A CS production, December 2015
CD 1 - Volume One:
1. Down In The Flood - Bethlehem, December 13, 1995
2. When I Paint My Masterpiece - Bloomington, October 26, 1995
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues - New York City, December 13, 1995
4. Under The Red Sky - Philadelphia, December 15, 1995
5. West LA Fadeaway - Philadelphia, December 17, 1995
6. Jokerman - London, March 30, 1995
7. Joey, London. March 31, 1995
8. Dignity - Brussels, March 23, 1995
9. What Good Am I? - Philadelphia, June 22, 1995
10. Highway 61 Revisited - London, March 31, 1995
CD 2 - Volume Two:
1. Visions Of Johanna - Philadelphia, June 21, 1995
2. Mama, You Been On My Mind - Philadelphia, December 15, 1995
3. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall - Philadelphia, December 16, 1995
4. One Too Many Mornings - Philadelphia, June 22, 1995
5. Tangled Up In Blue - Philadelphia, June 21, 1995
6. Mr Tambourine Man - Manchester, April 3, 1995
7. Dark Eyes - Philadelphia, December 15, 1995
8. Desolation Row - Bethlehem, December 13, 1995
In the electric set, the most notable performances are likely “West LA Fadeaway,” “Dignity,” and “Joey.” The first was a Grateful Dead song that Bob Dylan had been playing at his concerts from the early 1990s, but it really came into its own in 1995. While it was also performed in a semi-acoustic arrangement at Dylan’s unique Fort Lauderdale covers show earlier in 1995, this rendition from the winter tour presents the song at its most elemental. The central riff is in place, and loops throughout the painted picture of Los Angeles’ seedy underbelly. “Dignity,” which was something of a minor hit due to its inclusion on Greatest Hits Volume Three and the MTV Unplugged show, was played intermittently on the 1995 tours. It took some time to find its footing, and would only achieve its full potential a decade later in 2004, but this performance from Brussels is a beautiful, smooth treatment of the song. It’s a little more lively than its studio arrangement, and benefits from the looser style. Finally, this version of “Joey” from London is one of the most stirring performances of the Desire centerpiece. Dylan really lays into the vocals, and though he’s not word-perfect, the passion of the singing and the crunch of the guitars carries you fully into this contentious mobster ballad.
The acoustic set is anchored by “Visions Of Johanna,” “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,” “Dark Eyes,” and “Desolation Row.” The first is often spoken of as one of the song’s best outings during the 1990s. The singer’s fully committed, and presents the song with the precision he afforded it back in 1966; his unique way of singing the iconic lines “the ghost of electricity / howls in the bones of her face” is one highlight among many. “Hard Rain” is provided one of the more fascinating arrangement I’ve heard, while the song starts in a typical style, a baroque guitar riff becomes more present as the song continues, spurring Dylan into more curious vocal styles. It has to be heard to be believed, and gives the long song an evolving dynamic to pull the listener in. “Dark Eyes” had previously been played live only once, in a truncated fashion, on Bob Dylan’s 1986 tour. Patti Smith, for whom Dylan had arranged his rare December tour, requested the song specifically, and it was played as a duet throughout the brief stint. It was performed to varying degrees of success, but this rendition from Philadelphia stands out as the best of the recordings available. At last, “Desolation Row” acts as an apt conclusion to the compilation. I’ve heard that author Clinton Heylin has claimed this as the best performance of the song, and you’d be hard-pressed to better it. It really is something of a journey, and the listener will no doubt be compelled to stick with the narrator clear through to the end.
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