The Wake

“Now it ain’t no use to sit and wonder why babe,” sings Bob Dylan on “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” an early hit for the bard of American folk. A demo version of this song appears on the famous Minnesotan’s new CD and documentary, No Direction Home. The CD portion, essentially a soundtrack to the film, was released August 30 — a month before the documentary will air on public television. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film uses archival video and audio material to explore the development of a folk singer who turned the genre on its head.

Filled with unreleased demos, live material, and early experimentations with a band, the CD portion features alternate versions of songs like “She Belongs to Me” and “Visions of Johanna.” They are so drastically different than their final cuts that they call into question how many such alternate interpretations exist.

Equally important in the eyes of Dylan historians are the home recordings that begin the collection. The earliest song, an original called “When I Got Troubles,” was recorded in Hibbing in 1959, when Dylan was still in high school. Incidentally, the writer lived briefly in Dinkytown while en route from Hibbing to New York City.

The songwriter is no stranger to the world of rockumentaries. The first Dylan film was 1967’s Don’t Look Back, which looked extensively at the singer’s 1965 tour of England. It was a tumultuous era of Dylan’s career and falls within the scope of the new documentary as well, and for good reason. It was during this time that he went electric, alienating the purists in the folk world that had so loved him.

Martin Scorsese’s history with music documentaries is long lived, too. From his film about The Band (1978’s The Last Waltz) to his role in 2003’s mini-series The Blues, he has proven his discretion in handling both new and archival material. With no shortage of recordings of Bob Dylan, there were surely some difficult decisions as to what footage to use and what to cut.

Whether you’re an avid fan of the songwriter, or someone who’s barely acquainted with Dylan’s work, No Direction Home provides the chance to see and hear some truly historical moments in 20th century music. Viewers shouldn’t, however, look for explanations as to why this movie was made; Dylan hardly ever gives justifications or excuses, and he doesn’t need to.

Debating Dylan’s intent with No Direction Home is pointless. On the last track of the collection, a live version of “Like a Rolling Stone,” a fan calls the singer Judas. With his typical wit, Dylan responds simply, “I don’t believe you.” He then turns to his band and tells them to “Play it fucking loud!” And although the musical setting has changed from his days as a folk singer, the sentiments of living without regret are still there. To witness the journey, look no further than No Direction Home.