Bob Dylan’s a major musical figure who I haven’t covered on this blog yet. He has a huge discography, brimming with greatness – and I’ll tackle his 1960s albums and later highlights sometime. But I wanted to participate in blog dylan, a Bob-fest organised by Danica at Living A Beautiful Life, so I dug up an old review of my favourite Dylan live album; enjoy!
The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Bob Dylan Live 1966, The “Royal Albert Hall” Concert
In 1965, Dylan stopped folk singing and started playing with a rock band and writing more complex songs with more verbal imagery. This was disconcerting to his audience, who preferred him to keep producing folk anthems such as ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ and ‘The Times They Are A Changing’. He and his band were constantly heckled at concerts, and the records that he produced during the period were sometimes harangued by critics: the sleeve notes report that one critic dismissed ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ as “sub-standard Dylan” with “monotonous melody line and expressionless intoning….going over to the electronic enemy.”This album was recorded at the height of the controversy; just before ‘Like A Rolling Stone’, a member of the audience shouts “Judas” at Dylan. Dylan’s famously backed by most of the musicians who went on to form The Band – while Levon Helm sat the tour out, tiring of the controversy, Rick Danko, Robbie Robertson, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson are all present.
The two discs of the live album document the different halves of the show (which was actually in Manchester, the original bootleg was misnamed so the official release continues the tradition): the first is a solo acoustic set, while the second is an electric set with most of The Band backing Dylan. The first disc is very focused and intimate, with some excellent vocal performances as Dylan tackles epics ‘Desolation Row’ and ‘Visions of Johanna’. The second disc is even better with The Band providing fire and intensity; with guitarist Robbie Robertson’s aggressive leads. As well as highlights from recent electric albums Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde, Dylan reaches back into his catalogue for electrified versions of ‘Baby Let Me Follow You Down’ and ‘One Too Many Mornings’.
Albert Hall is a great live album, given extra impetus by its historical significance. Highly recommended.
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Wonderful and welcome! You’ve been added to Blog Dylan! 🙂
This is a really great album. When it comes to Dylan, my sentiments can vary from brilliant to let’s just say less than that. I’m generally not impressed with his more recent work.
I’ll also never forget the disappointment when I saw the man live in Germany in Sep 1987. Leading up to that show, I had listened to “Before the Flood” back and forth and really had come to dig that album. Then I went to the gig full with anticipation. Dylan opened with “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” and for most of the remainder of the concert played tracks I wasn’t familiar with. No “Rainy Day Women”, no “Ballad Of A Thin Man”, no “Like A Rolling Stone” – it was such a bummer. Of course, subsequently, I learned that Dylan pretty much doesn’t give a shit about fan expectations and pretty much plays whatever he feels like.
I’ve seen him once – maybe 15 years ago? I liked it – but I knew kind of what to expect at that point. His “never-ending” tour seems like a good idea – sustainable for him, and energising, but it doesn’t reach the heights of young, controversial Dylan.
Excellent write-up. I remember feeling pretty excited about picking this up, but I never actually did!
It’s pretty cool – I’m always surprised by how clear his singing is on the acoustic set.
As you know, it’s on the 1001 – and as you might have guessed, I agree with you, it’s a keeper!
I don’t think I realised but I’m glad it’s there.
I need this one. I did a review of the Real Royal Albert Hall Concert album released last year. I’d love to compare the songs. here is a link to a discussion about the two albums.
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/the-real-royal-albert-hall-1966-concert-vs-the-bootleg-series-vol-4-bob-dylan-live-1966.628758/
Nice write up. Cheers.
The set lists are identical right, which probably explains the confusion over the years. Acoustic set is so pretty, band is so good.
Great…and succinct…write-up on one of my favorite entries in the Dylan “bootleg” series. Who knew when the original box set (volumes 1-3) was released all those years ago that we would be rewarded with so many more incredible rarities.
Hopefully Prince gets the deluxe reissues treatment sometime – he’s reportedly has tons of highlights squirreled away.
This is a brilliant review of a fantastic record. Well done!
Cool – it’s actually the only live Dylan I have, but I like it so much that I feel like anything else will be comparatively disappointing.
Maybe! Haha that’s a good point. But there’s so much out there to explore, I’ll bet you’ll find others, too!