The rumor mill is abuzz with the announcement by the Bob Dylan fan magazine Isis of the forthcoming Bootleg Series Vol. 9. While Dylan's 2008 release, Tell Tale Signs, the Bootleg Series Vol. 8, consisted of 27 outtakes and alternate song versions drawn from sessions book-ended by Oh Mercy (1989) and Modern Times (2006), the new bootleg venture calls back to Dylan's beginnings, featuring 47 tracks cut between 1962-'64, or what's become invariably known as the “Witmark and Leeds Demos.” Essentially rough sketches, these stripped-bare arrangements feature simple acoustic guitar or piano accompaniment, and many of them represent the first-known (and sometimes only) recordings from Dylan's early catalog.
Still virtually unknown in early 1962, the idea was for Dylan to publish some demos that demonstrated his lyrics, so that other artists might pick up and record his songs. Dylan signed with his original music publisher, Leeds Music (presided over by Lou Levy), which recorded eight of Dylan's early demos. However in July of that year, Albert Grossman (then manager for Peter, Paul, and Mary), bought out Dylan's Leeds contract, quickly selling it to Witmark Music Publishing for a $5000 advance, and soon becoming Dylan's manager. Dylan then recorded a total of 41 songs under the Witmark banner over the next three years. Of these, 37 are earmarked for inclusion on the new volume, along with the Leeds demos in their entirety, with the exception of “He Was a Friend of Mine.”
Although a handful of these recordings have already appeared on 1997's The Bootleg Series Vols. 1-3—including “Walkin Down the Line” and “Talking Bear Mountain Picnic Blues,” as well as the piano versions of “The Times They Are A-Changin'” and “When the Ship Comes In”—this new collection will stand as the complete document, showcasing an unbridled songwriter in his formative years. Highlights include the uncensored version of “Talking John Birch Paranoid Blues” (which later became “Talkin' John Birch Society Blues,” whose controversial lyrics got Bob canceled from his first Ed Sullivan Show appearance), and the Witmark staple “Tomorrow is a Long Time” that, although never released by Dylan, became one of his most covered songs, including renditions by the likes of Harry Belafonte, Rod Stewart, and Elvis Presley.
And if the new bootleg series announcement weren't enough to jolt enthusiasts with stirrings from the vault, Dylan also just announced the forthcoming reissue of his first eight albums in their original mono formats. Never before released on CD in mono, the box-set will be mastered straight from the first-pressing mono LPs to retain the original sound quality. The collection will include everything recorded between 1962-'67—from Dylan's self-titled debut, to John Wesley Harding—and will feature liner notes penned by none other than veteran music critic, Greil Marcus.
As for the Bootleg Series Vol. 9, according to Rolling Stone magazine, the following tracks are slated for inclusion:
Leeds Demos,
From February 1962
1. Hard Times In New York Town
2. Poor Boy Blues
3. Ballad For A Friend
4. Rambling, Gambling Willie
5. Man On The Street
6. Talking Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues
7. Standing On The Highway
Witmark Demos
From December 1962
1. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
2. Tomorrow Is A Long Time
3. The Death Of Emmett Till
4. Let Me Die In My Footsteps
5. Ballad Of Hollis Brown
6. Quit Your Low Down Ways
7. Baby, I'm In The Mood For You
Winter 1963
1. Bound To Lose, Bound To Win
2. All Over You
3. I'd Hate To Be You On That Dreadful Day
4. Talking John Birch Paranoid Blues
March 1963
1. Long Time Gone
2. Masters Of War
3. Farewell
4. Oxford Town
5. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
6. Walkin' Down The Line
April 1963
1. I Shall Be Free
2. Bob Dylan's Blues
3. Bob Dylan's Dream
4. Boots Of Spanish Leather
May 1963
1. Girl From The North Country
2. Seven Curses
3. Hero Blues
August 1963
1. Whatcha Gonna Do
2. Gypsy Lou
3. Ain't Gonna Grieve
4. John Brown
5. Only A Hobo
6. When The Ship Comes In
October 1963
1. The Times They Are A-Changin'
December 1963
1. Paths Of Victory
January 1964
1. Guess I'm Doing Fine
2. Baby Let Me Follow You Down (Eric von Schmidt)
Recorded at Unknown New York Studio
June 1964
1. Mr. Tambourine Man
2. Mama, You Been On My Mind
3. I'll Keep It With Mine