Bob Dylan – Jamming with Robbie Robertson Review

A jam between Bob Dylan and The Band frontman Robbie Robertson is the stuff dreams are made of. Just four songs from a session between the two, and yet the chemistry between them is clear. Early and unreleased tracks like I Can’t Leave Her Behind make this jam session a must-listen. A back-and-forth of instrumental efforts in a Glasgow hotel room, Jamming with Robbie Robertson is to sit in on two great musicians ironing out songs intended for the stage. These pieces would never make their way into prominent acclaim for Dylan but they did much for his pedigree as an artist with plenty of quality deep cuts. These are the songs and recordings where we can learn the creative process, and take a look through the scope of frustration. Jamming with Robbie Robertson shows, if anything, that songs which sound as slick as Dylan’s do not come easy.  

Those natural developments in the continued playing of I Can’t Leave Her Behind, the frustrations mounting and then, just as suddenly, fading when the right chord or tone is hit, are monumental. This is a genuine treasure of a tape. I Can’t Leave Her Behind remains one of those songs that could have been a great triumph. But it was not to be. Never released, for one reason or another. Whatever the case, hearing it deconstructed and ripped apart by Robertson and Dylan here, is a fascinating experience. Follow-up song On a Rainy Afternoon sounds far more complete and ready for the stage but it ends suddenly, transitioning into some reminiscence for If I Was a King. These are songs that, with the benefit of hindsight, do not fit the outlook Dylan had of the times or of himself. Those what-if songs were weak when compared to the bolder resources used to put his album releases together.  

Nonetheless, these never-released songs serve a greater purpose than any of his officially released pieces. What other pieces of creative liberation were swept aside for one reason or another? Where and when will we find the rest of those glorious recordings which Dylan deemed too superfluous, too half-baked, to bother putting out there. Sincerely stunning. Just staggering bits of leftover tapes and material and all of it comes to a head with Jamming with Robbie Robertson. Four potentially wonderful songs here which are all but forgotten about. Even in their broken-up form here, they are resounding pieces of material which elicit those wonderful depths Dylan was so frequent in creating around this time.  

Chances taken in the deep blue sea of If I Was a King are masterful writings. We can agonise over their lack of release all we like, yet here they are. Released. Jam closer What Kind of Friend is This caps off what is an essentially niche but truly important document. To hear the sessions and the development of these songs, irrespective of whether they were released or not, is a cultural cornerstone. Again, niche, but that is the beauty of Jamming with Robbie Robertson. This is just one night of many. Let the mind wander to moments before and after this, to those first days playing around with songs that now define Dylan, The Band and everyone in that field of influence. Documents like this are crucial, and listening to them is often a fine line between historical identity and quality musicianship. Both are hit on here.