This without any doubt my favorite listening experience by Dylan and the set of CDs I play most often, across my whole collection. I love the sound, the atmosphere, the singing, the solo-ing, the accompaniment ... and nearly all Dylan's songs get their best versions here, as far as I'm concerned. This album got me into the song "The lonesome death of Hattie Carrol", which has become my favorite Dylan composition. "Tonight I'll be staying here with you" - the first words, "Threw my ticket out the wIIIIIndow ..." set the tone for this mesmerizing experience. The band goes berzerk (in the finest of ways) on the "Is it any wonder" solo part and Dylan does likewise on the "I can hear that lonesome whistle blow" line. The we get the melancholic "It ain't me ..." with that intricate drumming, the slide guitars and all other instruments chiming in most modestly. For purists this is probably not what you're looking for, but I adore it. "Hard rain" has Dylan being driven forward by an unstoppable engine of a band. The energy and "bite" of the original loses nothing here, only gets emphasized. And then we get "The lonesome death of Hattie Carrol". The most bitter declaration of injustice. That base line, scaffolding the suffering in the verses, Dylan's perfect phrasing (Slain by a cane, man what words!), the guitar emphasizing the bitterness when linking it up, the mandoline pretending there is any consolation to be found in the chorus ..." The ending on the fifth, leaving the audience with an open and sad, sad question. Oh I could go on like this ... How I'd loved to have been in THAT audience (not when I came of age and he came to Europe ...). And I reckon many a rock musician, when asked, what would you want to sound like, would bring up this concert. I usually don't care for live albums but this one is sheer perfection. It's so well recorded too. The sound engineers who pulled this off can be proud in having done the best effort ever to capture the best Dylan ever. I'm ecstatic listening again to this album as I was when I did for the first time.
Thanks, John. Yeah, I think I'm in the minority on the Scorcese thing. Still, the concert footage and legit behind the scenes stuff was marvelous. Thanks. Jeff
Anxiously awaiting this revue..I saw two of the first leg shows in 1975 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto..one of the shows, I sat in the fourth row..I will never forget those shows..he did a lot of songs from Desire, which is a favourite Dylan album of mine..I absolutely love, love, love this box set..interesting take in the vocals performances..It doesn’t grate on me but I totally get what you are saying..I agree, it is essential..one of my favourites of the Bootleg Series..great video Jeff..❤️❤️👍👍glen
Glen, your having seen those Rolling Thunder shows must place you firmly, and forever, in the "most envied music fan" column, my friend!! In fact, I don't think I've ever met another Dylan fan who was fortunate enough to attend one, let alone two, of those legendary shows!! The closest I got was Ratso's excellent book, haha! So yeah, having these CD sets is a godsend, and hopefully one day we'll have a compilation of all the uninterrupted video footage of these performances (if indeed more is out there). Still, nothing like being there.....would you say that this was your favorite Dylan concert that you attended? Jeff
@@CalicoSilver most definitely.. the best Dylan concert I have ever seen..In fact, I would rank it in the top five of all the concerts I have ever seen..and I saw a lot of the greats from 1967 to 1975..I would love a true concert video from Rolling Thunder..Scorsese did screw up his big opportunity..
@@GlenKellawayfromthebasement You know what, Glen? I think one of, if not THE, best Dylan concerts I've attended was the LAST one I attended, in October 2018. I think I was just about as close to concert-heaven as I'd ever been. Especially when he came out from behind the piano, took the mic stand in his hand, leaned out over the crowd with his arm outstretched toward us, and sang those stunningly prescient and powerful lyrics of "Scarlet Town" (based, I'm convinced, on the "Book Of Lamentations", as I detailed in my review of "Tempest"). He was speaking directly to all of us, and it was breathtaking. I was on the 4th row also for that concert and could see his eyes scanning over the audience during that song. He doesn't often so intently acknowledge the audience, but he did so for that song, and I think he did it on purpose. Jeff
@@CalicoSilver that is a great concert memory..I saw Bob around the same time and absolutely loved the show..His band is incredible and I love his current vocal style..He didn’t get as intimate with the audience, unfortunately..that would have been cool..
Thank you Jeff . I am going to track it down . Your in depth analysis' never are lost in your research and production time . So much knowledge you have and desire to share . Passion is in your blood . Peter
Thanks Peter, I appreciate your kind and encouraging words! So many times I've been tempted to stop making these videos but comments like yours keep me going. Cheers. Jeff
'...it's a wonder that...ya' still know how to BREATHE...'...(ha)....idiot wind...the true classic recording of that song....be well jeff...keep the peace...rocky
Haha, I got that "speaking to the invisible guy next to me" from an old Bible teacher who I used to watch every morning on TV. He did that same thing and I stole his idea to use when I gave my lectures (I taught college chemistry lectures for 20 years) and it has carried on over to these silly videos. Haha! Thanks, Mick. Jeff
Interesting. I agree with much of that. Here are my own random thoughts about the set: I actually like Joan Baez on her own (but not as much as Dylan), and I have liked them singing together on earlier tours. However, I do feel that their mini-set is the weakest of the three in every one of the five concerts included in the set... with one exception. I loved their rendition of "The Times They Are A-Changin'" from the afternoon Boston show. I also like one of the five renditions of "Mama, You Been on My Mind." I don't remember which, but it was one of the first three shows. I've only gone through all of the discs once (so far). -- I can see how these shows might wear a person out, but they oddly energize me when I hear them. In fact, I plan on making a "best of 'Rolling thunder'" playlist to listen to while I run. -- Some of the "rare" songs from the five shows really floor me. I love his "rolling thunder" versions of "It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue" and "Love Minus Zero/No Limit". The rocker version of "A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall" is interesting as well, but the jury is still out on that one... I like it. I don’t know if I love it. I do love the “rolling thunder” version of “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” (particularly one of the performances (don’t remember which). I need to re-listen to them all several times so that I know. - I love the “Blood on the Tracks” and “Desire” performances (which make up the bulk of these shows). In fact, these 5 shows probably elevated my ranking of the “Desire” album. I might like it as much as “Blood on the Tracks” now (and that’s my favorite Dylan album). I think some of those songs are even better here (or at least equal them). - I’ve decided that I won’t be buying “The Bootleg Series - Volume 5” since I own all of the performances on that. I can digitize these and make my own “Best of” playlist based on my own favorite performances of these songs, and I feel like a lot of my choices will be different.
Wow, Brandie, you've really been getting into that box set over the past days. Impressive! I know what you mean about initially questioning the decision to perform certain songs in such dramatically different ways from the recordings....and how sometimes those new versions actually end up being our favorite versions (or at least I find myself walking around singing the live versions often). You are being frugal and wise for not replacing the same material by buying Vol. 5. I think I would have still bought it, just to avoid having a break in my Bootleg Series on my shelf, but that is silly of me, I know. Great idea for making your own Best Of playlist! Hey, I appreciate your comments. Cheers, Jeff
@@CalicoSilver I'm like that too. If I had all of the other albums in "The Bootleg Series," I would feel the need to also buy that one. I'm a bit OCD. lol - Collector's mentality. I am a huge collector of music and movies. I love physical media. It's tactile and a different experience.
Totally agree about the Scorcese film - I was so disappointed - mid 70's was when I was getting into Bob and I have a special affection for that period - I think Scorcese thought he was getting into the spirit of the tour - more specifically Renaldo and Clara where (for instance) Bob plays Renaldo and somebody else plays Bob - and all the masks and face paint and all that identity shifting stuff - but so ham-fisted - the fake reminiscences were a total waste of time when there was so much real stuff that could have been shown - yuck!
Hi Graham. Yes it seems that opinions are split down the middle when it comes to that Scorcese "mockumentary". My problem with Scorcese here and elsewhere is that it always seems to have to be about HIM first and the subject of the film second. And so I was disappointed, but not at all surprised, when I saw what a mess this thing was. Like you said, so much great opportunity wasted. But at least we have some good clean footage of the tour. Thanks for your comment. Cheers. Jeff
As you say Hard Rain and Live 75 are such great albums, Dylan at his possible peak performance years. Martin Scorsese let every hard core Dylan fan down with that film, And I guess Bob had the final say so he is to blame as well. Find it difficult listening to Joan with and without Bob. Cheers
Yeah, I'm sure Dylan was OK with it all, Philip. He's probably a Scorsese fan.....hell, it seems everyone is a Scorsese fan other than me. Oh well..... After all, Dylan was all for that silly make-believe "Renaldo and Clara" project back during this tour, and we all know his propensity for kidding around. Still, we "hard core Dylan fans" take him a lot more seriously than he takes himself, haha!
@@mariog4707 Yeah...she was kinda out of her element on this one, I think. Nothing against her - she is great - but she sounded and looked out of place in that group of folks, haha!
I understand the purpose of The Rolling Thunder Revue movie, although a real documentary would be good too. I mean, Dylan jokes in interview, jokes in songs, why wouldn’t he joke in a documentary?
Haha, so true! Here is my response to another viewer who said a similar thing as your comment: Yeah, I'm sure Dylan was OK with it all (the fake doc). He's probably a Scorsese fan.....hell, it seems everyone is a Scorsese fan other than me. Oh well..... After all, Dylan was all for that silly make-believe "Renaldo and Clara" project back during this tour, and we all know his propensity for kidding around. Still, we "hard core Dylan fans" take him a lot more seriously than he takes himself, haha!
I am just picky. I wanted more Dylan performance footage and behind the scenes footage (without interruptions of the artsy-fartsy fake documentary crap). What is there is brilliant, but it should have and could have been so much better without Scorsese who ruins everything he touches, in my opinion. Sorry if you like him - I mean no offense, haha!
This without any doubt my favorite listening experience by Dylan and the set of CDs I play most often, across my whole collection. I love the sound, the atmosphere, the singing, the solo-ing, the accompaniment ... and nearly all Dylan's songs get their best versions here, as far as I'm concerned. This album got me into the song "The lonesome death of Hattie Carrol", which has become my favorite Dylan composition.
"Tonight I'll be staying here with you" - the first words, "Threw my ticket out the wIIIIIndow ..." set the tone for this mesmerizing experience. The band goes berzerk (in the finest of ways) on the "Is it any wonder" solo part and Dylan does likewise on the "I can hear that lonesome whistle blow" line.
The we get the melancholic "It ain't me ..." with that intricate drumming, the slide guitars and all other instruments chiming in most modestly. For purists this is probably not what you're looking for, but I adore it.
"Hard rain" has Dylan being driven forward by an unstoppable engine of a band. The energy and "bite" of the original loses nothing here, only gets emphasized.
And then we get "The lonesome death of Hattie Carrol". The most bitter declaration of injustice. That base line, scaffolding the suffering in the verses, Dylan's perfect phrasing (Slain by a cane, man what words!), the guitar emphasizing the bitterness when linking it up, the mandoline pretending there is any consolation to be found in the chorus ..." The ending on the fifth, leaving the audience with an open and sad, sad question.
Oh I could go on like this ... How I'd loved to have been in THAT audience (not when I came of age and he came to Europe ...). And I reckon many a rock musician, when asked, what would you want to sound like, would bring up this concert. I usually don't care for live albums but this one is sheer perfection.
It's so well recorded too. The sound engineers who pulled this off can be proud in having done the best effort ever to capture the best Dylan ever. I'm ecstatic listening again to this album as I was when I did for the first time.
Wow! What a great review you’ve offered in your comment, Dieter. Prompted by it, I plan to listen to this CD set tonight. Thanks. Jeff
Bob saw Scarlett Rivera walking down the street with a violin case and said "pull over"......amazing
My favorite Dylan era! Bootleg 5 is what I go to the most with live Dylan.....I wish I had the Rolling Thunder box set!
Indeed - that Rolling Thunder period was an amazingly vibrant period in Dylan's career, it seems.
Great video Jeff....personally I love the Scorcese documentary so there you go!
Thanks, John. Yeah, I think I'm in the minority on the Scorcese thing. Still, the concert footage and legit behind the scenes stuff was marvelous. Thanks. Jeff
His best live recordings in my opinion. The closest he came to Glam Rock. The great Mick Ronson did miracles as usual.
I really wish I could have seen him perform during one of the Rolling Thunder tours!
Anxiously awaiting this revue..I saw two of the first leg shows in 1975 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto..one of the shows, I sat in the fourth row..I will never forget those shows..he did a lot of songs from Desire, which is a favourite Dylan album of mine..I absolutely love, love, love this box set..interesting take in the vocals performances..It doesn’t grate on me but I totally get what you are saying..I agree, it is essential..one of my favourites of the Bootleg Series..great video Jeff..❤️❤️👍👍glen
Glen, your having seen those Rolling Thunder shows must place you firmly, and forever, in the "most envied music fan" column, my friend!! In fact, I don't think I've ever met another Dylan fan who was fortunate enough to attend one, let alone two, of those legendary shows!! The closest I got was Ratso's excellent book, haha! So yeah, having these CD sets is a godsend, and hopefully one day we'll have a compilation of all the uninterrupted video footage of these performances (if indeed more is out there). Still, nothing like being there.....would you say that this was your favorite Dylan concert that you attended? Jeff
@@CalicoSilver most definitely.. the best Dylan concert I have ever seen..In fact, I would rank it in the top five of all the concerts I have ever seen..and I saw a lot of the greats from 1967 to 1975..I would love a true concert video from Rolling Thunder..Scorsese did screw up his big opportunity..
@@GlenKellawayfromthebasement You know what, Glen? I think one of, if not THE, best Dylan concerts I've attended was the LAST one I attended, in October 2018. I think I was just about as close to concert-heaven as I'd ever been. Especially when he came out from behind the piano, took the mic stand in his hand, leaned out over the crowd with his arm outstretched toward us, and sang those stunningly prescient and powerful lyrics of "Scarlet Town" (based, I'm convinced, on the "Book Of Lamentations", as I detailed in my review of "Tempest"). He was speaking directly to all of us, and it was breathtaking. I was on the 4th row also for that concert and could see his eyes scanning over the audience during that song. He doesn't often so intently acknowledge the audience, but he did so for that song, and I think he did it on purpose. Jeff
@@CalicoSilver that is a great concert memory..I saw Bob around the same time and absolutely loved the show..His band is incredible and I love his current vocal style..He didn’t get as intimate with the audience, unfortunately..that would have been cool..
Thank you Jeff . I am going to track it down . Your in depth analysis' never are lost in your research and production time . So much knowledge you have and desire to share . Passion is in your blood . Peter
Thanks Peter, I appreciate your kind and encouraging words! So many times I've been tempted to stop making these videos but comments like yours keep me going. Cheers. Jeff
O how I love Dylan
⭕️❤️
Yep, you and me both. He's the best. Thanks.
'...it's a wonder that...ya' still know how to BREATHE...'...(ha)....idiot wind...the true classic recording of that song....be well jeff...keep the peace...rocky
YES!! ;-)
Love this review Jeff. Very very accurate in my opinion.
Also l love the way you play your own devil's advocate!
Haha, I got that "speaking to the invisible guy next to me" from an old Bible teacher who I used to watch every morning on TV. He did that same thing and I stole his idea to use when I gave my lectures (I taught college chemistry lectures for 20 years) and it has carried on over to these silly videos. Haha! Thanks, Mick. Jeff
Interesting. I agree with much of that. Here are my own random thoughts about the set: I actually like Joan Baez on her own (but not as much as Dylan), and I have liked them singing together on earlier tours. However, I do feel that their mini-set is the weakest of the three in every one of the five concerts included in the set... with one exception. I loved their rendition of "The Times They Are A-Changin'" from the afternoon Boston show. I also like one of the five renditions of "Mama, You Been on My Mind." I don't remember which, but it was one of the first three shows. I've only gone through all of the discs once (so far). -- I can see how these shows might wear a person out, but they oddly energize me when I hear them. In fact, I plan on making a "best of 'Rolling thunder'" playlist to listen to while I run. -- Some of the "rare" songs from the five shows really floor me. I love his "rolling thunder" versions of "It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue" and "Love Minus Zero/No Limit". The rocker version of "A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall" is interesting as well, but the jury is still out on that one... I like it. I don’t know if I love it. I do love the “rolling thunder” version of “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” (particularly one of the performances (don’t remember which). I need to re-listen to them all several times so that I know. - I love the “Blood on the Tracks” and “Desire” performances (which make up the bulk of these shows). In fact, these 5 shows probably elevated my ranking of the “Desire” album. I might like it as much as “Blood on the Tracks” now (and that’s my favorite Dylan album). I think some of those songs are even better here (or at least equal them). - I’ve decided that I won’t be buying “The Bootleg Series - Volume 5” since I own all of the performances on that. I can digitize these and make my own “Best of” playlist based on my own favorite performances of these songs, and I feel like a lot of my choices will be different.
Wow, Brandie, you've really been getting into that box set over the past days. Impressive! I know what you mean about initially questioning the decision to perform certain songs in such dramatically different ways from the recordings....and how sometimes those new versions actually end up being our favorite versions (or at least I find myself walking around singing the live versions often). You are being frugal and wise for not replacing the same material by buying Vol. 5. I think I would have still bought it, just to avoid having a break in my Bootleg Series on my shelf, but that is silly of me, I know. Great idea for making your own Best Of playlist! Hey, I appreciate your comments. Cheers, Jeff
@@CalicoSilver I'm like that too. If I had all of the other albums in "The Bootleg Series," I would feel the need to also buy that one. I'm a bit OCD. lol - Collector's mentality. I am a huge collector of music and movies. I love physical media. It's tactile and a different experience.
Good man Jeff. Love that review 😻
Thanks, Kevin.
Hi jeff have you got the martin scorsese documentry of rolling thunder review released on the 25th of january on dvd over here in wales good man
I don't own it, no.
Totally agree about the Scorcese film - I was so disappointed - mid 70's was when I was getting into Bob and I have a special affection for that period - I think Scorcese thought he was getting into the spirit of the tour - more specifically Renaldo and Clara where (for instance) Bob plays Renaldo and somebody else plays Bob - and all the masks and face paint and all that identity shifting stuff - but so ham-fisted - the fake reminiscences were a total waste of time when there was so much real stuff that could have been shown - yuck!
Hi Graham. Yes it seems that opinions are split down the middle when it comes to that Scorcese "mockumentary". My problem with Scorcese here and elsewhere is that it always seems to have to be about HIM first and the subject of the film second. And so I was disappointed, but not at all surprised, when I saw what a mess this thing was. Like you said, so much great opportunity wasted. But at least we have some good clean footage of the tour. Thanks for your comment. Cheers. Jeff
As you say Hard Rain and Live 75 are such great albums, Dylan at his possible peak performance years.
Martin Scorsese let every hard core Dylan fan down with that film, And I guess Bob had the final say so he is to blame as well.
Find it difficult listening to Joan with and without Bob. Cheers
Yeah, I'm sure Dylan was OK with it all, Philip. He's probably a Scorsese fan.....hell, it seems everyone is a Scorsese fan other than me. Oh well..... After all, Dylan was all for that silly make-believe "Renaldo and Clara" project back during this tour, and we all know his propensity for kidding around. Still, we "hard core Dylan fans" take him a lot more seriously than he takes himself, haha!
Phillip - agree on the Joan Baez comment. She’s just too over the top in her attempts at trying to be credible for me.
@@mariog4707 Yeah...she was kinda out of her element on this one, I think. Nothing against her - she is great - but she sounded and looked out of place in that group of folks, haha!
I understand the purpose of The Rolling Thunder Revue movie, although a real documentary would be good too. I mean, Dylan jokes in interview, jokes in songs, why wouldn’t he joke in a documentary?
Haha, so true! Here is my response to another viewer who said a similar thing as your comment: Yeah, I'm sure Dylan was OK with it all (the fake doc). He's probably a Scorsese fan.....hell, it seems everyone is a Scorsese fan other than me. Oh well..... After all, Dylan was all for that silly make-believe "Renaldo and Clara" project back during this tour, and we all know his propensity for kidding around. Still, we "hard core Dylan fans" take him a lot more seriously than he takes himself, haha!
@@CalicoSilverHaha, true!
Sorry jeff I dont get whats so bad about scorseses documentry I really enjoyed it dylan's cool as f--k on there
I am just picky. I wanted more Dylan performance footage and behind the scenes footage (without interruptions of the artsy-fartsy fake documentary crap). What is there is brilliant, but it should have and could have been so much better without Scorsese who ruins everything he touches, in my opinion. Sorry if you like him - I mean no offense, haha!
@@CalicoSilver no offence my man im not a scorsese fan I can take or leave him I just thought theres enough dylan in film to keep a fan happy
@@leemaloney8527 You are right, I agree. Great footage of a stunning performance.