The Best of "The Organ Years”, Field recordings 2006-2009
A CS production, March 2014
CD 1:
1. Cat's In The Well - November 2, 2006
2. Friend Of The Devil - July 19, 2007
3. The Levee's Gonna Break - November 18, 2006
4. Moonlight - June 22, 2007
5. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again - November 18, 2009
6. Mr. Tambourine Man - April 8, 2006
7. Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking - November 15, 2009
8. Every Grain Of Sand - November 12, 2006
9. Love Minus Zero/No Limit - June 7, 2008
10. Billy - March 22, 2009
11. ’Til I Fell In Love With You - November 12, 2006
12. It's All Good - October 31, 2009
13. Nettie Moore - November 18, 2006
CD 2 - Bonus Tracks:
1. Senor - November 12, 2006
2. Handy Dandy - June 27, 2008
3. Million Miles - October 27, 2008
4. I Believe In You - November 16, 2008
5. Like A Rolling Stone - November 19, 2008
6. Tangled Up In Blue - July 5, 2009
7. Po' Boy - July 5, 2009
This set includes the absolute best of Bob Dylan's years playing the electric organ. Though this instrument extended out to 2012, it was the centerpiece from 2006 to 2009, and the most interesting organ arrangements were delivered during this time.
This period is not a favorite one among most fans, and with good reason. There was a sameness to the arrangements that did not allow the sets to reach the same dynamism of 2004 or 2013. The organ's use definitively came to an end with the introduction of the piano, and its use was discontinued after the final tour of 2012.
Before that time, however, there were gems to be found. In particular, this performance of "Friend Of The Devil" stands superior to the earlier renditions in the 1995-2002 era, at least to my ears. Similarly, check out this unique hard-driving arrangement of "The Levee's Gonna Break," reliant largely on the powerful blare of the organ; despite this being the debut performance, the song would revert to an arrangement more reminiscent of the album version in subsequent years. "Mr. Tambourine Man" here, while not as inventive as the recordings from 1981 or 1995, succeeds in making the song truly uplifting. This performance of "Every Grain Of Sand" was the first time that I really enjoyed the song, and once that occurred I've found virtually all versions of it great; there's something of the preacher in this performance, however, and it still stands out as my favorite.
Though many of Dylan's blues songs were played to great effect in this era, the best can be found here: "Cat's In The Well," an end-times jump blues with delightful interplay between the violin and guitar, the fiery "Change My Way Of Thinking," the best "'Til I Fell In Love With You" put to tape, and an absolutely gleeful "It's All Good," with Dylan displaying the love of language that we all enjoy in his finest singing.
And finally, the set closes with a jaw-dropping, definitive recording of "Nettie Moore." The heart breaks with each line, especially with the violin pushed to the fore. You don't want to miss this song.
The bonus tracks have some highlights as well, in particular the only live performance of "Handy Dandy" to date and a truly unique arrangment of "Tangled Up In Blue."
In short, this will not be likely to change your mind if you hated the organ years, but feel free to give it a try. You might find something great that you missed back in the midst of it.
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