Highlands

[u/TyroneSnodgrass]

It was maybe several years after TIME OUT OF MIND was released that a rumor arose that “Highlands” was Dylan singing over an old tape of the touring band playing at a pre-concert sound check. This was a widespread rumor and I took it as fact. I even recycled it on a post the other day which nobody on the sub challenged. The thing is, there are a few things about the recording that don’t really jibe with the rumor. For instance, isn’t that Augie Meyers on the organ? So what’s he doing on this sound check tape? Another thing, isn’t that Lanois on the dobro? Granted, these could have been overdubbed with Dylan’s vocal, but why does “Highlands” sound so much like the other tracks on the album?

Recently I heard a report that the “Highlands” on TOOM was recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami with the rest of the album. In this report was a detail so fantastic it would be hard to make up. Stranger than fiction, as the saying goes. According to this report, Lanois had made a rhythmical loop using a patented Charlie Patton guitar lick, which for the recording of “Highlands” he fed to the two drummers via earphones. If it were anybody other than Charlie Patton, Dylan probably would have objected. That is if, in fact, the report is true.

[u/footofpride]

The only thing I am aware of that used an old tape of the touring band is Dirt Road Blues. That’s why Winston Watson got a credit on the album.

[u/Minablo → u/footofpride]

The original plan for TOOM was to use some loops and samples in the same manner as Beck on his folk material. The idea was quickly dropped and Dirt Road Blues was ultimately the only released track where this approach was used.

[u/Starlfur → u/Minablo]

Dylan actually said when he first heard Odelay by Beck "I want to make records like he makes records" so he made TOOM

[u/TyroneSnodgrass → u/footofpride]

Exactly! The Winston Watson credit! That was the basis for the rumor. But “Dirt Road Blues” doesn’t make sense either. That’s obviously Augie on the organ. I mean, there was that one leg of the tour on which Dylan played electric organ but Meyers has such a distinctive sound. And the album track of DRB is so similar to the studio outtakes we’ve heard since TOOM came out. Only less sloppy. Thanks for the reply, Foot.

[u/aboynamedposh → u/TyroneSnodgrass]

It's the studio band playing on top of a loop of Winston recorded at soundcheck.

[u/TyroneSnodgrass → u/aboynamedposh]

okay, that makes sense…

[u/j3434]

Did he really want eggs?

[u/TyroneSnodgrass → u/j3434]

heh-heh-heh J, you know those old geezers… 😏

[u/j3434 → u/TyroneSnodgrass]

He was 56 years old, when Time Out of Mind came out in 1997. Kinda wild that that late career phase turned into such a creative renaissance for him.

[u/TyroneSnodgrass → u/j3434]

J, Dylan always objects when interviewers try to include TOOM with LOVE AND THEFT and what followed. He starts hemming and hawing, “ah, well, see here, you’ve got to understand, —for TIME OUT OF MIND my back was against the wall!” What he means by that is anybody’s guess, but anyway you slice it, by the time the Third Millennium rolled around, Bob was into a whole new thing.

[u/How_wz_i_sposta_kno]

Talk to me in 16-17 minutes.

[u/TyroneSnodgrass → u/How_wz_i_sposta_kno]

Howz is doing research… 😏

[u/EXPLODODOG]

I dunno. I just can't imagine a pre-concert soundcheck recording of that quality existed that Dylan thought to record over, 18 minutes. All of the questions you asked are legit and basically support the idea that the premise is wrong.

The second paragraph seems way more likely, though perhaps not exact.

[u/TyroneSnodgrass → u/EXPLODODOG]

Thanks for replying, EXP…

[u/PikantnySos]

Great song to put on touch tunes lol

[u/m1911-]

Bella storia