Dignity (Bob Dylan song)
Encyclopedia
"Dignity" is a song by Bob Dylan
, first released on Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3
in 1994. It was recorded during the Oh Mercy
studio sessions but didn't make it on to the album. The version released on Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3
was remixed and overdubbed by Brendan O'Brien
(who also played organ on the song on MTV Unplugged
the same year). A new rhythm track was recorded and electric guitar and organ were added to the mix. The slide guitar from the original mix was mixed out.
sessions are described by Dylan in his autobiography, Chronicles, Vol 1.
It was originally recorded with Dylan accompanied by Brian Stoltz and Willie Green
. Though they managed to complete a polished performance, producer Daniel Lanois
suggested something more ambitious with a Cajun band. Curious to see what Lanois
had in mind, Dylan agreed to recut the song. The next evening, a session was held with Rockin' Dopsie
and His Cajun Band, but the results were disastrous. The group experimented with different keys and tempos, but according to Dylan, everyone was frustrated with the results.
Dylan still preferred the original version recorded the previous day, but it wasn't considered finished by Dylan or Lanois
. As the session continued into the early morning hours, the group gave up and began playing old standards like "Jambalaya", "Cheatin' Heart", and "There Stands the Glass". The next day, they listened to every take of "Dignity" recorded with Dopsie and his band, and all of them were rejected. "Whatever promise Dan had seen in the song was beaten into a bloody mess", Dylan recalled. "Where we had started from, we'd never gotten back to, a fishing expedition gone nowhere. In no take did we ever turn back the clock. We just kept winding it. Every take another ball of confusion." "Dignity" was set aside, never to be revisited for the remainder of the sessions.
and MTV Unplugged
. A demo-version of the song was included as part of a six-song sampler in promo editions of Chronicles Vol. 1. This demo version along with another version of the song were later released on Dylan's The Bootleg Series Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs in 2008.
The song was covered, with some modified lyrics, by R&B artist Mozez
on his upcoming album The Absolute.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, first released on Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3 is a compilation LP album by Bob Dylan, released on Columbia Records on compact disc in 1994, catalogue CK 66783. It peaked at #126 on the Billboard 200.-Content:...
in 1994. It was recorded during the Oh Mercy
Oh Mercy
Oh Mercy is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 26th studio album, released by Columbia Records in September 1989.Produced by Daniel Lanois, it was hailed by critics as a triumph for Dylan, after a string of weaker-reviewed albums...
studio sessions but didn't make it on to the album. The version released on Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3 is a compilation LP album by Bob Dylan, released on Columbia Records on compact disc in 1994, catalogue CK 66783. It peaked at #126 on the Billboard 200.-Content:...
was remixed and overdubbed by Brendan O'Brien
Brendan O'Brien (music producer)
Brendan O’Brien is a record producer, mixer, engineer, and musician.At age 14, O'Brien played guitar for the Atlanta-based cover band Pranks. In the late 1970s, he moved on to writing, performing and recording with the Samurai Catfish band...
(who also played organ on the song on MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged (Bob Dylan album)
MTV Unplugged is a live album by Bob Dylan, released in 1995 by Columbia Records . It documents Dylan's appearance on the then-highly popular MTV Unplugged television series, recorded at Sony Music Studios in New York on November 17, 1994 and November 18, 1994...
the same year). A new rhythm track was recorded and electric guitar and organ were added to the mix. The slide guitar from the original mix was mixed out.
Recording
The difficulties recording the song during the Oh MercyOh Mercy
Oh Mercy is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 26th studio album, released by Columbia Records in September 1989.Produced by Daniel Lanois, it was hailed by critics as a triumph for Dylan, after a string of weaker-reviewed albums...
sessions are described by Dylan in his autobiography, Chronicles, Vol 1.
Chronicles: Volume One
Chronicles, Volume One is the first part of Bob Dylan's planned 3-volume memoir. Published on October 5, 2004, by Simon & Schuster, the 304-page volume covers selected points from Dylan's long career. The book spent 19 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list for hardcover nonfiction books...
It was originally recorded with Dylan accompanied by Brian Stoltz and Willie Green
Willie Green
Willie J. Green is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New Orleans Hornets in the NBA. He was selected in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics and later acquired by Philadelphia from Seattle in a draft-night trade for the draft rights...
. Though they managed to complete a polished performance, producer Daniel Lanois
Daniel Lanois
Daniel Lanois born September 19, 1951 in Hull, Quebec) is a Canadian record producer, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He has released a number of albums of his own work and has produced albums for a wide variety of artists, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, Willie...
suggested something more ambitious with a Cajun band. Curious to see what Lanois
Daniel Lanois
Daniel Lanois born September 19, 1951 in Hull, Quebec) is a Canadian record producer, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He has released a number of albums of his own work and has produced albums for a wide variety of artists, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, Willie...
had in mind, Dylan agreed to recut the song. The next evening, a session was held with Rockin' Dopsie
Rockin' Dopsie
Rockin' Dopsie was born Alton Rubin in Carencro, Louisiana. He was a leading Zydeco musician and button accordion player who enjoyed popular success first in Europe and later in the United States...
and His Cajun Band, but the results were disastrous. The group experimented with different keys and tempos, but according to Dylan, everyone was frustrated with the results.
Dylan still preferred the original version recorded the previous day, but it wasn't considered finished by Dylan or Lanois
Daniel Lanois
Daniel Lanois born September 19, 1951 in Hull, Quebec) is a Canadian record producer, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He has released a number of albums of his own work and has produced albums for a wide variety of artists, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, Willie...
. As the session continued into the early morning hours, the group gave up and began playing old standards like "Jambalaya", "Cheatin' Heart", and "There Stands the Glass". The next day, they listened to every take of "Dignity" recorded with Dopsie and his band, and all of them were rejected. "Whatever promise Dan had seen in the song was beaten into a bloody mess", Dylan recalled. "Where we had started from, we'd never gotten back to, a fishing expedition gone nowhere. In no take did we ever turn back the clock. We just kept winding it. Every take another ball of confusion." "Dignity" was set aside, never to be revisited for the remainder of the sessions.
Other versions
Live versions of the song can be heard on Live 1961-2000: Thirty-Nine Years of Great Concert PerformancesLive 1961-2000: Thirty-Nine Years of Great Concert Performances
Live 1961–2000 ~ Thirty-Nine Years of Great Concert Performances is a live compilation album by Bob Dylan, released only in Japan on February 28, 2001.-Track listing:All songs by Bob Dylan, except where noted:...
and MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged (Bob Dylan album)
MTV Unplugged is a live album by Bob Dylan, released in 1995 by Columbia Records . It documents Dylan's appearance on the then-highly popular MTV Unplugged television series, recorded at Sony Music Studios in New York on November 17, 1994 and November 18, 1994...
. A demo-version of the song was included as part of a six-song sampler in promo editions of Chronicles Vol. 1. This demo version along with another version of the song were later released on Dylan's The Bootleg Series Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs in 2008.
The song was covered, with some modified lyrics, by R&B artist Mozez
Mozez
Osmond Wright, better known by his stage name Mozez, is a Jamaican born London-based soul singer and songwriter. He is perhaps best known as a singer for British downtempo group Zero 7, although he has been working solo since 2005 when his debut album was released.Mozez began singing at an early...
on his upcoming album The Absolute.