Broadside

Date:    Sun, 21 Apr 1996 16:40:59 +0100
From:    Ben Taylor (bptaylor@LAGUNA.DEMON.CO.UK)
Subject: Broadside [Was: Re: Doesn't anyone write detailed reviews anymore?]

Broadside / Bob Dylan [May 62 - 28 Aug 63]
Gunsmoke Records GSR2
Archive Series

1. Ballad of Donald White
2. The Death of Emmett Till
3. Blowin' in the Wind

4. I'd Hate To Be You on That Dreadful Day
5. Oxford Town
6. Paths of Victory
7. Walkin' Down the Line
8. Playboys & Playgirls
9. Talkin' Devil
10. Farewell
11. Masters of War
12. Let Me Die in My Footsteps
13. Only a Hobo
14. John Brown
15. I Shall Be Free
16. Train A-Travelin'
17. Cuban Missile Crisis

18. Only a Pawn in Their Game
19. Only a Pawn in Their Game
20. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

(1-3) May 1962, Broadside Show, WBAI-FM Radio, New York City, New York,
USA.
(4-8) November 1962, Broadside sessions, Broadside office, New York
City, New York, USA.
(9-10) 19 January 1963, Broadside sessions, Broadside office, New York
City, New York, USA.
(11-12) 24 January 1963, Broadside sessions, Broadside office, New York
City, New York, USA.
(13-14) February 1963, Broadside sessions, Broadside office, New York
City, New York, USA.
(15-17) March 1963, Broadside sessions, Broadside office, New York City,
New York, USA.
(18-19) 28 August 1963, March on Washington, Lincoln Memorial,
Washington, DC, USA.

(1-2, 4, 9, 12-14, 16, 17) Sourced from official release.
(19-20) "Complete version[s] from rare acetate or transcription disc -
presumably broadcast by unknwon radio or TV station".

--

1. Ballad of Donald White
2. The Death of Emmett Till
3. Blowin' in the Wind

Lots of chatting between Dylan and the three radio presenters. Emmett
Till has a great traditional quality, flowing from Dylan's folky vocal
affection (must be that great Okie(?) accent). A plodding basic "Blowin'
in the Wind" for which Dylan is joined on the chorus by Gil Turner, Pete
Seeger and Sis Cunningham (who, presumably, are the three presenters?).
Quality excellent (but sounds 'of the period'). The liner notes say that
"WBAI was an audience sponsored station - the programme was never
broadcast."

4. I'd Hate To Be You on That Dreadful Day

(The CD track ID is not set properly and so you have to wind back a few
seconds to get the very start of the recording.) Basic guitar backing by
Dylan. Has the same feel as "Bob Dylan's Blues" but nothing special. The
lyrics ("in Lyrics 1962-1985") read like a fired up blues but that isn't
played out here. Incomplete - Dylan apparently aborting.

5. Oxford Town

Close to the Freewheelin' recording (right down to the phrasing of
"Whe'we come fr'm") but it is incomplete, Dylan stalling.

6. Paths of Victory

Tentative and slightly unsure performance. Sounds like maybe Dylan was
having to think of the lyrics or look them up (plenty of instrumental
pauses to support this view). Sounds like maybe Dylan mutters to someone
(perhaps asking for the lyrics..). Ends with "that's all I can
remember.."

7. Walkin' Down the Line

Nice churning guitar. More solid performance than "Paths of Victory",
continuous flowing vocal. Comparable to the "Bootleg Series" version but
maybe some lyric variation (nothing noteworthy). Song ends, and then
there's a few seconds of guitar doodling.

8. Playboys & Playgirls

Starts of quiet. Sung solo (unlike the charged Newport performance),
lone voice to start with but is joined by others later on. Sounds very
dated, a typical 1960s folkie we-shall-overcome protest song. ("You red
baiters and race haters can't guide my road, not now or no other time")
Does Dylan really believe in what he's singing? Sounds rather forced to
me. Recording cuts out aburptly as Dylan starts to sing the "Jim Crow"
verse again.

9. Talkin' Devil

"This is all about where the devil is. Some people say that there's no
devil". Accompanied by that talkin' blues guitar and mode of speech.
Only two verses.

10. Farewell

Typical Dylan performance of this average song. Some deliberate
harmonizing on the chorus. ("With my hands in my pockets and my coat
collar high I will travel unnoticed and unknown, so it's fare thee well
my own true love...").

11. Masters of War

Dogdy (but acceptable) scratchy acetate source. Sound level is boosted
half way through. ("How much do I know to sneak out of turn")

12. Let Me Die in My Footsteps

Vocal by Happy Traum, guitar (and backing vocal?) by Dylan. Nice
version.

13. Only a Hobo

A strong performance of a forgettable song in excellent quality.

14. John Brown

Nice guitar riffs. ("Laaaawd, laaawd, good old fashioned war"). Strong
performance of a better song in excellent quality. There's a crackle
half way through the song and a new CD track division starts.. mid-song!

15. I Shall Be Free

It turns out the accidental track division was for this song.. So if you
skip to this track you end up with a minute of "John Brown". Thinner
sound. Dylan sounds like he's having a little fun but it doesn't really
improve the dry performance. Comic timing goes "out the window".
Inappropriate guitar backing.

16. Train A-Travelin'

One of the few performances on this CD that stands the test of time.

17. Cuban Missile Crisis

A few abortive performances while Dylan figures out which key to play
in. Uses the same vocal style as the Basement Tapes Buffalo Skinners:
"If you pay good wageeeeeeeeeeesss, transportation-to-and-fro". Same
tune in fact, which gives the song an erie quality. Not worth much.

18. Only a Pawn in Their Game
19. Only a Pawn in Their Game

The second is a longer version of the first (without voice over but in
much thinner quality). Charming historic archival sound quality,
sounding like it's being played on one of those 12 dollar wrist watch
radios. Very listenable despite this.

20. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Same quality but with vocals contributed by others. ("Hold on, hold on,
keep your eyes on the prize, hold on!")

--

SUMMARY:

I guess this CD warrants the "historic" label. Nice to have it all in
one place in what is no doubt the best circulating quality. More of a
curiosity piece that you'll bring out every once in a while, not to play
but to dust off and put back again. The first bootleg I have bought in a
year and a half and I won't even think of buying another for at least
that length of time.

Ben Taylor
--
Leeds, England
bptaylor@laguna.demon.co.uk

1995 1996 1997 1998 T-list CDs