Bob Dylan - Self Portrait

There has never been a clearer attempt to shed an audience than Self-Portrait. At least, that's one way of looking at this baffling double album, a deliberately sprawling affair that runs the gamut from self-portrait to self-parody, touching on operatic pop, rowdy Basement Tapes leftovers, slight whimsy, and covers of wannabe Dylans from Paul Simon to Gordon Lightfoot. To say the least, it's confusing, especially arriving at the end of a decade of unmitigated brilliance, and while the years have made it easier to listen to, it still remains inscrutable, an impossible record to unlock. It may not be worth the effort, either, since this isn't a matter of deciphering cryptic lyrics or interpreting lyrics, it's all about discerning intent, figuring out what the hell Dylan was thinking when he was recording -- not trying to decode a song. There are times where it's quite clearly played for a laugh -- if his shambling version of "The Boxer" isn't a pointed parody of Paul Simon, there was no reason to cut it -- but he's poker-faced elsewhere, and the songs (apart from such earthed gems as "Mighty Quinn," which aren't presented in their best versions) are simply not worth much consideration. But, in a strange way, Self Portrait is, because decades have passed and it still doesn't make much sense, even for Dylanphiles. That doesn't necessarily mean that it's worth the time to figure it out -- you're not going to find an answer, anyway -- but it's sort of fascinating all the same. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Kooper Keyboards, Horn, Guitar Al Rogers Drums Albert Wynn Butler Horn Albertine Robinson Vocals Anthony Ferron ? Barry McDonald ? Bill Pursell ? Bob Dylan Keyboards, Harmonica, Guitar, Vocals Bob Johnston Producer Bob Moore Bass Bob Wilson Piano, Organ Brenton Banks Synthesizer, Violin Bubba Foller Guitar Byron Bach Violin Carol Montgomery ? Charlie Daniels Bass, Guitar Charlie McCoy Guitar, Harmonica David Bromberg Guitar Delores Edgin ? Dennis Good Trombone Dorothy Ann Dillard Vocals Doug Kershaw Violin Emanuel Green Violin Frank Smith ? Fred Carter Guitar Fred Foster Guitar Freddie Hill Trumpet Garth Hudson Saxophone, Keyboards Gary VanOsdale Viola Gene A. Mullins ? George Binkley III Violin Hilda Harris Vocals June Page Vocals Karl Himmel Drums Kenneth A. Buttrey Drums Levon Helm Mandolin, Vocals, Drums Lilian Hunt ? Maretha Stewart Vocals Martha McCrory Cello Martin Katahn Vocals Marvin Chantry Viola Millie Kirkham ? Norman Blake ? Ollie Mitchell Trumpet Pete Drake Guitar (Steel) Rex Peer ? Richard Manuel Drums, Keyboards, Vocals Rick Danko Violin, Vocals, Bass Robbie Robertson Vocals, Guitar Ron Cornelius Guitar Sheldon Kurland Violin Solie Fott ? Stu Woods Bass