This willfully eccentric album is among the most misunderstood in Dylan's catalog. It's surely the oddest recorded moment in a career far from devoid of left turns. Dylan himself doesn't even appear on the opening tune, wherein a female chorus repeats a spiritual-sounding refrain over strings and organ. Some of the tunes pick up where NASHVILLE SKYLINE left off, with Dylan crooning over country-ish backup. Elsewhere, he tackles an unusual group of cover tunes, including Gordon Lightfoot's "Early Morning Rain," Simon & Garfunkel's "The Boxer" and the Everly Brothers' classic "Take A Message To Mary."
He takes a relaxed, homespun approach on the traditional murder ballad "Little Sadie." He offers us a glimpse of Bob the bluesman on "Woogie Boogie" and the Elmore James chestnut "It Hurts Me Too." He even covers himself, with a new version of "Like A Rolling Stone." The eclectic outside material and the lack of any anthems for the Woodstock generation to hang their preconceptions on led many to dismiss this album as perversely slight. If you buy into that party line, you'll never know what you're missing.
Originally released as a 2-LP set.
Personnel includes: Bob Dylan (vocals, guitar); Byron T. Bach, Brenton Banks, George Binkley, Norman Blake, David Bromberg, Albert W. Butler, Kenneth Buttrey, Fred Carter, Jr., Marvin D. Chantry, Ron Cornelius, Charlie Daniels, Rick Danko, Dottie Dillard, Peter Drake, Delored Edgin, Jolie J. Fott, Bubba Fowler, Dennis A. Good, Emanuel Green, Hilda Harris, Levon Helm, Frederick Hill, Karl T. Himmel, Garth Hudson, Lillian Hunt, Martin Katahn, Doug Kershaw, Millie Kirkham, Al Kooper, Sheldon Kurland, Charlie McCoy, Martha McCrory, Barry McDonald, Richard Manuel, Oliver Mitchell, Carol Montgomery, Bob Moore, Gene A. Mullins, Gary Van Osdale, June Page, Rex Peer, Bill Pursell, Robbie Robertson, Alvin Rogers, Frank C. Smith, Maeretha Stewart, Anthony Terron, Bob Wilson, Stu Woods.
Engineers: Neil Wilburn, Don Puluse, Glynn Johns.
Personnel: Bob Dylan (vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards); Robbie Robertson (vocals, guitar); Levon Helm (vocals, mandolin, drums); Rick Danko (vocals, violin); Richard Manuel (vocals, keyboards, drums); June Page, Albertine Robinson, Martin Katahn, Dorothy Ann Dillard, Maretha Stewart, Hilda Harris (vocals); Charlie McCoy (guitar, harmonica); Al Kooper (guitar, horns, keyboards); David Bromberg, Fred Foster, Bubba Foller, Fred Carter, Ron Cornelius, Charlie Daniels (guitar); Pete Drake (steel guitar); Brenton Banks (violin, synthesizer); Sheldon Kurland, Doug Kershaw, George Binkley III, Byron Bach, Emanuel Green (violin); Marvin Chantry, Gary VanOsdale (viola); Martha McCrory (cello); Garth Hudson (saxophone, keyboards); Freddie Hill, Ollie Mitchell (trumpet); Dennis Good (trombone); Albert Wynn Butler (horns); Bob Wilson (piano, organ); Al Rogers, Kenny Buttrey, Karl Himmel (drums).
Unknown Contributor Roles: Gene A. Mullins; Barry McDonald; Lilian Hunt; Anthony Ferron; Frank Smith ; Delores Edgin; Rex Peer; Carol Montgomery; Solie Fott; Norman Blake; Bill Pursell; Millie Kirkham.
:Rolling Stone (9/3/70, p.40) - "...another musical explosion for Dylan, a breaking out from the constraints of his past work....Dylan has adapted a new sound, and with it has explored relationships and emotions that are no longer elemental, but which approach the complexity of life.."
Bob Dylan - Self Portrait Songs
| 1 | All the Tired Horses | 3:09 | $0.99 | |
| 2 | Alberta #1 | 2:55 | $0.99 | |
| 3 | I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know | 2:21 | $0.99 | |
| 4 | Days of 49 | 5:25 | $0.99 | |
| 5 | Early Mornin' Rain | 3:32 | $0.99 | |
| 6 | In Search of Little Sadie | 2:26 | $0.99 | |
| 7 | Let It Be Me | 2:59 | $0.99 | |
| 8 | Little Sadie | 1:58 | $0.99 | |
| 9 | Woogie Boogie | 2:05 | $0.99 | |
| 10 | Belle Isle | 2:27 | $0.99 | |
| 11 | Living the Blues | 2:40 | $0.99 | |
| 12 | Like a Rolling Stone | 5:15 | $1.29 | |
| 13 | Copper Kettle (the Pale Moonlight) | 3:32 | $0.99 | |
| 14 | Gotta Travel On | 3:06 | $0.99 | |
| 15 | Blue Moon | 2:27 | $0.99 | |
| 16 | Boxer | 2:45 | $0.99 | |
| 17 | Quinn the Eskimo (the Mighty Quinn) | 2:45 | $0.99 | |
| 18 | Take Me As I Am (or Let Me Go) | 3:01 | $0.99 | |
| 19 | Take a Message To Mary | 2:45 | $0.99 | |
| 20 | It Hurts Me Too | 3:13 | $0.99 | |
| 21 | Minstrel Boy | 3:30 | $0.99 | |
| 22 | She Belongs To Me | 2:41 | $0.99 | |
| 23 | Wigwam | 3:07 | $0.99 | |
| 24 | Alberta #2 | 3:11 | $0.99 | |
Self Portrait Music Review
Average Rating: (4.2 out of 5 stars)    List All 6 Reviews BOB'S HISTORY
THIS CD WAS A DOUBLE ALBUM WHEN RELEASED IN 70'S. IT IS DIFFERENT AND NOT ALL ORIGINAL MATERIAL BUT DYLAN IS IN BEST VOICE OF HIS CAREER (ALONG W/ NASHVILLE SKYLINE). IT'S BOB DYLAN AND THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH. DTS.
Submitted by david.t.shefrin (NASHVILLE TN) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful. I like this one!!
I've been a huge Dylan fan ever since 1995! I got this album in 1996 and have loved it ever since! I do agree with the critics in that if you compare it to Highway 61 or Blonde On Blonde it's not all that great - however, if you just listen to it without expecting anything out of it you'll be surprised at how good it really is! There are some great country songs on this, as well as some cool Isle of Wright performances! "Minstrel Boy" is my favorite one on here along with "Copper Kettle" "Mighty Quinn" and both of the Albertas! LOL! So if you like light-hearted country music you'll love this! But if you're expecting it to be as good as Dylan's albums in the mid-60's, you won't.
Submitted by Allen (Perryville, AR, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.  Misunderstood Soulful Masterpiece
So tired of reading excepts from so called 'Critics' at the time. Originally released on double vinyl, this album was bombed. I am certain in retrospect many of those same short sighted folks are finally coming to the realization of what a great, even risky album set this actually was.
The more one explores Dylan, the more it becomes apparent, this is truly a man forever out of time...and for all time.
Submitted by faust8577 (Lorraine, Que.)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Trouble finding this C D
Absolutely brilliant to here this music again after 25 years .The service i was provided with by cd universe was fantastic and i would shop with them again.
Submitted by a reviewer (Co. Monaghan Southern Ireland)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No listen again
probably one of the most bizare recordings by dylan, this album was crucified by critics when released in 1970. As a true dylan fan, this happens to be one of my favorite recordings by him. Standout cuts include In Search of Little Sadie (an ode to Johnny Cash's Cocaine Blues) and the wonderfully majestic Wigwam.As of late many of the songs have been featured in motion pictures.
Submitted by a reviewer (austin, tx)
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