Bob Dylan

Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Volume 8 1989-2006

Columbia Records, 2CD

(51m 28s)

4.5/5

Although the eighth volume in Dylan's ongoing archives project takes its cue from 1989's 'Oh Mercy' and works from there, it is the comparatively later release, 1997's 'Time Out of Mind', that steals the show here. That album seemed to invigorate Dylan as the century waned, and now it's arguably one of the most important in his canon. If it gets more than its due respect here, then all well and good, particularly on the first disc of demos and alternative studio takes. 'Mississippi', the magnificent 'Red River Shore' and the previously unreleased 'Marchin' to the City' are merely standouts in what would amount to a fantastic album in its own right. And that's before even mentioning the 'Oh Mercy' highlights such as the previously unreleased 'Born In Time'.

The second disc is a far louder, looser and more ambitious, if slightly uneven, offering of live cuts, alternate versions and unreleased songs from the same era. Dylan jumps singing styles, the electrics are turned on and then off again, and the blues get an airing. Songs such as 'The Girl on the Greenbriar Shore' sit beside 'Lonesome Day Blues' – strange bedfellows but what the heck.

Further standouts include 'Dignity', an unreleased tune from the 'Oh Mercy' sessions, which proves to be a nice preamble before the live double-whammy of 'Ring Them Bells' and 'Cocaine Blues'.

Personally, I prefer the more focused first disc, but there's enough on here to please most folk.

There's also a three-disc package on sale (for a very high price, apparently) but reviewers have only been sent the two-disc collection. And a fine collection it is too.

Download: 'Born In Time', 'Huck's Tune', 'Cocaine Blues'