Album Review: Bob Dylan 1965 –1966: The Best Of The Cutting Edge

Columbia 4/5

Bob Dylan agnostics often scratch their heads when confronted by the completist compulsions of the singer’s fanbase. Yet Dylanophiles’ ardour for previously unheard material shows little indication of dimming, with The Cutting Edge the 12th official collection culled from the archives of unreleased demos and home recordings (the roll-call of unofficial compilations, meanwhile, runs into the thousands).

But of all the entries in the Bootleg series thus far, The Cutting Edge is probably the most approachable from the perspective of the wavering devotee, tracking, as it does, the artist’s transformation from mumbling folkie to plugged-in cultural force. Much of contents was committed to tape over the course of his “notorious” transition from electric to acoustic, which reached its historic catharsis at Newport Jazz Festival 50 years ago.