. Sometimes love is a roller coaster, sometimes it’s better left in the reality of our mind, and sometimes it’s best just to think about your past in a song, like this one. His harp solo is always a fine way to end affairs, and the band responds to his banter until Bob wails out the final few notes, always a sucker to get the last word in…
Disc 2
Love Minus Zero/No Limit
Strange way to start off the senior disc, I know, but I liked this version so much I had to fit it in. There was no room on disc one, so here it is. Tony is having a thoughtful ball here, thumping away powerfully over, under and around Bob’s punctuating triads. The vocals are soft and he sends them out in tough curls, very nice to hear Bob in such great voice.
God Knows
This set isn’t the best showcase for the rock and roll aspect of Dylan in 1996, but I thought he hit more of the softer songs better and that’s where his interest seemed to be gained the most, so I went that tone this time around. This mini-rocker allows the band to stretch their legs a little and they keep it tight and fun. Good stuff.
Never Gonna Be the Same Again
This was a natural backer to God Knows, they just really go well together. This is one time ‘sing-song’ is a great vocal device. Wonderful. Tony again is busy debunking the opinion that he is too subtle a bass player.
Queen Jane Approximately
Don’t cringe at the crowd noise, they play nice and settle down right away. A raw tape source, it puts you right in the middle of the concert, listening to Bob deliver a concentrated and just aching vocal job, right to your ears. Every third line before the chorus is genius, and there was no doubt I was including this in the set!
Shelter From the Storm
What a difference a year or two makes. Remember the frantic chaos of the 1994 Shelter’s? Well, by 1996 the song had mellowed down and the beast downshifted into a slow river that Bob illuminated with his singing. I love the way he messes up and sings the “ravished in the corn” line twice then makes it up for it with extra punch in the delivery of the “shelter from the storm!”
I Want You
Where oh where have you gone, I Want You? This somewhat ‘full’ recording finds Bob once again singing in curls and stretching out certain lines like rubber bands. A good example of the band playing loud but ever mindful not to play over Bob. Back in 1996 he could get away with sing-song and ragged stuttering and it still sounds cool!
Simple Twist of Fate
Taken from the same night as I Want You, 11-23, Bob sings his story with care. I don’t know when he started singing in run-on sentences, but it sounds great when he piles one verse on top of another like a kid playing with building blocks. Say what you will, but Dylan is a master of pacing.
Born in Time
Very nice job on this tune. Another fine example of Bob and the band working together as one.
When I Paint my Masterpiece
Version of the year, outstanding! Bob's singing on this is superb. To go from happy to sad in the span of the same lyric is a fun thing to hear. Very easy to notice how much fun Bob is having here. ("train tracks rrruuunnnnnnnnniiinnngg..."you'll hear what I mean!)
I Shall Be Released
Jewel sits in on this one, and she nails this song, when she’s not trying her diva growl on for size. I think she tries it then quickly realizes that you just don’t attempt that shit when you’re singing with Bob. Look what happened to Joan, ho ho! Usually Bob either falls apart when it comes to duets, or he rises to the occasion, and this is most definitely the latter. For the last verse they trade lines, and you’ll never hear a more beautiful interplay from 1996.