If
Bob Dylan's Bootleg series of archival releases -- now in its fourth decade -- has taught fans anything, it's that preconceived notions about his catalog are often proven erroneous. Entries such as
Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait (1969-1971) and
Vol. 13: Trouble No More 1979-1981 offered substantive counterarguments for the criticism the source albums received.
Vol. 16: Springtime in New York 1980-1985 begins with the thoroughly slagged final outing in his Christian trilogy,
Shot of Love (1981), and continues through the more warmly greeted albums
Infidels (1983) and
Empire Burlesque (1985). It reveals the many musical directions
Dylan was traveling in simultaneously. Over 57 tracks and five discs, his sometimes radical experimentation with musicians (
Sly & Robbie served as the rhythm section on
Infidels), material, and production styles posits that he was seeking a way forward not out of restlessness but because he was lost -- he would release the execrable
Knocked Out Loaded and
Down in the Groove over the next few years.
The songs leading to and from
Shot of Love are represented on the first two discs. There's a stellar rehearsal version of "Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)," and a supercharged
Bo Diddley-esque "Jesus Met the Woman at the Well." the scorching garage rocker "Borrowed Time" was created on the spot. There are many covers too.
Dylan delivers the yacht rock hit "This Night Won't Last Forever" without irony, as well as
Hank Williams' "Cold Cold Heart," a fine read of
the Temptations' "I Wish It Would Rain," a swampy "Mystery Train," and an awful "Sweet Caroline." Discs three and four showcase material from the
Infidels sessions. There's a (different) gospel-infused read of "Blind Willie McTell" and an alternate mix of "Jokerman" with a prophetic vocal that brings
Mark Knopfler's and
Mick Taylor's guitars way up front. After two versions of "Too Late," we get a third in the ragged blues "Foot of Pride." Outtakes of "Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight" and "I and I" are superior to the album takes. The
Empire Burlesque material offers "Enough Is Enough," penned on tour and performed only three times, and a Late Night with David Letterman performance of "License to Kill" with
the Plugz. There is also a loose, soulful alternate version of "Tight Connection to My Heart." The squalling, shambolic garage rocker "Straight A's in Love" was previously unissued. One of the two versions of "When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky" contains a disco beat in a rocking context. The 12-minute "New Danville Girl" is fantastic, but eventually became the inferior "Brownsville Girl." Closer "Dark Eyes" (an alternate take) was composed because producer
Arthur Baker wanted an acoustic track.
Springtime in New York was curated and produced by
Jeff Rosen and
Steve Berkowitz. They went beyond the call of duty in sonic clarity, warmth, and selection; further,
Damien Love's liner notes are detailed, authoritative, and wonderfully enthusiastic. Whether
Shot of Love warrants deeper appreciation now is debatable, but this box set wonderfully showcases
Dylan's lengthy, complex creative journey that only got rockier as the decade wore on. ~ Thom Jurek
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