Music Is My Weapon

Bob Dylan has always been incredibly prolific, only releasing a fraction of what he records. Such a policy has made him a prime target for bootleggers over the years, finally prompting this sanctioned 1991 triple-disc dive into the Dylan vaults.

It was known that Dylan had a great deal of unreleased material, but nobody was prepared for the unbelievable range and quality of this set when it came out in 1991. The first disc is a treasure trove of old songs and early compositions, given Dylan's inimitable spin, and a great history of his development as a songwriter. The second disc contains some interesting alternative versions, plus a few new gems like "Seven Curses", "She's Your Lover Now", and "Wallflower".

Perhaps the most substantial reason to buy this album is to hear what you did not know you were missing in the 80's. There are some unbelievably brilliant performances here that were left off of various 80's albums, like Blind Willie McTell, Series of Dreams, and Foot of Pride.

Then there are some sizzling 70's performances, like the live Seven Days or Catfish, an outtake from 1975's wonderful "Desire" album. Also, the original verson of "If Not for You," with none other than George Harrison on guitar, is ten million times better than the version featured on the actual studio album, "New Morning." The "unplugged" verisons of some "Blood on the Tracks" songs are powerfully raw.