Bob Dylan Live 1962-66 Offers A Snapshot of the Poet Recast As Orator
BOB DYLAN LIVE 1962-1966. Rare Performances From The Copyright Collections. Bob Dylan. Sony Legacy.
Cover courtesy of Sony Legacy.
Bob Dylan has refined his stage persona and perfected his live performances during the course of his 3-decade-long “Never Ending Tour.” But longtime followers know he didn’t always sound like this. In turn, Bob Dylan Live 62-66 brings us back to the beginning of ‘live Dylan’ and serves as a perfect example of how he sorted through his psyche to grow comfortable performing on stage. From the outset, Dylan was an accomplished poet, however, I don’t believe he always felt at ease in front of thousands of random eyes. Often times in the early years, there was a hint of nervousness to his performances; nonetheless, these odd moments somehow came to enhance each concert. This album brings us 29 quintessential live cuts from his seminal years. You will note an absolute raw and primal energy to the recordings as they come to reveal the brilliance of the poet now recast as orator. There is no finer example of this than in Dylan’s 1964 rendering (London) of “Mr. Tambourine Man.” As good as the 1966 Manchester version of the cut is, this version pays homage to the Bringing It All Back Home original we heard back in 1965. Also, this version of “Seven Curses” shows exactly why Dylan was able to storm New York and become the folk movement. This is a hallmark acoustic recording, while the writing owes as much to Whitman and Ginsberg as it does to Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. The usual and not-so-usual suspects round out the double-disc’s spotlight moments: “Visions Of Johanna” from 1966; “Desolation Row” from 1966; “Blowin’ In The Wind” from 1962 (at Gerde’s Folk City); “Corrina, Corrina” also from a 1962 performance at Gerde’s Folk City (showcasing Dylan’s gorgeous guitar work); and “When The Ship Comes In” from the 1963 March on Washington. After one full tour through this material you will see that Dylan’s writing exists on a completely different plane; even in 1963 it was obvious his music was destined to withstand the test of time. In the end, Bob Dylan Live 62-66 provides the living testament to Dylan’s genesis as a performer, providing us a defined picture of an artist developing his personal relationship with the audience. Even though you’ve heard these songs before, you have not heard them from the altar of this perspective. And because of this, the official release of Bob Dylan Live 62-66 is hailed as a not to be missed event.
Go to bobdylan.com for information.
Bob Dylan Live 1962 – 1966: Rare Performances from The Copyright Collections.
Disc 1
1. Blowin’ In The Wind – April 16, 1962 – Gerde’s Folk City, New York City
2. Corrina, Corrina – April 16, 1962 – Gerde’s Folk City, New York City
3. John Brown – April 12, 1963 – Town Hall, New York City
4. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right – April 12, 1963 – Town Hall, New York City
5. Bob Dylan’s Dream – April 12, 1963 – Town Hall, New York City
6. Seven Curses – April 12, 1963 – Town Hall, New York City
7. Boots of Spanish Leather – April 12, 1963 – Town Hall, New York City
8. Masters of War – October 26, 1963 – Carnegie Hall, New York City
9. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll – October 26, 1963 – Carnegie Hall, New York City
10. When The Ship Comes In – August 28, 1963 – March on Washington, Washington, D.C.
11. The Times They Are A-Changin’ – May 17, 1964 – Royal Festival Hall, London, England
12. Girl From The North Country – May 17, 1964 – Royal Festival Hall, London, England
13. Mr. Tambourine Man – May 17, 1964 – Royal Festival Hall, London, England
14. It Ain’t Me, Babe – May 17, 1964 – Royal Festival Hall, London, England
15. To Ramona – July 26, 1964 – Newport Folk Festival, Freebody Park, Newport, Rhode Island
16. Chimes of Freedom – May 17, 1964 – Royal Festival Hall, London, England
- Tracks 1-16:
Bob Dylan – vocal, guitar, harmonica
Joan Baez – background vocal (Track 10)
Disc 2
1. One Too Many Mornings – June 1, 1965 – BBC Studios, London, England
2. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) – April 30, 1965 – The Oval, City Hall, Sheffield, England
3. Love Minus Zero/No Limit – May 1, 1965 – The Odeon, Liverpool, England
4. Gates of Eden – May 7, 1965 – Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England
5. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue – May 1, 1965 – The Odeon, Liverpool, England
6. She Belongs to Me – May 10, 1965 – Royal Albert Hall, London, England
7. Maggie’s Farm – September 3, 1965 – Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, California
8. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train to Cry – July 25, 1965 – Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island
9. Desolation Row – April 13, 1966 – TCN 9 TV, Sydney, Australia
10. Baby, Let Me Follow You Down – May 11, 1966 – Capitol Theatre, Cardiff, Wales
11. I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) – May 11, 1966 – Capitol Theatre, Cardiff, Wales
12. Ballad of a Thin Man – May 20, 1966 – ABC Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland
13. Visions of Johanna – May 6, 1966 – ABC Theatre, Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Tracks 1-6:
Bob Dylan – vocal, guitar, harmonica
- Track 7:
Bob Dylan – vocal, guitar, harmonica
Robbie Robertson – guitar
Al Kooper – organ
Harvey Brooks – bass
Levon Helm – drums
- Track 8:
Bob Dylan – vocal, guitar
Michael Bloomfield – guitar
Barry Goldberg – organ
Al Kooper – bass
Sam Lay – drums
- Tracks 9, 13:
Bob Dylan – vocal, guitar, harmonica
Richard Manuel – piano
- Tracks 10-12:
Bob Dylan – vocal, guitar, piano (on Track 12)
Robbie Robertson – guitar
Garth Hudson – organ
Richard Manuel – piano (does not appear on Track 12)
Rick Danko – bass
Mickey Jones – drums
by John Aiello
One comment on “Bob Dylan Live 1962-66 Offers A Snapshot of the Poet Recast As Orator”
Talk to Rat:
Electric Review 
Some of your credits are wrong. Levon didn’t play at Newport; Sam Lay did not play in Australia and Ireland . . . a superb collection though!