Disc 2 is an absolute revelation, for lack of a better word. I'd not dived as deeply as I should have into 1981, apparently. I'm also finding myself less distracted by the shift between the three years from song to song. A 1979 tune can go straight into 80 or 81 with ease. This may be my favorite Bootleg Series yet, and I still have about 80% of the material to go--not to mention the books. An embarrassment of riches!
Perhaps a "clue" can be found in the fact that this song predates the Gospel years, being played live in '78. Knowing that, I'm more or less convinced that it's not to be read literally. I certainly take it as clever and humorous.
I finally found a reasonably priced 2-CD edition at Best Buy for $16.99 so if you are looking around hit a local BB in your area. Barnes and Noble wanted $23.99. I can't believe just how intense these shows are. Shot Of Love is like a freight train. Under the fire and brimstone there is subtle humor on songs like Man Gave Name To The Animals (I like the hissing that replaces the abrupt end to the song on the LP which leads to another chorus on this stage version). For me these religious albums are not that different from what Bob had always done before. Dylan's words are didactic and literal here but the music is an emotional tidal wave which makes everything sort of like a ship on a roiling sea. Other singers would have probably kept this band for as long as they could have. But Dylan was never one to stay in one place.
June 27 appears to be the shortest set of the Earls Court stand, so perhaps overall time was a consideration. I don’t have the set yet, but can anyone attest to whether there is enough space between the two discs for extra songs?
The two Earl's Court discs tally at 42 and 65 minutes so there would have been plenty of room for tracks from the other London dates, 'Masters of war' in particular.There is plenty of room for extra songs on the Toronto discs too. I can't complain though as the set does not duplicate much from my live show collection, 'Thief on the Cross' being about the only live song that I already had on a sbd recording.Happy listening !
Disc 4 is amazing! Why doesn't the officially released SOL album sound anywhere near as powerful as these outtakes from it?!? Somebody please do a dub mix of this Dead Man, Dead Man outtake.
Saving to get box. Just wanted to share this. No big deal. Love reading most of the comments on Hoffman learning more about the box and Dylan in this era. Review: Thinking Twice About Bob Dylan’s Gospel Phase With New Box Set
And on the only 1978 live version (rather than soundcheck which I haven't committed to memory yet!) there are a few parts where he sings 'Do right with you, too', which I think again changes the meaning of things. That, plus the 1978 arrangement, hint (to this dirty-minded fellow) at little bit of a playful sexual undertone as well. I think the rearrangement benefits the song fitting into a religious-era context than the funkier '78 style. Just my two cents on this.
Just listening to Caribbean Wind and I went to the lyrics on bobdylan.com just to follow along. Couldn’t. The song is a total rewrite! And it is so wonderful! I just love it! Love it!
Yes. It is good to have an informed long read to accompany the release. Am only a few chapters in but it does appear to be essential reading. There is also an in-depth chronology at the end which will be really useful as I work my way through the set and tie it in with the original album releases etc.
Can’t put it down. Using the 79 Warfield, Santa Monica and Tempe shows as background listening. He references these shows at length over the first quarter of the book. Also made me reach for the final 78 show in Hollywood, Fl (erroneously referred to as Miami) as it contains the debut of Do Right to Me, Baby. Really enjoying my weekend, although still waiting for my elusive box set to arrive.
I don't know where it is from. It was posted on the Bob Dylan Facebook page. I don't have the DVD yet.
The Amazon listing has November 28 as the release date, but the book is "in stock". ... And people are apparently reading it now! (The Canada Amazon page says release is December 8. I'm not sure I want to wait that long, but I'm wary of having more Dylan stuff shipped across the border! (But DHL would not be involved, so ...))
Sets a new standard in what was already an amazing series: video, live shows, live highlights, outtakes and fantastic books/photos. If they match this standard for "Blood and Thunder" then my head may explode. Yep. Some great background information. Much better than "Judas" imo.
The hardcover and paperback are apparently being released simultaneously, with one of them (I forget which) being out now, and the other one later this month. Hardcover is cheaper too, if I recall correctly.
Yes, it's a great read. As to release dates for it, I bought mine direct from the publisher and it arrived a month or so back (autographed paperback).