CBS Records president Clive Davis proposed a double LP compilation during Dylan’s creative pause, and Dylan agreed on one condition: he would compile it himself. Released November 17, 1971, Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Vol. II peaked at number 14 on the Billboard 200 and charted for 36 weeks. The album is now certified 5x Platinum in the US, making it one of Dylan’s best-selling albums. It has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. Spanning 21 songs across Dylan’s evolution from folk protest to electric rock to country ballads, the compilation includes five previously unreleased tracks recorded specifically for the album.
Dylan returned to Columbia Studios in September 1971 with Happy Traum to recut three Basement Tapes songs. The package features the Leon Russell-produced singles and covers material from landmark albums including Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde on Blonde, and Nashville Skyline. Tracks like “All Along the Watchtower” and “Lay Lady Lay” represent Dylan’s electric period, while the live performance from his April 1963 Town Hall concert showcases his acoustic roots. The album captures Dylan’s versatility across protest anthems, rock narratives, and introspective ballads during a transitional phase between his 1960s peak and 1970s evolution.
This 2LP black vinyl pressing presents over 77 minutes of music featuring the iconic Concert for Bangladesh cover photo. The compilation bridges Dylan’s electric 1960s with his early 1970s introspection.
LP 1
SIDE A
A1. WATCHING THE RIVER FLOW
A2. DON’T THINK TWICE, IT’S ALL RIGHT
A3. LAY LADY LAY
A4. STUCK INSIDE OF MOBILE WITH THE MEMPHIS BLUES AGAIN
SIDE B
B1. I’LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT
B2. ALL I REALLY WANT TO DO
B3. MY BACK PAGES
B4. MAGGIE’S FARM
B5. TONIGHT I’LL BE STAYING HERE WITH YOU
LP 2
SIDE C:
C1. SHE BELONGS TO ME
C2. ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER
C3. THE MIGHTY QUINN (QUINN, THE ESKIMO) (LIVE)
C4. JUST LIKE TOM THUMB’S BLUES
C5. A HARD RAIN’S A-GONNA FALL
SIDE D:
D1. IF NOT FOR YOU
D2. IT’S ALL OVER NOW, BABY BLUE
D3. TOMORROW IS A LONG TIME (LIVE)
D4. WHEN I PAINT MY MASTERPIECE
D5. I SHALL BE RELEASED
D6. YOU AIN’T GOIN’ NOWHERE
D7. DOWN IN THE FLOOD
