For the first time in the Bob Dylan Bootleg Series, a film is being included in the deluxe package.
Jennifer Lebeau’s Trouble No More: A Musical Film, which combines unreleased footage from Dylan's 1980 tours with new material written by Luc Sante and performed by Michael Shannon, is part of the nine-disc deluxe edition of Bob Dylan—Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series Vol. 13/1979-1981. Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings will release the set, along with two-CD/four-LP standard versions, on 11/3.
Of all the editions in the series, Trouble No More tackles Dylan’s vexing era—his “religious phase.” The period covers the trilogy of Slow Train Coming (1979), Saved (1980) and Shot of Love (1981), years when Dylan’s fans were mystified by his turning to songs of praise, worship and devotion; it has no connection with Street Legal-Desire period prior nor the polished records from the back half of the ‘80s. Out of Dylan’s 50-plus year career, this is an era most in need of re-examination.
At the time, Dylan’s move cost him a fan base. Almost overnight, Dylan went from being an arena act to a theater act after word got out his was singing about salvation instead of simple twists of fate.
Dylan’s live shows during the period, as the film shows, are intense and jubilant thanks to an ace band—Spooner Oldham, Fred Tackett, Tim Drummond, Jim Keltner and three gospel singers—that stayed with him for multiple tours and brought a cohesion to the performances. Oddly enough, in 1979, he made his only appearance on Saturday Night Live, performing his best-known song from the era, “Gotta Serve Somebody.”
Trouble No More comprises six discs of live performances, 31 previously unreleased outtakes and performances and a bonus DVD of six concert performances.
The deluxe box set includes a hardcover book with liner notes by Amanda Petrusich, Rob Bowman and noted atheist Penn Jillette.
The tracks:
Disc 1: Live
- Slow Train (Nov. 16, 1979)
- Gotta Serve Somebody (Nov. 15, 1979)
- I Believe in You (May 16, 1980)
- When You Gonna Wake Up? (July 9, 1981)
- When He Returns (Dec. 5, 1979)
- Man Gave Names to All the Animals (Jan. 16, 1980)
- Precious Angel (Nov. 16, 1979)
- Covenant Woman (Nov. 20, 1979)
- Gonna Change My Way of Thinking (Jan. 31, 1980)
- Do Right to Me Baby (Do Unto Others) (Jan. 28, 1980)
- Solid Rock (Nov. 27, 1979)
- What Can I Do for You? (Nov. 27, 1979)
- Saved (Jan. 12, 1980)
- In the Garden (Jan. 27, 1980)
Disc 2: Live
- Slow Train (June 29, 1981)
- Ain't Gonna Go to Hell for Anybody (Unreleased song - Apr. 24, 1980)
- Gotta Serve Somebody (July 15, 1981)
- Ain't No Man Righteous, No Not One (Unreleased song - Nov. 16, 1979)
- Saving Grace (Nov. 6, 1979)
- Blessed Is the Name (Unreleased song - Nov. 20, 1979)
- Solid Rock (Oct. 23, 1981)
- Are You Ready? (Apr. 30, 1980)
- Pressing On (Nov. 6, 1979)
- Shot of Love (July 25, 1981)
- Dead Man, Dead Man (June 21, 1981)
- Watered-Down Love (June 12, 1981)
- In the Summertime (Oct. 21, 1981)
- The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar (Nov. 13, 1980)
- Caribbean Wind (Nov. 12, 1980)
- Every Grain of Sand (Nov. 21, 1981)
Disc 3: Rare and Unreleased
- Slow Train (Soundcheck – Oct. 5, 1978)
- Do Right to Me Baby (Do Unto Others) (Soundcheck – Dec. 7, 1978)
- Help Me Understand (Unreleased song – Oct. 5, 1978)
- Gonna Change My Way of Thinking (Rehearsal – Oct. 2, 1979)
- Gotta Serve Somebody (Outtake – May 4, 1979)
- When He Returns (Outtake – May 4, 1979)
- Ain't No Man Righteous, No Not One (Unreleased song – May 1, 1979)
- Trouble in Mind (Outtake – April 30, 1979)
- Ye Shall Be Changed (Outtake – May 2, 1979)
- Covenant Woman (Outtake –February 11, 1980)
- Stand by Faith (Unreleased song – Sept. 26, 1979)
- I Will Love Him (Unreleased song – Apr. 19, 1980)
- Jesus Is the One (Unreleased song – Jul. 17, 1981)
- City of Gold (Unreleased song – Nov. 22, 1980)
- Thief on the Cross (Unreleased song – Nov. 10, 1981)
- Pressing On (Outtake – Feb. 13, 1980)
Disc 4: Rare and Unreleased
- Slow Train (Rehearsal – Oct. 2, 1979)
- Gotta Serve Somebody (Rehearsal – Oct. 9, 1979)
- Making a Liar Out of Me (Unreleased song – Sept. 26, 1980)
- Yonder Comes Sin (Unreleased song – Oct. 1, 1980)
- Radio Spot January 1980, Portland, OR show
- Cover Down, Pray Through (Unreleased song – May 1, 1980)
- Rise Again (Unreleased song – Oct. 16, 1980)
- Ain't Gonna Go to Hell for Anybody (Unreleased song – Dec. 2, 1980)
- The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar (Outtake – May 1, 1981)
- Caribbean Wind (Rehearsal – Sept. 23, 1980)
- You Changed My Life (Outtake – April 23, 1981)
- Shot of Love (Outtake – March 25, 1981)
- Watered-Down Love (Outtake – May 15, 1981)
- Dead Man, Dead Man (Outtake – April 24, 1981)
- Every Grain of Sand (Rehearsal – Sept. 26, 1980)
Disc 5 - Live in Toronto 1980
- Gotta Serve Somebody (April 18, 1980)
- I Believe In You (April 18, 1980)
- Covenant Woman (April 19, 1980)
- When You Gonna Wake Up? (April 18, 1980)
- When He Returns (April 20, 1980)
- Ain't Gonna Go To Hell For Anybody (Unreleased song - April 18, 1980)
- Cover Down, Pray Through (Unreleased song - April 19, 1980)
- Man Gave Names To All The Animals (April 19, 1980)
- Precious Angel (April 19, 1980)
Disc 6 - Live in Toronto 1980
- Slow Train (April 18, 1980)
- Do Right To Me Baby (Do Unto Others) (April 20, 1980)
- Solid Rock (April 20, 1980)
- Saving Grace (April 18, 1980)
- What Can I Do For You? (April 19, 1980)
- In The Garden (April 20, 1980)
- Band Introductions (April 19, 1980)
- Are You Ready? (April 19, 1980)
- Pressing On (April 18, 1980)
Disc 7 - Live in Earl's Court, London – June 27, 1981
- Gotta Serve Somebody
- I Believe In You
- Like A Rolling Stone
- Man Gave Names To All The Animals
- Maggie's Farm
- I Don't Believe You
- Dead Man, Dead Man
- Girl From The North Country
- Ballad Of A Thin Man
Disc 8 - Live in Earl's Court - London - June 27, 1981
- Slow Train
- Let's Begin
- Lenny Bruce
- Mr. Tambourine Man
- Solid Rock
- Just Like A Woman
- Watered-Down Love
- Forever Young
- When You Gonna Wake Up
- In The Garden
- Band Introductions
- Blowin' In The Wind
- It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
- Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Disc 9: Bonus DVD
Trouble No More – A Musical Film
DVD EXTRAS:
Shot of Love
Cover Down, Pray Through
Jesus Met the Woman at the Well (Alternate version)
Ain't Gonna Go to Hell for Anybody (Complete version)
Precious Angel (Complete version)
Slow Train (Complete version)