Now that BS17: Fragments: The Time Out Of Mind Sessions (1996-1997) has been officially announced, here is a new thread for news, discussion and speculation about the next, still unannounced, volume in the long running series.
My personal hope is for a 1978 themed set, centered around the tour but bolstered by Street Legal sessions, rehearsals, demos, sound checks etc.
We've been in the fallow years of 1969-1973, so the copyright collections have been able to take care of most stuff (with the exception of Travelin' Through). Now that we're getting back to productivity years, I think we'll start seeing more 50th anniversary styled collections My guesses? BS 18 2023: The Villager Live Collection 2024: Tour '74 Box Set OR a Bootleg Series focused on Planet Waves with a heavy live bent BS 19 2025: Desire Live Collection 2026: Returning Thunder 1976 BS 20 2027: Street Legal Demos, Rundown Studios Sessions
It wouldn't be as sexy as some of the Bootleg Series, but I would love a start of the NET/Wilburys/Oh Mercy/Under The Red Sky box.
Christmas with a Harp: The Complete Sessions, 6-CD or 14-LP. Bob will tour the country's malls dressed as Santa to promote the release.
Do they need to renew the copyright on the 1973 stuff (Pat Garret and Planet Waves)? Add in some live 1974 and could be interesting. Not my first choice but may be a practical necessity.
I skip more BS than I buy however ....and I know it is never going to happen, but I would love whatever material was available from Good As I Been and World Gone Wrong. Other than that I am dreaming of Desire (apparently tapes are gone though)
That seems like a plausible timeline (though it’s been suggested “The Villager” may not be branded as part of the Bootleg Series per se— which is fine with me if it means “stripped down packaging but more content” like the 66 & 75 boxes).
Street Legal would be my vote, especially if Villager is purported to being a 66/75-esque set (which I think suits that material). It would also make my close buddy VERY happy as Street Legal is one of his favorite Dylan albums, and who doesn't like to see a happy friend!
I don't get the branding anymore. How Travelin' Through is a BS, but the copyright collection with similar material isn't is baffling. Or how Live 1975 isn't. Just wild stuff.
The Bootleg Series is a curated, marketed product. The copyright collections are released quietly in the dead of night in super limited quantities just to protect the copyright. Warts and glitches and all. I think/hope we'll see some of that material released in the future in better quality.
Dylan’s tour with the Grateful Dead could benefit from a little rehabilitation. The Dead’s own reissue campaign has left these shows alone, which seems to indicate that Dylan’s people gave an interest in controlling what happens with them. Why not assemble a better collection than Dylan & The Dead? Shouldn’t be too hard. Easy 1 or 2 CD set.
I want shows! Any period. There are some incredible, well recorded shows that need to see the light of day ( Supper Club for one); his touring bands were crème de la creme. Studio sessions are nice but do get tedious after a while
Definitely. The complete Freewheelin’ sessions seems way overdue, though I’d also love to see the Times & Another Side sessions too— not to mention complete concerts like Town Hall ‘63, Carnegie Hall ‘63 & Royal Festival Hall ‘64 (some of which may or may not be included with The Villager, depending on the scope of the final set).
I've always been shocked there hasn't been more stuff from this---those are TWO pretty hard core collector fanbases that would buy it too.
Even if The Villager isn’t branded as part of the Bootleg Series, I fully expect it will take the “slot” of a BS release. If it does indeed come out in the fall next year, BS18 will probably have to wait until 2024.
