Bob Dylan – Boots of Spanish Leather (The Times They Are A-Changin’ Alternate Take) Review

No artist has more worthy alternatives to their best works than Bob Dylan. His decades of tinkering with classics have led to many of his songs having folk roots, rock and roll highs, and bluesy piano versions. Longevity is partly the reason for that, but also the endless drive which Dylan has been gifted with. His early years, when the Mr. Tambourine Man hitmaker had not yet proven himself a reliable voice for a generation of counterculture listeners, are filled with rich, deep cuts. Through the Open Window offers up a nice selection of those, lifting a few songs from one Bootleg Series release or another live album. Compiling these alternate versions and live experiences is a difficult task, but there are songs from his discography which bring out the best in his fundamental creative drive. Boots of Spanish Leather sounds tremendous here, a far cry of difference from the song most fans are familiar with.  

A softer instrumental touch is what this alternate for The Times They Are A-Changin’ track offers. Delicate but firm in its delivery, this Boots of Spanish Leather rendition is brilliant. Fingerpicking brilliance and instrumental fundamentals which Dylan would use time and again in the studio and on stage are at play here. Letters and poetry form the basis of great songs, though listeners would be hard-pressed to point this out when the best are at work. Dylan, like Leonard Cohen, had an unusually fragmented way of writing. He pieces his songs together from lyrical accompaniments, the stream of subconscious leading the charge rather than an active reason. It means songs like Boots of Spanish Leather maintain an openness and broadness in their interpretations, irrespective of the instrumental change. Here, the song is not all that far off what would be released on The Times They Are A-Changin’.  

Changes here are almost solely instrumental. A few differences to the delivery of these staggering words, but little is changed in the meaning or comfort of the song. More prominence for the acoustic guitar is the main difference. Dylan can be heard figuring out the finer details of Boots of Spanish Leather on this alternate take which, for those who enjoy the balance of guitar, harmonica, and vocal work, may be the preferred version. What the original offers is a sparseness, that quiet which leaves room for contemplation. In that there is a calmness and risk from such minimalistic instrumental choices. It’s the right choice for The Times They Are A-Changin’ and the mood of the early 1960s. The alternate version featured on Through the Open Window is, too, a strong experience.  

Though it is not as tremendous a change as, say, One Too Many Mornings from The Times They Are A-Changin’ to Hard Rain, this early version does offer a new route into Boots of Spanish Leather. Bringing the instrumentals up in the mix and having Dylan perform with a confidence, rather than contemplation, is the big difference here. Another strong tease of materials yet to come from the Through the Open Window series. A song which only complements the strength of the original. A very worthy alternative to that classic, though the main changes are delivery and emotional strength. That, for many artists, is a huge difference to make. Dylan has offered more than a fair share of interpretations of Boots of Spanish Leather, let alone his other works. This one feels as close to the original as it can be, obviously, given it was recorded around the same time. But just a few instrumental changes and a prominent vocal lead give Boots of Spanish Leather a very different, interesting tone.