1. Johnny Todd (Traditional, arranged by Bob Dylan) – Very straight folk take – B
2. Tupelo (written by John Lee Hooker) – Dylan’s growly vocal will sound a little familiar to folks who listen to him now, he goes down deep – B+
3. Kickin’ My Dog Around (Traditional, arranged by Bob Dylan) – Great to hear Dylan teach the band how he wants the background vocals done – B+
4. See You Later Allen Ginsberg (Take 1) – A rock and roll goof, some people claim they were goofed up – B+
5. See You Later Allen Ginsberg (Take 2) – As before only a touch tighter till Bobby starts giggling and ends it up – B+
6. Tiny Montgomery – This is straight off the 1975, the mix a little muddier but same vocals – A-
7. Big Dog – Another blues snippet rock and roll style and might have been a goodie – B+
8. I’m Your Teenage Prayer – This is a big one that never made it into the catalog, a teen idol take on doo wop – A
9. Four Strong Winds (written by Ian Tyson) – Great pop country ballad cover – A-
10. The French Girl (Take 1) (written by Ian Tyson and Sylvia Tyson) – This is even better, a sinking dread folk song – A
11. The French Girl (Take 2) (written by Ian Tyson and Sylvia Tyson) – And even even better, the stately pace gels – A
12. Joshua Gone Barbados (written by Eric Von Schmidt) – Is this the only time Dylan covered Eric? sublime folk music – A
13. I’m in the Mood (written by Bernard Besman and John Lee Hooker) – Laid back blues cover and a lot of messing about. I read somewhere they were pretty wasted and it sounds it – B+
14. Baby Ain’t That Fine (written by Dallas Frazier) – Country song kind winds itself – B+
15. Rock, Salt and Nails (written by Bruce Phillips) – From Wikipedia: “Bruce Phillips was an American labor organizer, folk singer, storyteller, poet and the “Golden Voice of the Great Southwest”. He described the struggles of labor unions and the power of direct action, self-identifying as an anarchist.[2] He often promoted the Industrial Workers of the World in his music, actions, and words.” – B+
16. A Fool Such As I (written by William Marvin Trader) – Great vocal performance on this fabulous song, nice to hear how much rock Presley put into his version. This is pure country – A
17. Song for Canada (written by Pete Gzowski and Ian Tyson) – Knock out, the best of the three Ian Tyson tracks here. How much music did Dylan actually know? And where did he find the time? – A
18. People Get Ready (written by Curtis L Mayfield) – – The Persuasions Gospel masterpiece is played very very straight and works for me absolutely, I wish he’d released it at the time – A-
19. I Don’t Hurt Anymore (written By Donald I Robertson and Walter E Rollins) – when you think Don Robertson, you think piano but this i rearranged for guitar – B+
20. Be Careful of Stones That You Throw (written by Benjamin Lee Blankenship) – Sounds like a spiritual with Dylan speaking the verses but it is probably just a morality story- B+
21. One Man’s Loss – Somebody turn up Dylan’s mic! Still, a neat beat – B+
22. Lock Your Door – Only 23 seconds and a real bummer because it’s a killer – A-
23. Baby, Won’t You be My Baby – Sounds like Brit Invasion blues style, but the song isn’t finished, the language ain’t quite there – B+
24. Try Me Little Girl – Improvising? Love the way Bobby goes falsetto – B+
25. I Can’t Make it Alone – Has Dylan been listening to the Animals? – B+
26. Don’t You Try Me Now – Blues work out – B+
Comment: He starts off doing drunken covers, raids the cupboard from some gone and little remembered country and folk contemporaries, and ends up with a handful of originals which are basically blues workouts.
Grade: A-
