Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released

Subject: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: Peter T.
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 09:30 AM

This is the album of the famous Philharmonic Hall concert, and it is terrific -- maybe the best album in the whole pile (including the Live 66) -- the sound is unbelievably good for a live concert in 1964. What makes it so special is that it is Dylan at the absolute peak of the folk universe, you only have to listen and you can see why everyone was so obsessed with Dylan, and why there was such a desire for him to go on doing more of the same. He is very casual (makes mistakes, stops, starts, laughs) -- unbelievable charisma. He introduces "It's All right, Ma" and does fresh early performances of many others, now worn out by millions of playings.

The only part that doesn't work too well is when he brings Joan Baez on to guest, but that is part of the legend too.

It is hard to believe one has to spend more money on early Dylan, but this is the one.


yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: Backstage Manager(inactive)
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 09:36 AM

Live 1964 is very good indeed, and an essential addition to a Dylan collection. However, the acoustic CD in the Live 1966 package is the best Dylan recording of that period.

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 10:35 AM

I have to disagree with backstage manager and agree with Peter T. The acoustic performance of the Live 1966 pales by comparision to the new Philharmonic release. By '66 Dylan was moving in a new direction and the acoustic performances there seem routine when you compare it to the freshness of the '64 recordings.    I can't understand why Columbia chose not to release this live album back then.

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: Peter T.
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 11:14 AM

Yes, it is truly baffling why they didn't release it then. It is so powerful: it knocks you down. I think it would have convinced a lot of people who didn't "get" Dylan that whatever they thought, he could not be ignored. This would happen eventually, but still......

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 11:24 AM

Yes, it is a tour de force. I am really developing a taste for early acoustic Bob these days.

- LH

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From:
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 11:40 AM

I also think 1964 Live is the best of the official Bootleg releases. The 1966 acoustic set is probably superior in recording quality, but the 1964 performance is unmatched, anywhere. This is a snapshot of Dylan as he was at that moment, as everyone wanted him to be and stay, but that could never happen to this always-evolving artist.

In my opinion, the 2004 release of this almost 40-year-old concert is the best thing that could have happened. Had it been released in early 1965, Columbia would certainly have trimmed some songs for time, and maybe even edited out the John Birch song (the booklet explains that CBS wouldn't let Dylan sing it on Ed Sullivan that year). It also might have added fuel to the "Judas" fire because fans of that album might have expected Dylan to stay exactly the same. We now get to enjoy the full impact of the concert 40 years later, knowing what amazing changes happened along the way. No one who has been to a Dylan concert in the last 35 years could imagine him actually joking with the audience! When I saw him in Oct 2002, he didn't say a single word to the audience, not even a "Good Evening," or "Thank You." In the Don't Look Back video, just a year after the 1964 show, you can see how much he's changed. He sings the same songs but without any of the enthusiasm he had at Halloween 1964. It seems evident that by 1965 he's already grown weary of pure acoustic and in many cases is just going through the motions. Of course, Dylan just going through the motions is better than most artists at their peak, but my point is that once you've heard the 1964 concert, you'll know it is the standard for comparison.

Many, many thanks to Columbia for finally releasing this. The quality is so much better than I had expected, because I'd gotten used to the unofficial bootleg version, and was under the impression that no better version existed. I never thought I'd ever hear the complete "Silver Dagger," as all bootlegs had cut that off around the two-minute mark. I'll be listening to this for another 40 years, and it will be enjoyed by future generations long after we're all gone.

Don Trapani
Sacramento

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: GUEST,Brien
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 12:03 PM

I think I only HAVE about 3 bootleg records - some bar I worked at back in 1977 (egad!) had this guy comes in one time with some records and I think I bought the Dylan and some Jeff Beck and Yardbirds.

I am sure glad to see this document released - Dylan is FUNNY - he talks about it being Hallowe'en and him wearing his Bob Dylan mask I think.

Moreover it truly is a document of the TIME- the Talking John Birch Society Blues (hilarious) is a song I used to play (right from the tape recording of that recording) as an example of the times back when I taught American history - believe me some students couldn't conceive of this sort of thing - McCarthy, Alger Hiss, Red Baiting, House Committee on UnAmerican Activities etc. Which is of course why it was part of the course!!
(There's Commies under my bed!)

Sadly I suspect in the Age of Bush post 9/11 this might not seem so unfamiliar, again.

Bring back Bob to sing us songs of the time of Bush Junior, Cheny and Ashcroft. The time it is again a'changing!
Bushwacked!

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 01:06 PM

And if we're talking Bootleg Series let's not forget the superlative BS6 - Rolling Thunder Revue 1975...

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: GUEST,Shlio
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 04:26 PM

"It's Halloween and I've got my Bob Dylan mask on"

Truly classic Bob

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: Peace
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 03:57 PM

Ten.

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 04:14 PM

eleven! :)

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: GUEST,Shlio
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 04:26 PM

twelve?

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 04:41 PM

Thirteen - but without having heard it there's not really much to say about it.

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 04:48 PM

I'd give it a "ten", but we have passed that!

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 04:51 PM

Congratulations Ron. Your challenge has succeeded in making this thread as Mudcattingly wonderful as the Victoria's Secrets thread.

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 04:54 PM

My pleasure

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: GUEST,Bad, bad guest
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 05:07 PM

So if I buy Dylan's Victoria's Secret CD instead of this, does that make me a sell out or a heretic?

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 05:09 PM

It makes you a compulsive shopper

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: GUEST,Bad, bad guest
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 05:19 PM

Why would it make a person who buys the Victoria's Secret CD a compulsive shopper?

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 05:20 PM

You probably need to buy a bra to get the CD.

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 05:23 PM

If that's what The Bob intended...

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: GUEST,Sleepless Dad
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 09:35 AM

At risk of offening the die-hard Dylan fans I wanted to ask if Dylans guitar is in tune during this recording. From my experience it appears as if he is challenged when it comes to tuning his guitar on stage.

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 05:11 PM

By the way - does anyone know what model Gibson he was playing ? I don't recall seeing one with an inlay like that.

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 05:33 PM

In those days Bob's guitar tended to have old strings that were pretty dead on it much of the time. Such strings are hard to tune, period. On top of that, he was seemingly sometimes a bit careless about it. The electric guitar on the recording of "Queen Jane Approximately" in 1965 is considerably out of tune (it's flat). It's so notable that it may even have been deliberate. One thing about playing guitar and harmonica...if the guitar is out of tune it clashes badly with the harmonicas and you notice right away. Most of Bob's stuff sounded pretty much in tune back then, but now and then it wasn't. As for this particular recording, well, I'll have to listen to it again to see about that.

We are all occasionally challenged when it comes to tuning a guitar onstage. :-)

- LH

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 06:25 PM

"...old strings that were pretty dead on it much of the time. Such strings are hard to tune..."

Old strings may not sound as bright as you might like, but I've always found they stay in tune OK. It's the new ones that are buggers to tune, until they've been played in a bit.

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 06:51 PM

True. But if they're REALLY old, then the bass strings get hard to tune, I find.

Subject: RE: Review: Dylan Live 1964 Released
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 07:29 PM

And remember, nobody had electronic tuners in those days.