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"Self Portrait", Track #1

BURRITOBROTHER: I just don't get this one at all...what the heck is this? (01/13/08)

DEG: Bill Cohen is confusing Self Portrait with the LP Dylan - that's the one that was released against Bob's wishes after Bob went over to Geffen Records for a short period in the 70s. If you consider the whole album (Self Portrait, that is) "a dirty trick", then there's no one to blame for it but Bob himself. Personally, I've always liked at least half of the tracks, including All the Tired Horses, Days of 49 and Wigwam. I guess I can understand why a lot of fans felt cheated at the time of its release, but with the perspective allowed by the passing of time, it seems to me to fit in to a body of work which, at its best, has always been unpredictable. And to suggest that Dylan sings in a voice completely different than any of his other works seems to ignore the Nashville Skyline period, for one. (01/07/07)

BILL COHEN: This whole album was a dirty trick by Columbia Records to punish Bob Dylan for leaving, Columbia (for a short time) over a contract dispute This was not an album that was never meant to be published. He sang in a completely different voice mode than he usually uses. Dylan never complains in public, but needless to say, was quite upset about this nasty technique of Columbia. As he says, "call me anything you want , I will never deny it" Dylan never said a word about this nasty trick. His manager, Albert Grossman could outrage anybody, and did so with Columbia Records. The matter was settled, In Dylan's favor and he did return to Columbia. Two of the songs in the album were done at other times. the song "I've forgotton more than you'll ever know about her "was done with Tom Petty in the Hard To Handle tour with each one raising the ante and breaking each other up on stage. The Boxer was done on the tour with Paul Simon.. I agree with dave w. This is the Dylan you have never heard until now, where in Modern times, he croons the song " When the Deal goes down". Interesting enough, the album was a decent seller. Most of the people who bought it, including me, really did not know what to make of it and were not to happy with the contents. However, if you are a real Dylan fan, you would probably purchase an album of him reading his laundry list. I would, if only for the novelty of it and to keep my collection complete. (09/11/06)

NINA: The next time you're really bored and/or really tired, sing this. Sing the line over and over again, like on the record. It is one of the most relaxing things you can do. (06/24/06)

DAVE W: i love that in a million years you would never guess its Dylan!! (04/16/06)

FONTANA: his instrumentals and/or minimal lyrics always get me (03/31/06)