Revisiting: Bob Dylan – Springtime In New York (1980-1985) The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 (Columbia/Legacy/Third Man Records)

This compilation includes outtakes, rehearsals, and alternative takes from Dylan’s Shot Of Love, Infidels, and Empire Burlesque period. This box came out in 2021 and I brought it to the Desert Sessions in 2022 as one of the starters to birth that collection. I listened to it a couple times in the winters of 2022 and 2023. I am spinning it again this winter and it sounds cooler than I remember, especially the Third Man box portion (there is a 2-LP set that is similar to the sampler on streaming services and a 4-LP set that Third Man put out – together you get most of the CD box). Here is the link to my original blog post from September 2021.

What are my impressions this time around?

• Bob was searching for where to take his music in the 80s, a rough decade for his generation of musicians, and so there are experiments here. It is fun to witness the process. Despite the experimental nature of this collection, there are some absolute gems.
• Dylan was phasing out of his Christian period and returning to secular music. Despite the Christian period being maligned at the time, it has stood the test of time – the Christian era invigorated Dylan. He returns to secular music with renewed energy as a songwriter, vocalist, and entertainer. The re-entry is fun to witness.
• He may be confused, but he has not lost his songwriting mojo – the songs from the three studio album period are solid. As usual, Dylan had some quality “rejects.”
• Dylan was doing a bunch of covers in the studio (rehearsals) – some are inspired and some are goofy – all are delightful.
• This compilation resonates with me now. I wasn’t ready until now – my mind is now right to receive it. Not sure why it has taken so long for this compilation to sink in as the three studio albums from this period were important to me when they came out.

The various Dylan Bootleg albums are absolute revelations. Dylan, Inc. is managing the legacy and archive masterfully. This early 80s period of Dylan means a lot to me as this is when I was witnessing Dylan in real-time. I know the studio albums really well. To have a peek at what else was going on behind the scenes is amazing.

I happen to have Shot Of Love as part of the Desert Sessions. It is a pretty great record. I have a very vivid memory of waiting outside the Wax Museum in Minneapolis on release day (August 12, 1981) for the store to open so I could snag a copy. I had gotten into Dylan in the spring of 1978 via Uncle Paul while a freshman in college. 3 years later I was all in on Born Again Bob. The Christian phase did not bother me. I was pretty serious about figuring out Christianity for myself at the time, so no problem that Bob was Born Again. But the real bonus was the Christian phase reinvigorated Bob: his songwriting was inspired, his live performances were spirited, and his vocals were fantastic – he was in full rock star mode with a Christian twist. It was all pretty brilliant and I was all in on Slow Train Coming and Saved so I couldn’t wait for Shot of Love.

The first listens of Shot of Love were unimpressive, Bob was crashing from his Born Again high. He was moving back to rock stylings from the gospel styling of the prior two albums. I was not alone in my disappointment, critics shit on Shot of Love when it came out.

As time passed I came to appreciate Shot of Love. Why? My ears have seriously matured and learned. I was very ignorant in 1981. There has been a lot of Bob material that took years to sink in. Add Shot of Love to that list. Today, Shot of Love sounds rock, almost punk (in The Clash sense) – something I can fully appreciate now. The point of all of this Shot of Love talk is that I am in a receptive place to enjoy this box set. At some other time, I will revisit Infidels and Empire Burlesque.

The 25-song sampler of Springtime In New York that is available on steaming services does a nice job of capturing the box: