Expecting Rain

An attempt to listen to all of Bob Dylan's studio albums in order over the summer, climaxing with the release of the newest Bob Dylan album sometime in September. There will be about 2-3 albums per week.

Part 11:
Self Portrait
Release: June 8, 1970

Join in the experience of hearing the albums in sequence. Turn this sh*t up loud and get back to us!

allmusic review:
There has never been a clearer attempt to shed an audience than Self-Portrait. At least, that's one way of looking at this baffling double album, a deliberately sprawling affair that runs the gamut from self-portrait to self-parody, touching on operatic pop, rowdy Basement Tapes leftovers, slight whimsy, and covers of wannabe Dylans from Paul Simon to Gordon Lightfoot. To say the least, it's confusing, especially arriving at the end of a decade of unmitigated brilliance, and while the years have made it easier to listen to, it still remains inscrutable, an impossible record to unlock. It may not be worth the effort, either, since this isn't a matter of deciphering cryptic lyrics or interpreting lyrics, it's all about discerning intent, figuring out what the hell Dylan was thinking when he was recording -- not trying to decode a song. There are times where it's quite clearly played for a laugh -- if his shambling version of "The Boxer" isn't a pointed parody of Paul Simon, there was no reason to cut it -- but he's poker-faced elsewhere, and the songs (apart from such earthed gems as "Mighty Quinn," which aren't presented in their best versions) are simply not worth much consideration. But, in a strange way, Self Portrait is, because decades have passed and it still doesn't make much sense, even for Dylanphiles. That doesn't necessarily mean that it's worth the time to figure it out -- you're not going to find an answer, anyway -- but it's sort of fascinating all the same.
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Bob Dylan
Release: March 19, 1962
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The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Release: May 27, 1963
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The Times They Are a-Changin'
Release: January 13, 1964
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Another Side of Bob Dylan
Release: August 8, 1964
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Bringing It All Back Home
Release: March 22, 1965
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Highway 61 Revisited
Release: August 30, 1965
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Blonde on Blonde
Release: June 20, 1966
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The Basement Tapes
Recorded: June-September 1967 Release: June 26, 1975
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John Wesley Harding
Release: December 27, 1967
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Nashville Skyline
Release: April 9, 1969
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Self Portrait
Release: June 8, 1970

New Morning
Release: October 21, 1970

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
Release: July 13, 1973

Dylan
Release: November 16, 1973

Planet Waves
Release: January 17, 1974

Blood on the Tracks
Release: January 17, 1975

Desire
Release: January 16, 1976

Street Legal
Release: June 15, 1978

Slow Train Coming
Release: August 20, 1979

Saved
Release: June 20, 1980

Shot of Love
Release: August 12, 1981

Infidels
Release: November 1, 1983

Empire Burlesque
Release: June 8, 1985

Knocked Out Loaded
Release: August 8, 1986

Down in the Groove
Release: May 31, 1988

Oh Mercy
Release: September 22, 1989

Under the Red Sky
Release: September 11, 1990

Good as I Been to You
Release: October 27, 1992

World Gone Wrong
Release: October 28, 1993

Time Out of Mind
Release: September 30, 1997

"Love and Theft"
Release: September 11, 2001

Modern Times
Release: August 29, 2006

Together Through Life
Release: April 28, 2009

Christmas in the Heart
Release: October 13, 2009

1. All The Tired Horses
2. Alberta #1
3. I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know
4. Days Of 49
5. Early Mornin' Rain
6. In Search Of Little Sadie
7. Let It Be Me
8. Little Sadie
9. Woogie Boogie
10. Belle Isle
11. Living The Blues
12. Like A Rolling Stone
13. Copper Kettle (The Pale Moonlight)
14. Gotta Travel On
15. Blue Moon
16. The Boxer
17. Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)
18. Take Me As I Am (Or Let Me Go)
19. Take A Message To Mary
20. it Hurts Me Too
21. Minstrel Boy
22. She Belongs To Me
23. Wigwam
24. Alberta #2

Okay - I know this is probably his most controversial album - but I have to say that I love it (ducks for cover from the tomatoes) - he's just enjoying himself - giving us some of his favorites - I play this album often. Really.

I love it too, Doomed. My initial reaction though was that of confusion due to the two voices. It's obvious to me that SP comes from two different sessions (NashSky voice and NewMorn voice)...not to mention the Isle of Wight songs. Of course, they're easily separated with a laptop but, as a whole, I still enjoy puttin' this one on occasionally (albeit when I'm alone ).

I absolutely adore Self Portrait!

Me too. Is there really anyone here who still thinks it's sh*t? Surely not.

I enjoy it myself. Though there are quite a few others I prefer to it. I wonder if Greil Marcus ever changed his tune.

I like that thought- wonder as well myself if he revisits it. I do and with some regularity. Never an abomination of an album for me. There is enough in it to keep me coming back. The sound of Bob crooning "Blue Moon" always puts a smile on my face.

i occasionally listen to "All the Tired Horses" and "Alberta #2," but that's about it

Didn't need to be a double album. Edited down to it's best 40 mins or so could have made a passable platter of Dylan's sucking up those remaining countrified fumes.

this was one of the earliest i bought - only had greatest hits, wgw, desire, before i got my hands on it. i loved the back cover. i listened to it back in the day of Blockbuster Music - and I loved a LOT of it. always felt it was an honest, genuine sharing of a glimpse of music he was a fan of....i am more than a world shaker - this is me. hence self portrait. also a way to demonstrate how wide his musical vocabulary is - a little preview of Theme time radio hour many years ahead....

thoughts;

Side 1

the range displayed in the first 4/5 songs are as impressive or as unsettling as the first four on blonde and blonde.
these are his inside thoughts in my little imaginary world:

All the tired horse - 'I am a tired horse, and i can take different musical directions if i want to.'
Alberta (let you hair hang down) - 'all you uptight critics can stuff it. relax and have a good time, that's what music is for too.'
I forgot more than you'll every know - 'i can sing properly if i want to'
Days of 49 - 'I can take this approach and still kick it too!' (the little 'oh my goodness' in there is quite priceless - right before the Rag Jack Bill verse)
Early morning rain - 'i like rain, and weather and stuff.'
In search of Little Sadie - 'days of 49 part two'


i'll do the other sides when i'm not tired....now i'm off to watch some olympic trials!! swim swim swim !!!

Huh?

That's a Gordon Lightfoot song, Bob likes Gord. He once said something about when he hears a Gordon Lightfoot song he wishes it just go on forever.

Awesome and underrated album.

Glad to see this ones getting nice reviews on here. This is a great Bob Dylan album, at a time when he was just happy doing what he was doing. It's not Blonde on Blonde, but it's a really fun album that I listen to a lot. Let It Be Me, In Search Of Little Sadie, Alberta # 1, Days Of 49, Early Morning Rain, The Boxer are some of my favourite songs. I really don't get why it's get put down.

only thing good with it...

The interesting tenderly beautiful voice and the live stuff. Some songs are actually enjoyable though such as "It hurts me too" and "Days of 49"

Only recommended for a Dylan freak... like myself and everyone else here.

This was certainly a maligned album for years, but I've been sensing a movement from the current music community 'hipoise' to give it a venerated place it still doesn't deserve, just for the sake of being different, and because it's Bob. The album was a very lazy effort, of that there can be no doubt. Even if some of the songs still came off okay.

Days of 49 is like one of my favorite Bob songs, ever.

Oh my goodness...

I never will forget...

It's a masterpiece, OKAY?!

EDIT: I just now got it.

Ha just joking, 'tis a great song.

Jolly, saucy crew we have here.

a perfect album of those times; actually more like parts of four albums that got mixed together as he sought escape from the corner he had painted himself into.

I really like it too. It doesnt hold together as a "whole" for me (like a BoB or BOTT), but there is some VERY interesting stuff on here.

This album is worth it just for Wigwam!

has anybody heard the reissue?? i have an old copy - but i've considered dropping down for an untouched copy, which i have seen in the stores...i think it's european but i'm not sure...it's one of those i don't mind the occasional pop though...