| The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 – Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1989–2006 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compilation album by Bob Dylan | ||||
| Released | October 6, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | 1989–2006 | |||
| Genre | Rock, folk, folk rock, country rock, blues | |||
| Length | 137:07 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Bob Dylan chronology | ||||
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The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 – Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1989–2006 is a compilation album by singer-songwriter Bob Dylan in his official "bootleg series" of rare and unissued recordings.[1] It was originally released as a double, and (limited edition) triple album. It was later released as a single album, consisting of disc one of the double set. The three-disc version of Tell Tale Signs includes a detailed 56 page book annotating the recordings by Larry Sloman, and a book of photos of "The Collected Single Sleeves of Bob Dylan" drawing on Dylan releases from around the world, plus a 7" vinyl single with two tracks from the set: "Dreamin' Of You" and "Ring Them Bells".
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.[2] 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, Good as I Been to You and Love and Theft were all recorded during this time period, no tracks from these sessions are 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 its first week it opened with #6 on the Billboard 200, selling over 600,000 copies to date and becoming Dylan's 17th album to open in the top 10.
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.[3] 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.[4][5][6]
Contents |
All songs written by Bob Dylan except as indicated.
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 5000 customers were also given a Theme Time Radio Hour poster.[8]
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 Sloman.[9]
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [10] |
| BBC | (favorable) [11] |
| The Chicago Tribune | (favorable) [12] |
| Robert Christgau | [13] |
| Entertainment Weekly | (A) [14] |
| The Guardian | [15] |
| Paste | 88% [16] |
| Pitchfork Media | (8.6/10) [17] |
| Rolling Stone | [18] |
| Uncut | [19] |
| Variety | (favorable) [20] |
Tell Tale Signs currently maintains a 86% positive ("Universal acclaim") rating at MetaCritic.[21] It was also named the second best album of 2008 by Rolling Stone magazine.[22]