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1970 [Box Set] Image
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: The three-disc archival collection from the singer-songwriter includes the full May 1970 session with George Harrison and other sessions for the New Morning and Self Portrait albums as well as unreleased tracks, demos and outtakes.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. 80
    Given the informal setting, those expecting some sort of regal revelation would best focus on the Traveling Wilburys recordings that arrived nearly two decades later. On the other hand, given the near mythical stature that these legendary Dylan-Harrison sessions have attained over the past five decades, compulsive collectors will find any inclusion welcome regardless.
  2. Feb 26, 2021
    80
    As usual, fascinating choices abound when a lost Bob Dylan session is unearthed (and, excitingly, signalling that maybe there's way more of this kind of stuff to come), but this one feels particularly prototypical and casual, and, with good humour, was intended to warm folks up — to each other and the material — more than get its hypothetical audience hot and bothered.
  3. Feb 26, 2021
    70
    None are genuinely essential, but still, the gusto Bob himself displays so often is a revelation: hear the rousing version of Carl Perkins’ “Matchbox” with George on guitar and vocals. Meanwhile, the brevity of many other selections is often in direct proportion to the surprise they may evoke. ... That said, to become truly enamored of 50th Anniversary Collection 1970, it may be necessary to be a devout Dylan fan, a music lover insatiably curious about the recording process or both.
  4. Uncut
    Feb 26, 2021
    70
    They range from isolated fragments to several absorbing takes of a song - "Went To See The Gypsy" - on its way to near-greatness. [Apr 2021, p.42]
  5. Feb 26, 2021
    70
    Listening to Dylan lead these groups through a loose rendition of Harry Belafonte's "Jamaica Farewell," an extended, almost funky jam on "Long Black Veil," a friendly boogie through "Matchbox," and competing versions of Jimmy C. Newman's Cajun country stomp "Alligator Man" is a hoot, plus there's something almost touching in hearing Bob tentatively sing Paul McCartney's "Yesterday" on the same session where Harrison jammed. Nothing major, then, but the modest pleasures of 1970 are certainly worthwhile.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 1 out of 1
  1. Mar 11, 2021
    2
    Well, you won't find a bigger Bob Dylan fan than me and I actually liked "Dylan" (1973's Columbia's Revenge) but scraping the bottom of theWell, you won't find a bigger Bob Dylan fan than me and I actually liked "Dylan" (1973's Columbia's Revenge) but scraping the bottom of the barrel for more outtakes from that era? There's three discs and maybe ten worthwhile cuts but, seriously, no one needs to hear Bob do 30 seconds of Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound or Universal Soldier and misguided short snippets of a few other things. The versions of Yesterday and Cupid, for instance, are cringe-worthy. There's a couple of decent outtakes from New Morning but the Harrison material is just a selling point that doesn't deliver. This is the first of the Bootleg Series that if not totally unnecessary is certainly getting there. One CD might have been amusing but 3 CDs of this stuff is over kill. Expand