"The Bootleg Series, Vol. 5 -- Bob Dylan Live 1975:
The Rolling Thunder Revue"
Bob Dylan
Columbia/Legacy
The latest installment in this series of previously unavailable (at least legally) recordings of the iconic American troubadour Bob Dylan finds him at a fascinating juncture in his long career. Dylan’s artistry
captured in bootlegs
Review by Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.comThe Bob Dylan of the mid-'70s was an artist at arguably his most creative and certainly his feistiest. He kicked off 1975 with what would be his landmark "Blood on the Tracks" album. Afterward, Dylan starting working with off-Broadway director and ex-clinical psychologist Jacques Levy. Out of their collaboration sprung the idea of putting together a musical revue, like an old-time medicine show, and touring the northeast United States.
The Rolling Thunder Revue (named after a famous American Indian shaman) would include Levy as its stage director and a large and talented backing band that would include Dylan's longtime friend Bob Neuwirth, members of the Alpha Band (which included a young T Bone Burnett, way before his career turned to producing and movie work) and, surprisingly, British rock guitarist Mick Ronson.
Friends would join the tour at various stops along the way: Beat poet legend Allen Ginsberg tagged along (and did the liner notes for 1976's "Desire," which contained many of the songs the band did while on tour). Folk legend Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Roger McGuinn were others of the many who experienced this ragtag, traveling bohemia.
Along the way, Dylan and Company made a guerrilla-theater art film that would be known as "Renaldo and Clara." The film has never been in wide release, but besides the improvised story line, many of the tour performances were filmed, and performances of "Tangled Up in Blue" and "Isis" from that film are included in a limited-edition package of this album.
At the very least, this is an interesting snapshot of how Dylan was performing his music at the time, and at its most inspired (particularly the music on the latter half of the second CD) captures the essence of Dylan's artistry at its most vibrant.
Culled from five shows in Massachusetts and Montreal, older songs get a creative adrenaline jolt: His '60s social message song "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" is stripped of its original serious dourness and bursts with life when played by Dylan and the Rolling Thunder band.
The same can be said for his solo rendition of "Mr. Tambourine Man" -- Dylan brings a new sense of meaning to his romantic folk song of redemption.
The only time things sound a bit dated is when he duets with his ol' folkie friend Joan Baez. They trot out "Blowin' in the Wind" and "I Shall Be Released," more for historical purposes than anything, although they pull off a charming and countrified "Mama, You Been on My Mind."
Speaking of Baez, women played a crucial role in Dylan's life and music at this time: His relationship with his then-wife and muse Sara was coming to an end, and he associated with two women who were very much in the vein of his beloved, singer Ronee Blakely and the Gypsy-like, dark-haired violinist Scarlet Rivera.
Both of them were featured in the band, especially Rivera. Her impassioned playing on "One More Cup of Coffee" and "Sara" offers a female counterpoint voice to Dylan's.
While this tour has been documented on the 1976 "Hard Rain" album and rarely seen NBC-TV documentary, this album is a better representative of a fascinating time in Dylan's long career.
Click for online
calendars and events.
