Things Should Start to Get Interesting Right About Now

Rock Turtleneck Stocking Stuffer Suggestion #2: Bob Dylan, Tell Tale Signs

The holidays are a time of mirth but also of reckoning - a time to take stock in the passage of time, to take a good look at where you've been and where you might be going.

Tell Tale Signs, Volume 8 in Bob's Bootleg Series, takes a look at where Dylan has been, where he could have been, and where he was when we weren't looking, and the results are stunning.

It's further proof that Dylan’s third-act (or eighth-act or twelfth-act; or maybe it's all one big act) renaissance, which began with an epiphany during tour rehearsals with the Grateful Dead in 1987 (chronicled in his memoir Chronicles Vol. 1) and continues in full blazing force to this day, with genius albums, Grammys, an Oscar, a best-selling book, several films a satellite radio show and a Never-Ending tour, is even more accomplished and varied than previously thought.



Like many of the Bootleg Series editions, Tell Tale Signs is full of jaw dropping moments, where you think "how could this have possibly wound up on the cutting room floor?" Chief among these is a demo of "Most of the Time" which in its officially released version on 1989's Oh Mercy is decent but nothing earth-shaking. Yet the stripped-down Oh Mercy demo featured on Tell Tale Signs could have held its own on 1974's Blood on the Tracks:

"Most of the Time" Tell Tale Signs


Likewise, "Can't Wait" a relatively forgettable tune from the epic comeback Time Out of Mind, is shown here as a demo in B-flat and its late-night intensity makes it sound like something from John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band:
"Can't Wait" Tell Tale Signs


And an early demo of "Mississippi" recorded with just Dylan and TOOM producer Daniel Lanois has the haunting world-wearyness of a Sinatra saloon song. All my powers of expression and thoughts so sublime could never do it justice in reason or rhyme:

"Mississppi" Tell Tale Signs


Tell Tale Signs is one of those rare compilations that works well on its own as not merely a collection of songs, but as a total listening experience. If you know a Dylan fan who hasn't picked up Tell Tale Signs yet, well, they're not really a fan. But you should get it for them anyway. It has 26 examples of a great artist who has continued to work at full strength for an unprecedented amount of time, an artist who continues to break new ground almost fifty years into his career. I could go on and on but pick up a few copies of Tell Tale Signs and keep one for yourself. Someday baby, he won't be doing it anymore.

"Someday Baby" (alt version) Tell Tale Signs