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the king! May 10, 2009
incredilble! is all that i can say! just listening to this album, and you realize the power of dylan and the band! what a combination! i also really dug the acoustic solo performance. a must buy!
They Are Selling Postcards.... Mar 18, 2009
Of all the bootleg, genuine basement tapes, fake basement tapes, etc. that have come out of over the years detailing the career of the premier folk troubadour of his times, Bob Dylan, this volume that contains the bulk of the famous (or infamous, if you are one of those old folk traditionalists who never moved on) English "Royal Albert Hall" Concert of 1965 may be historically the most valuable. Certainly after Martin Scorsese used the concert as a central backdrop to his Dylan documentary "No Direction Home" the argument for its importance in the folk pantheon has been enhanced. The CD issued many years ago prior to Scorsese's effort only confirms that judgment.
Here, in a quick summary, is what the hullabaloo was all about. Many early 1960's folkies were looking for a new "king of the hill" to continue the tradition established by the likes of Woody Guthrie (an early Dylan hero, by the way) and Pete Seeger. Certainly off the first few years of Dylan's rise it looked to one and all, including this reviewer, that Dylan would fill the bill. Then, he switched gears and started to write more starkly personal songs (rather than quasi-political songs like "Blowing In The Wind") and, oh lord here it comes, to use the electric guitar as backup. And worst of all, an electric backup band (the now immortal Band). You know, with drums and all. "Albert Hall" was one of the first major venues where he presented both concepts, acoustic and electric. The British traditionalists (or at least some of them) were not pleased. But as I have noted elsewhere in earlier reviews of Dylan's work everyone else should be glad, glad as hell, that he made that move.
Needless to say this concert is divided into an acoustic section where he plays some great numbers like "Visions Of Johanna", "Mr. Tambourine Man" and the like. His highlight here is "Desolation Row" an incredible almost surreal use of words and phrases that read more like a poem than a mere song. If I had not been a Dylan fan before this song then the first time I hear "They are selling postcards of the hanging. They are painting the passports brown. The beauty parlor is filled with sailors. The circus is in town" would have caught my attention for life right then and there.
The second, more controversial electric part, includes the 1960's semi-national anthem for the countercultural generation "Like A Rolling Stone" and a good literary companion piece to "Desolation Row" the very fine "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues. Finally, as an extra bonus if you want to hear Dylan without the slurs that make understanding some of the lyrics in other albums this is one for you.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Bob Dylan Mar 08, 2009
Bob Dylan Live, 1966.
It is nice to go down Memory Lane and I am glad to have purchased the CD. I do have to say, though, I love his new music as much as I love his music from earlier years. For me, "Dylan" will always remain "Dylan".
Ursula
Changing Rock N Roll Forever Dec 30, 2008
Probably one of the top three most essential Bob Dylan recordings of all time. You know the legend, you need the music. The second CD is so confrontational and powerful you'll rock out on it over and over, probably for the rest of your life if given half the chance.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Dylan & The Band - essential recordings Oct 16, 2008
For a while the most bootlegged rock record of all. When this was released in 1998 I rushed out and bought it immediately. I had an old cassette recording that somebody had copied from somebody else from a bootleg LP. So at least 3rd hand and thought I would never see the day that Dylan allowed this to be issued properly.
I'm not going to talk about the recordings, as other reviewers have already covered these in ample detail. The CD's (2) are well packaged with a 54 page booklet which gives you a lot of information into the background and history of these recordings. As a leftfield starter the booklet mentions the famous 1913 Stravinsky performance of "The Rite of Spring" which caused a riot. Despite this excellent packaging its the recordings that will grab you by the throat. Dylan in the mid 60's changed popular music for ever.
Although The Band worked and toured with Dylan many times this is the essential live album to get. The Basement Tapes are another set of brilliant recordings never intended for release originally. Both sets are highly recommended.
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