Thanks to EDLIS for the individual track timings, Krogsgaard numbers, Mick Taylor and "St. James Infirmary" information.
Rough Cuts / Bob Dylan [11 April 1983 - 8 May 1983]
Gold Standard, [1993]
Matrix: 57119XK1 SRE-1, 57118XK1 SRE-2)
Stereo
2 CD
Disc One: 76:23
1. Sweetheart Like You (4:21) [?]
2. Someone's Got A Hold Of My Heart (5:13) [30]
3. Lord Protect My Child (4:49) [33]
4. Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground (Willie Nelson) (4:15) [?6]
5. Foot Of Pride (6:08) [29]
6. Tell Me (4:38) [26]
7. I And I (5:04) [27]
8. Union Sundown (5:08) [1]
9. Julius And Ethel (4:51) [4]
10. Jokerman (6:23) [7]
11. License To Kill (3:38) [9]
12. Man Of Peace (6:33) [10]
13. Don't Fall Apart On Me Tonight (5:54) [12]
14. Neighborhood Bully (9:26) [11] [Or (4:39) really as there is a mastering
problem and the rest of this "track" is actually most of the next track,
which is repeated in its entirety on Disc Two!]
Disc Two: 68:03
15. Blind Willie McTell (Electric) (4:44) [34]
16. This Was My Love (Take 1) (Jim Harbert) (3:58) [32]
17. This Was My Love (Take 2) (Jim Harbert) (4:16) [?]
18. Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground (Willie Nelson) (4:40) [?]
19. Dark Groove (2:50) [?]
20. Don"t Fly Unless It's Safe [Don't Fly Unless It's Safe] (3:16) [?]
21. Clean Cut Kid [Clean-Cut Kid] (6:49) [1]
22. Death Is Not The End (5:05) [5]
23. Sweetheart Like You (4:15) [?]
24. Union Sundown (Take 2) (6:43) [3]
25. The "Sweetheart" Rehearsals [Sweetheart Like You] (21:25) [?]
(1-25) The Power Station, New York City, New York, 11 April
8 May 1983. [693] Infidels (1983) out-takes.
(5, 11, 12) Same as released versions - probably rough mixes.
(7) Released version but without the overdub (the line "Waitin' for
somethin' to crack" was overdubbed with "Smokin' down the track" for the
final "Infidels" album version)
(8) Mostly instrumental, with Dylan "da-da"ing along, singing only the
chorus.
(19, 20) Instrumentals that surfaced in 1993 on what was called by some "The
Mystery Tape."
(22) Same as released version, backing vocals by "Full Force."
"Bob Dylan: guitar/harmonica/keyboards, Sly Dunbar: drums/percussion, Robbie Shakespeare: bass, Mark Knopfler: guitar, Alan Clark: keyboards". (Mick Taylor is not credited, though he plays during The "Sweetheart" Rehearsals because Bob comments about his headphones: "Mick I don't hear at all..." - unless he meant he couldn't hear him because he wasn't there! :-)
This CD contains all the "new" circulating tracks detailed in Olof's posting - the new "Sweetheart Like You" (1), "Lord Protect My Child" (3), the new "Angel Flying To Close To The Ground" (probably 18), "Foot Of Pride" (5) and "Union Sundown" (8). I am unable to confirm whether "Julius And Ethel" (9) is the new better quality version since I do not have the earlier circulating tape.
[Note: OV = official version]
General sound quality is truly excellent, very full stereo sound. There is *some* hiss present throughout but this is only really evident during quiet moments. (There are exceptions which are detailed below.)
The music for Blind Willie McTell (15) is of course St. James Infirmary, and it can be worth comparing the content with Richard "Rabbit" Brown's James Alley Blues. Bob Dylan has performed James Alley Blues at least twice, on the Minnesota Party Tape 1961 [004] and on the Second McKenzie Tape [040] in April 1963. Richard "Rabbit" Brown is mentioned as a Dylan influence on the sleeve notes to Bob Dylan (1962).
They say that oppression is a cruel tutor And injustice is a nurse.and a good performance, closer to the OV than the previous version. The third line sounds better than it reads :-) The background hiss is a little more evident on this track.
You can put your hand in the hand of the man with the nose that can't smell But you put your confidence in him, and that's worse. Snap out of it, baby, people are jealous of you, They smile to your face, but behind your back they hiss. What's a sweetheart like you doing in a dump like this?
At one point Dylan comments:
"Neil, remember we were, that, that 'Clean-Cut Kid' from, the, not the last
time we were tryin' it but earlier, remember, the first night we tried
it? I
wanna hear that third one, the last one. Uh, uh, not the one that you didn't
get, the one earlier than that. [pause] Right, okay. You got that."
So there are *3* "Clean-Cut Kid" takes but only *one* circulating...?
There is a wonderful moment that illustrates Dylan's gift for improvising lyrics. One take starts with "The boss ain't here / He gone north, he gone north" but then stops, Dylan having forgotten the words, saying, "No wait a second. That ain't right." He hums to himself, there's some guitar strumming and then he starts again. This time he sings the following wonderfully unique lyrics (the bracketed words are dummy lyrics):
Well, the boss ain't here, He gone North, I can't remember where. He caught the red-eyed, left on time He's startin' a grave-yard up there. By the way, that's a cute hat, And that smile's so hard to resist But what's a sweetheart like you doin' in a dump like this? You know I took my clothes down to Red River to be washed [Canner them be none]. Within a quarter of an hour They on good terms with everyone. If you gotta [me] deal, make the queen disappear, It's all done with the flick of the wrist. What's a sweetheart like you doin' in a dump like this? You know a woman like you should be at home, That's where you belong, Taking care of somebody nice Who don't know how to do you wrong. You look to me like a royalty There's a though I can't dismiss. What's a sweetheart like you doin' in a dump like this? You know you can make a name for yourself, You can hear them tires squeal, You can be known as the most beautiful woman Who ever crawled 'cross cut glass to make a deal. They say that oppression is a cruel tutor And injustice is a nurse. [Fabb-e to do it fallen] [Ah] to introduce him to him first No matter how much you've got it's not enough The price just don't exist What's a sweetheart like you doin' in a dump like this? Got to be important person to be in here, honey Got to have done some worthless deed. Got to have your own harem when you come in the door, Got to be able to play your harp until your lips bleed. They say that patriotism is the last refuge, To which a scoundrel clings. Steal a little and they throw you in jail, Steal a lot and they make you a king. There's only one step down from here, [honey]. It's called the land of permanent bliss. What's a sweetheart like you doing in a dump like this?[With the band still playing, Dylan says, "Yeah, that's a good bass part." Then, not long after he brings the song to an end, saying, "Let's try it again. I think it's getting close, the bass part is getting right now. It's got the feel, you know, just on that last part."]
After this take an instrumental is played that sounds nothing like "Sweetheart Like You." The recording then cuts right into the start of another take of "Sweetheart Like You." This makes me wonder whether the instrumental belongs on this particular track. Does it have a name and should it even be here?
Is this double CD a *complete* recording of *all* circulating "Infidels" alternates, rough mixes and outtakes?
TOWNSEND NUMBER: 3??
PERFORMANCE: 8
SOUND: 8 (Tracks (21, 24) rated as: 5)
RECOMMENDATION: 7 Cf T-146, T-205.
Recommended if you like "Infidels"