DEEP BENEATH THE WAVES vol 75

Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 10:46:27 -0500

Backtracking a bit to DEEP 74 and the Irving Plaza "Tonight I'll Be 
Playing Here For You" set, specifically my comment that this "show
had not circulated on tape prior to this CD coming out."  I should
have clarified that by stating that "the SOUNDBOARD recording of this
show had not circulated on tape prior to the CD coming out." I
incorrectly assumed that folks would interpret it that way......
Karl Erik has been inundated with a total of 2 e- mails from folks who
pointed out the show WAS circulating on tape - of the audience
variety, I ASSUME  :-)

FROM NEWPORT TO THE ANCIENT EMPTY STREETS IN L.A.  2CD
    (Dandelion DL 061/62)  Complete* Hollywood Bowl, LA  3 Sept 1965
    acoustic & electric, plus Newport 1964/1965, + Tombstone Blues dub
Tracks: 24   Times: 67/69   Source: Soundboards   Quality: Excellent*

A stunning upgrade* of the complete* ("Tombstone Blues" beginning cut)
Hollywood Bowl,  3 Sept 1965 soundboard. What a shocker!!  This one
sheds what seems like 3 layers of skin from previous editions and
emerges with a brightness and clarity that enhances the listening
experience immensely. Without the compression and muddiness that
characterized earlier circulating recordings - on here Bob's vocals
are clear, distinct and without the distortion on the louder vocal
passages. The acoustic set has more definition and a lot more "air"
between the vocals and guitar - like hearing it for the first time,
really. The electric set benefits even more from the significant
upgrade -  Robbie's guitar is more prominent, Kooper's keyboards more
distinct and the drums have a punchier sound, more snap than thud.
Bob's vocals are much clearer- the bottom line is the recording has a
crisper, more defined and punchier sound with very little of the
compression found on the earlier versions. Initially, It was a TREAT
to simply get a '65 live recording of the H' Bowl in decent quality.
Now, to get it like this, in better sound and now complete, is a JOY. 

The balance of the material is the Newport '64 and '65 material (see
FOLK ROGUE review), but missing "It Ain't Me Babe" from '64 and "Mr
TMan" from the acoustic '65 set, and it does not include the '65
"Don't Think Twice" from Newcastle. Quality is on par w/Folk Rogue,
excellent in every way. The inexplicable omission of the 2 Newport
tracks above from this set is the only negative criticism here. 

Bottom line: if you have the FOLK ROGUE set and this, you have it all.
Last bits: one bonus cut on here is the acetate sourced, overdub
version of "Tombstone Blues," with background vocal overdubs provided
courtesy of the Chambers Bros. Quality is OK but you'll see why they
did'nt use it. More a curiosity piece than anything else.

Final word: a terrific package on this one with a vintage (unpublished
'66??) close-up cover shot of Bob, a heavy duty,16 page glossy b&w
booklet chock full of more vintage '65 and '66 pics (some unpublished,
I believe), classy graphics and picture disk CDs. Essential.

Tracks: Newport July 26, 1964: All I Really Want To Do/To Ramona
/Mr.Tambourine Man, Chimes Of Freedom (missing It Ain't Me Babe)
Newport July 25, 1965: Maggie's/Like A Rolling Stone/Phantom Engineer,
Baby Blue (missing Mr. T' Man) Hollywood Bowl, LA, Sept 3, 1965: She
Belongs To Me, To Ramona, Gates of Eden, Baby Blue, Desolation Row,
Love Minus Zero/No Limit, Mr TMan Tombstone Blues (beginning cut on
all circulating versions), I Don't Believe You, From A Buick 6, Tom
Thumb's Blues, Maggie's Farm, It Ain't Me Babe, Ballad Of A Thin Man,
Like A Rolling Stone H61 Overdub: Tombstone Blues w/Chambers Bros.

1995 1996 1997 1998 T-list CDs