Now and then Bob does a really lousy show. Other times he does a great show. It must depend on his mood, I suppose...or his energy level.

I think the best performance on record of "Masters of War" is a solo acoustic version by Bob recorded live in the early sixties. It's on one of the "Bootleg Series" albums. My feeling is that the song benefits from being done in the simplest manner possible, because the words need to be clearly heard.

As for Bob Dylan and Tom Petty...yeah...they did not become millionaires by sitting on their asses. They worked hard for it.