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Springtime In New York Review
Coverage from Exclaim.ca, Cult Following, and others
Articles
27
Active Days
15411
The Topic
This topic centers on Bob Dylan's Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16, a five-disc archival set drawn from his 1980-1985 recording period. The material is presented as a reassessment of a frequently dismissed era, using outtakes, alternates, rehearsals, and live recordings to show stronger songwriting and more active experimentation than the finished albums often suggested. Across the coverage, the release is treated as evidence that Dylan's early-1980s work remained productive, uneven, and worth revisiting rather than simply writing off.
First Article: 03/22/84
Latest Article: 05/31/26
Summary
- The release is a five-disc archival package built around material from Dylan's 1980-1985 recording period.
- Most attention goes to the sessions for Shot of Love, Infidels, and Empire Burlesque, which provide the core of the set.
- Reviewers repeatedly describe the tracks as evidence that Dylan remained creatively active in a period often viewed as inconsistent.
- Alternate versions of songs such as Blind Willie McTell, Jokerman, Too Late, and New Danville Girl are treated as the strongest material.
- The set also includes rehearsals, covers, and live or television performances, expanding it beyond simple studio outtakes.
- Several reviews note that the release does not fully overturn perceptions of the finished albums, but it complicates the idea that the decade was creatively barren.
History
This topic is new, but as new articles are added to it this area will summarize shifts, changes and expansions of the issues.
Featured
09-13-2021
In an Exclaim! review, Springtime in New York presents Bob Dylan's early-1980s New York-era studio work through 57 unreleased recordings.
05-31-2026
A bootleg release called New York Skyline compiles Dylan songs from 1969-1970 using Al Kooper's New Morning tracklist concept.
10-01-2021
Bob Dylan's Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 compiles 1980–1985 outtakes and alternates from Infidels, Shot of Love and Empire Burlesque.
Timeline: 15411 Days
Hover over any logo to see coverage summary, click for full article.
Additional Articles
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Variety reviews Bob Dylan's archival box set Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 (1980-1985), covering unreleased and alternate recordings from the 1980-1985 studio sessions.
Ultimate Classic Rock reviews Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16, detailing Infidels era outtakes and unreleased material on the site.
Bob Dylan's The Bootleg Series Vol. 16, covering the Infidels era in the early 1980s, is reviewed in Shepherd Express.
Bob Dylan releases Springtime in New York, the 16th Bootleg Series installment, documenting 1980–1985 recording sessions for Shot of Love, Infidels and Empire Burlesque.
Bob Dylan issues Springtime in New York (1980–1985), Vol. 16 of The Bootleg Series, a multi-disc anthology compiling 57 rehearsal tapes, outtakes and covers from 1980–1985.
This review assesses Bob Dylan's Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 (1980-1985), featuring unreleased studio, rehearsal, and live recordings from the early 1980s.
Dylan's Springtime In New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 box set, covering 1980–1985, is reviewed on the PS Audio site for its demos, outtakes, live tracks, and packaging.
Springtime in New York compiles 57 tracks of Bob Dylan rehearsals, outtakes and live recordings from 1980–1985 across five discs.
Bob Dylan's archival box set Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 (1980-1985) is reviewed, focusing on studio, rehearsal, and live recordings from the early 1980s.
Bob Dylans Springtime in New York, a five-CD Bootleg Series compilation of late 1970s and early 1980s outtakes and alternate takes from Rundown Studios, highlights previously unreleased strong tracks.
Bob Dylan’s Springtime In New York compiles rehearsals and outtakes recorded 1980–1985, including Letterman rehearsals and studio sessions.
This article reviews Bob Dylan's Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 (1980–1985), examining recordings from Dylan's early-1980s studio sessions and tours.
Legacy Records released Bootleg Series Vol. 16: Springtime in New York 1980–1985 in September 2021, documenting Dylan's 1980s recordings.
Bob Dylan’s Springtime in New York, a five-CD Bootleg Series compilation of 1980–1985 sessions, compiles 57 tracks including 54 previously unreleased recordings.
Ian Corbridge reviews Bob Dylan's archival collection Springtime In New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 for Louder Than War.
Rolling Stone reviews Bob Dylan's Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16, a five-disc archival collection of 1980–1985 sessions and unreleased tracks.
On Sep 20, 2021, Americanahighways reviewed Bob Dylan’s Springtime in New York (1980–1985), a five-disc Bootleg Series deluxe set of rehearsals and outtakes from 1980–1985.
Spectrum Culture reviews Bob Dylan's The Bootleg Series Vol. 16: Springtime in New York, examining 1981–1985 studio recordings that reshape views of Dylan's mid-1980s output.
In this Boston Harold Podcast blog review, the writer evaluates Bob Dylan's box set Springtime in New York, Bootleg Series Vol. 16, focusing on its early-1980s studio recordings.
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The Telegraph published a review of Bob Dylan Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol.16 1980-1985 in the United Kingdom.
Bob Dylan's three-disc bootleg A Summer's Dream, drawn from summer 2022 Rough and Rowdy Ways tour shows in California, was reviewed on Feb 24, 2026.
Cult Following in the UK published a review of Blood on the Tracks: New York Sessions on Jan 22, 2025.
American Songwriter reviewed Dylan's Springtime In New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16, 1980-1985.
Eric Cocks hosts a Sep 17, 2021 WPKN Connections episode about Bob Dylan's Springtime In New York Bootleg Series Vol. 16, 1980-1985 and Beatles Let It Be outtakes at WPKN.