Highway 61 Revisited Outtakes

“Sitting on a Barbed Wire Fence” went back to the sessions for Highway 61 Revisited, with Mike Bloomfield on guitar and Al Kooper on the organ. This rock song, which was dismissed during the final selection, is found on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3.

Sitting On A Barbed Wire Fence Bob Dylan / 3:54

Musicians: Bob Dylan: vocals, guitar; Mike Bloomfield: guitar; Al Kooper: organ; Frank Owens: piano (?); Paul Griffin: piano (?); Harvey Brooks: bass (?); Joseph Macho Jr.: bass (?); Bobby Gregg: drums / Recording Studio: Columbia Recording Studios / Studio A, New York: June 15, 1965 / Producer: Tom Wilson / Sound Engineers: Roy Halee and Pete Dauria / Set Box: The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3: Rare & Unreleased, 1961–1991 (CD 2) / Release Date: March 26, 1991

“Sitting on a Barbed Wire Fence” was not so much a structured song as a riff built on a 12-bar blues song with rock ’n’ roll accents. The lyrics were improvised at the time of the recording, although Dylan used the idea of the doctor that he had already applied to “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues.”

This song was also known under two working titles: “Killing Me Alive” and “Over the Cliffs Part 1.” It was recorded in one take on January 13, 1965, with Bob on solo during the first session of his fifth LP, Bringing It All Back Home, then in six other takes on June 15, accompanied this time by his band. The last of these six takes was kept for The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3. “Sitting on a Barbed Wire Fence” was a joyful song; the musicians felt it, which gave it a very efficient groove. Bob provided rhythmic parts on his Stratocaster, while Mike Bloomfield’s provocative phrasing on his Telecaster raised the bar. The rest of the group also provided powerful support. Although it was considered for the B-side to the single “Like a Rolling Stone (“Gates of Eden” was used finally), “Sitting on a Barbed Wire Fence” was first and foremost a song for Dylan and his musicians to warm up to prepare for very long recording sessions. It was quite similar to “From a Buick 6,” which made Highway 61 Revisited.