Collectors Music Reviews

MIXING UP THE MEDICINE

A new CD release from the Hollow Horn Encore Label that features the first ever release of the legendary Basement Tapes Safety Master. This was a tape reportedly made by Garth Hudson in early 1968, under full studio conditions, of the best available original master tapes made in the summer of 1967 and it features the bulk of the original songs that were recorded. This safety tape features truly breathtaking sound quality and also, in the majority of cases, features the material in its original glorious stereo (virtually none of this material has ever been heard in it’s original true stereo… including on the ridiculous official release!) The first time I got to listen this material my jaw nearly hit the floor! It really is a whole new listening experience!!

Four bonus tracks from other sources have also been included as bonus tracks, which also means that this set also stands as a close to perfect one disc compilation of the Basement Tapes Dylan compositions. The packaging is the usual high quality fold out mini album design complete with an eight page booklet of notes, pictures and some lovely reproductions of the cartoons from the classic vinyl album Little White Wonder. An early contender for the best, and most important release of 2009!

The track listing of this set is as follows:

The Basement Tapes Safety Master Tape
1. Million Dollar Bash
2. Yea Heavy and a Bottle of Bread
3. I’m Not There (1956)
4. Please Mrs Henry
5. Down in the Flood
6. Lo and Behold
7. This Wheel’s On Fire
8. You Ain’t Going Nowhere
9. I Shall Be Released
10. Too Much Of Nothing
11. Nothing Was Delivered
12. Odds and Ends
13. Get Your Rocks Off
14. Clothesline Saga
15. Apple Suckling Tree
16. Open the Door Homer
17. Nothing Was Delivered
18. Tears Of Rage
19. Quinn The Eskimo
BONUS TRACKS
20. Tiny Montgomery
21. Sign On The Cross
22. Going To Acapulco
23. All You Have To Do Is Dream

MIGHTY MOCKINBIRD

A new CD release from the Hollow Horn Encore Label that features the complete performance from the concert at the Isle Of Wight Festival on 31 August 1969. This show has featured on several releases over the years, though all have been pieced together from multiple sources that range from excellent to mediocre. This edition features the entire performance (other than the end of the final song) from one source recording, reportedly made from the VIP enclosure right in the front of the stage, for a consistent and to be honest, very nice sounding recording. This show was a unique one off performance and this release certainly comes closest to giving it full justice, and features the usual high quality fold out mini album design complete with an eight page booklet of notes and pictures.

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