| Broadside Show, WBAI-FM Radio, New York, New York, May 1962 | |
| 1. | Ballad Of Donald White (2:46/4:32/0:00) |
| 2. | The Death Of Emmett Till (1:22/4:41/0:00) |
| 3. | Blowin' In The Wind (1:00/2:31/0:03) |
| Broadside sessions, Broadside Office, New York, New York, 1962 - 1963 | |||
| date acc. to CD insert | date acc. to C. Heylin | ||
| 4. | I'd Hate To Be You On That Dreadful Day (incomplete performance) (0:56) | 6211 | 1st 6211 session |
| 5. | Oxford Town (1:47) | 6211 | 1st 6211 session |
| 6. | Paths Of Victory (0:05/2:17/0:00) | 6211 | 1st 6211 session |
| 7. | Walkin' Down The Line (0:01/1:54/0:04) | 6211 | 1st 6211 session |
| 8. | Playboys And Playgirls (incomplete recording) (0:06/3:51/0:00) | 6211 | 2nd 6211 session |
| 9. | Talkin' Devil (0:47) | 630119 | 630119 |
| 10. | Farewell (3:10) | 630119 | 630119 |
| 11. | Masters Of War (3:41) | 630124 | 630124 |
| 12. | Let Me Die In My Footsteps (vocal by Happy Traum) (3:32) | 630124 | 630124 |
| 13. | Only A Hobo (1:56) | 6302 | 6302 |
| 14. | John Brown (4:13) | 6302 | 6302 |
| 15. | I Shall Be Free (3:54) | 6303 | 1st 6211 session |
| 16. | Train A-Travelin' (1:53) | 6303 | 1st 6211 session |
| 17. | Cuban Missile Crisis (0:28/2:28/0:00) | 6303 | 1st 6211 session |
| March On Washington (Washington Civil Rights March), Lincoln Memorial, Washington, District of Columbia, 28 August 1963 | |
| 18. | Only A Pawn In Their Game (fragments mixed with speeches and commentary) (4:33) |
| 19. | Only A Pawn In Their Game (0:24/3:16/0:35) |
| 20. | Keep Your Eyes On The Prize (Hold On) (performed by Len Chandler; backing vocals by Bob Dylan and Joan Baez) (000/2:27/0:02) |
Total time: 66:30
Something like (a:aa/b:bb/c:cc) in the track list means that b:bb is the duration of the actual song. a:aa and c:cc indicate how much time of the track is due to introductions, tunings etc.
Review by Lonesome Sparrow
"Broadside" was a magazine devoted to the publication of topical songs. During the fall of 1962 and the winter of 1962/63 Dylan recorded a number songs at the Broadside Offices so that the best of these could be transcribed for the magazine. All these recordings are collected on this CD. "John Brown", "Only A Hobo", "Talkin' Devil" and "Let Me Die In My Footsteps" were released on the LP "Broadside Ballads, Volume I" in September 1963. "Train A-Travelin' and "I'd Hate To Be You On That Dreadful Day" were released on the LP "Broadside Reunion" in 1972. The other recordings haven't been released officially. The CD notes say "The dates for the "Broadside Sessions" have not been determined beyond doubt. Those printed here are largely the result of research, analysis and conclusions by various Dylan experts and publications." In the track list above I have given the dates according to the CD notes, and also the dates according to Clinton Heylin's "The Recording Sessions". I put more trust in the latter, since I think it's more likely that the "Broadside" version of "I Shall Be Free" is older than the "Freewheelin'" version, which was recorded on 6 December 1962.
The first of these "Broadside" sessions, both according to the Cd notes and Heylin, was in November 1962. But earlier that year, in May, "Broadside" made a program for the WBAI radio station in which they talked with Dylan and in which he performed three songs. According to the CD notes this program was never broadcast, but according to Olof's Yearly Chronicles it was broadcast in the fall. "Ballad Of Donald White" and "The Death Of Emmett Till" were released on the LP "Broadside Reunion" in 1972. The third song, "Blowin' In The Wind" hasn't been released officially.
The albums "Broadside Ballads, Volume I" and "Broadside Reunion" are out of print and therefore hard to find. It's nice that the Dylan songs from those albums are collected on this CD together with all the other "Broadside" recordings. The sound quality on these CD varies, but generally it is quite muffled with pops and clicks, so I don't recommend this to every Dylan listener, also because most of the performances are not up to Dylan's usual standard. If you, whilst browsing through your Krogsgaard, Dundas, Heylin or whatever, were thinking, "I should have these "Broadside" recordings", then this CD is for you.
As a bonus this CD contains two recordings made on 28 August 1963, the day the March on Washington (or the Washington Civil Rights March) was held and Martin Luther King gave his famous "I have a dream" speech. On "Keep Your Eyes On The Prize" the lead vocal and the guitar are by Len Chandler. Joan Baez and Dylan provide backing vocals. "Only A Pawn In Their Game" is by Dylan. This song was released on the LP "We Shall Overcome" in 1964, but only fragmentaric. The complete version is on this CD, preceded by what I assume is the track that was on "We Shall Overcome". The sound quality of these recordings is worse than that of the "Broadside" recordings.
The insert of the CD is a single sheet with on the front a picture of Dylan and on the back the track list with details of recording dates and official releases, which makes a well cared-for impression. The CD itself is less cared-for, for not all of its index marks are on the right position. The index mark of track 4 comes 3 seconds too late, that of of track 12 comes 2 seconds too late. The index mark of track 15 comes 1:21 too early, during the previous song, "John Brown", precisely at the point where it has a crackle and jumps back a fraction of a second. I have a radio program on tape in which this track is played without this crackle, so it wasn't unavoidable. It's very unfortunate that the crackle occurs in "John Brown" of all tracks, for I find this the best performance on the CD by far. Above I said that most of the performances are not up to Dylan's usual standard, but this definitely is one of the exceptions, since it's Dylan at his best.
Ben Taylor has written a good, detailed review of this CD, in which he comments on the individual tracks. It follows below.
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