BOB DYLAN "Highway 61 Sessions" (1965)

Bob Dylan : Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
Mike Bloomfield : Guitar
Paul Griffin : Piano
Al Kooper : Organ
Harvey Brooks : Bass
Bobby Gregg : Drums

1965.June.15
Recorded At Columbia Studio A, NY
Producer : Tom Wilson

01. "Sittin' On A Barbed Wire Fence" (4.07) Outtake
02. "Sittin' On A Barbed Wire Fence" (3.51) Outtake
03. "Sittin' On A Barbed Wire Fence" (4.52) Outtake
04. "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" (3.32)
05. "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" (3.29)
06. "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" (3.21)
07. "Like A Rolling Stone" (6.31)
08. "Like A Rolling Stone" (6.06)

1965.June.16
Recorded At Columbia Studio A, NY
Producer : Tom Wilson

09. "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window" (3.37)

(01,03,04,06-07,09)CD "Highway 61 Revisited Again" (Bootleg)
(02)CD "Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3" (1991-Columbia/Sony Music)
(05)CD "No Direction Home" (2005-Columbia/Sony Music)
(08)LP/CD "Highway 61 Revisited" (1965-Columbia/Sony Music)

“Sitting On A Barbed Wire Fence” is often called “Killing Me Alive” and has a fine wailing guitar from MB here and there, while Paul Griffin? on the organ lays down a solid rhythm (Al Kooper claims that he did not play until “Like A Rolling Stone” was recorded). The lyrics are probably off the cuff and the reason for not including the track in the album. The differences between tracks (1 and 2) are that the count-in has gone and track (2) is mixed in stereo and is faded out.

Track (3) is an alternative take mixed in stereo. It has Dylan’s harmonica and piano in front. Although marked as #2, it sounds like it’s the very first take, with Dylan at the piano trying to pound out a beat, and MB on guitar in the background trying to figure out what he should be playing.

Track (5) has Bob Dylan on harmonica and piano and again he is mixed very much to the front, with MB sliding away in the background. One gets the impression that Dylan is letting the band hear what he has in the bag. On track (6) MB is mixed more to the front, but all three tracks are the same take, with only the fading in and out giving differences in time.