The_Bootleg_Series_Vol._8_–_Tell_Tale_Signs:_Rare_and_Unreleased_1989–2006
The Bootleg Series Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1989–2006
2008 compilation album by Bob Dylan
The Bootleg Series Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1989–2006 is a compilation album by singer-songwriter Bob Dylan released on Legacy Records in 2008. The sixth installment of the ongoing Bob Dylan Bootleg Series, it was originally released as a double-disc set, a limited edition triple vinyl album, as well as a three-disc expanded version. This latter edition of Tell Tale Signs includes a detailed 56-page book annotating the recordings by Larry Sloman, a book of photos The Collected Single Sleeves of Bob Dylan drawing on Dylan releases from around the world, plus a 7-inch vinyl single comprising two tracks from the set: "Dreamin' of You" and "Ring Them Bells".
| The Bootleg Series Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1989–2006 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | October 6, 2008 (2008-10-06) | |||
| Recorded | 1989–2006 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 137:07 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Bob Dylan chronology | ||||
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| Bob Dylan Bootleg Series chronology | ||||
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The album spans the recording sessions for Oh Mercy, World Gone Wrong, Time Out of Mind, and Modern Times as well as a number of soundtrack contributions and previously unreleased live tracks from 1989 through 2006.[1] The collection also includes a track from an abandoned album Dylan had started to record with David Bromberg in 1992, and Dylan's duet with Ralph Stanley "The Lonesome River".
Although Under the Red Sky, and Good as I Been to You were all recorded during this time period, no tracks from these sessions were included on Tell Tale Signs. An alternate version of "Series of Dreams" was included on Vol. 3 of the Bootleg Series. "Dreamin' of You", an outtake from the Time Out of Mind sessions, was offered for free download on Bob Dylan's site and was also sent to radio stations as a promotional single.
In the first week of October 2008, the entire album was made available in a free streaming format on National Public Radio's official website.[2]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [3] |
| BBC | Favorable[4] |
| The Chicago Tribune | Favorable[5] |
| Robert Christgau |  [6] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A[7] |
| The Guardian |  [8] |
| Paste | 88/100[9] |
| Pitchfork Media | 8.6/10[10] |
| Rolling Stone | [11] |
| Uncut | [12] |
| Variety | Favorable[13] |
The album entered the Billboard 200 at number 6, becoming Dylan's 17th album to open in the top 10. It went on to sell over 600,000 copies. Tell Tale Signs currently maintains an 86% positive ("Universal acclaim") rating at Metacritic.[14] It was also named the second best album of 2008 by Rolling Stone magazine.[15]
CBS's announcement that the two-CD set would sell for $18.99 and the three-CD version for $129.99 drew charges of "rip-off pricing" from Dylan biographer Michael Gray and other critics.[16][17][18]
All songs written by Bob Dylan except as indicated.
| No. | Title | Source | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mississippi" | Unreleased, Time Out of Mind | 6:04 |
| 2. | "Most of the Time" | Alternate version, Oh Mercy | 3:46 |
| 3. | "Dignity" | Piano demo, Oh Mercy | 2:09 |
| 4. | "Someday Baby" | Alternate version, Modern Times | 5:56 |
| 5. | "Red River Shore" | Unreleased, Time Out of Mind | 7:36 |
| 6. | "Tell Ol' Bill" | Alternate version of song released on the North Country soundtrack | 5:31 |
| 7. | "Born in Time" | Unreleased, Oh Mercy | 4:10 |
| 8. | "Can't Wait" | Alternate version, Time Out of Mind | 5:45 |
| 9. | "Everything Is Broken" | Alternate version, Oh Mercy | 3:27 |
| 10. | "Dreamin' of You" | Unreleased, Time Out of Mind | 5:54 |
| 11. | "Huck's Tune" | From the Lucky You soundtrack | 4:09 |
| 12. | "Marchin' to the City" | Unreleased, Time Out of Mind | 6:36 |
| 13. | "High Water (For Charley Patton)" | Live, August 23, 2003, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada | 6:40 |
| Total length: | 67:43 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Source | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mississippi" | Alternate version 2, Time Out of Mind | 6:24 | |
| 2. | "32-20 Blues" | Robert Johnson | Unreleased, World Gone Wrong | 4:22 |
| 3. | "Series of Dreams" | Unreleased, Oh Mercy | 6:27 | |
| 4. | "God Knows" | Unreleased, Oh Mercy | 3:12 | |
| 5. | "Can't Escape from You" | Unreleased, December 2005 recording | 5:22 | |
| 6. | "Dignity" | Unreleased, Oh Mercy | 5:25 | |
| 7. | "Ring Them Bells" | Live at The Supper Club, November 17, 1993, New York, NY | 4:59 | |
| 8. | "Cocaine Blues" | T. J. "Red" Arnall | Live, August 24, 1997, Vienna, VA | 4:40 |
| 9. | "Ain't Talkin'" | Alternate version, Modern Times | 6:13 | |
| 10. | "The Girl on the Greenbriar Shore" | A. P. Carter | Live, June 30, 1992, Dunkerque, France | 2:51 |
| 11. | "Lonesome Day Blues" | Live, February 1, 2002, Sunrise, FL | 7:37 | |
| 12. | "Miss the Mississippi" | Bill Halley | Unreleased, 1992 | 3:20 |
| 13. | "The Lonesome River" | Ralph Stanley, Carter Stanley | 3:04 | |
| 14. | "'Cross the Green Mountain" | from the Gods and Generals soundtrack | 8:15 | |
| 15. | "Love Sick" | Live, iTunes Bonus track | 5:40 | |
| Total length: | 77:51 | |||
The official Bob Dylan website offered a deluxe edition of the album, including a 150-page book and a bonus disc of tracks on top of the regular edition. Fans who pre-ordered the deluxe set directly from Bob Dylan's website also received an exclusive 7" vinyl. The first 5,000 customers were also given a Theme Time Radio Hour poster.[19] The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 was also released on vinyl as 4 x 180g. LPs, plus a digital download and a 12" x 12" version of the book authored by Larry Sloman. [20]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Source | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Duncan & Brady" | Traditional | Unreleased, 1992 | 3:47 |
| 2. | "Cold Irons Bound" | Live at Bonnaroo, 2004 | 5:57 | |
| 3. | "Mississippi" | Alternate version No. 3, Time Out of Mind | 6:24 | |
| 4. | "Most of the Time" | Alternate version No. 2, Oh Mercy | 5:10 | |
| 5. | "Ring Them Bells" | Alternate version, Oh Mercy | 3:18 | |
| 6. | "Things Have Changed" | Live, June 15, 2000, Portland, OR | 5:32 | |
| 7. | "Red River Shore" | Unreleased version No. 2, Time Out of Mind | 7:08 | |
| 8. | "Born in Time" | Unreleased version No. 2, Oh Mercy | 4:19 | |
| 9. | "Tryin' to Get to Heaven" | Live, October 5, 2000, London, England | 5:10 | |
| 10. | "Marchin' to the City" | Unreleased version No. 2, Time Out of Mind | 3:39 | |
| 11. | "Can't Wait" | Alternate version No. 2, Time Out of Mind | 7:24 | |
| 12. | "Mary and the Soldier" | Traditional | Unreleased, World Gone Wrong | 4:23 |
| Total length: | 62:11 | |||
| No. | Title | Source | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dreamin' of You" (Single Edit) | Unreleased, Time Out Of Mind | 3:34 |
| 2. | "Ring Them Bells" | Alternate version, Oh Mercy | 3:18 |
| Total length: | 6:52 | ||
- The Bootleg Series Vol. 17: Fragments – Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996–1997) - 2023 compilation of further demos and outtakes from the Time Out of Mind sessions
- "Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1986–2006 Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- NPR.com article: Exclusive Preview: Bob Dylan's 'Tell Tale Signs'.
- Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Artist 169". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved September 11, 2011.
- "Entertainment Weekly review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- "CD: Rock review: Bob Dylan, Tell Tale Signs". The Guardian. October 2, 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023.
- "Uncut Magazine review". Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
- Metacritic page for Tell Tale Signs.
- Gray expressed his opinion in his Bob Dylan Encyclopedia blog "Tell Tale Signs Pt. 3, Money Doesn't Talk..." Bob Dylan Encyclopedia blog. August 1, 2008. Retrieved September 6, 2008.
- Cairns, Dan (October 5, 2008). "Tell Tale Signs". The Sunday Times. Retrieved October 6, 2008.
- Beech, Mark (October 6, 2008). "Dylan Opens Archive to Reveal Gems, Gaffes, Rockers: Mark Beech". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
- "Skyroo.com: Bob Dylan — The Bootleg Series No. 8 – Official SONY BMG Pre-Order Store". Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved July 30, 2008.
- Fremer, Michael (March 1, 2009). "A Treasure Trove Deluxe Edition for Bob Fans". Michael Fremer's music angle. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2010.