Bob Dylan is one of music's most legendary and celebrated figures, and the recent biopic A Complete Unknown has only intensified that legacy. With Gen Z discovering his iconic work, the new box set ‘Through The Open Window, 1956-1963’ arrives at a perfect moment. It delves into his earliest recordings, his formative years on the Greenwich Village folk scene, and his broader emergence as an artist, providing an unparalleled insight into his beginnings. Filled with treasures, it offers fans much to explore, and despite its significant scope, the collection maintains a striking narrative drive.
Beginning with a couple of rough high school band recordings, the box set transitions from his early, somewhat awkward, folk-inspired home recordings to the newly renamed Bob Dylan amidst New York's bohemian life. The first two discs provide crucial glimpses into a creative mind coming into focus; despite their raw quality in recording and performance, there are exceptional performances. A poignant rendition of ‘K.C. Moan,’ for instance, transcends mere youthful experimentation, while the array of Woody Guthrie songs showcases Dylan honing his craft in real-time.
The pace of this development is astounding. Bob Dylan seems to expand his repertoire with each day, as evidenced by his menacing take on Rev. Gary Davis’ ‘Death Don’t Have No Mercy’ and the bold ‘Fixin’ To Die.’ The first disc concludes with Dylan’s harmonica on Carolyn Hester’s ‘I’ll Fly Away’—his first professional recording. Hester’s polished style starkly contrasts with Dylan’s raw expression, highlighting how out of sync he truly was at the time.
The second disc further accelerates this cultural evolution. The material for Bob Dylan’s debut album begins to take shape, revealing the influences that he is drawing from—blues being a recurring theme with an impressive variety of source material. For the reviewer, the intimacy of the home recordings is eye-opening; without his legendary status, he emerges as a relatable human being, complete with a sharp sense of humour.
As Bob Dylan’s reputation grew, so did the opportunities available to him. The third disc alternates between radio performances and studio work, featuring highlights like a playful rendition of ‘Blowin’ In The Wind,’ showcasing the song's evolution before it became a classic.
Surprises are abundant throughout this box set. An outstanding version of ‘Tomorrow Is A Long Time’ includes amusing studio banter, while recordings from the Gaslight Café capture a vivid sense of atmosphere—it's as if you can hear the coffee cups clinking in the background.
While some perceive Bob Dylan’s folk period as a monolithic entity, ‘Through The Open Window, 1956-1963’ thoughtfully dissects the various chapters and divergences in the songwriter's journey. The live recordings trace his development, even including outdoor performances from an SNCC Voter Registration rally. This places his famously viewed March On Washington performance within a broader context, fully immersing Dylan in his cultural milieu.
The collection concludes with out-takes from ‘The Times They Are-A Changin’ album, and a two-disc exploration of his iconic October 26th, 1963 performances at Carnegie Hall in New York. Although this performance is widely bootlegged and has been included in the Bootleg Series, hearing it in its entirety and high-quality audio serves as a significant bookmark in his career. It’s a remarkable performance—dynamic, occasionally playful, and deeply resonant, with the audience hanging on his every word.
As a kind of shadow catalog for fans to delve into lesser-known tracks, the Bootleg Series has developed its own dedicated following. While some listeners may recognize certain recordings here, the set isn't entirely exhaustive, notably missing the renowned Witmark demos (already featured in the Bootleg Series). What ‘Through The Open Window, 1956-1963’ offers is exceptional curatorial insight, providing a tangible narrative journey. It transports you back to the streets of early 60s New York, with enticing secrets behind each door.
9/10
Words: Robin Murray
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Bob Dylan is one of the most celebrated and legendary figures in music, and the recent biopic A Complete Unknown has amplified that reputation. With Gen Z