Bootleg Series 15 onthult 47 nog niet eerder uitgebrachte opnames, inclusief outtakes van John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline en Self Portrait plus de eerste release van de Bob Dylan-Johnny Cash 1969 Nashville studio sessies.
Dit nieuwe deel van de Columbia/Legacy’s Bootleg Series kijkt terug op de muzikale reis van Dylan naar Nashville van 1967 tot 1969, met de focus op nog niet eerder beschikbaar materiaal opgenomen met Johnny Cash en nog niet eerder uitgebrachte opnames van de John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline en Self Portrait sessies
Op disc 1 van Travelin' Thru, 1967 - 1969: The Bootleg Series Vol. 15, vinden we Dylan in Columbia’s Studio A in Nashville, waar hij alternatieve versies opnam van composities geschreven voor John Wesley Harding (17 oktober en 6 november 1967) en Nashville Skyline (13-14 februari 1969), plus een nieuwe song, ‘Western Road’ (een Nashville Skyline outtake).
Disc 2 en 3 concentreren zich op Dylan’s samenwerking met Johnny Cash, inclusief de zeer gewilde Columbia Studio A sessies en podiumoptredens in Ryman Auditorium (1 mei,1969) voor de opname van de eerste aflevering van The Johnny Cash Show (uitgezonden op ABC-TV op 7 juni, 1969).
Disc 3 sluit af met tracks opgenomen op 17 mei, 1970 met Grammy-award winning bluegrass banjo legende Earl Scruggs voor de PBS televisie special, ‘Earl Scruggs: His Family and Friends’ (uitgezonden in januari 1971).
Dit vijftiende deel van Dylans Bootleg Series is een curieuze. Niet in de laatste plaats omdat het ook een uitgave van Johnny Cash’ archiefserie had kunnen zijn. Het merendeel focust namelijk op de twee ongedwongen studiosessies van 17 en 18 februari 1969 in de Columbia Music Row Studios in Nashville. Hier wordt Dylan bijgestaan door niet alleen Johnny Cash, maar ook door diens begeleidingsband met daarin o.a. Carl Perkins. Samen werken zij zich door een handvol Cash-originals, vele covers en Dylans One Two Many Mornings, Don’t Think Twice en Girl From The North Country. Alleen de duetversie van die laatste zou het licht zien op Dylans Nashville Skyline, waarvoor Cash de hoestekst schreef. Cash’ band is in 1969 zo goed op elkaar ingespeeld, dat het nergens een rommeltje wordt, maar Dylan is hoorbaar onder de indruk van Cash, die gelukkig in een joviale bui is, zo blijkt uit het geklets rond de verschillende takes. Zelfverzekerder klinkt Dylan tijdens zijn optreden in The Johnny Cash Show, waarvan nu eindelijk al het beschikbare materiaal wordt uitgebracht. De Dylan/Cash-sessies zijn al ontelbare malen op vele bootlegs verschenen, wat niet geldt voor het materiaal op de eerste schijf. Hier vinden we de weinige outtakes die nog in de archieven te vinden waren van de sessies voor John Wesley Harding en Nashville Skyline, waaronder een desolaat klinkende vroege take van All Along The Watchtower.
Bob Dylan (featuring Johnny Cash) - Travelin' Thru, 1967 - 1969: The Bootleg Series Vol. 15
DISC 1
October 17, 1967
Columbia Studio A, Nashville, TN
John Wesley Hardingsessions
01. Drifter's Escape – Take 1 (Alternate Version)
02. I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine – Take 2 (Alternate Version)
November 6, 1967
Columbia Studio A, Nashville, TN
John Wesley Hardingsessions
03. All Along the Watchtower – Take 3 (Alternate Version)
04. John Wesley Harding – Take 1 (Alternate Version)
05. As I Went Out One Morning – Take 1 (Alternate Version)
06. I Pity the Poor Immigrant – Take 4 (Alternate Version)
07. I Am a Lonesome Hobo – Take 4 (Alternate Version)
Bob Dylan: vocals, guitar, harmonica
Charlie McCoy: bass
Kenneth Buttrey: drums
February 13, 1969
Columbia Studio A, Nashville, TN
Nashville Skyline sessions
08. I Threw It All Away – Take 1 (Alternate Version)
Previously released on The Bootleg Series, Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait
09. To Be Alone with You – Take 1 (Alternate Version)
10. Lay Lady Lay – Take 2 (Alternate Version)
Previously released as a digital download with iTunes pre-orders of Together Through Life
11. One More Night – Take 2 (Alternate Version)
12. Western Road – Take 1 (Outtake)
February 14, 1969
Columbia Studio A, Nashville, TN
Nashville Skyline sessions
13. Peggy Day – Take 1 (Alternate Version)
14. Tell Me That It Isn't True – Take 2 (Alternate Version)
15. Country Pie – Take 2 (Alternate Version)
Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica
Kelton D. Herston, Norman Blake, Charlie Daniels, Wayne Moss (10 & 12): guitars
Bob Wilson: piano, organ
Peter Drake: steel guitar (13-15)
Charlie McCoy: bass
Kenneth Buttrey: drums
DISC 2
February 17, 1969
Columbia Studio A, Nashville, TN
The Dylan-Cash Sessions
01. I Still Miss Someone – Take 5
Written by Johnny Cash and Roy Cash, Jr.
02. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right/Understand Your Man – Rehearsal
Written by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash
February 18, 1969
Columbia Studio A, Nashville, TN
The Dylan-Cash Sessions
03. One Too Many Mornings – Take 3
04. Mountain Dew – Take 1
Written by Bascom Lamar Lunsford and Scott Wiseman
05. Mountain Dew – Take 2
Written by Bascom Lamar Lunsford and Scott Wiseman
06. I Still Miss Someone – Take 2
Written by Johnny Cash and Roy Cash, Jr.
07. Careless Love – Take 1
Traditional, arranged by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash
08. Matchbox – Take 1
Written by Carl Perkins
09. That's All Right, Mama – Take 1
Written by Arthur Crudup
10. Mystery Train/This Train Is Bound for Glory – Take 1
Mystery Train written by Junior Parker
This Train Is Bound for Glory written by Woody Guthrie
11. Big River – Take 1
Written by Johnny Cash
12. Girl from the North Country – Rehearsal
13. Girl from the North Country – Take 1
14. I Walk the Line – Take 2
Written by Johnny Cash
15. Guess Things Happen That Way – Rehearsal
Written by Jack Clement
16. Guess Things Happen That Way – Take 3
Written by Jack Clement
17. Five Feet High and Rising – Take 1
Written by Johnny Cash
18. You Are My Sunshine – Take 1
Written by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell
19. Ring of Fire – Take 1
Written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore
DISC 3
February 18, 1969
Columbia Studio A, Nashville, TN
The Dylan-Cash Sessions
01. Studio Chatter
02. Wanted Man – Take 1
03. Amen – Rehearsal
Written by Jester Hairston
04. Just a Closer Walk with Thee – Take 1
Traditional, arranged by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash
05. Jimmie Rodgers Medley No. 1 – Take 1
Based on Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas), The Brakeman's Blues (Yodeling the Blues Away), and Blue Yodel No. 5 (It's Raining Here) written by Jimmie Rodgers
06. Jimmie Rodgers Medley No. 2 – Take 2
Based on Waiting for a Train, The Brakeman's Blues (Yodeling the Blues Away), and Blue Yodel No. 1 (T For Texas) written by Jimmie Rodgers
Bob Dylan: vocals, guitar
Johnny Cash: vocals, guitar
Carl Perkins: guitar (08,10, 02, 04-06)
Bob Wootton: guitar
Marshall Grant: bass
W.S. Holland: drums
May 1, 1969
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
Live on The Johnny Cash Show
Originally broadcast on ABC-TV, June 7, 1969
07. I Threw It All Away
included on 2010 DVD The Best of the Johnny Cash TV Show: 1969-1971
08. Living the Blues
09. Girl from the North Country
included on 2010 DVD The Best of the Johnny Cash TV Show: 1969-1971
Bob Dylan: vocals, guitar
Johnny Cash: vocals, guitar (09)
Norman Blake and Charlie Daniels: guitars
Peter Drake: steel guitar
Bob Wilson: piano
Charlie McCoy: bass
Kenneth Buttrey: drums
May 3, 1969
Columbia Studio A, Nashville, TN
Self Portraitsessions
10. Ring of Fire (Outtake)
Written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore
11. Folsom Prison Blues (Outtake)
Written by Johnny Cash
Bob Dylan: vocals, guitar
Fred F. Carter, Norman Blake: guitars
Charlie Daniels: guitar (11), bass (10)
Bob Wilson: piano
Peter Drake: steel guitar
Charlie McCoy: harmonica (10), bass (11)
Kenneth Buttrey: drums
Delores Edgin and Dottie Dillard: background vocals
May 17, 1970
The Home of Thomas B. Allen, Carmel, New York
With Earl Scruggs
12. Earl Scruggs Interview
13. East Virginia Blues
Written by A.P. Carter
Included in 1971 documentary Earl Scruggs: His Family and Friends
14. To Be Alone with You
15. Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance
Traditional, arranged by Bob Dylan
16. Nashville Skyline Rag
Previously released on the album Earl Scruggs Performing with His Family and Friends
Bob Dylan: vocals, guitar
Earl Scruggs: banjo
Randy Scruggs: acoustic guitar
Gary Scruggs: electric bass
All songs written by Bob Dylan except where noted
All tracks previously unreleased except where noted
Produced by Jeff Rosen and Steve Berkowitz
John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline, and Self Portrait sessions originally produced by Bob Johnston
Liner notes by Colin Escott and Rosanne Cash
