I am very happy that it is possible to continue this series of articles
about Bob Dylan's studio sessions in The Bridge.
We left last time in part 4 of the series with Saved, and I mentioned that all the rest of Bob Dylans 1980s albums would be
the result of multiple recording sessions and not just 3 or 5 days in studio,
as with most of his earlier albums. The recording of Shot Of Love was very complex and I'm afraid that it has not yet been possible to sort
everything out.
During the second half of 1980 and early 1981 Dylan and his touring band
recorded a lot of tracks at Rundown Studios in Santa Monica. These tapes
have generally not been available for viewing.
None of the multitrack tapes recorded at Clover in April and May 1981 have
been available either, but it has been possible to view a lot of 2-track
re-mixes, done in April, May and June 1981. Combined with information from
the musicians contracts it has been possible to structure the "Shot Of Love" sessions to some degree. But what is listed below is probably incomplete
and subject to changes.
I have copied information about the tracks directly from the recording sheets/tape
boxes.
FS = false start. LFS = long false start. CT = complete take. INC = incomplete
take.
These specifications are used inconsistently, and in several cases no such
information about the takes is available.
Angelina, and Need A Woman are credited as being recorded on May 4, 1981 on "The Bootleg Series, Vol.
1-3". This is not true, as they were mixed on that day, but recorded earlier.
Rundown Studios
Santa Monica, California
March 26, 1981
Produced by Jimmy Iovine.
1. Angelina
2. Angelina
Musicians: Bob Dylan (piano), Tim Drummond (bass), Jim Keltner (drums),
Carl Pickhardt (keyboards), Steve Ripley (guitar), Danny Kortchmar (guitar),
and Regina Havis, Clydie King & Carolyn Dennis (vocals).
Rundown Studios
Santa Monica, California
March 27, 1981
Produced by Jimmy Iovine.
1. Jam
2. ?
3. Jam Singing
4. ?
5. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar
6. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar
7. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar
8. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar
9. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar
10. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar
11. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar
12. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar
13. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar
14. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar
15. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar
Musicians: Bob Dylan (guitar), Tim Drummond (bass), Jim Keltner (drums),
Carl Pickhardt (keyboards), Steve Ripley (guitar), Danny Kortchmar (guitar),
and Regina Havis, Clydie King & Carolyn Dennis (vocals).
Probably because the technical quality of the recordings made at Rundown
Studios was not very good, Dylan decided to try out several studios in the
Los Angeles area, before choosing a studio to record Shot Of Love. The first
of these test-recordings took place in Studio 55, where an 8-track recording
was done.
Studio A
Studio 55
Los Angeles, California
March 31, 1981
Produced by Jimmy Iovine.
1. Caribbean Wind Inc
2. Caribbean Wind LFS
3. Caribbean Wind LFS
4. Caribbean Wind LFS
5. Caribbean Wind LFS
6. Caribbean Wind CT
7. Caribbean Wind CT
8. Caribbean Wind CT
1-8 "Caribbean Winds" on recording sheets
7 "w. electric guitar" on recording sheet
8 "w. acoustic guitar" on recording sheet
Musicians: Tim Drummond (bass), Jim Keltner (drums), Fred Tackett (guitar),
Steve Ripley (guitar), Carl Pickhardt (keyboards), Bobbye Hall (percussion),
David Mansfield (violin), and Regina Havis, Clydie King & Carolyn Dennis
(vocals).
The next day Bob Dylan and the group had a long and relaxed session at Cream
Studio. Many takes from this and the following sessions were pulled and
put onto one tape reel, which was used later for copyright purposes, and
which was actually circulating among collectors for several years as a mysterious
session-tape, of which no one knew the origin.
Cream Studio
Los Angeles, California
April 1, 1981
Produced by Destiny Productions.
1. Straw Hat Take 1 Inc
2. Gonna Love You Anyway Take 1 LFS
3. Gonna Love You Anyway Take 2 CT
4. ? Take 1 CT
5. I Wish It Would Rain (Instrumental) Take 2 CT
6. It's All Dangerous To Me Take 1 CT
7. Instrumental Take 1 Inc
8. Need That Woman Take 1 Inc
9. Well Water (Instrumental) Inc
10. Instrumental Inc
11. Instrumental Inc
12. Instrumental Inc
13. My Girl (It's Growing) (Instrumental) Take 1 CT
14. My Oriental House (Instrumental) Take 1 CT
15. Wild Mountain Thyme Take 1 CT
16. Borrowed Time Take I CT
17. I Want You To Know That I Love You Take 1 LFS
18. I Want You To Know That I Love You Take 2 FS
19. Rockin' Boat Take 1 CT
20. I Wish It Would Rain Take 1 Inc
21. Cold, Cold Heart Take 1 CT
22. Need A Woman Take 1 CT
23. In The Summertime Take 1 CT
24. I Want You To Know That I Love You Take 1 CT
25. I Want You To Know That I Love You Take 2 LFS
26. I Want You To Know That I Love You Take 3 Inc
27. Instrumental Take 1
28. Is It Worth It? Take 1 FS
29. Is It Worth It? Take 2 FS
30. Is It Worth It? Take 3 FS
31. Is It Worth It? Take 4 Inc
32. Is It Worth It? Take 1 FS
33. You Changed My Life Take 1 Inc
34. Almost Persuaded Take 1 FS
35. Almost Persuaded Take 2 FS
36. Almost Persuaded Take 3 FS
37. Need A Woman Take 1 CT
38. I Wish It Would Rain Take 1 FS
39. I Wish It Would Rain Take 2 FS
40. I Wish It Would Rain Take 3 CT
Musicians: Tim Drummond (bass), Jim Keltner (drums), Fred Tackett (guitar),
Carl Pickhardt (keyboards), Steve Ripley (guitar).
7-18 William Smith (keyboards). Regina Havis, Clydie King & Carolyn Dennis
(vocals).
6 and 24 out to copyright reel 12-3-84.
9 and 14 out to copyright reel 12-4-84.
Studio A
United Western Studio
Los Angeles, California
April 2, 1981
Produced by Destiny Productions.
1. Untitled FS
2. Untitled FS
3. Untitled FS
4. Untitled Inc
5. Untitled LFS
6. Untitled CT
7. Untitled Inc
8. Untitled Inc
9. Untitled FS
10. Untitled LFS
11. Untitled FS
12. Untitled LFS
13. Untitled FS
14. Untitled FS
15. Untitled CT
16. Instrumental Take 1 Inc
17. Instrumental - Up Tempo Take 2 Inc
18. Movin' Take 3 CT
19. Is It Worth It ? Take 4 Inc
20, Is It Worth It ? FS
21. Yes Sir, No Sir (Hallelujah) CT
22. Yes Sir, No Sir (Hallelujah) FS
23. Yes Sir, No Sir (Hallelujah) LFS
24. Yes Sir, No Sir (Hallelujah) CT
25. Yes Sir, No Sir (Hallelujah) Take 1 FS
26. Yes Sir, No Sir (Hallelujah) Take 2 LFS
27. Yes Sir, No Sir (Hallelujah) Take 3 LFS
28. Yes Sir, No Sir (Hallelujah) Take 4 CT
29. Yes Sir, No Sir (Hallelujah) Take 5 Inc
30. Yes Sir, No Sir (Hallelujah) Take 6 CT
31. Yes Sir, No Sir (Hallelujah) CT
32. Yes Sir, No Sir (Hallelujah) CT
33. Yes Sir, No Sir (Hallelujah) CT
34. Singing This Song For You Inc
35. Singing This Song For You CT
36. Is It Worth It ? CT
37. Singing This Song For You Inc
38. Singing This Song For You CT
39. Singing This Song For You CT
40. You Changed My Life CT
41. ?
42. Reach Out CT
43. Fur Slippers CT
44. Let It Be Me (Delanoe/Bécaud/Curtis) LFS
45. Let It Be Me (Delanoe/Bécaud/Curtis) CT
46. Let It Be Me (Delanoe/Bécaud/Curtis) Inc
47. Let It Be Me (Delanoe/Bécaud/Curtis) CT
48. Is It Worth It CT
49. Instrumental Inc
50. Ah Ah Ah CT
51. Ah Ah Ah CT
1-6 and 7-15 are probably two different tunes.
21-30 "First Tune" on recording sheet.
50 and 51 are probably 2 parts of the same take (due to a change of tape).
Musicians: Tim Drummond (bass), Jim Keltner (drums), William Smith (keyboards),
Fred Tackett (guitar), Steve Ripley (guitar), Carl Pickhardt (keyboards).
33, 48 and 50 out to copyright reel (1 1-29-84).
On April 10, 1981 three songs were mixed at Clover, labelled "Early Roughs".
They are probably takes, which were originally recorded at Rundown Studios,
Cream Studio, and United Western Studio: I Wish It Would Rain, Let It Be Me and Shot Of Love. There is no trace of an April 7 session of Caribbean Wind, as listed on Biograph, and this date may refer to the mixing date.
The next session would take place in Clover, where mixing of earlier recorded
masters apparently had been done during April 1981.
Clover
Los Angeles, California
April 23,1981
1. Magic CT
2. Trouble CT
3. Trouble CT
4. Trouble CT
5. Trouble (instrumental) CT
6. Trouble CT
7. Bolero CT
8. Bolero Inc
9. Don't Ever Take Yourself Away CT
10. Don't Ever Take Yourself Away CT
11. You Changed My Life CT
12. You Changed My Life CT
13. You Changed My Life CT
14. Be Careful CT
15. Be Careful
16. You Changed My Life CT
17. You Changed My Life CT
18. You Changed My Life CT
19. You Changed My Life CT
20. You Changed My Life CT
21. You Changed My Life CT
22. You Changed My Life CT
23. You Changed My Life CT
Musicians: Jim Keltner (drums), Tim Drummond (bass), Benjamin Tench (keyboards),
Steve Ripley (guitar), Danny Kortchmar (guitar), and Regina Havis, Clydie
King & Carolyn Dennis (background vocals).
(Benmont Tenchs real name is Benjamin Montgomery Tench III - AHF)
The listing is probably incomplete.
Clover
Los Angeles, California
April 24,1981
1. Magic CT
2. Magic CT
Musicians: Tim Drummond (bass), Jim Keltner (drums), Benjamin Tench (keyboards),
Steve Ripley (guitar), Danny Kortchmar (guitar), and Regina Havis, Clydie
King & Carolyn Dennis (background vocals).
The listing is incomplete.
Clover
Los Angeles, California
April 27,1981
1. Need A Woman CT
2. Need A Woman CT
3. Need A Woman CT
4. Need A Woman CT
5. Dead Man, Dead Man CT
6. Dead Man, Dead Man CT
7. Dead Man, Dead Man CT
8. In The Summertime CT
9. In The Summertime CT
10. In The Summertime CT
11. In The Summertime CT
12. In The Summertime CT
13. In The Summertime CT
14. In The Summertime CT
15. In The Summertime CT
16. In The Summertime CT
17. In The Summertime CT
18. In The Summertime CT
19. Watered Down Love CT
Musicians: Benjamin Tench (keyboards), William Smith (keyboards), Jim Keltner
(drums), Tim Drummond (bass), Michael Campbell (guitar).
Some tracks may be different mixes of the same take.
Clover
Los Angeles, California
April 28, 1981
1. Watered Down Love CT
2. Watered Down Love FS
3. Watered Down Love CT
4. Watered Down Love CT
5. Heart Of Mine CT
6. Dead Man, Dead Man Inc
7. Dead Man, Dead Man Inc
8. Blue T/L
9. Dead Man, Dead Man
10. Property Of Jesus
11. Heart Of Mine Inc
12. Heart Of Mine CT
13. Heart Of Mine
Musicians: Carl Pickhardt (piano), Jim Keltner (drums), Tim Drummond (bass),
Steve Ripley (guitar), Fred Tackett (guitar), Steve Douglas (saxophone),
and Regina Havis, Clydie King & Carolyn Dennis (background vocals).
Clover
Los Angeles, California
April 29,1981
1. Every Grain Of Sand Inc
2. Heart Of Mine CT
3. Dead Man, Dead Man Inc
4. Dead Man, Dead Man Inc
5. The Girl From Louisville (trad.} CT
6. Lenny Bruce Inc
7. Lenny Bruce Inc
8. The Ballad Of Ira Hayes (Peter La Farge) Inc
Musicians:
1-5: Steve Ripley (guitar), Jim Keltner (drums), Tim Drummond (bass), Carl
Pickhardt (piano), Fred Tackett (guitar), Benjamin Tench (keyboards), Steve
Douglas (saxophone), and Regina Havis, Clydie King, Carolyn Dennis & Madelyn
Quebec (backing vocals).
6-8: Bob Dylan (piano), Clydie King (second vocal).
According to the contracts the following songs were done:
1. Property Of Jesus
2. The King Is On The Throne
3. Fur Slippers
Clover
Los Angeles, California
April 30,1981
1. Dead Man, Dead Man
2. Dead Man, Dead Man
3. Dead Man, Dead Man
4. Lenny Bruce
5. Piano & Bob
6. Dead Man, Dead Man
7. Dead Man, Dead Man CT
8. Dead Man, Dead Man CT
9. Misc.
10. Caribbean Wind
Musicians: Fred Tackett (guitar), Jim Keltner (drums), Tim Drummond (bass),
Carl Pickhardt (piano), Steve Ripley (guitar), Steve Douglas (saxophone),
Benjamin Tench (keyboards), and Regina Havis, Clydie King & Madelyn Quebec
(backing vocals).
The musicians contracts indicate there was a session on May 1, but no tapes
are available.
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 1, 1981
Songs recorded according to musicians' contract:
1. It's All Dangerous To Me
2. My Oriental Home
3. Caribbean Wind
4. Ah Ah Ah
5. Let It Be Me
Musicians: Benmont Tench keyboards), Jim Keltner (drums), Tim Drummond (bass),
Carl Pickhardt (piano), Steve Ripley (guitar), Fred Tackett (guitar), Steve
Douglas (saxophone), Danny Kortchmar (guitar).
Songs recorded according to the singers' AFTRA contract:
1. Dead Man
2. Don't Let Her Know
3. Watered Down Love
4. Property Of Jesus
Singers: Regina Havis, Madelyn Quebec, Clydie King. No tapes.
No tapes.
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 2, 1981
Mixing session.
Heart of Mine (4 mixes)
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 4, 1981
Mixing session.
Heart Of Mine (1 mix)
Lenny Bruce (2 mixes)
Property Of Jesus (2 mixes)
Angelina (1 mix)
Every Grain Of Sand (1 mix)
Trouble (1 mix)
Dead Man, Dead Man (1 mix)
Need A Woman (2 mixes)
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 5, 1981
Mixing session.
Watered Down Love (2 mixes)
Heart Of Mine (2 mixes)
Magic (1 mix)
Every Grain Of Sand (3 mixes)
Lenny Bruce (1 mix)
In The Summertime (3 mixes)
Watered Down Love (2 mixes)
Heart Of Mine (1 mix)
Wind Blowing On The Water (1 mix)
All The Way Down (1 mix)
Property Of Jesus (1 mix)
Caribbean Wind (3 mixes)
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 6, 1981
Mixing session.
Heart Of Mine (3 mixes)
Dead Man, Dead Man (2 mixes)
In The Summertime (3 mixes)
Trouble (3 mixes)
Lenny Bruce (1 mix)
Every Grain Of Sand (6 mixes)
Property Of Jesus (7 mixes)
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 7, 1981
Mixing session.
Caribbean Wind (3 mixes)
Heart Of Mine (3 mixes)
Watered Down Love (3 mixes)
Shot Of Love (1 mix)
The first sequence tape of the album was made on May 12. It had the following songs:
Side 1: *Shot of Love / Heart Of Mine / *Property Of Jesus / *Lenny Bruce / *Watered Down Love.
Side 2: Dead Man, Dead Man / *In The Summertime / Magic / Trouble / *Every Grain
Of Sand / Angelina.
Angelina was sequenced, but Magic was just added unnumbered. Takes marked with * were pulled from this sequence
tape to the album master on June 1.
Apparently it was necessary to do a few re-recordings. For the first of
these sessions only the contracts are available:
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 14, 1981
Songs recorded according to musicians' contract:
1. Dead Man
2. Lenny Bruce Is Dead
3. Trouble
4. In The Summertime
Musicians: Steve Douglas (saxophone), Stephen Eric Hague, Benmont Tench
(keyboards), Fred Tackett (guitar), Tim Drummond (bass), Jim Keltner (drums).
No tapes.
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 15, 1981
1. Minute By Minute (Sam & Dave)
2. Heart Of Mine
3. Instrumental
4. Instrumental
5. Heart Of Mine
6. Heart Of Mine
7. Glory Of Love (Instrumental Blues)
8. Heart Of Mine
9. Heart Of Mine
10. Heart Of Mine Inc
11. Heart Of Mine CT
12. Watered-Down Love Inc
13. Watered-Down Love Inc
14. Watered-Down Love
15. In A Battle
16. Watered-Down Love
17. Watered-Down Love
18. Watered-Down Love
19. Watered-Down Love
20. Watered-Down Love
21. Watered-Down Love
22. Train
22 probably Mystery Train.
Musicians: Donald Dunn (bass), Daniel Kortchmar (guitar), Fred Tackett (guitar),
William D. Smith (organ), Jim Keltner (drums), Ringo Starr (drums, percussion),
and Carolyn Dennis & Madelyn Quebec (backing vocals).
Clover
Los Angeles, California
Unknown date
Overdub session.
Contract:
1. Lenny Bruce Is Dead
Musicians: David Campbell & Dennis Karmazyn (cello?).
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 18, 1981
Mixing session.
Shot Of Love (3 mixes)
Heart Of Mine (3 mixes)
Property Of Jesus (2 mixes)
Lenny Bruce (5 mixes)
Watered-Down Love (2 mixes)
Dead Man, Dead Man (3 mixes)
In The Summertime (3 mixes)
Trouble (4 mixes)
Every Grain Of Sand (3 mixes)
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 19, 1981
Mixing session.
Mystery Train (1 mix)
Heart Of Mine (2 mixes)
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 24, 1981
Mixing session.
Shot Of Love (6 mixes)
Heart Of Mine (2 mixes)
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 26, 1981
Mixing session.
Watered-Down Love (27 mixes)
Heart Of Mine (1 mix)
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 28, 1981
Mixing session.
Heart Of Mine (26 mixes)
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 29,1981
Mixing session.
Watered-Down Love (12 mixes)
Lenny Bruce (2 mixes)
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 30, 1981
Mixing session.
Shot Of Love (18 mixes)
Clover
Los Angeles, California
May 31, 1981
Overdub session.
1. Property Of Jesus
2. Shot Of Love
3. Every Grain Of Sand
Andrew Gold (guitar).
Session according to contract: 4 - 7 p.m.
May 31,1981
Mixing session.
In The Summertime (18 mixes)
Heart Of Mine (3 mixes)
Watered-Down Love (5 mixes)
Clover
Los Angeles, California
June 2, 1981
Mixing session.
Heart Of Mine (13 mixes)
Clover
Los Angeles, California
June 7, 1981
Mixing session.
Heart Of Mine (6 mixes)
The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar (8 mixes)
Between the American an European leg of the summer tour Jim Keltner and
Tim Drummond had time for the last overdubs:
Clover
Los Angeles, California
June 15, 1981
1. Shot Of Love
2. Heart Of Mine
3. Dead Man, Dead Man
Musicians: Jim Keltner (drums, percussion) & Tim Drummond (bass).
Session according to contract: 8 - 11 a.m., 12 - 3 p.m., 4 - 7 p.m.
No tapes.
Clover
Los Angeles, California
June 16, 1981
1. Shot Of Love
2. Heart Of Mine
Musicians: Tim Drummond (bass), Jim Keltner (drums).
There have been many rumours about the nature of the material Dylan worked with in Rundown Studio between
the release of Shot Of Love and the recording of Infidels, including rumours of a session with Jack Bruce. I am pretty sure that many
tapes exist from these sessions - only a few have been made available for
viewing. Not much is written on the tape boxes:
Rundown Studio
Santa Monica, California
June 1, 1982
1. Standing In The Light
2. Average People
3. Average People
4. Average People
5. In The Heat Of The Night
6. Dream A Little Dream Of Me
Musicians: Clydie King (vocal), Jimmie Haskell (piano), Bob Dylan (organ,
guitar, bass).
1 "Standing fn The Light Key of C" on recording sheet
2 "Average People - Key of C" on recording sheet
3 "Average People - Key of D" on recording sheet
4 "Average People - Key of E" on recording sheet
5 "In The Heat Of The Night Key of A" on recording sheet
6 "Dream A Little Dream Of Me Key of C" on recording sheet
Rundown Studio
Santa Monica, California
June 8, 1982
Working
Probably instrumental tracks
Musicians: Probably Bob Dylan (piano, electric guitar, Vox and bass) overdubbing.
Rundown Studio
Santa Monica, California
June 11, 1982
Rehearsals.
Instrumental tracks
Musicians: Bob Dylan (probably guitar & piano), Bobbye Hall (conga & drums).
In relation to the rumours of a Bob Dylan-Jack Bruce Session the tape recorded
on June 14, 1982 is interesting. The tape box says Dylan & Bruce. But which
Bruce?
Rundown Studios
Santa Monica, California
June 14,1982
Rehearsal.
Instrumental tracks
Musicians: Bob Dylan (guitar), Jack Bruce? (bass), Bruce Gary (drums).
On tape box: Bob & Nick & Bruce Gary (Nick is erased and Gary probably written
after Nick was erased). Bruce Gary is an American drummer who played in
the group The Knack, but he actually played several years with.... yes,
Jack Bruce. So this may be the long time rumoured Jack Bruce session. On
the other hand, I had an opportunity to ask Jack Bruce about this session
some years ago. He replied "I never played with Bob Dylan". I also asked
Dylan about the session (during the Sirmione press conference in 1984).
He replied "Well, I wonder what happened to those tapes".
Rundown Studio
Santa Monica, California
June 23,1982
Rehearsal
Instrumental tracks
Musicians: Bob Dylan (guitar), Bobbye Hall (drums/percussion).
So the question of which session The Girl From Louisville originates from has found its answer here. I'm sure a lot of additional
songs from these sessions exist. Hopefully it will be possible as a future
project to sort all these sessions out.
Next time Infidels is the subject. Perhaps The Bridge can put up an award for the correct answer to the question raised in the
last Telegraph: Which song was recorded in most takes and in most different versions during
the Infidels sessions?
Good guessing!
(The prize for the first correct answer drawn from the mail sack on 30 September
1998 will be a copy of the current tour book Take To The Road Bob Dylan
Concerts 1997. MKs answer will be taken to be the correct one. - Eds.)
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