Fragments - Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997): The Bootleg Series Vol. 17

I have a good friend who is a huge Dylan head. He has traveled to various countries around the world just to hear Dylan. Anyway as a result I’ve tried to listen to, and like Dylan, but I kept failing until getting this collection on vinyl. Wow! The music is groovy, the lyrics powerful, the acoustics on the recording are phenomenal and Dylan’s singing actually sounds like singing. I’m sold. This is a great album in its remastered form, the pressing is high quality and I highly recommend it. Saw it for $110 at a record store so I’d buy it here for $69 like I did.

In my opinion, this is Dylan's best work, which is not an easy thing to say because the man is constantly evolving and has touched on an array of topics from politics and social justice to spiritual warfare and love, to name a few. This album(s) simply speaks to me like no other Dylan record has. I can relate to this...I think many people can, hence Time Out of Mind winning the 1998 Grammy Award--Album of the Year--along with a trove of other awards, because it's relatable, not to mention darn good. This set is the bones to that session, but do not be deceived, the bones are just as spellbinding and rich as the polished release of Time Out of Mind, if not more so. In fact, I seldom listen to Time Out of Mind now, preferring Fragments. Please do not think, well, you get these very songs on Time Out of Mind, so, why buy this collection? I thought the same way. Oh how wrong I was.

What we have here is a two-volume collection of outtakes and alternatives to the original album. I recall when Time out of Mind came out and everyone was knocked out by the new Dylan sound. If you enjoyed that album, then consider purchasing this album as well. This is Volume 17 in the Bootleg Series and one of my favorites. In 1996-97 Dylan wrote eleven tracks about growing old and these tunes are full of heartbreak and loss. On CD 1, Michael Brauer remixes The Time Out of Mind album stripped down to the bare essence. This is a masterpiece of Dylan's music. He's grown into his voice, and it sounds weary and lived in. Even if you are a die-hard fan and think that you've heard it all before, this album bears a close repeated listening. Highlands on Disc 2 is a standout classic! Play this one loud so your neighbors can enjoy the tunes.

Time Out Of Mind was one of those Bob Dylan albums I have always been undecided about. Was it overrated? Did the Daniel Lanois production make it appear better and more unique than what it really was? Was I too fixated on earlier Dylan to appreciate it? The two CD version of Fragments has answered at least some of my questions. The remixed original album that makes up the first CD reveals that the Lanois gloss hid some of the power and details of Bob's singing and writing and the band's playing. (I listened to the original after I ordered Fragments, so I wasn't just comparing from memory.) The 2023 remix brings Dylan's voice front and center and reveals the backing musicians including Lanois to be a formidable blues and roots rock ensemble. I personally think it is preferable to the original Time. The second disc has interesting alternate versions of nine of the TOOM numbers plus outtakes of Red River Shore, Mississippi, and The Water Is Wide. The versions of Red River and Mississippi seem to me to indicate Lanois was right to keep them off the album; they don't quite fit in with the other songs. Both believers and doubters of the original Time Out Of Mind should at least buy this standard version of Fragments. It is one of the better of the Bootleg Series entrys, certainly superior to the recent Travelin' Thru and Springtime In New York sets. You can then decide if you want or need to go whole hog and purchase the five disc box. Four stars.

This is a review of the two-disc version, starting with disc one. I've gained a new appreciation for the album Time Out of Mind, thanks to this amazing out-of-the-murk remix. I already loved the feel of that triple Grammy winner, now I can better hear the message Dylan was trying to convey. The songs retain their twilight mood, but the vocals can be heard more distinctly, and the instruments have a small club mix clarity. The second disc, full of outtakes and unreleased songs, is worthwhile, especially the alternative, longer "Dirt Road Blues," a couple of early tries at "Mississippi," and a perky first take of "Not Dark Yet." Along with Tell Tale Signs, this installment of the Bootleg Series offers a welcome immersion in Dylan's turn-of-the-century renaissance.

Good compilation

Everything Bob does is great! Wouldn't you agree?

Super! I wonderful musical mind!

Excelente edición de aniversario, el audio está perfecto.

Eh oui, depuis le début des années 1990 (et les 3 premiers volumes parus en coffret), Bob continue d’ouvrir ses archives et c’est souvent fantastique, au-moins intéressant, mais bien sûr ces enregistrements seront d’abord indispensables pour les fans absolus, les collectionneurs, ceux et celles qui possèdent déjà l’intégralité de toute l’œuvre « dylanesque ». Ce coup-ci, ces archives explorent les années 1996 et 1997, lorsque Bob revenait sur le devant de la scène avec l’excellent album Time out of mind. Le 1er CD est l’album remixé en 2022. Bob n’avait pas sorti d’album avec de nouvelles chansons depuis le moyen Under the red sky en 1990 et on finissait par se demander s’il en était encore capable. Alors, bien sûr, Bob continuait son « Never ending tour » (alternant très bons concerts et…moins bons comme à Woodstock en 1994), commençait à faire paraître ses archives, sortant même un MTV Unplugged pas mal du tout. Mais ça laissait les fans sur leur faim, attendant de nouvelles chansons. Et là, on n’est pas déçu car Bob nous sort des chansons de très haut niveau (textes, mélodies) comme Love Sick, Not Dark yet (sans doute ma préférée) ou la très belle ballade Make you feel my love (depuis quand Bob nous avait-il pas sorti ça ???!!!). Bob retrouve de l’inspiration et nous offre son meilleur album depuis Oh mercy, bien aidé par la production très précise de Daniel Lanois : Bob a raconté que ce dernier avait beaucoup travaillé la place des micros dans le studio par exemple, ce qui explique sans doute ce son très organique, très blues obtenu. Le 2e CD est constitué de 12 titres issus de ces sessions, des versions alternatives ou rejetées, souvent des versions très épurées et qui valent l’écoute pour comprendre comment on ne arrive au morceau terminé. Décidément, on n’a jamais fini de plonger dans ces enregistrements, passionnant. Le livret, comme d’habitude, est toujours soigné et complet.

Todo OK

Great stuff from Bob!

Superb release - not one thing to not love about this album - the remix is outstanding and the outtakes are wonderful as is the booklet. Even a casual Bob fan would love this release.