Bob Dylan’s legendary vagabond musician tour, documented on film in 1975, the Rolling Thunder Revue, was a movable musical feast designed to celebrate a variety of music styles with a revolving cast of superstar artists and top-quality backup players.
This recording, taken from a portion of the entire concert, unfortunately excludes the Dylan songs played that evening; the omission is permissible, however, as what remains is nothing short of fantastic. Emceed by Dylan pal and fellow folk singer Bob Neuwirth, this set features material by ex-Bowie sidekick Mick Ronson, Ramblin’ Jack…entire summary
Bob Dylan - vocals, guitar
Bob Neuwirth - vocals, guitar
Joan Baez - vocals, guitar
Ramblin’ Jack Elliot - vocals, guitar
Roger McGuinn - vocals, guitar
Ronee Blakley - vocals, piano
T-Bone Burnett - guitar
Steven Soles - guitar
Mick Ronson - guitar
David Mansfield - steel guitar, violin, mandolin, dobro
Scarlet Rivera - violin
Rob Stoner - bass
Howie Wyeth - piano, drums
Luther Rix - drums, percussion
Gwen Guthrie - guitar, background vocals
Harry Whittaker - keyboards
Anthony Jackson - bass
Crusher Bennett - percussion
Bob Dylan’s legendary vagabond musician tour, documented on film in 1975, the Rolling Thunder Revue, was a movable musical feast designed to celebrate a variety of music styles with a revolving cast of superstar artists and top-quality backup players.
This recording, taken from a portion of the entire concert, unfortunately excludes the Dylan songs played that evening; the omission is permissible, however, as what remains is nothing short of fantastic. Emceed by Dylan pal and fellow folk singer Bob Neuwirth, this set features material by ex-Bowie sidekick Mick Ronson, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott (who pays tribute to his buddy, the late Woody Guthrie) and Byrds founder Roger McGuinn, who does a stunning version of that group's the final hit, “Chestnut Mare.” More than anything, though, this night essentially became a showcase for an inspired performance by Joan Baez.
Baez was clearly enthralled with the idea of the Rolling Thunder Revue and its ability to bring so many talented people together for the right causes. Here she performs several of her best-known songs, including “Joe Hill,” “Diamonds & Rust” (written about her on-again-off-again relationship with Dylan), “Please Come to Boston” and the Band’s Civil War epic, “The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down.”
The set ends with Baez’s angelic read of the traditional hymn “Amazing Grace,” which she does as an audience sing-a-long. By the time the tour hit Providence, many of the bigger names were already gone (including Joni Mitchell), but these recordings, along with the Dylan-oriented soundtrack that was released with the documentary, offer a clear retrospective looking glass into the full scope of the tour.
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