The Bootleg Series Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs
Encyclopedia
The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 – Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1989–2006 is a compilation album
by singer-songwriter
Bob Dylan
in his official "bootleg series" of rare and unissued recordings. It was originally released as a double, and (limited edition) triple album. It was later released as a single album, consisting of disc one of the double set. The three-disc version of Tell Tale Signs includes a detailed 56 page book annotating the recordings by Larry Sloman
, and a book of photos of "The Collected Single Sleeves of Bob Dylan" drawing on Dylan releases from around the world, plus a 7" vinyl single with two tracks from the set: "Dreamin' Of You" and "Ring Them Bells".
The album spans the recording sessions for Oh Mercy
, World Gone Wrong
, Time Out of Mind
, and Modern Times
as well as a number of soundtrack contributions and previously unreleased live tracks from 1989 through 2006. The collection also includes a track from an abandoned album Dylan had started to record with David Bromberg
in 1992, and Dylan's duet with Ralph Stanley
, 'The Lonesome River'. Although Under the Red Sky
, Good as I Been to You
and Love and Theft were all recorded during this time period, no tracks from these sessions are included on Tell Tale Signs. An alternate version of "Series of Dreams" was included on Vol. 3 of the Bootleg Series. "Dreamin' Of You", an outtake from the Time Out of Mind sessions, was offered for free download on Bob Dylan's site and was also sent to radio stations as a promotional single. In its first week it opened with #6 on the Billboard 200, selling over 600,000 copies to date and becoming Dylan's 17th album to open in the top 10.
In the first week of October 2008, the entire album was made available in a free streaming format
on National Public Radio's official website. CBS's announcement that the two-CD set would sell for $18.99 and the three-CD version for $129.99 drew charges of "rip-off pricing" from Dylan biographer Michael Gray
and other critics.
. The first 5000 customers were also given a Theme Time Radio Hour poster.
Bonus disc
7" vinyl
. It was also named the second best album of 2008 by Rolling Stone magazine.
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
by singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Bob Dylan
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...
in his official "bootleg series" of rare and unissued recordings. It was originally released as a double, and (limited edition) triple album. It was later released as a single album, consisting of disc one of the double set. The three-disc version of Tell Tale Signs includes a detailed 56 page book annotating the recordings by Larry Sloman
Larry Sloman
Larry "Ratso" Sloman is a New York-based author best known for his collaboration with Howard Stern on the radio personality's two best-selling books, Private Parts and Miss America. He also appears in all of Kinky Friedman's mystery novels as the Dr. Watson to Kinky's Sherlock...
, and a book of photos of "The Collected Single Sleeves of Bob Dylan" drawing on Dylan releases from around the world, plus a 7" vinyl single with two tracks from the set: "Dreamin' Of You" and "Ring Them Bells".
The album spans the recording sessions for 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...
, World Gone Wrong
World Gone Wrong
World Gone Wrong is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 29th studio album, released by Columbia Records in October 1993.It was Dylan's second consecutive collection of only traditional folk songs, performed acoustically with guitar and harmonica...
, Time Out of Mind
Time out of Mind
Time Out of Mind is the 30th studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 30, 1997 on Columbia Records. It is his first double studio album since 1970's Self Portrait...
, and Modern Times
Modern Times (Bob Dylan album)
Modern Times is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 32nd studio album, released by Columbia Records in August 2006. The album was Dylan's third straight to be met with nearly universal praise from fans and critics...
as well as a number of soundtrack contributions and previously unreleased live tracks from 1989 through 2006. The collection also includes a track from an abandoned album Dylan had started to record with David Bromberg
David Bromberg
David Bromberg is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. Bromberg has an eclectic style, playing bluegrass, blues, folk, jazz, country and western, and rock and roll equally well. He is known for his quirky, humorous lyrics, and the ability to play rhythm and lead guitar at the...
in 1992, and Dylan's duet with Ralph Stanley
Ralph Stanley
Ralph Stanley , also known as Dr. Ralph Stanley, is an American bluegrass artist, known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing.-Biography:...
, 'The Lonesome River'. Although Under the Red Sky
Under the Red Sky
Under the Red Sky is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 27th studio album, released by Columbia Records in September 1990.The album was largely greeted as a strange and disappointing follow-up to 1989's critically acclaimed Oh Mercy...
, Good as I Been to You
Good as I Been to You
Good as I Been to You is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 28th studio album, released by Columbia Records in November 1992.It is composed entirely of traditional folk songs and covers, and is Dylan's first entirely solo, acoustic album since Another Side of Bob Dylan in 1964...
and Love and Theft were all recorded during this time period, no tracks from these sessions are included on Tell Tale Signs. An alternate version of "Series of Dreams" was included on Vol. 3 of the Bootleg Series. "Dreamin' Of You", an outtake from the Time Out of Mind sessions, was offered for free download on Bob Dylan's site and was also sent to radio stations as a promotional single. In its first week it opened with #6 on the Billboard 200, selling over 600,000 copies to date and becoming Dylan's 17th album to open in the top 10.
In the first week of October 2008, the entire album was made available in a free streaming format
Streaming media
Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...
on National Public Radio's official website. CBS's announcement that the two-CD set would sell for $18.99 and the three-CD version for $129.99 drew charges of "rip-off pricing" from Dylan biographer Michael Gray
Michael Gray (author)
Michael Gray is a British author who has written extensively about popular music.Gray grew up on Merseyside, attended Birkenhead School, and read History and English Literature at the University of York. Gray subsequently lived and worked in North Devon, Birmingham, West Malvern, London and North...
and other critics.
Disc one
- "MississippiMississippi (Bob Dylan song)"Mississippi" is the second song on Bob Dylan's 2001 album "Love and Theft". The song was originally recorded during the Time Out of Mind sessions, but was ultimately left off the album; Dylan rerecorded the song for "Love and Theft" in May 2001...
" – 6:04 (Unreleased, Time Out of MindTime out of MindTime Out of Mind is the 30th studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 30, 1997 on Columbia Records. It is his first double studio album since 1970's Self Portrait...
) - "Most of the Time" – 3:46 (Alternate version, Oh MercyOh MercyOh 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...
) - "DignityDignity (Bob Dylan song)"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...
" – 2:09 (Piano demo, Oh MercyOh MercyOh 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...
) - "Someday BabySomeday Baby"Someday Baby" is a Grammy Award-winning song by Bob Dylan and the fifth track on his 2006 album Modern Times.The song peaked at #98 in Billboard's Pop 100 singles chart, and was featured in a prominent iPod + iTunes commercial that appeared around the time Modern Times was released in early...
" – 5:56 (Alternate version, Modern TimesModern Times (Bob Dylan album)Modern Times is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 32nd studio album, released by Columbia Records in August 2006. The album was Dylan's third straight to be met with nearly universal praise from fans and critics...
) - "Red River Shore" – 7:36 (Unreleased, Time Out of MindTime out of MindTime Out of Mind is the 30th studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 30, 1997 on Columbia Records. It is his first double studio album since 1970's Self Portrait...
) - "Tell Ol' Bill" – 5:31 (Alternate version of song released on North CountryNorth Country (film)North Country is a 2005 American drama film directed by Niki Caro. The screenplay by Michael Seitzman was inspired by the 2002 book Class Action: The Story of Lois Jenson and the Landmark Case That Changed Sexual Harassment Law by Clara Bingham and Laura Leedy Gansler, which chronicled the case of...
soundtrack) - "Born in Time" – 4:10 (Unreleased, Oh MercyOh MercyOh 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...
) - "Can't Wait" – 5:45 (Alternate version, Time Out of MindTime out of MindTime Out of Mind is the 30th studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 30, 1997 on Columbia Records. It is his first double studio album since 1970's Self Portrait...
) - "Everything Is Broken" – 3:27 (Alternate version, Oh MercyOh MercyOh 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...
) - "Dreamin' of YouDreamin' of you (Bob Dylan song)"Dreamin' of You" is a song by Bob Dylan recorded during the sessions for Time Out Of Mind but not released until 2008. The song was featured on Dylan's Tell Tale Signs album, the eighth installment of Dylan's legendary bootleg series. Prior to its official release members of the Bob Dylan...
" – 5:54 (Unreleased, Time Out Of MindTime out of MindTime Out of Mind is the 30th studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 30, 1997 on Columbia Records. It is his first double studio album since 1970's Self Portrait...
) (the time of 6:23 listed on the album is incorrect) - "Huck's Tune" – 4:09 (From Lucky YouLucky You (film)Lucky You is a 2007 drama directed by Curtis Hanson and starring Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, and Robert Duvall. The film was shot on location in Las Vegas...
soundtrack) - "Marchin' to the City" – 6:36 (Unreleased,Time Out of Mind)
- "High Water (For Charley Patton)High Water (For Charley Patton)"High Water " is a song by Bob Dylan, released on his 31st studio album "Love and Theft" in 2001. The song draws its title from the Charley Patton song "High Water Everywhere", which is one of many songs based on the 1927 Louisiana flood...
" – 6:40 (Live, August 23, 2003, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada)
Disc two
- "Mississippi" – 6:24 (Alternate version #2, Time Out of MindTime out of MindTime Out of Mind is the 30th studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 30, 1997 on Columbia Records. It is his first double studio album since 1970's Self Portrait...
) - "32-20 Blues32-20 Blues"32-20 Blues" is a blues song by Delta blues musician Robert Johnson, recorded during his second recording session in San Antonio, Texas on November 26, 1936. The song was originally released on 78 rpm format as Vocalion 03445, in April the following year. The title refers to the .32-20 Winchester...
" – 4:22 (Robert Johnson) (Unreleased, World Gone WrongWorld Gone WrongWorld Gone Wrong is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 29th studio album, released by Columbia Records in October 1993.It was Dylan's second consecutive collection of only traditional folk songs, performed acoustically with guitar and harmonica...
) - "Series of DreamsSeries of Dreams"Series Of Dreams" is a song written and composed by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Originally recorded for his 26th album Oh Mercy and produced by Daniel Lanois, this song was never used in the album but was later remixed and included in Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 and Bootleg Series Volume 8...
" – 6:27 (Unreleased, Oh MercyOh MercyOh 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...
) - "God Knows" – 3:12 (Unreleased, Oh MercyOh MercyOh 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...
) - "Can't Escape from You" – 5:22 (Unreleased, December 2005 recording)
- "Dignity" – 5:25 (Unreleased, Oh MercyOh MercyOh 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...
) - "Ring Them Bells" – 4:59 (Live at The Supper Club, November 17, 1993, New York, NY)
- "Cocaine BluesCocaine Blues"Cocaine Blues" is a Western Swing song written by T. J. "Red" Arnall, a reworking of the traditional song "Little Sadie". This song was originally recorded by W. A. Nichol's Western Aces on the S & G label, probably in 1947, and by Roy Hogsed and the Rainbow Riders May 25, 1947, at Universal...
" – 4:40 (T. J. "Red" Arnall) (Live, August 24, 1997, Vienna, VA) - "Ain't Talkin'" – 6:13 (Alternate version, Modern TimesModern TimesModern Times can refer to modern history.It may also refer to:* Modern Times , a 1936 Charlie Chaplin film* Modern Times , a 1975 album by Al Stewart...
) - "The Girl on the Greenbriar Shore" – 2:51 (traditional) (Live, June 30, 1992, Dunkerque, France)
- "Lonesome Day Blues" – 7:37 (Live, February 1, 2002, Sunrise, FL)
- "Miss the Mississippi" – 3:20 (Bill Halley) (Unreleased, 1992)
- "The Lonesome River" – 3:04 (Ralph and Carter StanleyThe Stanley BrothersThe Stanley Brothers were an American bluegrass duo made up of brothers Carter and Ralph Stanley.-Biography:Carter and Ralph Stanley hailed originally from Dickenson County, Virginia. The family soon moved to McClure, Virginia where their parents worked a small farm in the Clinch Mountains...
) (with Ralph StanleyRalph StanleyRalph Stanley , also known as Dr. Ralph Stanley, is an American bluegrass artist, known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing.-Biography:...
, from the album Clinch Mountain Country) - "'Cross the Green Mountain" – 8:15 (from Gods and GeneralsGods and Generals (film)Gods and Generals is a 2003 American film based on the novel Gods and Generals by Jeffrey Shaara. It depicts events that take place prior to those shown in the 1993 film Gettysburg, which was based on The Killer Angels, a novel by Shaara's father, Michael...
Soundtrack)
Deluxe Edition
The official Bob Dylan website offered a deluxe edition of the album, including a 150-page book and a bonus disc of tracks on top of the regular edition. Fans who pre-ordered the deluxe set directly from Bob Dylan's website also received an exclusive 7" vinylGramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
. The first 5000 customers were also given a Theme Time Radio Hour poster.
Bonus disc
- "Duncan & Brady" – 3:47 (traditional) (Unreleased, 1992)
- "Cold Irons BoundCold Irons Bound"Cold Irons Bound" is a Grammy Award-winning song written by Bob Dylan, released in 1997 on his critically acclaimed album Time Out of Mind. An alternate version was released on the Masked and Anonymous soundtrack in 2003. A live version was released in Japan on the compilation Live 1961-2000:...
" – 5:57 (Live at Bonnaroo, 2004) - "Mississippi" – 6:24 (Alternate version #3, Time Out of MindTime out of MindTime Out of Mind is the 30th studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 30, 1997 on Columbia Records. It is his first double studio album since 1970's Self Portrait...
) - "Most of the Time" – 5:10 (Alternate version #2, Oh MercyOh MercyOh 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...
) - "Ring Them Bells" – 3:18 (Alternate version, Oh MercyOh MercyOh 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...
) - "Things Have ChangedThings Have Changed"Things Have Changed" is a song from the film Wonder Boys, written and performed by Bob Dylan. The song was released as a single on May 1, 2000...
" – 5:32 (Live, June 15, 2000, Portland, OR) - "Red River Shore" – 7:08 (Unreleased version #2, Time Out of MindTime out of MindTime Out of Mind is the 30th studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 30, 1997 on Columbia Records. It is his first double studio album since 1970's Self Portrait...
) - "Born in Time" – 4:19 (Unreleased version #2, Oh MercyOh MercyOh 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...
) - "Tryin' to Get to Heaven" – 5:10 (Live, October 5, 2000, London, England)
- "Marchin' to the City" – 3:39 (Unreleased version #2, Time Out of MindTime out of MindTime Out of Mind is the 30th studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 30, 1997 on Columbia Records. It is his first double studio album since 1970's Self Portrait...
) - "Can't Wait" – 7:24 (Alternate version #2, Time Out of MindTime out of MindTime Out of Mind is the 30th studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 30, 1997 on Columbia Records. It is his first double studio album since 1970's Self Portrait...
) - "Mary and the Soldier" – 4:23 (traditional) (Unreleased, World Gone WrongWorld Gone WrongWorld Gone Wrong is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 29th studio album, released by Columbia Records in October 1993.It was Dylan's second consecutive collection of only traditional folk songs, performed acoustically with guitar and harmonica...
)
7" vinyl
- "Dreamin' of You" – 3:34 (Single Edit) (Unreleased, Time Out Of MindTime out of MindTime Out of Mind is the 30th studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 30, 1997 on Columbia Records. It is his first double studio album since 1970's Self Portrait...
) - "Ring Them Bells" – 3:18 (Alternate version, Oh MercyOh MercyOh 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...
)
Deluxe 4-LP vinyl edition
The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 was also released on vinyl as 4 x 180g. LPs, plus a digital download and a 12" x 12" version of the book authored by Sloman.Reception
Tell Tale Signs currently maintains a 86% positive ("Universal acclaim") rating at MetaCriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. It was also named the second best album of 2008 by Rolling Stone magazine.
External links
- Bob Dylan's official website
- Exclusive Preview: Bob Dylan's Tell Tale Signs at NPRNPRNPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
- [ Tell Tale Signs] at AllMusic