Overdue Debts

Some thank-yous are postmature:

• Thanks to Denverite for his HISTORICALLY GREAT gift of the latest Dylan Bootleg Series set. As I am not the first to observe, the Blonde on Blonde material revved up to Highway 61 speed is the prize. But the rest of the alternate takes are worth hearing, and the fact that the intakes were generally better is its own fascination in comparison with Volumes 1-3, where the mysteries included how he could have left “Series of Dreams” off Oh Mercy or “Blind Willie McTell” off Infidels. The remaining mystery is why they’ve done a Self-Portrait outtakes set while the Blood on the Tracks sessions — the most tantalizing part of the first series — remain in the can.
• Thanks to an anonymous reader Howard for Made In Chicago — excellent stuff as always from the people involved.
• And thanks to Most Valuable Commenter Howard for the amazing Amina Claudine Myers playlist he sent me for the holidays. Unerring choices as always.

Remember, you too can have the eternal honor of a commendation on one of the most prestigious political blogs founded in 2004 and named after a Zevon song by sending something from my wishlist or from one of the ones from my colleagues accessible above!