I actually surprised that the three Christian studio albums that these are sort of centered around aren't included in full in this set. Even though many of us already have them.
You're surprised official studio albums aren't included in a "Bootleg Series"? I'd be surprised if they were.
Only the deluxe Another Self Portrait (though all of Bob's original Basement Tapes tracks from the official album are also on BS11).
Hmm . . . I would say that is VERY arguable. For BS 11 (Basement Tapes) I find the 2CD set worthless. This was the first BS where I felt compelled to buy the 6 disc deluxe version, and I am very glad I did. The 2 disc set misses a LOT of the best stuff in my opinion. Virtually nothing from disc 1 (one of my favorite discs on the whole set) is on the 2 CD set. The distilled 2CD set was VERY poorly curated in this case. For Vol 12 (The Cutting Edge), which I just very recently obtained the 6CD set of, I would say the same thing, but to a much lesser degree. Many of the alternates chosen for the 2CD set have much more interesting (and better) versions available on the 6CD set which should have been used instead. For BS 13, I am not a big enough fan of this period to even consider the bigger version. I love the "Slow Train Coming" album, but am much less of a fan of "Saved" and "Shot of Love". Ironically, I think the 2CD set of this release will do me just fine, and honestly, I don't even think I will return to THAT all that often.
However, it is highly likely that the Amazon price is going to ultimately be at least $20-$30 less than it is now. The BD price is fixed.
Would anyone like to take a punt on why Dylan's people chose San Diego for the special deluxe bonus treatment? The Fox Warfield shows have always had a great reputation (the 16th is pure dynamite) so could it simply be down to technical issues and / or SQ? P.S. - I've never heard San Diego!
Probably but except for Slow Train they were not liked very much so like SP I thought they'd be included for a re avaluation. It worked for SP.
I have most of the singles, too (including the "Trouble In Mind" B-side, missing the verse, and "Let It Be Me"), and until they revamped/reissued the Shot of Love LP, "Groom's Still Waiting" was only available as the B-side of "Heart of Mine." Some of the European singles had very nice picture sleeves, too. I'm confident that you already knew all that -- just wanted to reminisce about the golden age of vinyl.
I haven't heard San Diego either; I've wondered if they chose a show with a minimum of "controversial" comments in the spoken raps if they are promising a "complete" show.
I bought Shot Of Love for the first time in 1986 and "Groom's Still Waiting" was already there as the first track on Side 2.
Worthless??? Really??? Open the Door, Homer / Odds and Ends / Million Dollar Bash / One Too Many Mornings / I Don't Hurt Anymore / Ain't No More Cane / Crash on the Levee / Tears of Rage / Dress It Up, Better Have It All / I'm Not There / Johnny Todd / Too Much of Nothing / Quinn the Eskimo / Get Your Rocks Off / Santa-Fe / Silent Weekend / Clothes Line Saga / Please, Mrs. Henry / I Shall Be Released / You Ain't Goin' Nowhere / Lo and Behold! / Minstrel Boy / Tiny Montgomery / All You Have to Do is Dream / Goin' to Acapulco / 900 Miles from My Home / One for the Road / I'm Alright / Blowin' in the Wind / Apple Suckling Tree / Nothing Was Delivered / Folsom Prison Blues / This Wheel's on Fire / Yea! Heavy and a Bottle of Bread / Don't Ya Tell Henry / Baby, Won't You Be My Baby / Sign on the Cross / You Ain't Goin' Nowhere Worthless??? Of course, most of us have some quibbles with this tracklist! I've got mine & obviously you have yours. But this is inevitable when distilling 6 discs down to 2. And FWIW, the more casual Dylan fans I know simply love this comp.
Yes, they made that the standard edition later on, but the first version of the LP was missing "Groom." EDIT: ...as slane already explained.
This will likely be the first Bootleg release I pass on getting the deluxe version. I don't see the need to hear these songs repeated disc after disc, although they are different live performances. IMO this is some of the weakest Dylan material of his career. This one would just be a dust collector on my shelf. The 2 disc sampler will suffice.
Any theories as to why "Radio Spot January 1980, Portland, OR show" (disc 4, track 5) is included? I don't have it. Is there some interesting musical content? A particularly notable Dylan quote? I've seen other archival sets that included radio spots. But generally, they're put at the end of the disc and function as fun novelties. Putting it in the middle of the sequence suggests this may be something different.
This is my issue. I don't care that they have a super expensive 8 disc set for those that can afford it and wish to buy it. It does bother me that the 2 disc set is incredibly skimpy on the really cool unheard stuff. You are totally right that in the past, the 2 disc versions have been the "official word" and represented the majority of the cool stuff that the hardcore fan base clamors for. I'm sure the 2 discs worth of live stuff from this era will be great, but it's not the same value that we've been given in the past. Anyone can disagree, but for me and my wallet, that reeks of greed and milking the fan base. I get it. It's a business. While that's all perfectly fine and legal, I think it's a crappy way to treat fans.
"Hi everybody, I'm Bob Dylan. Come on out to my show at the Paramount Northwest Theatre...or you're all going to HELL!"
I think that radio spot might be post-show interviews of from Albuquerque that were made into a radio ad for the upcoming shows in Portland.