#335 Bob Dylan and the Band, 'The Basement Tapes' (1975)

Previously #292

This album comes flying in from the get-go with its shortest track, ‘Odds and Ends.’ Short, sharp and to the point. The album was originally recorded in 1967, 8 years before its eventual release and between ‘Blonde on Blonde’ and ‘John Wesley Harding’ (#337). During his 1965/6 world tour, Dylan was backed by The Hawks, who would later be known as The Band. Dylan was famously involved in a major motorbike crash in 1966, which saw him disappear from the public eye for a while. During his period of recovery, he recorded more than 100 tracks with the Band. The final release included 8 tracks sans Dylan.

I love this record. It’s so unique and so different to what Dylan was doing at the time. Following the crash and these sessions, the Band would go on to become a recording artist in its own right with the release of ‘Music From The Big Pink,’ the house at which a lot of these songs were recorded. That record is an extension of the sound on this one. Two songs from this record, ‘Tears Of Rage’ and ‘This Wheel’s On Fire’ would actually go on to be re-recorded for that album. This album is raw and honest. It’s the sound of true musicians having a good time. Sessions that we’re so lucky to have recordings of.

#rs500albums