1974 MINT PROMO BOB DYLAN + THE BAND PLANET WAVES

$

121

1974 WHITE LABEL PROMO FIRST PRESSING                 

RARE COLLECTIBLE!!!                          

             Bob Dylan & The Band

                   PLANET WAVES

                  USA - ELEKTRA RECORDS - 7E 1003 - PROMO
                                              

TOP MINTY CLEAN and VERY RARE as a WHITE LABEL PROMTIONAL FIRST PRESSING...the 1974 original has a textured look and feel to the cover...

The cover art is drawn by Dylan himself. Written on the right side of the cover image is the phrase, "Cast-iron songs & torch ballads," apparently signaling Dylan's own conception of the album. This promo supports the original (and rare) Bob Dylan transparent sticker across the top of the front cover -- it was only available on the outer cellophane shrink wrapper of first pressing stock copies...Most folks tore off the shrink wrapper...there went the transparent Dylan sticker 

Dylan is supported on the album by longtime collaborators The Band, with whom he embarked on a major reunion tour following the release of Planet Waves (documented on the live album Before the Flood.) With a successful tour and a host of publicity, Planet Waves was a hit, enjoying a  #1 on the US Billboard charts - a first for the artist - and hit #7 in the UK. Critics were not negative, as they had been with some recent Bob Dylan albums (namely Self Portrait and Dylan).

The album was originally set to be titled Ceremonies Of The Horsemen, a reference to the song "Love Minus Zero/No Limit", from the 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home; the release was delayed two weeks when Dylan decided to change the title at the last minute.

Described as "a spare but twisted collection of songs." As a whole, they deal with domestic themes with a few tracks seeming like straightforward love songs, particularly the opener "On A Night Like This" and "You Angel You". However, many of the songs take on darker overtones, with lyrics suggesting "death ('Dirge'), suicide ('Going, Going, Gone,' a song that doesn't toy around with the idea), and the brick wall that love collides with when possessiveness curdles into obsession (the overstated contradictions of 'Wedding Song')." Planet Waves is "rounded out with more than one shade of romance: subterfuge, suspicion, self-hate ('Dirge,' 'Tough Mama'), and memory ('Something There Is About You') counter lighthearted celebration ('On A Night Like This')."

Many critics gave the performances on Planet Waves plenty of attention, perhaps more than the songs themselves. Dylan and The Band had performed on numerous occasions, most notably on tour in 1966 and during the "Basement Tapes" sessions of 1967, but at the time of Planet Waves' release, very few of these performances were officially released.

The Band's windup pitch to 'Going, Going, Gone' is a wonder of pinpoint ensemble playing. Robertson makes his guitar entrance choke as if a noose had suddenly tightened around its neck, and you get the feeling these guys could shadow Dylan in their sleep. 'Tough Mama' is the track that exemplifies the best playing on Planet Waves, and a pitch of writing that shows Dylan can still challenge himself and featured "one of his raunchiest vocals.

Arguably the most celebrated song on Planet Waves, "Forever Young" was originally written for his children, and a demo recording from June of 1973 explicitly shows this. The song is an attempt to write something hymnal and heartfelt that spoke of the father in him. Though two different versions were released on the album, most critics and listeners defer to the beautiful slow waltz of a performance  recorded on November 8th as the primary recording.

"Dirge", his most twisted song since the accident, represents a quite astonishing catharsis on Dylan's part. As the narrator expresses an underlying hatred for 'the need that was expressed' by her presence, he encapsulates all the ambivalence this popular artist felt for both muse and audience. Critics also singled out Dylan's piano playing in praising the recording. Some fans believe the song is attributed to his marriage with Sara Lownds that was ending.

The closing number on Planet Waves is "Wedding Song," and over the years, a number of critics have called it autobiographical. It begins with the narrator attempting to convince his lady love that he loves her 'more than life itself.' However, the focus begins to turn when he informs her, 'we can't regain what went down in the flood,' suggesting that their search for a new Eden was always doomed to failure. By the sixth verse we have come to the crux of the song—the singer's protestation that he does not wish 'to remake the world at large,' because he loves her 'more than all of that.'" Many critics have dismissed such claims of autobiographical content, making "Wedding Song" one of the more debated numbers on Planet Waves.

Planet Waves should be up there with the other Dylan classics, but unfortunately for some reason gets overlooked. Maybe because it gets overshadowed by Blood On The Tracks and Desire. You could argue that it wouldn't sound as good without The Band backing him. Dylan's vocals are among his strongest and "The Band" play exceptionally.

1. "On a Night Like This" – 2:57
2. "Going, Going, Gone" – 3:27
3. "Tough Mama" – 4:17
4. "Hazel" – 2:50
5. "Something There Is About You" – 4:45
6. "Forever Young" – 4:57
7. "Forever Young" – 2:49
8. "Dirge" – 5:36
9. "You Angel You" – 2:54
10. "Never Say Goodbye" – 2:56
11. "Wedding Song" – 4:42

CONDITION: The textured cover features a RED ELEKTRA RECORDS PROMO STICKER + the rare transparent BOB DYLAN Sticker that was on the outer shrink wrap of stock copies (rare now) ...M- TOP cover with no bends, no split seams, no writing...a collection keeper upgrade!

The vinyl with white promo labels is all clear and clean M- ...absolute collection keeper upgrade

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record