THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,133) Bob Dylan and the Band — “Santa-Fe”
Well, rock me mama, “Santa-Fe” ranks up there with “Wagon Wheel” as one of Bob Dylan’s (see #126, 823) great unfinished songs. Unfortunately, in this case no one grabbed the opportunity to finish it or adapt it and make (I presume) millions of dollars. Why the hell didn’t the Band do it? They were there! Anyway, from Big Pink or the Red Room or wherever, from the ’67 Basement Tape sessions, and not officially released until The Bootleg Series, Vol. 1-3 in 1991, here is dear, dear, dear, dear, dear Santa-Fe.
Thomas Ward writes that:
“Santa-Fe” was originally recorded during the sessions for The Basement Tapes with the Band and, although only a fragment and poorly recorded, is one of the most successful and joyful songs on the entire Bootleg Series collection. The tune is astonishing in being so primitive yet original and idiosyncratic. Based around three chords, the Band, characteristically, inject the music with bounce and life, especially Rick Danko’s bass part. Dylan sings it as if he is having the time of his life. Rarely has he sung with such expressiveness. The opening lines of the song, “Santa-Fe/dear, dear, dear, dear, dear Santa-Fe/My woman needs it ev’ryday/She promised this a-lad she’d stay,” are some of Dylan’s simplest, yet they fit perfectly to the honky tonk style of the song. One of the finest songs of all The Basement Tapes (which is saying something), it is also one of the great good-time songs in Dylan’s canon although, as with many of the masterpieces from The Basement Tapes era, Dylan has never performed the song live, nor have there been any notable recordings from other artists.
https://www.allmusic.com/song/santa-fe-mt0000869597
A collection of other appraisals that can be found at Wikipedia include:
“a typical combination of nonsense and fun, just for the hell of it, really” (John Bauldie, liner notes to The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3)
a “nonsense” song (Oliver Trager, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa-Fe_(Bob_Dylan_song))
done with a “breadth of feeling” and “unparalleled expressiveness”, “it appears Dylan simply improvised the song on the spot, and the passion within him allows the song to flow forth naturally” (Anthony Varesi, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa-Fe_(Bob_Dylan_song))
“delightful” (John Nagowski, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa-Fe_(Bob_Dylan_song))
“catchy but slight”, “a slight if charming little ditty” (Griffin, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa-Fe_(Bob_Dylan_song))
a “pleasant enough throwaway” (Heylin, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa-Fe_(Bob_Dylan_song)), “Just another discarded ditty, it relies on the usual wordplay and slurred diction to obscure any pretense to a deeper meaning.” (Clinton Heylin, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa-Fe_(Bob_Dylan_song))
As to the Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3, “Only ‘If You Gotta Go, Go Now[]’ . . . and a wry basement-tapes song, “Santa Fe,” live up to their vintage [of Dylan’s best years]” (John Pareles, https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/24/arts/recordings-view-from-the-dylan-archives-rough-drafts-missing-links.html)
Oh, here is “Wagon Wheel”:
Pay to Play! The Off the Charts Spotify Playlist! + Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock Merchandise
Please consider helping to support my website/blog by contributing $6 a month for access to the Off the Charts Spotify Playlist. Using a term familiar to denizens of Capitol Hill, you pay to play! (“relating to or denoting an unethical or illicit arrangement in which payment is made by those who want certain privileges or advantages in such arenas as business, politics, sports, and entertainment” — dictionary.com).
The playlist includes all the “greatest songs of the 1960’s that no one has ever heard” that are available on Spotify. The playlist will expand each time I feature an available song.
All new subscribers will receive a Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock magnet. New subscribers who sign up for a year will also receive a Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock t-shirt or baseball cap. See pictures on the Pay to Play page.
When subscribing, please send me an e-mail (GMFtma1@gmail.com) or a comment on this site letting me know an e-mail address/phone number/Facebook address, etc. to which I can send instructions on accessing the playlist and a physical address to which I can sent a magnet/t-shirt/baseball cap. If choosing a t-shirt, please let me know the gender and size you prefer.
Just click on the first blue block for a month to month subscription or the second blue block for a yearly subscription.
Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! / Off the Charts: 60s Rock Revelations😊 
I have listen to that album only once and honestly don’t recall this tune but I am glad you posted on it. I always wished Dylan and Rick Danko did more together, This Wheels on Fire is so brilliant.
LikeLiked by 1 person