News

Bob Dylan / Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 16 / 1980-1985

Outtakes from Shot of Love, Infidels and Empire Burlesque

By Paul Sinclair

Comments

75

Ratings Ratings

Bob Dylan / Springtime in New York: 1980-1985 / Bob Dylan

SDE Reader Rating

3.6

Sony will release the latest chapter in Columbia’s acclaimed Bob Dylan Bootleg Series in September. Volume 16 will be known as Springtime in New York and covers the period 1980-1985.

This new set focuses on the three albums of the era: Shot of Love (1981) Infidels and Empire Burlesque and contains previously unreleased outtakes, alternate takes, rehearsal recordings, live performances and more.  

The deluxe 5CD edition of the album presents 57 rare Bob Dylan recordings, 54 of them previously unreleased in any format

The 5CD deluxe edition looks consistent with previous volumes in the Bootleg Series (click image to enlarge)

The previously released cuts include two Shot of Love outtakes: ‘Let It Be Me’ (first released as B-side to “Heart of Mine” International 7″ single) and ‘Don’t Ever Take Yourself Away’ (first released on Hawaii Five-O: Original Songs from the Television Series). A third previously released recording, ‘Death Is Not The End’ (an Infidels outtake featuring Full Force) first appeared in an edited version on Down In The Groove but can now be heard for the first time in full on Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 16 / 1980-1985.

CD 1 of the five-disc set features material recorded in 1980 and 1981 and finds Dylan rehearsing a variety of his own catalog compositions (‘Señor (Tales of Yankee Power),’ ‘To Ramona’), rearranging some traditional folk tunes (‘Jesus Met the Woman at the Well,’ ‘Mary of the Wild Moor’) and revving up a selection of surprising covers (‘Mystery Train’ featuring Ringo Starr, ‘Sweet Caroline,’ ‘Fever,’ ‘Abraham, Martin and John’) with a group of musicians including Fred Tackett (guitar), David Mansfield (mandolin), Willie Smith (keyboards), Tim Drummond (bass), Jim Keltner (drums) and background vocals by Clydie King, Carolyn Dennis, Gwen Evans, and Regina McCrary. 

CD 2 is devoted to outtakes and alternate takes of recordings produced by Chuck Plotkin for Shot of Love, while CDs 3 & 4 are centred on the material Dylan wrote for Infidels, performed by the all-star band assembled for the album which featured Mark Knopfler (guitar), Mick Taylor (guitar), Alan Clark (keyboards), Robbie Shakespeare (bass) and Sly Dunbar (drums).  The Infidels sessions include previously unreleased versions of ‘Blind Willie McTell’ and ‘Jokerman’. 

‘Too Late (Band Version)’ is on CD 3 of the new box set.

CD 5 includes live tracks (‘Enough Is Enough’ from Slane Castle, Ireland, and ‘License to Kill’ from Late Night with David Letterman, March 22, 1984) alongside alternate takes and outtakes from the Empire Burlesque sessions, produced by Bob Dylan, including premieres of new songs (‘Straight A’s in Love’ and ‘New Danville Girl’, an early draft of ‘Brownsville Girl’) and a previously unreleased performance of ‘Dark Eyes’. 

According to the ‘Producer’s Note’ in the album: “The alternate takes selected for this set are different than the ones released on previous volumes of The Bootleg Series. They are included here to illustrate the musical journey Bob Dylan undertook during these years.” 

As well as the five-CD set there is a cut-down two-CD edition with 25 tracks and an even more cut-down 2LP vinyl set with 11-tracks. Jack White’s Third Man Records are pressing and retailing an exclusive 4LP version, too.

Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 16 / 1980-1985 will be released on 17 September 2021. Rate the 5CD set at the top of the page.

Tracklisting

Bob Dylan / Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 16 / 1980-1985

Springtime in New York 1980-1985 Bob Dylan / 5CD deluxe edition

    • CD 1
      1. Señor (Tales of Yankee Power) – Rehearsal
      2. To Ramona – Rehearsal
      3. Jesus Met the Woman at the Well – Rehearsal
      4. Mary of the Wild Moor – Rehearsal
      5. Need a Woman – Rehearsal
      6. A Couple More Years – Rehearsal
      7. Mystery Train – Shot of Love outtake
      8. This Night Won’t Last Forever – Rehearsal
      9. We Just Disagree – Rehearsal
      10. Let’s Keep It Between Us – Rehearsal
      11. Sweet Caroline – Rehearsal
      12. Fever – Rehearsal
      13. Abraham, Martin and John – Rehearsal
    • CD 2
      1. Angelina – Shot of Love outtake
      2. Price of Love – Shot of Love outtake
      3. I Wish It Would Rain – Shot of Love outtake
      4. Let It Be Me – International 7″ Single B-side*
      5. Cold, Cold Heart – Shot of Love outtake
      6. Don’t Ever Take Yourself Away – Shot of Love outtake*
      7. Fur Slippers – Shot of Love outtake
      8. Borrowed Time – Shot of Love outtake
      9. Is It Worth It? – Shot of Love outtake
      10. Lenny Bruce – Shot of Love alternate mix
      11. Yes Sir, No Sir – Shot of Love outtake
    • CD 3
      1. Jokerman – Infidels alternate take
      2. Blind Willie McTell – Infidels outtake
      3. Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight [version 1] – Infidels alternate take
      4. Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight [version 2] – Infidels alternate take
      5. Neighborhood Bully – Infidels alternate take
      6. Someone’s Got a Hold of My Heart – Infidels outtake
      7. This Was My Love – Infidels outtake
      8. Too Late [acoustic version] – Infidels outtake
      9. Too Late [band version] – Infidels outtake
      10. Foot of Pride – Infidels outtake
    • CD 4
      1. Clean Cut Kid – Infidels outtake
      2. Sweetheart Like You – Infidels alternate take
      3. Baby What You Want Me to Do – Infidels outtake
      4. Tell Me – Infidels outtake
      5. Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground – Infidels outtake
      6. Julius and Ethel – Infidels outtake
      7. Green, Green Grass of Home – Infidels outtake
      8. Union Sundown – Infidels alternate take
      9. Lord Protect My Child – Infidels outtake
      10. I and I – Infidels alternate take
      11. Death is Not the End [full version] – Infidels outtake*
    • CD 5
      1. Enough is Enough [live] – Slane Castle, Ireland
      2. License to Kill [live] – Late Night with David Letterman, March 22, 1984
      3. I’ll Remember You – Empire Burlesque alternate take
      4. Tight Connection to My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love) – Empire Burlesque alternate mix
      5. Seeing the Real You at Last – Empire Burlesque alternate take
      6. Emotionally Yours – Empire Burlesque alternate tak
      7. Clean Cut Kid – Empire Burlesque alternate take
      8. Straight A’s in Love – Empire Burlesque outtake
      9. When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky [slow version]– Empire Burlesque alternate take
      10. When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky [fast version] – Empire Burlesque alternate take
      11. New Danville Girl – Empire Burlesque outtake
      12. Dark Eyes – Empire Burlesque alternate take

Tracklisting

Bob Dylan / Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 16 / 1980-1985

Springtime in New York Bob Dylan / 2CD edition

    • CD 1
      1. Angelina – Shot of Love outtake
      2. Need a Woman – Rehearsal
      3. Let’s Keep It Between Us – Rehearsal
      4. Price of Love – Shot of Love outtake
      5. Don’t Ever Take Yourself Away – Shot of Love outtake*
      6. Fur Slippers – Shot of Love outtake
      7. Yes Sir, No Sir – Shot of Love outtake
      8. Jokerman – Infidels alternate take
      9. Lord Protect My Child – Infidels outtake
      10. Blind Willie McTell – Infidels outtake
      11. Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight [version 2] – Infidels alternate take
      12. Neighborhood Bully – Infidels alternate take
      13. Too Late [band version] – Infidels outtake
    • CD 2
      1. Foot of Pride – Infidels outtake
      2. Sweetheart Like You – Infidels alternate take
      3. Someone’s Got a Hold of My Heart – Infidels outtake
      4. I and I – Infidels alternate take
      5. Tell Me – Infidels outtake
      6. Enough is Enough [live] – Slane Castle, Ireland
      7. Tight Connection to My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love) – Empire Burlesque alternate mix
      8. Seeing the Real You at Last – Empire Burlesque alternate take
      9. Emotionally Yours – Empire Burlesque alternate take
      10. Clean Cut Kid – Empire Burlesque alternate take
      11. New Danville Girl – Empire Burlesque outtake
      12. Dark Eyes – Empire Burlesque alternate take

Tracklisting

Springtime in New York 1980-1985 Bob Dylan / 2LP vinyl

    • Side A
      1. Jokerman – Infidels alternate take
      2. Need a Woman – Rehearsal
      3. Fur Slippers – Shot of Love outtake
    • Side B
      1. Someone’s Got a Hold of My Heart – Infidels outtake
      2. Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight [version 1] – Infidels alternate take
      3. Blind Willie McTell – Infidels outtake
    • Side C
      1. Too Late [band version] – Infidels outtake
      2. Sweetheart Like You – Infidels alternate take
      3. Seeing the Real You at Last – Empire Burlesque alternate take
    • Side D
      1. New Danville Girl – Empire Burlesque outtake
      2. Dark Eyes – Empire Burlesque alternate take

SuperDeluxeEdition.com helps fans around the world discover physical music and discuss releases. To keep the site free, SDE participates in various affiliate programs, including Amazon and earns from qualifying purchases.

Related Content

75 Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
75 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments