Bob Dylan w/ Robbie Robertson: I Can’t Leave Her Behind

dylanRumors were flying all summer about a massive Bootleg Series covering Bob Dylan’s unbelievable, earth-shaking 1965-66 period. And hey, the rumors were true. The Cutting Edge (available in 2-, 6- and 18-(!!!) disc versions) draws back the curtain on Dylan’s studio sessions for Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde On Blonde, three of the best albums made by anyone, ever.

I know what you’re thinking — “Do I really need 18 discs of false starts, breakdowns, chatter and alternate takes?” Maybe you do. Just gazing at the tracklist, there are some seriously enticing (and un-bootlegged items): a stab at a full-band “Mr. Tambourine Man;” a complete take of “She’s Your Lover Now,” a “Just Like A Woman” that allegedly falls  “somewhere between Bo Diddley and Jamaican ska,” several takes of the epic “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” … the mind boggles… and the list goes on. The 18th disc of the deluxe edition features casual, after-hours hotel room recordings, including this haunting acoustic fragment. “I Can’t Leave Her Behind” is clearly unfinished (and would remain so, sadly). But in its own way, it’s absolutely perfect. Bring on The Cutting Edge. words / t wilcox

Bob Dylan w/ Robbie Robertson :: I Can’t Leave Her Behind

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6 thoughts on “Bob Dylan w/ Robbie Robertson: I Can’t Leave Her Behind

  1. Finally, a proper release of the hotel demo recordings from May of 1966! I know many Dylan fans are bummed that there are no live recordings on this set but its all good. It would have been insane if they accompanied the set with DA Pennebaker’s “Something Is Happening” on it.

  2. I’m afraid David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel have spoiled the phrase “I can’t leave her behind” for me forever …

  3. Does anyone know if that 18th disc of hotel room records will be available for download? Or anything on the huge 18 disc box set in general?

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