the fifteenth edition of bob’s usually great bootleg series focuses on two things – his flirtation with the nashville sound, and his relationship with johnny cash. both of these subjects are pretty well documented, and although there is nothing here that wasn’t known by dedicated dylan fans, this is a nice package that doesn’t get too much in the weeds. it is broken down into three discs, the first being outtakes from the two albums he made there during this period, ‘john wesley harding’ and ‘nashville skyline’. the selections are well played and produced, but offer only slight variations from the tracks that were eventually chosen for release. ‘as i went out one morning’ is presented as a waltz tempo, and many of the ‘skyline’ tracks have a bit of an edge to them(‘country pie’ gets funky with charlie daniels on guitar).

the second track focuses on an impromptu session put together around the ‘skyline’ sessions with johnny cash. bootlegs of this have been going around for years (indeed, my good friend dave c. sent me a copy of this just this summer), but it is offered here from the original tapes. it is interesting the first few times you hear it, and it certainly has historical significance. carl perkins was recording in an adjacent studio, and joins the gang for a few tracks. but overall it is a little rough and unrehearsed, and the suits decided that is wasn’t good enough to issue as an album.

the third disc has more from those sessions, then three songs he did on the ‘johnny cash show’ that may. following that are three johnny cash tunes he covered for the ‘self portrait’ album, and then four songs recorded at a house in 1970 with the legendary banjo player, earl scruggs.

once again the liner notes are extensive and informative, and even a bob nut like me learned quite a few things. this video below does a good job of providing more background: