Bob Dylan The Bootleg Series Vol. 18: Through the Open Window, 1956-1963
Released Mar 26, 1991 Columbia
Established consensus 7 professional reviews Updated Sep 4, 2026
Strong critical consensus
Bob Dylan's The Bootleg Series Vol.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
No More Auction Block - Live at the Gaslight Café, New York, NY - October 1962
1 critic mention
“live performances and tapings made for radio or in the homes of friends” — Classic Rock Magazine
The Times They Are A-Changin' - Witmark Demo - 1963
2 critic mentions
“picture jaws dropping as he unveils new protest anthems such as Masters Of War” — Classic Rock Magazine
When the Ship Comes In - Witmark Demo - 1963
1 critic mention
“The song serves as a finale for both the show and the set, a declaration of a new era at hand.” — PopMatters
Full critic consensus
Bob Dylan's The Bootleg Series Vol. 18: Through the Open Window, 1956-1963 compiles the archival rarities and live discoveries that trace his leap from Minnesota hopeful to Greenwich Village presence, and the critical consensus suggests it succeeds as both document and drama. Across seven professional reviews the set earned an 88.71/100 consensus score, with critics praising the curation for illuminating Dylan's early development, songwriting evolution, and political songwriting impulses while preserving the live performance energy of the Village scene.
Reviewers consistently highlight standout tracks that double as historical moments and emotional highs: “The Times They Are A-Changin' - Witmark Demo - 1963” emerges repeatedly as a touchstone, while “No More Auction Block - Live at the Gaslight Café, New York, NY - October 1962” and “Walkin' Down the Line - Demo - 1963” are singled out for their immediacy and revelatory detail. Critics note the set's archival curation rewards both close listening and broader contextual appreciation, offering studio outtakes and demos that map the songwriter's process and political awareness.
While some reviews emphasize narrative sweep over isolated rarities, others celebrate the granular delights found in deluxe sequencing, making the collection essential for historians and attentive fans alike. The Bootleg Series Vol. 18 stands as a richly annotated portrait of early Dylan, a must-listen for anyone wanting to hear how songs and persona took shape in the crucible of the Greenwich Village folk scene, and it sets the stage for deeper dives in the full review below.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Hard Times In New York Town - Demo - 1961
He Was a Friend of Mine - Take 2
Man On the Street - Studio Outtake - 1961
No More Auction Block - Live at the Gaslight Café, New York, NY - October 1962
House Carpenter - Take 1
Talkin' Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues - Studio Outtake - 1962
Let Me Die In My Footsteps - Studio Outtake - 1962
Rambling, Gambling Willie - Studio Outtake - 1962
Talkin' Hava Negeilah Blues - Studio Outtake - 1962
Quit Your Low Down Ways - Studio Outtake - 1962
Worried Blues - Studio Outtake - 1962
Kingsport Town - Freewheelin' Outtake, NYC, 1962
Walkin' Down the Line - Demo - 1963
Walls of Red Wing - Studio Outtake - 1963
Paths of Victory - Studio Outtake - 1963
Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - October 1963
Who Killed Davey Moore? - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - October 1963
Only a Hobo - Studio Outtake - 1963
Moonshiner - The Times They Are A-Changin' Outtake, NYC, 1963
When the Ship Comes In - Witmark Demo - 1963
The Times They Are A-Changin' - Witmark Demo - 1963
Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie - Live at Town Hall, New York, NY - April 1963
Seven Curses - The Times They Are A-Changin' Outtake, NYC, 1963
Eternal Circle - Studio Outtake - 1963
Suze (The Cough Song) - Studio Outtake - 1963
Mama, You Been On My Mind - Studio Outtake - 1964
Farewell, Angelina - Studio Outtake - 1965
Subterranean Homesick Blues - Alternate Take
If You Gotta Go, Go Now (Or Else You Got to Stay All Night) - Studio Outtake - 1965
Sitting On a Barbed Wire Fence - Studio Outtake - 1965
Like a Rolling Stone - Alternate Take
It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry - Alternate Take
I'll Keep It with Mine - Studio Outtake - 1966
She's Your Lover Now - Studio Outtake - 1966
I Shall Be Released - Alternate Take
Santa-Fe - Studio Outtake - 1967
If Not for You (Alternate Take)
Wallflower - Studio Outtake - 1971
Nobody 'Cept You - Studio Outtake - 1973
Tangled Up in Blue - Take 3, Remake 2
Call Letter Blues - Take 2
Idiot Wind - Take 4, Remake with organ overdub
If You See Her, Say Hello - Take 2
Golden Loom - Studio Outtake - 1975
Catfish - Studio Outtake - 1975
Seven Days - Live at the Curtis Hixon Convention Center, Tampa, FL - April 1976
Ye Shall Be Changed - Studio Outtake - 1979
Every Grain of Sand - Demo - 1980
You Changed My Life - Studio Outtake - 1981
Need a Woman - Studio Outtake - 1981
Get the next albums worth your time.
Critic-backed picks in one clean digest. No clutter.
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 7 critics who reviewed this album
Cl
Critic's Take
Bob Dylan's The Bootleg Series Vol. 18: Through the Open Window, 1956-1963 is presented as a vivid time capsule, a vast piece of audio verite that follows his ascent from Minnesota to the Village. Paul Whitelaw writes with clear delight about the set's revelatory rarities, praising live moments like “No More Auction Block - Live at the Gaslight Café, New York, NY - October 1962” and studio gems such as “Walkin' Down the Line - Demo - 1963” as essential listening. The review frames these best tracks on The Bootleg Series Vol. 18 as both historical documents and emotional standouts, capturing Dylan finding his voice. The tone is celebratory and granular, recommending the Deluxe set for anyone wanting the fullest experience of these early masterpieces.
Key Points
-
No More Auction Block stands out as a live moment that evokes the Village atmosphere and Dylan's early power.
-
The set's core strength is its archival depth, charting Dylan's rapid development as a songwriter through demos, outtakes and live performances.
Themes
Critic's Take
Bob Dylan arrives as a young, hungry figure in The Bootleg Series Vol. Justin Cober-Lake writes in an admiring, measured tone that favors narrative sweep over cherry-picking, celebrating performances that show Dylan getting more assured and persona-rich. Overall the collection is praised for its curation and its ability to map Dylan's development while still rewarding close listening.
Key Points
-
The collection’s curation and narrative approach map Dylan’s early development, mixing home recordings, outtakes, and key live moments.