Dylan's back pages - Anniversary of 'Blood On The Tracks,' 1975

Hammond heard of the session the day it started "and I could hardly believe it," he said. "So I went over there. I said to Bob, 'This is a strange day to start recording," because it was Rosh Hoshanna and it was hard to get musicians. And Bob said, "Well, why not today? It's the new year, isn't it?' -  "Blood on the Tracks: Dylan Looks Back," by Larry Sloman, from the November 21, 1974, issue of Rolling Stone 

Rear cover Blood On The Tracks, second version (Columbia Records)

Bob Dylan's 15th studio album, Blood On The Tracks, was released on January 17,1975,  exactly one year to the day after Planet Waves.  Blood On The Tracks is widely regarded as not only one of Dylan's best albums, but one of the greatest records of all time. It was a new beginning - Dylan returning to Columbia Records, with renewed vigor after a return to the road in early 1974.

Blood On The Tracks is actually two different records, with at least three different album covers.

"Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack Of Hearts," New York version

Dylan recorded his first version of the album in New York, during September, 1974.  It reached the test pressing stage. Despite positive feedback, Dylan had second thoughts after playing the album for his brother. The story goes that David Zimmerman told Dylan that the album was somewhat monotonous, and could be spruced up by using local musicians. Dylan canceled the release, and went back into a Minneapolis studio for two sessions with local musicians, at the end of December, to re-record half  the album.

The original liner notes on the back cover, written by Pete Hamill, referred to the original, rejected album, along with an illustration by David Oppenheim. They were soon replaced with new Oppenheim art, and no liner notes.  When Hamill's original notes unexpectedly won a Grammy, they were reinstated on the back cover, this time in easier-to-read white lettering. The Minneapolis musicians were never credited. 

Side one
* "Tangled Up in Blue" – 5:42
"Simple Twist of Fate" – 4:19
* "You're a Big Girl Now" – 4:36
* "Idiot Wind" – 7:48
"You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" – 2:55
Side two
"Meet Me in the Morning" – 4:22
* "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts" – 8:51
* "If You See Her, Say Hello" – 4:49
"Shelter from the Storm" – 5:02
"Buckets of Rain" – 3:22 

All songs recorded in New York, except * Minneapolis.   

 A handful of alternate takes and songs have been officially released.  Alternate or remixed versions of four deleted New York tracks have since been released on Biograph ( "You're A Big Girl Now",) and The Bootleg Series 1-3 ("Tangled Up In Blue", "Idiot Wind", "If You See Her, Say Hello".)  An alternate version of "Shelter From The Storm" appeared on the Jerry McGuire soundtrack.  "Call Letter Blues", a version of "Meet Me In The Morning" with different lyrics, also appeared on The Bootleg Series . The out-take, "Up To Me," surfaced on Biograph.

There used to be a posting on Sony's website which stated that a 2 CD reissue of Blood On The Tracks - with a disc devoted to each version - was in the works.  There has not been any word since.

"Up To Me"

New York musicians : Bob Dylan (guitar, vocal & harmonica), Charles Brown III (guitar), Barry Kornfeld (guitar), Eric Weissberg (guitar), Thomas McFaul (keyboards), Tony Brown (bass), Richard Crooks (drums), Paul Griffin (organ), Buddy Cage (steel guitar).
 

Minneapolis musicians : Bob Dylan (vocal, guitar & harmonica), Kevin Odegard (guitar), Peter Ostroushko (mandolin), Billy Peterson (bass), Gregg Inhofer (keyboards). Bill Berg (drums).

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