Bruce's Journal

Bruce Slutsky was born in New York City in 1949. I retired 8 years ago after working as a Science/Engineering Librarian at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark for 25 years. I was married to Karen until she passed away in February 2021. I have a son Lee who is now 37 years old. I am very much interested in the popular music of the 1960s, especially Bob Dylan and the Beatles. I am interested in rock and roll radio. I am an enthusiastic fan of the New York Mets.

Friday, October 31, 2025

Treat from Amazon - Bob Dylan - Through the Open Window - The Bootleg Series Vol. 18 1956-1963

Back in the day, I would run to the nearest record store to buy the Bob Dylan album on the day of its release. Now I just have to wait for the Amazon deliveryman. My package arrived about 12 noon before any of the trick-or-treaters. They will come after school.

This 8-CD set provides never-before-released recordings from Dylan's formative years. It includes concert performances, uncirculated studio outtakes, and rarities of Dylan's performances in friends' apartments.

It also includes a book with photographs and text detailing Dylan's early recordings.

Instead of giving a long journal entry about this, I will refer my readers to Dylan scholar Ray Padgett's track-by-track guide to the set.

I received this on Halloween, but for me, it would have been more appropriate to receive it on Chanukkah, since I could listen to one CD per day for the 8 days of the festival.