Fragments - Time Out Of Mind Sessions (1996-1997): The Bootleg Series Vol. 17

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If “Not Dark Yet” sounded like it was in the beginning stages of evaporation, “Mississippi” felt like fumes itself—far too ethereal and light for Time Out of Mind. It has breathed fresh life into what is one of my favourite latter day Dylan albums (the original is still a superb album). But it was the beginning of a split between the two that would define and nearly overwhelm the sessions.

It’s as devoted as he ever sounded, and behind him, Garnier and Mangurian play so subtly and understated they register as lighting. The compilation includes a remix of the original Time Out of Mind album, outtakes, alternate versions and live recordings. This set gets it right, consisting as it does of well over 60 minute discs but it also has more impact focussing on one album. The vocals are more up front and overall it doesn't sound as polished as final product, which is not a bad thing. The 2022 remix of Time Out of Mind is sharper, crisper and live-sounding; the performances are more intimate and immersive.The official story surrounding Time Out of Mind goes something like this: Bob Dylan, stricken by the death of Jerry Garcia and sensing a hellhound on his own trail, turned to his beloved old blues records to exorcise the quickening dread he felt upon realizing that the bell also tolls for Zimmerman. In Der Spiegel, Max Dax gave a positive review of this album, writing that the new remix unleashes "the full musical power" of Dylan at this stage in his career. For the brooding and bluesy Time Out of Mind – Dylan wrote the songs while snowbound on his Minnesota farm in the winter of 1996 – Daniel Lanois was at the controls. Disc 5 has all the Time Out Of Mind tracks from the deluxe Tell Tale Signs, Bootleg Series 8 (2008) and has the amazing first takes of Mississippi, Can't Wait, Marching To The City and others.

Shades of Howlin' Wolf indeed, and Not Dark Yet and Make You Feel My Love are major late career triumphs, in terms of performance and composition.They decamped instead to Criteria Studio in Miami, a space with a hallowed history ( Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted and Black, the Allman Brothers’ Eat a Peach) and the ambiance of an airport security detention center.

This is one of the most highly anticipated Bootleg Series releases and it follows the evolution of songs written for the album, from intimate early incarnations in the previously unreleased 1996 Teatro sessions through incandescent live renditions showcasing Dylan and his touring ensemble channeling the songs on-stage from 1998-2001. All of these live versions are previously unreleased, apart from the 1998 recording of ‘Make You Feel My Love’ from L. For a total contrast, listen to the stunning version of the hymn-like ‘Make You Feel My Love’ (take one – CD 3 – 1997) – a song with gospel organ that’s become a standard and has been recorded by the likes of Adele, Billy Joel and Neil Diamond.CD 2 and 3 – both made up of outtakes and alternate versions – are where things start to get really interesting. Dylan, ever the role player, was inhabiting a persona, slipping into a black jacket and working the character for fresh angles. Bob Dylan is my favourite recording artist and Daniel Lanois has produced some of my favourite albums, but Time Out Of Mind was never my Bob Dylan favourite album, despite having some great new (in 1997) writing on it.

Der neue Remix 2022*****, vom Magier Bob Dylan gewünscht, weil er unzufrieden mit dem aus dem Jahr 1997 war, lässt die Finsternis zurück und die Stimme klingt wie ein Rabe der in der warmen Morgensonne in der Mitte des Geschehens steht und seine alten Geschichten vorträgt die wir alle kennen, denn "Lieder sind wie Gedanken, einen Moment lang können sie die heroische Illusion vermitteln, man könne die Zeit anhalten". Back cover variant to Fragments (Time Out Of Mind Sessions (1996-1997)), with three label logos instead of two. The previous Bootleg Series, Springtime in New York, suffered from focusing on too wide a time period as well as running too short. A fifth unreleased performance, Dylan's interpretation of "The Water is Wide," a traditional folk song of Scottish origin (and spiritual precursor of "Highlands," Time Out of Mind's epic closer) opens Disc Two.You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. It’s not superior to the version that made it onto Time Out of Mind, but it’s a brilliant alternative and one of the highlights of the box set, with Dylan referencing his classic mid- ‘60s electric period but throwing in some country rock too. It includes such iconic songs as “Love Sick”, “Not Dark yet” and “Make You Feel My Love”, which became a modern standard after it was covered by artists as wide ranging as Billy Joel, Garth Brooks and of course Adele. But although you get a tantalizing glimpse of its potential, the view is blocked by a marching-band triplet fill on the drums and some Hornsby-esque piano trills.