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

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As with previous Bootleg Series releases, this provides the listener with a real insight into the whole process of developing and recording the songs, and that whole journey towards the final product that we have enjoyed for so many years. Fragments sheds light on the gradual development of these songs during the extensive recording sessions, with the songs morphing into sometimes unrecognizable shapes (a robustly funky “Not Dark Yet”) as the album’s concept moved from loop-based minimalism to swampy extemporizations by a large cast of musicians trying their best to hang on as Dylan steered rapidly through ideas and arrangements. This is a man who loves what he does, clearly takes pleasure in the company in which he plays music in a studio or on stage, and so values those who have kept the old songs alive for centuries — just as his will be kept alive in time not yet come to mind. Grey cover; beige, blue, grey, brown and purple Columbia retro inner sleeves; grey-blue Columbia retro labels. It was the first album on which Dylan had allowed any producer, in this case Daniel Lanois, who had also produced the magnificent album Oh Mercy in 1989, to use sound effects on his vocals.

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For those who have complained in the past about Lanois’s original production, with too much mood and too many clouds distracting from Dylan’s voice — this despite the good popular reception of the record and the awards it won — rejoice. Fragments is the latest chapter in the Bootleg Series which digs deep into the archives of Bob Dylan to reveal a whole series of previously unreleased recordings including studio outtakes, alternate versions and live performances.

The mule’s kickin’ in the stall, but almost no other lyrics are changed, though he shuffles over a few. Discs Two and Three of Bob Dylan – Fragments – Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997): The Bootleg Series Vol. Log in Keep reading with a freetrial Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. Most of the performances on the album have been previously available only on the extremely limited edition “50th Anniversary / Copyright Extension” albums (three highly-collectible compilations–released in 2012, 2013 and 2014–of rare early Dylan recordings). With a new creative force behind him, Dylan put pen to paper on his farm in Minnesota and crafted a whole batch of new songs focused on love, betrayal and loss, and, perhaps just as significantly, old age and mortality.

Dylan: Fragments - Time Out Of Mind Sessions (1996-97 Bob Dylan: Fragments - Time Out Of Mind Sessions (1996-97

The songs of Time Out of Mind, and from its sessions, have on Fragments a freshness and creative spirit we’re able to hear, thanks to the numerous versions and variants, listening like flies on the wall as the songs are being made. We can only wonder what other great riches sit within Dylan’s vaults to be uncovered through future releases in the Bootleg Series. In early 1996, Dylan (whose last album of originals had been 1990’s Under the Red Sky) began writing a group of new songs and, in August-October that year, went into Teatro studio in Oxnard with Daniel Lanois (who’d produced 1989’s Oh Mercy) to record demos for a potential album. Two versions of Mississippi are included, one a more countrified version and the other offering a stronger and more swaggering feel compared with the version that ended up on the subsequent album Love And Theft released in 2001. All artwork from the album under review courtesy of and © Columbia Records / Sony Music Entertainment 2023.

When the songs took shape in January of the following year, they moved to Criteria Studio in Miami, FL.

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Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Certain items can take longer to source than the estimated week, particularly during busy trading periods and may take longer to arrive at ourwarehouse. Disc 5 gives us the original haunting take of “Can’t Wait” that raised Howard’s arm hairs: Over a hard backbeat, Dylan’s block piano chords and impressively tasty riffing from Lanois, Dylan chews the scenery with the unhinged glee of a Shakespearean actor let loose in a Hollywood blockbuster. This collection, which stretches to 5 CDs in the full box set, covers not just the 11 songs which were released as the original album, but also those songs which missed the cut, some of which made it onto subsequent releases. The full-length Shadow Kingdom feature film will also be available for download and rental on Tuesday, June 6.All tracks on Disc Four are previously unavailable with the exception of “Make You Feel My Love” (May 21, 1998, Los Angeles), previously released on the ‘Things Have Changed’ maxi-single. It was awarded the GRAMMY for Album of the Year, Best Contemporary Folk Album, and for ‘Cold Irons Bound’ Dylan won for Best Male Rock Vocal performance. Disc Four of Bob Dylan – Fragments presents the songs in a series of spectacular live performances from 1998-2001 featuring Dylan and his touring ensemble: Larry Campbell (guitar, mandolin, pedal steel, and slide guitar), Bucky Baxter (pedal steel and slide guitar, 1998-1999), Charlie Sexton (guitar, 2000-2001), Tony Garnier (bass) and David Kemper (drums). His modern iteration, though, arguably begins with 1997 full-length ‘Time Out Of Mind’ – a timely and thorough recasting of his work, it tapped into pre-rock ‘n’ roll forms to produce a meditation on identity and ageing, opening out a fresh chapter for rock’s poet laureate.