Self Portrait and the obscure 1973 Dylan release
Aaron James Miller
this is my first time posting to this newgroup so bear with me, please...
first of all, how much of Self-Portrait is live? i bought it today (it's
probably my 15th or so Dylan album) and most of it sounded as if it was
recorded in the studio... are LARS and She Belongs to Me the only two
live tracks?
secondly, what relationship does the 1973 Dylan album have to Self-
Portrait? i have read many reviews of Self Portrait mentioning the 1973
release. i like most of the 1973 release. it's definitely not the same
type of album that Highway 61 Revisted is, or Blonde on Blonde, but it
has its moments, in my opinion. i know it is not on the market right now.
is there a reason why? does the record company believe they won't make a
profit on it?
thirdly, what's wrong with these albums? why does everyone give them
such a bad wrap? i know they aren't as profound as others that Dylan has
created, but nonetheless, it's good music.
I'm just looking for some opinions.
Aaron
Peter Stone Brown
"Aaron James Miller" <aj...@cornel.edu> wrote in message
news:MPG.174637e46...@newsstand.cit.cornell.edu...
>
>
> this is my first time posting to this newgroup so bear with me, please...
>
> first of all, how much of Self-Portrait is live? i bought it today (it's
> probably my 15th or so Dylan album) and most of it sounded as if it was
> recorded in the studio... are LARS and She Belongs to Me the only two
> live tracks?
The two you mention plus "Minstrel Boy" and "Mighty Quinn" were recorded
live at the Isle of Wight in '69.
>
> secondly, what relationship does the 1973 Dylan album have to Self-
> Portrait? i have read many reviews of Self Portrait mentioning the 1973
> release. i like most of the 1973 release. it's definitely not the same
> type of album that Highway 61 Revisted is, or Blonde on Blonde, but it
> has its moments, in my opinion. i know it is not on the market right now.
> is there a reason why? does the record company believe they won't make a
> profit on it?
A couple of the tracks on the "Dylan" album namely "A Fool Such As I" and
"Spanish Is The Loving Tongue" were outtakes from the sessions that
eventually became Self Portait. Most of the remaining tracks were from the
New Morning Sessions. The reason the album has not been put on CD (though
it was released abroad as "A Fool Such As I") is probably that Dylan doesn't
want it out. The album was put out by Columbia as revenge for Dylan leaving
the label for Asylum records in 1973. Dylan has said, "It was understood
those tracks were not to be used."
>
> thirdly, what's wrong with these albums? why does everyone give them
> such a bad wrap? i know they aren't as profound as others that Dylan has
> created, but nonetheless, it's good music.
>
There are many reasons the albums get a bad rap though I think most Dylan
fans will admit there are some good performances on both. For one thing
there's a lack of original material. And for another many of the
performances lack the heart and especially the intensity people (especially
at the time) had come to expect from Dylan. There was an interesting thread
a few months back on this group comparing the differences of opinion between
those who bought the album when it came out, and newer fans who weren't even
born yet hearing the album. Many of the performances on Self Portrait are
just downright sloppy. Some of them are fun, some are pleasant, but
ultimately they're not much more than that whether cover songs or originals.
--
"The game is the same, it's just up on another level." --Bob Dylan
Peter Stone Brown
e-mail: ps...@earthlink.net
http://store.yahoo.com/tangible-music/petstonbrowi.html
Edward Haworth
that Dylan itnentionally released a bad album to get his fans of his
back. Or that was his idea. Dylan (1973) is a collection of odds and
sods (i've not heard it) released against bob's will by Columbia as
revenge for his brief flirtation with island records (before the Flood
and Planet Waves).
Tricia J
wrote:
>Sel Portrait has a kind of weird charm but it is strongly rumoured
>that Dylan itnentionally released a bad album to get his fans of his
>back. Or that was his idea. Dylan (1973) is a collection of odds and
>sods (i've not heard it) released against bob's will by Columbia as
>revenge for his brief flirtation with island records (before the Flood
>and Planet Waves).
Perhaps "intentionally released a bad album" is a little strong.
"Intentionally released an album that he knew many of the fans who
were deifying him and the boosters of the "acid-fried" music scene of
the late sixties would not relate to" might be closer to the mark.
Distancing himself from some things that bothered him. Maybe. Who
really knows? I always liked it's weird charms and still do.
Roving Gambler
>>thirdly, what's wrong with these albums? why does everyone give them
>>such a bad wrap? i know they aren't as profound as others that Dylan has
>>created, but nonetheless, it's good music.
>>
>>I'm just looking for some opinions.
>>
>>Aaron
Yes, you're right. That's exactly the spirit in which to approach these
albums. If you don't treat these albums as something they are not
intended to be, they are quite fun. An album called Self Portrait that
starts with an instrumental is not to be taken too seriously. (Dylan's
sense of humour is constantly underestimated.) Its sloppiness is part
of its charm. That said, there are a few gems: Early Morning Rain has
one of my favourite Dylan vocal performances, especially the 'Hear those
mighty engines roar/See that silver bird on high' verse. Copper Kettle
is also brilliant vocally. Michael Gray (Song & Dance Man) is actually
quite good on this album. The "Dylan" stuff really is objectively poor
though, once the novelty has worn off. If Dylan really is about to
leave Columbia again (see ExpectingRain), I wonder whether they will
reissue it? Or pump out (shudder) some hitherto unheard Down In the
Groove outtakes, worse even than Lets Stick Together?
Bob Hughes
Regardless of whether Dylan leaves Columbia, his last contract gave
him ownership of the masters, so Columbia can't legally release any of
this stuff.
Bob Hughes
Who Drew Superman?-Superman artists from the golden and silver age profiled at:
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"Information is not knowledge; knowledge is not wisdom; wisdom is not truth; truth is not beauty; beauty is not love; love is not music. Music is best."
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