The next Bootleg Series release, Volume 9, will will indeed be “a set of non-live recordings, well-known to collectors”, as stated. Although based on “The Witmark Demos”, sources say it will include some Leeds demo recordings as well. There are said to be 47 tracks. There is no information as to the packaging for this release.
Bob Dylan Mono box set
Each album in “The 8-CD set of Dylan’s earliest albums in mono” will have a paper sleeve and the set will be in a slipcase, with a booklet, including liner notes by Greil Marcus. The albums will be from “Bob Dylan” to “John Wesley Harding” and it is believed that all are being freshly mastered for this release, using first issue copies of the mono LPs for reference, in order to ensure that they get the sound to match that on the albums when they were first released. Back at that time, albums were principally mixed for mono release, with less care and attention being paid to the stereo mixes, and many collectors prefer the mono versions. None have been issued officially on CD in mono before, although mono bootleg CDs are not unknown.
The official announcement of these two box-sets is expected in mid to late August, two months ahead of their actual release – itself about two months before Christmas. This suggests when Sony hopes to gain its greatest sales but why are the two being released at the same time? Most likely Sony is trying to tempt the buyers of one set to buy the other, too, on the assumption that the two sets will be reviewed together in the press and that reviewers may well compare “early” and “final” versions of some songs across the two releases.
About ISIS
>ISIS is the longest running Bob Dylan magazine still in print. Established since 1985, our aim is to provide Dylan enthusiasts with a comprehensive magazine regarding all aspects of Dylan’s life and work. Columns include reviews of book, CD and DVD releases, and Henry Porter’s unofficial CD column, which aims to review every bootleg Dylan CD released worldwide.
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