Bootleg 2 – From Memphis To Hollywood Available February 22, 2011.
“He laced a rootsy, less-is-more esthetic and a stark, shadow-over-light signature into his music, whatever style he chose or role he played. Bootleg II tags them all: the Bible-quoting evangelist and the rockabilly renegade. The Wild West balladeer, and the connoisseur of the death row lament. The reviver of the 19th century parlor music, and the booster of a new breed of songwriters that arrived in the 1960s”. Liner notes written by Ashley Kahn.
That sums up pretty much what this album is about. But what do we already know/have?
CD ONE: THE 1950s
The album starts off with a radio broadcast. A 15 minute broadcast from KWEM studio in Memphis on May, 21, 1955. Sound quality is very much ok, considering it to be from 1955 and probably taped from the radio. This radio show has been released before on the limited edition of ‘The Legend’ boxset as a bonus cd. (as mentioned below).
A. On The Air
1. KWEM Announcements and Advertisements
2. Johnny Cash Show Intro and Theme
3. Wide Open Road
4. Home Equipment Company Advertisement
5. One More Ride
6. Home Equipment Company Advertisement/Luther Perkins Intro
7. Luther’s Boogie
8. Belshazzar Intro
9. Belshazzar
10. Closing Comments and Theme
11. Overton Park Shell “Country
Music Jamboree” Advertisement by “Texas” Bill Strength, broadcast August 4, 1955.
Tracks 1-10 recorded May 21, 1955 in West Memphis, Arkansas. Tracks 1-11 previously released as bonus CD in limited edition of The Legend boxed set, 2005
B. Early Demos
Moving on to the early demos. What a pleasure it is to listen to this. Tracks 12 – 23 are unreleased. Track 23 is available on the Bear Family Release.
12. I Walk The Line (demo)
13. Get Rhythm (demo)
14. Train Of Love (demo)
15. Country Boy (demo)
16. My Treasure (demo)
17. Belshazzar (demo)
18. He’ll Be A Friend (demo)
19. When I Think Of You (demo)
20. I Just Don’t Care Enough (To Carry On) (demo)
21. I’ll Cry For You (demo)
22. You’re My Baby (demo)
23. Rock And Roll Ruby (demo, recorded probably late 1955; West Memphis, Arkansas, courtesy of Sun Entertainment Corporation.)
C. Sun Rarities
Sun rarities is next. Nice selection of songs for this part. What has or hasn’t been released:
24. Wide Open Road (recorded late 1954; produced by Sam Phillips) Available on Bear Family Release (cd 1 track 1)
25. Leave That Junk Alone (recorded August 4, 1957; produced by Jack Clement) Available on Bear Family Release (cd 2 track 19)
26. Brakeman’s Blues (incomplete) (recorded April 2, 1956; produced by Sam Phillips) Available on Bear Family Release (cd 1 track 23)
27. Big River (recorded November 12, 1957; produced by Jack Clement) Available on Bear Family Release (cd 2 track 27)
28. I Couldn’t Keep From Crying (recorded probably 1955; produced by Sam Phillips) Available on Bear Family Release (cd 1 track 15)
30. Goodnight Irene (recorded November 12, 1957; produced by Jack Clement) Available on Bear Family Release (cd 3 track 1) This is an overdubbed master. T
Tracks 24-30 recorded in Memphis, courtesy of Sun Entertainment Corporation
D. More Demos 31. Restless Kid (demo) 32 It’s All Over (demo). Tracks 31-32 previously unreleased, recording dates and locations unknown.
So in conclusion on disc 1; we have 13 unreleased songs.
CD TWO:
THE 1960s
1. All Over Again This one is mentioned as recorded in the 60’s. Although according the Bear Family Release it was recorded on August 8, 1958. The take is the same, but the take on the BFR has a little studio talk before going into the song. So we can say this song is available and not in it’s entire on this Bootleg II release. (cd 4 track 28)
2. You Dreamer You Another one that is available on the BFR release. According the BFR the recording date is March 12, 1959. The takes are the same. (speed goes a bit off when comparing the two, perhaps it occurred during remastering). (cd 6 track 13)
3. I’ll Remember You Another one from 1959 according to BFR. This one is supposed to be recorded on August 14. (speed goes a bit off when comparing the two, perhaps it occurred during remastering) (cd 6 track 28)
4. Johnny Yuma Theme (previously unreleased in the U.S.) Available on BFR. Recording date mentioned is December 14,1959. (speed goes a bit off when comparing the two, perhaps it occurred during remastering (cd 7 track 1)
5. Five Minutes To Live (previously unreleased in the U.S.) Available on BFR. Now we’re getting into the 60s. This one was recorded November 2, 1960. (speed goes a bit off when comparing the two, perhaps it occurred during remastering (disc 8 track 28)
6. The Losing Kind (previously unreleased in the U.S.) Available on BFR. Recorded November 2,1960. (speed goes a bit off when comparing the two, perhaps it occurred during remastering) (disc 8 track 29)
7. Locomotive Man Available on BFR Recorded November 26,1960. Too bad they didn’t include the alternate version of this song, without backup singers, the guitar more up front. (disc 8 track 34).
8. Girl In Saskatoon Available on BFR Recorded November 26,1960. (speed goes a bit off when comparing the two, perhaps it occurred during remastering) (disc 8 track 33).
9. There’s A Mother Always Waiting (previously unreleased in the U.S.) Available on BFR Recorded April 28-29, 1961 (disc 9 track 22).
10. Johnny Reb (previously unreleased in the U.S.) Available on BFR Recorded March 19-20, 1962 (speed goes a bit off when comparing the two, perhaps it occurred during remastering) (disc 10 track 10).
11. Shifting, Whispering Sands-with Lorne Greene (previously unreleased in the U.S.) Available on BFR Recorded April 18, 1962 (speed goes a bit off when comparing the two, perhaps it occurred during remastering) (disc 10 track 19).
12. Send A Picture Of Mother Available on BFR Recorded August 21, 1962 (disc 11 track 10).
13. Hardin Wouldn’t Run (demo) Available on BFR Recorded June 8, 1962 (disc 11 track 3).
14. Thunderball (previously unreleased in the U.S.) Available on BFR Recorded May 12, 1965 (disc 15 track 15).
15. One Too Many Mornings (previously unreleased in the U.S.) Available on BFR. Recorded October 29, 1965. (disc 16 track 3)
16. The Frozen Logger (previously unreleased in the U.S.) Available on BFR. Recorded January 11,1966. (disc 16 track 14)
17. Foolish Questions (previously unreleased in the U.S.) Available on BFR. Recorded January 12, 1966. (disc 16 track 22)
18. Bottom Of The Mountain Available on BFR. Recorded July 6, 1966. (disc 17 track 3)
19. Put The Sugar To Bed Available on BFR. Recorded November 1,1966. (disc 17 track 4)
20. You Beat All I Ever Saw Available on BFR. Recorded November 1,1966. (disc 17 track 5)
21. On The Line (previously unreleased in the U.S.) Available on BFR. Recorded January 12, 1967. (disc 17 track 10)
22. Roll Call Available on BFR. Recorded October 3, 1967. (disc 18 track 4). This version (on Bootleg II) seems have to have more echo though….but they are the same take for sure.
23. The Folk Singer Available on BFR. Recorded March 6, 1968. (disc 18 track 6)
24. Six White Horses (demo) Available on BFR. Recorded July 24, 1969
25. Come Along And Ride This Train (demo) (previously unreleased). Available on BFR. Recorded July 24, 1969
Now, lets count all the unreleased tracks on disc 2……two. So in total we have 13 unreleased songs. Not bad. Aside from that it’s just great having this set. Hopefully they are already working on Bootleg III.