The last time I even attempted to listen to all of 1974 was when Les Kokay dropped his “Tour ‘74” document. When was that…15-20 years ago? I couldn’t pass up this set for the price, and the soundboards are exciting. So…damn you, Bob…I guess I’ll try again. Ray, you’re in line with the consensus that the tour started strong and Before the Flood was not a good document. I suspect that I gave up all those years ago because I heard the quality dropping.
Interesting side note that I think I shared with you once before… I really got into collecting 30 years ago with the help of a guy named Dan Marowski (RIP), whose first Dylan audience tape is (I believe) the only known audience copy of Bloomington, IN ‘74. He was a good guy who should be remembered and I would’ve enjoyed exchanging thoughts on this with him.
Maybe I’ll take the Charlotte disc down to the old Coliseum and take a selfie :)
Oh man, this is going to be a fun read. Saving for later and will comment.
But just skimming the first review ... imagine a time in the Dylanverse when "All Along The Watchtower" had NOT been played yet?
Thank you for covering this Ray because I'm not much of a fan of '74, but I have a feeling this review is going to improve that.
(And I am hoping the set contains a soundboard of of "As I Went Out One Morning" from Toronto 🙏🙏🙏 ?? We've only had a rough audience copy of that one time it got played, ever. I will read to find out ... )
Many thanks. My copy isn't due to arrive in New Zealand until 30 Sept. This post will help make the daunting task of working through this monster collection a lot easier.
Wow! Wow! Thanks for all this. Tough Mama. I’ve always loved that song, so i will be happy to get a good version of that one. I am looking forward to the acoustic stuff on this set. Because of the time required, it’s good to know the highlights…how many of the full sets are they going to sell? That’s one thing about the age of streaming, for releases like this, they never have everything.
Belated thanks for this article, Ray. Finally got my set this week, reading along with this as I listen (only up to CD4 so far, but really enjoying it!)
One thing I'm really looking forward to hearing is Garth Hudson's keyboard work. Before the Flood was the first time he'd added synthesizers to his already widely varied organ sounds on his Lowery. On Before the Flood and Northern Lights Southern Cross the following year, he was using synthesizers in a much more musical way than it seems was heard on prior rock and roll music. Synthesizers were still new and the 70s gave them a bad name with all the cheesy WOOPS, VIPPS, and ROWRS that people so often associate with early synthesizer music. By the 1980s, the Yamaha DX-7 had arrived, the instrument that killed analog synths and opened up a whole new era of cheesiness. That's a shame because Garth was showing the world how analog devices could be used so effectively to add a wider range of sounds to music.
Also, I agree about the omission of The Band's sets. Richard Manuel's vocals on Before the Flood were after too much hard traveling and are painfully hoarse. It would be great to hear some of the earlier shows when he was (I assume) in better shape. Now that Robbie Robertson is gone, rereleases of The Band's recordings are up to recording executives, and I think the fight over his estate may complicate things for years until that's settled, so I'm not optimistic.
I was at the last show of Feb 14th at the Inglewood Forum; hence, the last show of the tour. Dylan’s vocals were powerful but not subtle for the most part, but I easily overlooked that, as this was the first time I had seen Dylan. I will admit that I was emotionally drained by the experience; I went home, lay down, and I don’t remember sleeping at all, but suddenly, I was aware that it was daytime. I went inside for breakfast, and was quizzed by my parents about the concert. It was also great to see The Band, as I was a Band fan, as well as a Dylan fan. For me a very special night!
The comments about the earlier 1974 shows being better was also true of the 1966 and 1975 tours. In both 1966 and 1975, the Dylan vocals were strongest in the early shows, but the band got progressively better as the tours went. So the early shows in all 3 tours have special value.
The last time I even attempted to listen to all of 1974 was when Les Kokay dropped his “Tour ‘74” document. When was that…15-20 years ago? I couldn’t pass up this set for the price, and the soundboards are exciting. So…damn you, Bob…I guess I’ll try again. Ray, you’re in line with the consensus that the tour started strong and Before the Flood was not a good document. I suspect that I gave up all those years ago because I heard the quality dropping.
Interesting side note that I think I shared with you once before… I really got into collecting 30 years ago with the help of a guy named Dan Marowski (RIP), whose first Dylan audience tape is (I believe) the only known audience copy of Bloomington, IN ‘74. He was a good guy who should be remembered and I would’ve enjoyed exchanging thoughts on this with him.
Maybe I’ll take the Charlotte disc down to the old Coliseum and take a selfie :)
Hey, it’s Doug Evans! Hey Doug!
Hi Kevin! I hope all is well with you and the fam :)
Wow! Thank you for pulling this together. What a great time to be a Bob Dylan fan.
27 discs, 430+ tracks ... and a spanner.
You’ve done us a sterling public service here Ray. Many, many thanks
Oh man, this is going to be a fun read. Saving for later and will comment.
But just skimming the first review ... imagine a time in the Dylanverse when "All Along The Watchtower" had NOT been played yet?
Thank you for covering this Ray because I'm not much of a fan of '74, but I have a feeling this review is going to improve that.
(And I am hoping the set contains a soundboard of of "As I Went Out One Morning" from Toronto 🙏🙏🙏 ?? We've only had a rough audience copy of that one time it got played, ever. I will read to find out ... )
Many thanks. My copy isn't due to arrive in New Zealand until 30 Sept. This post will help make the daunting task of working through this monster collection a lot easier.
Wow! Wow! Thanks for all this. Tough Mama. I’ve always loved that song, so i will be happy to get a good version of that one. I am looking forward to the acoustic stuff on this set. Because of the time required, it’s good to know the highlights…how many of the full sets are they going to sell? That’s one thing about the age of streaming, for releases like this, they never have everything.
Belated thanks for this article, Ray. Finally got my set this week, reading along with this as I listen (only up to CD4 so far, but really enjoying it!)
Thanks for this guide. I have worked my way through the must-listen disks. Here is my less ambitious review: https://catchgroove.com/2024/10/09/bob-dylan-and-the-band-the-1974-live-recordings/
One thing I'm really looking forward to hearing is Garth Hudson's keyboard work. Before the Flood was the first time he'd added synthesizers to his already widely varied organ sounds on his Lowery. On Before the Flood and Northern Lights Southern Cross the following year, he was using synthesizers in a much more musical way than it seems was heard on prior rock and roll music. Synthesizers were still new and the 70s gave them a bad name with all the cheesy WOOPS, VIPPS, and ROWRS that people so often associate with early synthesizer music. By the 1980s, the Yamaha DX-7 had arrived, the instrument that killed analog synths and opened up a whole new era of cheesiness. That's a shame because Garth was showing the world how analog devices could be used so effectively to add a wider range of sounds to music.
Also, I agree about the omission of The Band's sets. Richard Manuel's vocals on Before the Flood were after too much hard traveling and are painfully hoarse. It would be great to hear some of the earlier shows when he was (I assume) in better shape. Now that Robbie Robertson is gone, rereleases of The Band's recordings are up to recording executives, and I think the fight over his estate may complicate things for years until that's settled, so I'm not optimistic.
Thanks for this. Looking forward to listening. Will have to make a Spotify playlist. It is on Spotify I hope . . .
I was at the afternoon show at MSG as a 16 year old and was in the 22nd row.
Seeing Dylan and The Band was a dream come true back then!
Shame my gig has so many missing tracks would have liked to have heard them all…
And alas yes they should have done a best of The Band sets….kinda disappointed but understand.
Many thanks for delving in before me…at the moment I’m slowly going thru Neil Young Archives 3….
But I’ll take breaks with some Bob
I was at the Charlotte show, and it was amazing. Everything I could have asked for, and far better than the Before The Flood recording
I was at the last show of Feb 14th at the Inglewood Forum; hence, the last show of the tour. Dylan’s vocals were powerful but not subtle for the most part, but I easily overlooked that, as this was the first time I had seen Dylan. I will admit that I was emotionally drained by the experience; I went home, lay down, and I don’t remember sleeping at all, but suddenly, I was aware that it was daytime. I went inside for breakfast, and was quizzed by my parents about the concert. It was also great to see The Band, as I was a Band fan, as well as a Dylan fan. For me a very special night!
The comments about the earlier 1974 shows being better was also true of the 1966 and 1975 tours. In both 1966 and 1975, the Dylan vocals were strongest in the early shows, but the band got progressively better as the tours went. So the early shows in all 3 tours have special value.
This is a fabulous labor of love & understanding, Ray.
Thanks - next time I listen I will bring this one with me.
Thank you so very very very very very much: it is overwhelming and this guide makes me so much more excited to dig in. Bravo!