From: howells@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov (John Howells)
Subject: Great White Wonder
Summary: the first bootleg
Organization: NASA Ames Res. Ctr. Mtn Vw CA 94035
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 92 19:43:40 GMT

Some people have asked for this, so here's a description of the world's
first bootleg album (although I'm sure others will argue this point):
Great White Wonder. 

This unusual looking double album, which appeared in various odd places
sometime in 1969, had a completely white cover (something the Beatles
had done the previous year) with a simple rubber stamped title on the
front. The discs themselves either came with blank labels or had bogus
titles. Absolutely no information was given anywhere and the whole
affair seemed very contraband and somehow forbidden, so naturally I
bought a copy even though I was by no means a Dylan fan.  This bootleg
went a long way toward changing my opinion of the man and intrigued me
enough to investigate further.

Listening for the first time, I had no idea where most of this material
came from. I knew about the Basement Tapes, but only vaguely. I already
had a copy of _Music From Big Pink_, but that was about it. Eventually
it would all become somewhat clearer, but for the benefit of those who
don't really know what this album is all about, here's a rundown of
sorts.

There were two main sources for this material: the Minnesota Hotel tape
(1961) and the Basement Tapes (1967). The album was filled out with
odds and ends and overall is one of the poorest sounding bootlegs of
all time, but its historical importance more than makes up for it!

I have no idea how the Minnesota tape came into circulation, but I know
that the Basement Tapes began to be circulated because a 14 song
(sometimes more) acetate was sent out to various artists and agents
with the idea in mind that some of these artists might like to record
Bob's newest songs. Naturally, this material couldn't remain hidden for
long, and so we have _Great White Wonder_, _Troubled Troubador_, and
other bootlegs. Eventually this material would become more or less
officially available, but that wouldn't happen for another 8 years.

So, the album itself:

Side 1:
-------

Baby Please Don't Go 

	This song comes from the famous Minnesota Hotel tape of 
	December 1961. Most of side 1 and side 3 is from this
	session - one of his very best from the early years.

Pete Seeger Chat 

	This brief conversation comes from the WBAI Broadside
	Show of May 1962. Dylan is being asked about his songwriting
	technique. Others appearing on the radio broadcast include
	Gil Turner and Sis Cunningham.
	
Dink's Song
See That My Grave Is Kept Clean
East Orange, N.J.
Man of Constant Sorrow

	All of the above are from the Minnesota Hotel 12/61 tape.

Side 2:
-------

New Orleans Rag (fragment)

	Depending on who you believe, this fragment comes from either
	the "Times" session (October 1963) or the "Another Side"
	session (June 1964). I would guess the "Times" session myself.
	At any rate, the sound quality here is pretty abysmal, as is
	the rest of this side. A much better version of this same take
	appears on another famous bootleg _Stealin'_.

If You Gotta Go, Go Now 

	There were two takes of this song recorded January 14, 1965
	for the "Bringing/Home" album. This version actually wound up
	being released as a single in parts of Europe and is very rare.
	The other version was recently released as part of the _Bootleg
	Series_. I think this is the better take, but the sound here is
	very poor. It's much better on _Stealin'_.

Only a Hobo 

	Recorded sometime during the "Times" sessions of August through
	October 1963, I believe this is the same version that now
	appears on the _Bootleg Series_, but it could be a different
	take. Again, sound is poor.

Barbed Wire Fence 

	Recorded at the second "Highway 61" session of June 16, 1965.
	This is the more famous of two takes, and is the same one that
	appears in pristine quality on the _Bootleg Series_. Sound
	quality here is just terrible. Also on _Stealin'_ in much
	better quality, but still with that annoying drop in tone
	after the second verse.
	
Mighty Quinn
Wheel's On Fire

	From the famous Basement Tapes recorded June through October
	1967. For many people, this was the very first glimpse of
	what Dylan was up to between the time of his motorcycle
	accident in 1966 and the release of _John Wesley Harding_.
	In fact, the basement tunes were probably the main reason
	for the existence of this bootleg. These two are among the
	most famous. Sound quality is pretty poor.

Side 3:
-------

Candy Man
Ramblin' Round
Black Cross
I Ain't Got No Home

	More from Minnesota 1961. Sound quality is okay.

Emmett Till 

	This song is from the WBAI Broadside Show that popped up
	on side one. Sound quality decent.

Poor Lazarus

	Minnesota 1961 again. One of the best songs from the session.
	This one never fails to grab me.

Side 4:
-------

I Shall Be Released
Open the Door, Homer
Too Much of Nothing
Nothing Was Delivered
Tears of Rage

	All from the Basement Tapes 1967. Poor to fair sound quality.
	A much better sounding bootleg called _Troubled Troubador_
	had the same material in much better sound, but still not as
	good as the recently released _Genuine Basement Tapes_ CDs.

Living the Blues

	The only "live" track on the album, unless you count the 
	"Emmett Till" radio broadcast. This was Dylan's appearance
	on The premiere of the Johnny Cash Show on May 1, 1969. As
	usual, the sound is not so good.

--
                                        John Howells
                                        howells@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov 
                                        howells@earth.arc.nasa.gov
Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan