>Subject:      Re: Skeleton Songs
>From:         Matthew Zuckerman 
>Date:         1996/10/16
>Newsgroups:   rec.music.dylan

>>: Skeleton Songs / Bob Dylan [1965]
>>: Happyweed, Happyweed 040, [1996]
>>: Matrix: GZ H73101 HJ 040
>>
>>Are all of these new 1965 tracks, formerly unreleased? Can anyone hear
>>lyrics leaking through? Where? Could this be the master tape tracks for the
>>instruments only?
>
>I think this one is similar to Highway 61 Revisited Again, i.e. rough mix
>of the original album, with a few outtakes and alternate takes. Also One
>song from Edinburgh in 1966 as I remember.



>Subject:      Skeleton Songs CD
>From:         "love-0nl@wellmet.or.jp" 
>Date:         1997/04/03
>Newsgroups:   rec.music.dylan

>Wed, 2 Apr 1997 18:20:28 +1000 Peter Gilmer wrote
>>Subject: Skeleton Songs CD
>>
>>The latest issue of ICE #121 claims that the 'Skeleton Songs' bootleg
>>CD, which claimed to have the instrumental backing tracks to Dylan's
>>1965 studio sessions, is a fake.  The bootleggers simply took the
>>released stereo versions and, by throwing the two channels out of phase,
>>negating the vocals.
>>
>>Just thought I'd warn anyone tempted to by it!
>
>This album is very good for Karaoke party.
>
>Masato Kato



>Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan
>Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 01:42:39 +0900
>From: Masato Kato 
>Subject: "Skeleton Songs"

>Wed, 31 Dec 1997 00:08:10 +0100
>Eyolf Ostrem  wrote:
>>Subject: "Skeleton songs" and "Bob Dylan live"
>>
>>I came across these two titles today but it has been hard to find out
>>anything more about them - when are they from? The Skeleton songs are
>>outtakes from hwy61/Biabh (I think), but it seems to me I should rather
>>get The Lonesome Sparrow Sings or Thin Wild Mercury Music - am I right?
>
>You are right if you really want the out-takes and different versions.
>
>I guess most of the tracks on "Skeleton" are not at all the outtakes
>or alternate takes, but KARAOKE made by electronically wiping out the
>vocal from the officially released take. This is a FAKE/BOGUS album.
>
>Play this album at Karaoke party and sing along with it. But I do not
>think it's worth listening to it seriously.



>From: yerrp@aol.com (Yerrp)
>Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan
>Subject: Skeleton Keys
>Date: 24 Mar 1998 01:53:10 GMT
>Message-ID: <1998032401531000.UAA28944@ladder01.news.aol.com>

>This has been bothering me for some time.  My local used record store has a
>copy of a disc entitled "Skeleton Keys" which is a variety of outtakes from
>Blonde on Blonde/Bringing it All Back Home/Highway 61.  I went to buy it and
>the guy who owns the shop wanted me to hear it before I bought.  He said the
>tunes are all instrumental, which I was somewhat surprised by.  He put it on
>and yeah, the first tune was indeed all instrumental but I'd swear you could
>hear Dylan's voice muffled in the background as if whoever made this didn't
>have their speaker connection properly pushed in.  
>
>I forget the label it's on but the matrix number is 040.  The liner notes say
>"A special note of thanks must go out to Scorpio Records"  Can somebody tell me
>what the story is behind this disc?  It's not a CD-R, it's the real deal.  Has
>it been poorly mastered?  I refuse to believe there are all these tunes that
>are instrumental.  

>tony

>From: "Marty Traynor" 
>Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan
>Subject: Re: Skeleton Keys
>Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 21:55:17 -0600
>Message-ID: <6f7b38$okh@newsops.execpc.com>

>The x-files part of this reply:  I've also heard this cd at *my* local used
>record shop and I also listened to it at the request of the owner
>(coincidence, or...?).
>
>The Dylan reply:  This CD is not a set of authentic backing instrumental
>tracks from 30+ years ago.  There is a definite bleed-through of the vocals.
>It sounds to me like the vocals were phased out of these tracks to create a
>kind of "authentic" karaoke (not sure how to spell this).  I decided the
>only use of this CD would be playing it too loudly at parties.  Hope this
>helps.

>From: hughe@hhcl.com (Hugh Eaton)
>Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan
>Subject: Re: Skeleton Keys
>Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 09:19:12 +0000
>Message-ID: 

>This was reviewed in Isis a few months ago where it was thought to be
>instrumental backing tracks with guide vocals, or something similar.  What
>it actually is is officially released stereo tracks that have been
>processed, possibly by adding channel A to an out of phase channel B
>(technical help!) so that the vocal track disappears.  It's not
>alternative versions, or any rare tracks, but a sort of karoke album. 
>Worth buying?  I suppose people have spent their money on stranger things.

>From: alan.fraser@mcmail.com (Alan Fraser)
>Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan
>Subject: Re: Skeleton Keys
>Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 12:08:22 GMT
>Message-ID: <351b9630.13310400@news.mcmail.com>

>I loved Crazy Joe's comment in the Isis review that this is as far
>away from listening to Dylan that he likes to get! BTW I think it was
>called Skeleton _Songs_ - I haven't seen it myself, but then I haven't
>looked for it.