"Maybe there should be something at the end when you're playing the last song, suddenly like 100 people all dressed as you, all with the guitar, come on. They've all got your hair, they've got the vest…” He just said, "No, I think we'll just keep it simple.".. This made me laugh. Haha.. I strangely feel like I had read this previously in some kind of way. Maybe I dreamt this.
I think I can see why Bob would want to open the film with that song. It seems quite a rousing first song to me anyway. If people aren't drawn in by that, and turn off, so be it.. (also it has a sense of you are arriving in the middle of something, just a glimpse of what is happening) ...
This reminds me, when I first saw Hard to Handle I thought maybe there was a 'part one' that I missed. The way it begins.
The title, Hard to Handle, I have always kind of associated with 'Handle with Care' .. but of course that song came a couple of years later.
Is it the case that the footage of all the other songs played at the two shows wasn't kept?
Amen t'THAT! It's revealing, actually, to read this about his investment in leading off with "In the Garden." When I was reading this post, initially, I was intrigued that perhaps I was going to see an entirely previously unbeknownst to me video...until I took Ray's advice and clicked through to watch the entire film last night. Immediately, I realized I'd seen this back when it was released on VHS. The guitar player in my punk rock bands had picked it up, and he was pumped that Bob led off with this song.
It also helps my appreciation of this period because this is my real entrance to Bob fandom. My first time seeing Bob was at the Metrodome in Minneapolis in 1986, after the Grateful Dead had opened for Bob. The venue was sort of a bummer, as it shoulda been called The Echodrome. But eventually, they got it dialed in as well as they could (after the Dead's opening number only came through the mains at first). By the time Dylan and the Heartbreakers took the stage, it was fine.
If you figure, 1986, despite it's questionable output from Dylan (looking at YOU, "Knocked Out Loaded!"), it seems to make sense. This was a mere 5-6 years since "Slow Train" and "Saved" came out. Everyone was always speculating, "Is he still...y'know...?" I mean, he's still got the Queens of Rhythm onstage with him. There are still obvious lyrical allusions to scripture shot through practically all the songs on "Knocked Out Loaded," despite their relative obscurity. Even if Bob's just feeding the bears with this insistence, the performance of "In the Garden" is intense.
The performance of "It's Alright Ma" is bordering on the Rolling Thunder version of "Isis," if y'ask me. He's absolutely ON for the performances captured in this video. I'd love to see the whole show, and I'd count myself fortunate to have been in attendance at any of these shows used for the film. Here's hoping the BDC issues this material in some expanded and enhanced format soon.
Great read thanks. I hope the remastered film does get released. I saw that there is also a remastered clip from Hrad Rain by the same Youtuber. Is this also from Tulsa? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS-ygNfeuL8
Thanks a lot ! I always assumed Bob didn't care about "Hard To Handle" at all. (Other than choosing "In The Garden" as the start).
A "Bootleg Series" version of Hard To Handle with outtakes would be very nice.
And hopefully more "video" from Bob. I'd be happy to spend some money on it. I wonder people seem to be more obsedded with getting all recorded tracks ("Cutting Edge", "More Blood". etc. ) that doesn't really interest me so much.
Wonderful interview. I am sure that I saw the collection of songs from Hard to Handle together with various others - i.e. songs filmed but not on the original video, on Youtube maybe about 6 years ago. But I haven't seen it since. I remember thinking wow, so there are more...
I'm glad did what he wanted to do and not let a casual Dylan fan run the show. Opening with that speech and the song "In the Garden" was genius, in my opinion. Bob ALWAYS runs against the current, that's why he is who he is....perhaps the greatest musical artist of all time.
Ray, this was so good!!!!!!!!!!
I enjoyed reading this, thanks to you both!..
"Maybe there should be something at the end when you're playing the last song, suddenly like 100 people all dressed as you, all with the guitar, come on. They've all got your hair, they've got the vest…” He just said, "No, I think we'll just keep it simple.".. This made me laugh. Haha.. I strangely feel like I had read this previously in some kind of way. Maybe I dreamt this.
I think I can see why Bob would want to open the film with that song. It seems quite a rousing first song to me anyway. If people aren't drawn in by that, and turn off, so be it.. (also it has a sense of you are arriving in the middle of something, just a glimpse of what is happening) ...
This reminds me, when I first saw Hard to Handle I thought maybe there was a 'part one' that I missed. The way it begins.
The title, Hard to Handle, I have always kind of associated with 'Handle with Care' .. but of course that song came a couple of years later.
Is it the case that the footage of all the other songs played at the two shows wasn't kept?
Wonderful concert and film. I particularly enjoyed Lenny Bruce. Can you say anything about that performance?
You can get this on DVD from Amazon in the UK. Not sure how official it is but it’s reasonable quality- my copy was made in Korea!
Another gem Ray, loved this piece! Crossing sunset Blvd w Bob, what a life experience that must’ve been for Gillian, what a great story!
Great stuff Ray!! Bob was right about In The Garden IMO.
Amen t'THAT! It's revealing, actually, to read this about his investment in leading off with "In the Garden." When I was reading this post, initially, I was intrigued that perhaps I was going to see an entirely previously unbeknownst to me video...until I took Ray's advice and clicked through to watch the entire film last night. Immediately, I realized I'd seen this back when it was released on VHS. The guitar player in my punk rock bands had picked it up, and he was pumped that Bob led off with this song.
It also helps my appreciation of this period because this is my real entrance to Bob fandom. My first time seeing Bob was at the Metrodome in Minneapolis in 1986, after the Grateful Dead had opened for Bob. The venue was sort of a bummer, as it shoulda been called The Echodrome. But eventually, they got it dialed in as well as they could (after the Dead's opening number only came through the mains at first). By the time Dylan and the Heartbreakers took the stage, it was fine.
If you figure, 1986, despite it's questionable output from Dylan (looking at YOU, "Knocked Out Loaded!"), it seems to make sense. This was a mere 5-6 years since "Slow Train" and "Saved" came out. Everyone was always speculating, "Is he still...y'know...?" I mean, he's still got the Queens of Rhythm onstage with him. There are still obvious lyrical allusions to scripture shot through practically all the songs on "Knocked Out Loaded," despite their relative obscurity. Even if Bob's just feeding the bears with this insistence, the performance of "In the Garden" is intense.
The performance of "It's Alright Ma" is bordering on the Rolling Thunder version of "Isis," if y'ask me. He's absolutely ON for the performances captured in this video. I'd love to see the whole show, and I'd count myself fortunate to have been in attendance at any of these shows used for the film. Here's hoping the BDC issues this material in some expanded and enhanced format soon.
That shoulda read, "only came through the monitors at first" re: the Grateful Dead's opening number.
Great read thanks. I hope the remastered film does get released. I saw that there is also a remastered clip from Hrad Rain by the same Youtuber. Is this also from Tulsa? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS-ygNfeuL8
Thanks a lot ! I always assumed Bob didn't care about "Hard To Handle" at all. (Other than choosing "In The Garden" as the start).
A "Bootleg Series" version of Hard To Handle with outtakes would be very nice.
And hopefully more "video" from Bob. I'd be happy to spend some money on it. I wonder people seem to be more obsedded with getting all recorded tracks ("Cutting Edge", "More Blood". etc. ) that doesn't really interest me so much.
Wonderful interview. I am sure that I saw the collection of songs from Hard to Handle together with various others - i.e. songs filmed but not on the original video, on Youtube maybe about 6 years ago. But I haven't seen it since. I remember thinking wow, so there are more...
I'm glad did what he wanted to do and not let a casual Dylan fan run the show. Opening with that speech and the song "In the Garden" was genius, in my opinion. Bob ALWAYS runs against the current, that's why he is who he is....perhaps the greatest musical artist of all time.
I love thé shows poster stating discounts to students and unemployed.
Awesome Ray, bravo.