Attn: aMD

red · May 14, 2009, 06:09 PM

Care to take some time from your day and explain the differences between the two sessions for Blood on the Tracks to me?

:)

aMillionDreams · May 14, 2009, 06:43 PM

Sure thing, bud.

Blood on the Tracks was written on a whim. Dylan woke up, decided he wanted to make a record, called his manager to put together a band, and headed to the studio to start writing. The first session was all written and recorded that day (maybe part of the next). The day Dylan picked happened to be a Jewish holiday so he didn't have his pick of studio musicians he wanted. Most of the songs Dylan wrote on the spot, told the band the chord changes, and they recorded it only taking one or two takes per song and with the band simply watching dylan's hands for chord changes. The result of that session is Blood on the Tracks as it was released. He sent it off to Columbia and there it was.

Except for three weeks later Dylan wanted to rerecord some of the songs because he wasn't completely happy with the first take. He took a little more time to put a band together and recorded some of the songs again, changing tempos and lyrics on some tracks. He also recorded a new song, Up to Me, in those sessions. Columbia said, nah we'll stick with the first tape you sent us and released it as is. Dylan was unhappy that the NY versions didn't make the cut, especially of Tangled Up in Blue.

The feel of the two sessions is different. The original sessions are more rough but less heartfelt. NY sessions feels like you're in the room with him watching his heart slowly break into two pieces. I prefer the NY sessions but it is difficult to say anything critical of either recording session. The NY version of You're a Big Girl Now is heartbreaking (not that any version of that song isn't)

capt. scotty · May 14, 2009, 06:49 PM

Wow, never heard about this.

So how can you find a "NY Session" copy? (outside of the 1 I see for $250 on Amazon :o)

aMillionDreams · May 14, 2009, 06:51 PM

Is that what you were looking for? I'd be interested to hear what you think. I think I prefer every song on the NY session to the original but it's close. How could I really say one is "worse", you know?

red · May 14, 2009, 06:56 PM

QuoteIs that what you were looking for? I'd be interested to hear what you think.

Exactly what I was looking for. And I knew you'd be the best man for the job. Thanks so much.

aMillionDreams · May 14, 2009, 06:58 PM

Well, the site that I used to go to for free dylan bootlegs apparently isn't posting links to boots anymore, so I don't think I can find you a simple sendspace link. But I found a few blogs and torrent sites that have it. Try goggling: new york sessions blood on the tracks

aMillionDreams · May 14, 2009, 07:03 PM

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VNFGLT7Z

red · May 14, 2009, 07:40 PM

Oh man, this thread keeps getting better and better.

[smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]

Crispy · May 14, 2009, 11:07 PM

Score!

Ghosts_on_TV · May 15, 2009, 12:17 AM

Quotehttp://www.megaupload.com/?d=VNFGLT7Z

Thanks Dylan. 8-)

aMillionDreams · May 15, 2009, 07:27 AM

No problem, peeps. Let me know what you think after a few listens.

One more bit of trivia. Two things spurned the album: his divorce with Sara and having met Joni Mitchell and learning her favorite tuning on the guitar: Drop D. The entire album is in Drop D.

Leontheslut · May 15, 2009, 07:44 AM

I love both, by you're right the NY sessions are much more heartfelt.
I sort of remember a pretty heavy bidding war a bunch of years back to buy that album.

I found mine on a bit torrent site. If you really want it headdy, I can probably zip it up and email it to you.

aMillionDreams · May 15, 2009, 07:47 AM

I linked a zip file of it above, he should be able to snag that. Should be a zip file with mp3 (192)s.

searchinbig · May 15, 2009, 08:35 AM

Yeah this is a great recording.

I always thought the noise on (I forget which song, Shelter, Tangled?) was a scratch from a record that was transferred to disc, but I read that it was Dylans buttons from his sleeve making the noise. Still sounds like a scratch to me!

Anyone else hear that?

Love Dogg · May 15, 2009, 09:20 AM

QuoteYeah this is a great recording.

I always thought the noise on (I forget which song, Shelter, Tangled?) was a scratch from a record that was transferred to disc, but I read that it was Dylans buttons from his sleeve making the noise. Still sounds like a scratch to me!

Anyone else hear that?

I thought the exact same thing.

Thanks Dylan. And thanks, K for getting Dylan to think about it and post a link! :)

Crispy · May 15, 2009, 11:56 AM

Quote
QuoteYeah this is a great recording.

I always thought the noise on (I forget which song, Shelter, Tangled?) was a scratch from a record that was transferred to disc, but I read that it was Dylans buttons from his sleeve making the noise. Still sounds like a scratch to me!

Anyone else hear that?

I thought the exact same thing.

Thanks Dylan. And thanks, K for getting Dylan to think about it and post a link! :)

Why can't you just think of these things on your own, Dylan?? ;)

Ruckus · May 15, 2009, 08:56 PM

Yeah, this was real cool guys.

Big Thanks