Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 14:52:21 -0400 Well, here we are almost a year down the road from the last DEEP review proper (GL66 notwithstanding). Not sure what was harder to gather up the gumption to doÉÉrattle my brains to assay the long lost list of titles warranting comment or determining just what those titles were. Thanks to the outstanding "Field Recordings" website and Crazy Joe's T-list, I was able to ascertain what those titles were rather swiftly. There certainly is no shortage of resources regarding "field recordings" on the 'net... and with Crazy Joe making a comeback and providing his world renowned, in-depth, inimitable critical commentary of the "field recording" scene on his own website now, collectors can certainly be well-informed of what's happening, what's worthy and what's not. Anyway, without further ado, here is the first of two (or three) "catching up" installments of the DEEP, which will hopefully bring things up to date. There are well over 30 different ones in all from the past year (that I'm aware of, at least)...keep your eyes open for the remainder in a couple of days. One final note: The DEEPs aim from here on out will be to serve as a quasi-guide to gauge the worthiness of a particular release. You would be well served to consult with the "Field Recordings" site for additional commentary on these disks...and, of course, to regularly consult the Crazy Joe site for his updates, which will generally be more in-depth than what you will now find here. Enjoy 'em."DON'T WASTE YOUR WORDS" 2CD (Rattlesnake 45/46) Tracks: 27 Times: Full Source: Aud Quality: Excellent (1) Ahoy (Rotterdam, Holland); September 27, 2000 (2) Vorst National (Brussels, Belgium); October 2, 2000 Tracklist: (1) I Am The Man Thomas, To Ramona, It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), Tomorrow Is A Long Time, Tangled Up In Blue, Searching For A Soldier's Grave, Country Pie, Trying To Get To Heaven, Maggie's Farm, Not Dark Yet, Drifter's Escape, Leopardskin Pillbox Hat, Things Have Changed, Like A Rolling Stone, Fourth Time Around, All Along The Watchtower, I Shall Be Released, Highway 61 Revisited, Blowin' In The Wind (2) Duncan And Brady, Don't Think Twice, It's Alright, Standing In The Doorway, Tombstone Blues, Tell Me That It Isn't True, Cold Irons Bound, If Dogs Run Free, Seeing The Real You At Last. Dylan's Fall 2000 trek yielded some magnificent performances and this is no exception. Terrific sound throughout and typically fine color glossy multi-page cover/booklet w/snazzy photos and essay from the ever-present Ratlesnake scribe "The Gentleman's Club of Spalding." Dylan's revisiting of "4th Time Around" provides a real treat and the radical reworkings of TOOMs "Standing" & "Trying" also shine. Sound on AHOY requires a bit of a tweak toward the low end but the clarity is stunning, particularly the Vocals...bonus tracks are well selected and in ace sound. Gobs of listening pleasure.
"SOMEBODY TOUCHED ME" 2CD (unknown label) Tracks: 24 Times: Full Source: Aud Quality: Exc (main) VG (filler) (1) Arena (Berlin, Germany); May 23, 2000 (2) Donauarena (Regensburg, Germany); May 25, 2000 Tracklist: (1) Somebody Touched Me, Times They Are A-Changin', It'sAlright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), Love Minus Zero, Tangled Up In Blue, Tomorrow Is A Long Time, Gotta Serve Somebody, Things Have Changed, All Along The Watchtower, Not Dark Yet, Drifter's Escape, Leopardskin Pillbox Hat, Love Sick, Like A Rolling Stone, Forever Young, Maggie's Farm, Don't Think Twice, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, Blowin' In The Wind (2) Desolation Row, Delia, To Ramona, Country Pie, Positively Fourth Street One-off label enters the fray with a delightful read of the Spring Berlin 2000 show. É.not many "real" disk entries from Europe Spring 2000 trek and this does not disappoint. Great setlist incl/Love-0, Tomorrow, Serve Somebody highlights a vibrant, upbeat performance in upfront, full-bodied sound with lots of volume. Five bonus tracks (in lesser quality) are well chosen and tag nicely at the end of a recommended set. (Note: Color card cover not badÉÉwrong period photo, though!!!! I hate that J ).
"I'LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT" 2CD (Free Bob Records) Tracks: 24 Times: Full Source: Aud Quality: VG (main) Below avg (filler) (1) Schleyerhalle (Stuttgart, Germany); May 8, 2000 (2) Arena (Sioux Falls, SD); April 1, 2000 Tracklist: (1) Roving Gambler, Times They Are A-Changin', Desolation Row, Girl From The North Country, Tangled Up In Blue, Gates Of Eden, Country Pie, Can't Wait, Maggie's Farm, I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, Not Dark Yet, Leopardskin Pillbox Hat, Love Sick, Like A Rolling Stone, It Ain't Me Babe, Not Fade Away, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (2) My Back Pages, Masters Of War, This World Can't Stand Long, All Along The Watchtower, Watching The River Flow, Make You Feel My Love, Highway 61 Revisited The Stuttgart show was a fabulous performance highlighted by truly devastating versions of "Desolation Row" and "Gates of Eden" but the sound, while more than passable, does not live up to the standards of what we've come to expect from millennium audies. Certainly enjoyable (and those two tracks are on the money) but would have been something if the sound was there. The bonus tracks from SD are inferior quality stillÉÉÉnot a total bummer (I cue up DRow & Gates to this day) but a non-essential. "Pedestrian" artwork (caricature cover) also.
"IT TAKES A LOT TO LAUGH" 2CD (EB Label) Tracks: 26 Times: Full Source: Aud Quality: Primo (main) VG (filler) 1) Portland Meadows (Portland, OR); June 16, 2000 (2) Reno Hilton (Reno, NV); March 17, 2000 (early) (1) Somebody Touched Me, Stone Walls And Steel Bars, Dark As A Dungeon, Tangled Up In Blue, Rank Strangers To Me, Mama You Been On My Mind, Country Pie, It Takes A Lot To Laugh, Memphis Blues Again, Under The Red Sky, Drifter's Escape, Leopardskin Pillbox Hat, Ballad Of A Thin Man, Like A Rolling Stone, It Ain't Me Babe, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (2) Duncan And Brady, Mr. Tambourine Man, Masters Of War, One Too Many Mornings, This World Can't Stand Long, Country Pie, Lay Lady Lay, Simple Twist Of Fate, Highway 61 Revisited, Love Sick Absolute stellar recording and performanceÉ.loud, in your face sound of a sublime show (check setlist) w/Rank Strangers/Dungeon/Mama/Lot To Laugh/Red Sky/Thin Man!!!!!!...all rarely played and nailed. More of these please, Mr. Bob. Reno bonus tracks, particularly One Too Many, are sublime despite a drop-off in quality from the main event. Acceptable color card cover/artwork and nice design.
"GOSPELLER" 2CD (Japanese Supersonic) Tracks: 18 Times: 50/50 approx Source: Line Quality: Exc Massey Hall (Toronto, ON); April 20, 1980 (line recording) Tracklist: Gotta Serve Somebody, I Believe In You, When He Returns, Ain't Gonna Go To Hell For Anybody, Cover Down Break Through, Man Gave Names To All The Animals, Precious Angel, Slow Train ; Stranger In The City, Walk Around Heaven All Day; Do Right To Me Baby, Solid Rock, Saving Grace, Saved, What Can I Do For You, In The Garden, Are You Ready, Pressing On. Welcome "reissue" in excellent quality of what some call Dylan's finest moment vocally (although if we had the pleasure of other '80 performances in this sound, I'm sure they would rate also). Previously available on Flashback's "The Born Again Music" and Wanted Man's "Solid Rock" (both of those included the six-song opening set performed by the band and backup singers without Dylan) but both long out of print. Also available in abbreviated form on the superb "Rock Solid," which was said to be the planned official but canned release. Complete Dylan performance is included here and the sound is top notch near perfect and smooth as silkÉÉno words need to be said about this one beyond it's one " for the ages." Classy cover/artwork/pics also. Highly recommended.
"A MUSICAL RETROSPECTIVE" 3CD (Doberman/Scorpio K9RE1/2/3) Tracks: 55 Times: 70x3 approx Source: Aud/line Quality: Overall exc (1) Paramount Theater (Portland, OR); December 3, 1980 (2) Paramount Theater (Portland, OR); December 4, 1980 (3) Paramount Northwest Theater (Seattle, WA); November 29, 1980 (4) Paramount Northwest Theater (Seattle, WA); November 30, 1980 (5) Fox Warfield (San Francisco, CA); November 15, 1980 (line) (6) Fox Warfield (San Francisco, CA); November 16, 1980 (line) (7) Fox Warfield (San Francisco, CA); November 22, 1980 (8) Fox Warfield (San Francisco, CA); November 12, 1980 (9) Fox Warfield (San Francisco, CA); November 18, 1980 Tracklist: (1) Gotta Serve Somebody, I Believe In You, Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, Man Gave Names To All The Animals, Simple Twist Of Fate, We Just Disagree, All Along The Watchtower, Ain't Gonna Go To Hell, Girl From The North Country, To Ramona, Slow Train, Abraham Martin & John, Rise Again, Let's Keep It Between Us, Mary From The Wild Moor, Solid Rock, Just Like A Woman, Se–or, Couple More Years, WhatCan I Do For You, When You Gonna Wake Up, In The Garden, Blowin' In The Wind, City Of Gold, It's All Over Now Baby Blue, It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) (2) Like A Rolling Stone, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, To Ramona (3) Saved, Don't Think Twice (4) Fever, All Along The Watchtower (5) Like A Rolling Stone[w/Mike Bloomfield], Covenant Woman, Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar[w/Mike Bloomfield], City Of Gold, Love Minus Zero (6) To Ramona [w/Jerry Garcia], Let's Keep It Between Us, Just Like A Woman (7) Fever, Mr. Tambourine Man [w/Roger McGuinn], Knockin' On Heaven's Door [w/Roger McGuinn], It Ain't Me Babe (8) Caribbean Wind, Precious Angel (9) Rise Again, Do Right To Me Baby A joint Doberman/Scorpio "real disk" release of what was originally a Doberman CDR issue. This 24k gold plated 3-disk set provides an overview of the fall 1980 "Musical Retrospective" concerts and supposedly includes at least one version of every song performed on the tour. The audience recordings are top notch for 1980 recording standards and are certainly the finest quality "real disk" issues to date, surpassing even "Rise Again" (the previous standard bearer in that department IMO). Just a joy throughout with a wild array of rarely performed and/or radically reworked performances (get those drool cups when reading the tracklists if you don't own this one). While "definitive" is being thrown around too much these days, it may not be too strong a characterization of this one. These are committed, fiery performances from the man at the top of his game. Highly recommended.
"COLUMBIA RECORDED ARTIST" 2CD (Wild Wolf) Tracks: 16 Time: 110 Source: Aud Quality: Excellent Gorge Amphitheater (George, WA); June 18, 2000 Tracklist: Hallelujah I'm Ready To Go, Stone Walls And Steel Bars, Visions Of Johanna, Love Minus Zero, Tangled Up In Blue, This World Can't Stand Long, Country Pie, Tell Me That It Isn't True, Tombstone Blues, Queen Jane Approximately, Drifter's Escape, Leopardskin Pillbox Hat, House Of The Rising Sun, Like A Rolling Stone, Don't Think Twice, Rainy Day Women #12 & #35 The complete George Gorge set in excellent sound and what a performanceÉ.right up there in "muscularity" with the Portland Meadows set above and with some rarely heard treats, including a killer 1-2-3 punch of Stone Walls/Visions/Love Ð0 in the 2-3-4 slot. You lucky dogs attending must've been beside yourself with glee at your good fortuneÉ.and then to get Tell MeÉ/Tombstone/QUEEN JANE AND HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN, the latter an absolute delight. This one's a wham-bam-thank-you-m'am ... no filler and maybe it didn't need it. One that stands alone nicelyÉnicely garbed with snazzy color front pic/design. Repeated listenings for this one.
"GASLIGHT TAPES 1962" 1CD (Rattlesnake 068) Tracks: 17 Time: 69+ Source: House PA Quality: Stellar Gaslight Cafe (New York, NY); October 1962 (two separate performances) Tracklist: Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, Don't Think Twice, Black Cross, No More Auction Block, Rocks And Gravel, Barbara Allen, Moonshine Blues, Motherless Children, Handsome Molly, John Brown, Ballad Of Hollis Brown, Kindhearted Woman Blues, See That My Grave Is Kept Clean, Ain't No More Cane, Cocaine, Cuckoo Is A Pretty Bird, West Texas. A sublime listen in much improved, upgraded quality far superior to previous issues (and superior to the common track on "39 Years...). Brighter, quieter and more upfrontÉÉa mind blower of a set. The tracklist speaks for itself and head shakers are everywhere you look, from the lyric variations in this early (first?) performance of "Don't Think Twice" to the old ballads and even the misstep of "KindHearted Woman Blues." As essential an early Dylan piece as there is Ð Finjan Club and Folksinger's Choice are the others that come to mind. Beautifuly packaged with 8 pages of "colorized" early rare Dylan pics and in-depth essay on the origin of the tapes. Essential stuff.
"SUN BEATING AT THE ALTAR" 1CD (Rattlesnake 040) Tracks: 13 Time: 73 Source: Aud Quality: VG++/Exc Sun Theater (Anaheim, CA); March 10, 2000 (early show) Tracklist: Roving Gambler, Tomorrow Is A Long Time, It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), Tangled Up In Blue, This World Can't Stand Long, Dignity, Tell Me That It Isn't True, Things Have Changed, Not Dark Yet, Highway 61 Revisited, Love Sick, Not Fade Away, Blowin' In The Wind Beautifully captured club show from the early gig at Sun. 70+ minutes of divine Bob. If you're gonna get just one from Spring 2000Éthis is it and it's complete on one disk. Sound is loud and true with the joy of the performance coming through loud and clear. Nicely packaged color glossy 8-page booklet w/color pics and essay. A good 'un.
"MTV UNPLUGGED REHEARSALS" 1CD (Rattlesnake)
"AFTERNOON ACOUSTIC" 1CD (Scorpio/Colosseum)** 1CD Tracks: 11 (**12) Time: 70 or so Source: Videotape Quality: Excellent MTV Unplugged (New York, NY); November 16, 1994 afternoon rehearsal Tracklist: I Want You, Tombstone Blues, I Want You, Don't Think Twice, Desolation Row, Hazel, Everything Is Broken, Times They Are A-Changin', Love Minus Zero, Dignity, With God On Our Side. **Love Minus Zero (17 Nov 1994 performance Ð from Euro/Japan CD release). Hard to believe our good fortune at what turns up out of the blue. Sublime quality recorded at the afternoon rehearsal for the MTV sourced from a splendid quality videotape of the performance. Several attempts at I Want You and Tombstone run into rough and tumble complete versions of the rest of the tracklist above. Dignity is a terrific read even with some memory lapses, and the DRow is an equally fine rendition. Crown jewel is the last number, With God On our SideÉÉa heartfelt, powerful vocal dripping with sincerity and oozing emotion...and deftly colored by Brendan O'Brien's keyboards, which are a treat throughout. Only a rehearsal but a most enjoyable listen warranting repeated plays. Nicely packaged multi-page Rattlesnake set with booklet/pics/essay. **Scorpio set snazzy card cover and also adds the Japan/Euro CD version of "Love Minus Zero."
"DARK NIGHT ON THE SPANISH STAIRS" 2CD (Rattlesnake 62/63) Tracks: 34 Time: Full Source: Aud Quality: VG Civic Center (Augusta, ME); November 26, 1975 Tracklist: (1) [Joni Mitchell] Edith And The Kingpin, Coyote, Don't Interrupt The Sorrow (2) [Dylan] When I Paint My Masterpiece, It Ain't Me Babe, Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll, Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You, It Takes A Lot To Laugh, Romance In Durango, Isis (3) [Dylan/Baez] Blowin' In The Wind, Dark As A Dungeon, Mama You Been On My Mind, The Water Is Wide, Never Let Me Go, I Shall Be Released (4) [Joan Baez] Diamonds And Rust, Do-Right Woman, Joe Hill, Love Song To A Stranger Part 2, Long BlackVeil, Please Come To Boston (5) [Roger McGuinn] Eight Miles High, Chestnut Mare (6) [Joan Baez] Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (7) [Dylan] Fourth Time Around, Simple Twist Of Fate, Oh Sister, Hurricane, One More Cup Of Coffee, Sara, Just Like A Woman, Knockin' On Heaven's Door (w/Roger McGuinn), This Land Is Your Land (all) Nice quality for a '75 audience recording and detailing the entirety of the Dylan et al sets plus Joni, Joan, and Roger. Only recently circulating, apparently, and a nice listen despite the initial disappointment of this not being a much-anticipated and rumored soundboard recording. For detailed rundown on this show, check out the over-the-top and entertaining review by Crazy Joe at www.renaldo.clara.net Beautifully packaged 32 page cover/booklet with a wealth of Rolling Thunder shots, both live and backstage, adding up to an appealing set.
"AWAY FROM THE PAST" 2CD (Scorpio) Tracks: 23 Times: Full Source: Aud/**recorder Quality: See below (1) Colston Hall (Bristol, UK); May 10, 1966 (2) Denver Hotel Tape (Denver, CO); March 13, 1966** (3) Syria Mosque (Pittsburgh, PA); February 6, 1966 (4) De Montfort Hall (Leicester, UK); May 15, 1966 (1) She Belongs To Me, Fourth Time Around, Visions of Johanna, It's All Over Now Baby Blue, Desolation Row, Just Like A Woman, Mr. Tambourine Man, Tell Me Momma, I Don't Believe You, Baby Let Me Follow You Down, Tom Thumb's Blues, Leopardskin PillBox Hat, One Too Many Mornings, Ballad Of A Thin Man, Like A Rolling Stone, (2) Positively Van Gogh, Don't Tell Him, If You Want My Love, Just Like A Woman, Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands (3) Positively Fourth Street, Love Minus Zero (4) Mr. Tambourine Man The 9th and 10th disks for the "Genuine Live 1966" box...presenting the most listenable of the extant audience concerts Ð Colston Hall in Bristol. This is not one for casual listening...you will only be rewarded by hunkering down and paying full attention, as the sound is what you'd expect from even a listenable '66 auddie Ð a bit distant and undefined. The fierceness of the performance can be heard with full attention, however, and while this is not one you will pull out with any degree of regularity (for the Colston portion, at least), it beats the heck out of the others from this tour Ð Forest Hills, Pittsburgh & White Plains- with Pitsburgh even represented here with bonus tracks on rare outings of 4th St and Love-0 Ð worth having while archival at best. The Denver Hotel Room tracks are another matter Ð fine quality and lovely work by Bob & Robbie (first time I heard these so I can't comment on sound comparisons of what came prior). A glorious T'Man (again, careful attention a necessity) ends the proceedings. Fancy, color glossy gatefold slipcase, pic sleeves and 24K gold disk (per the GL66 set) Ð with perhaps the coolest looking cover of the set. Barring any more Sydney-type unearthings, this one pretty much closes the door on '66.
"PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA 9TH NOVEMBER 1999" 2CD (Fugitive) Tracks: 19 Time: 110 Source: Aud Quality: VG++ Apollo Of Temple (Philadelphia, PA); November 9, 1999 Tracklist: Hallelujah I'm Ready To Go, Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll, Boots Of Spanish Leather, Satisfied Mind, Mama You Been On My Mind, Tangled Up In Blue, Folsom Prison Blues, Ballad Of A Thin Man, Man Of Peace, I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, Shooting Star, Maggie's Farm, Love Sick, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, Don't Think Twice, Not Fade Away, Blowin' In The Wind, Highway 61 Revisited A nice show from the "much-ignored on disk" Fall '99 US tour with some rare outings for Hattie, Boots, Folsom Prison,Thin Man, Man of Peace, Shooting Star & SATISFIED MIND. Seven "rarely done" tunes in one show perhaps singles this show out as one of the most unique of the year. A very, very good recording with the volume up although falls shy of the top echelon we've become accustomed to. Nevertheless, this one seems to garner repeated plays due to the outstanding setlistÉ...beware of some inherent sound glitches for part of "Shooting Star" (ninety seconds of subtle crunching on mine Ð and others I've heard). While not in the essential category, certainly a worthy entry and an excellent show.
"HORSENS TEATER" 2CD (Crystal Cat 526/27) Tracks: 24 Time: Full Source: Aud Quality: Excellent (1) Horsens Ny Teater (Horsens, Denmark); May 21, 2000 (2) Olympen (Lund, Sweden); May 13, 2000 Tracklist: (1) Hallelujah, I'm Ready To Go, My Back Pages, Masters Of War, Tomorrow Is A Long Time, Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, Tangled Up In Blue, Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll, Gotta Serve Somebody, You're A Big Girl Now, All Along The Watchtower, Tryin' To Get To Heaven, To Be Alone With You, Ballad Of A Thin Man, Like A Rolling Stone, Forever Young, Maggie's Farm, It Ain't Me Babe, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, Blowin' In The Wind (2) Mama You BeenÉ, Shelter From The Storm, Down Along The Cove, Things Have Changed The CatMan captured the much ballyhooed Danish club show in outstanding sound for a club show Ð thank goodness for his resourcefulness. Typically wonderful Ccat presentation Ð full bodied, clear sound of perhaps the toughest ticket since the Supper Club performances Ð only 450 attended, eh? The setlist speaks for itself and the filler tracks from Lund are truly sublime and leave one wishing that show had been done in its entirety. Terrific listening. Magnificent cover photo/design looking like an old 40's movie promo pic with more wondeful images inside, presumably from the show. Outstanding effort.
"VIOLENCE OF A SUMMER'S DREAM" 2CD (Rattlesnake 038/039) Tracks: 24 Times: Full Source:Aud Quality: Terrific (1) Kolnarena (Cologne [Koln], Germany); May 11, 2000 (2) Arena (Oberhausen, Germany); May 9, 2000 Tracklist: (1) Roving Gambler, Times They Are A-Changin', It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), Mr. Tambourine Man, Tangled Up In Blue, Gates Of Eden, Country Pie, Things Have Changed, Down Along The Cove, Every Grain Of Sand, Cold Irons Bound, Leopard-Skin Pillbox Hat, LoveSick, Like A Rolling Stone, Forever Young, Not Fade Away, Don't Think Twice, Rainy Day Women #12 &35 (2) Masters Of War, It's All Over Now Baby Blue, One Too Many Mornings, Can't Wait, Watching The River Flow, Not Dark Yet This one is easy on the ears ... great quality, great setlist, great multi-page booklet w/color pics and essay. All aces...if anything, the bonus tracks up the ante even further with sublime quality and a goosebump inducing, "hit the repeat button" reading of "One Too Many Mornings." Thumbs doubly up.
"OH ME OH MY COUNTRY PIE" 2CD (Crystal Cat 545/6) Tracks: 26 Times: Full Source: Aud Quality: Excellent (1) Globe Arena (Stockholm, Sweden); May 18, 2000 (2) Spektrum (Oslo, Norway); May 19, 2000 Tracklist: (1) Roving Gambler, Mr Tambourine Man, Masters Of War, Visions Of Johanna, Tangled Up In Blue, Gates Of Eden, Country Pie, Ballad Of A Thin Man, Watching The River Flow, Things Have Changed, Not Dark Yet, Leopardskin Pillbox Hat, Love Sick, Like A Rolling Stone, It Ain«t Me Babe, Not Fade Away, One Too Many Mornings, Maggie«s Farm, Blowin« In The Wind (2) Duncan And Brady, It«s Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), Love Minus Zero, Can't Wait, All Along The Watchtower, She Belongs To Me, Cold Irons Bound Two things are certain when Dylan plays Sweden of late...he plays the Globe and the CatMan will capture it in all its glory. Another keeper in super high quality with a wealth of highlights: Visions, Gates of Eden, Things Have Changed, Thin Man, Not Dark Yet...on and on and on. The filler is wonderful, too. Typical hard cardboard color paneled package...lo and behold, a lame caricature Dylan cover. You can't judge a book ...
"HIGHLANDS OF WORCESTER" 1CD (Wild Wolf 111499) Tracks: 11 Time: 78+ Source: Aud Quality: Excellent Centrum (Worcester, MA); November 14, 1999 Tracklist: Somebody Touched Me, To Ramona, Mama You Been on My Mind, Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, Don't Think Twice, All Along the Watchtower, Highlands, Memphis Blues Again, Not Dark Yet, Everything is Broken, Girl from the North Country Crystal clear, warm, smooth sound on an "edited" Worcester show. This one goes down nice and easy with many highlights, chief of which are Ramona, Hard Rain, Girl of NC & a masterful Highlands. Sound quality is impeccable and if the purist in you can get by the omitted tracks and concentrate on what is there as opposed to what is not, repeated listenings will ensue. Obviously whittled down to accommodate one disk of material and suffers not, IMO. Actually, more of these, please. ...cost effective, no, for real disk collectors?
"HARD TO FIND VOL 7 (MUSIC FROM THE OUTLAW HIDEOUT)" 1CD (Avengers 47197) Tracks: 20 Time: Full Source: Various Quality: Outstanding (1) Clinch Mountain Country, Ralph Stanley & Friends (2) The Sixties TV soundtrack album (3) Johnny Cash Tribute (broadcast April 6, 1999) (4) Pond Of Anaheim (Anaheim, CA); May 23, 1998 (5) (Belfast); June 19, 1998 (6) Madison Square Garden (New York, NY); November 1, 1998 (7) Irving Plaza (New York, NY); December 8, 1997 (8) El Rey Theater (Los Angeles, CA); December 19, 1997 (9) Under The Red Sky sessions; January 6, 1990 (10) Under The Red Sky sessions; March 1990 (11) Ardent Studios (Memphis, TN); May 1994 (12) Gorge (George, WA); June 13, 1999 (13) Veterans Memorial Auditorium (Columbus, OH); November 7, 1997) (14) Capitol Music Hall (Wheeling, WV); April 28, 1997 (15) Kosei Nenkin Kaikan (Sapporo, Japan); February 24, 1997 (16) (Pensacola, FL); February 2, 1999 (17) EMU Ballroom (Eugene, OR); June 14, 1999 (18) (Nashville, TN); September 1999 (19) Mercury Lounge (Melbourne, Australia); August 19, 1998 (20) Mullins Center (Amherst, MA); February 24, 1999 Tracklist: (1) The Lonesome River (w/Ralph Stanley) (2) Chimes Of Freedom (w/Joan Osborne) (3) Train Of Love (4) I'm Not Supposed To Care (5) Newry Highwayman (6) The Times We've Known (7) The White Dove (8) Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie (9) Handy Dandy (10) TV-Talking Song (11) My Blue Eyed Jane (12) Hallelujah I'm Ready To Go (13) Be Not A Stranger (14) Long Black Veil (15) Viola Lee Blues (16) Rock Of Ages (17) Down Along The Cove (18) I Am The Man Thomas (19) Dark As A Dungeon (20) Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Saviour A concept album of sorts with what I would guess to be the "high lonesome sound" of "old timey" and country/bluegrass-type songs the theme (with 1, 10 & 11 the exceptions). Not worthy of much discussion beyond this being one heckuva fabulous listen from start to finish in excellent quality. Some outrageous performances here....feeling down? Pop this one in. Mission accomplished.
"HAPPY DYLENNIUM" 2CD (Rattlesnake 009/010) Tracks: 15 Time: 95 Source: Reel-Reel Quality: Excellent The Stadium (Sydney, Australia); April 13, 1966 Tracklist: She Belongs To Me, Fourth Time Around, Visions Of Johanna, It's All Over Now Baby Blue, Desolation Row, Just Like A Woman, Mr. Tambourine Man, Tell Me Momma, I Don't Believe You, Baby Let Me Follow You Down, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat, One Too Many Mornings, Ballad Of A Thin Man, Positively Fourth Street. For those not springing for the full blown "Genuine Live 1966" who want to experience the raging glory of Sydney '66, this is the way to go. Beautifully packaged booklet w/vintage b&w '66 pics. For review of Sydney, please see the last DEEP entry of 2000. Highly recommended for those not owning "GL66."