Definitely Dylan Live - 28 July 2019

In the last episode before summer break, Laura and Robert are taking it back to basics, discussing Bob Dylan’s solo acoustic performances! Travelling through the decades of Dylan’s career, the two talk about Dylan’s ever changing voice, his “electric” harmonica playing, and why Dylan basically lives in his own world.

Our weekly Definitely Dylan Live schedule will resume in September, but until then make sure to stay up to date with all things Definitely Dylan by signing up to the newsletter, and don’t forget to join us on social media (in case you want to check out those memes Robert likes to talk about).

If you want to snatch up one of the remaining FOUR tickets for the Heartworn Highways Tribute concert at Wilton’s Music Hall this Friday (2/8), you can get them here.

Playlist:

1. He Was a Friend Of Mine - Rolf Cahn and Eric Von Schmidt (snippet)

2. He Was A Friend Of Mine

3. World Gone Wrong

4. Dark Eyes

5. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (Live May 5, 1966, Dublin, Ireland)

6. Fourth Time Around (Live at Civic Center, Augusta, ME - November 1975)

7. All Over You

Definitely Dylan Live - 21 July 2019

On this week’s Definitely Dylan Live, Laura and Robert naturally had to discuss Bob Dylan and Neil Young’s duet of Will The Circle Be Unbroken live in Kilkenny last week (which you can watch it here), but there were also a few fun anniversaries to talk about, and above all, some beautiful rare performances to play!

Playlist:

1. Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan and The Band (Live, Rock of Ages)

2. Copper Kettle (without overdubs from Another Self Portrait)

3. Spanish Harlem Incident (Take 3)

4. The Tracks of My Tears (Live at Chateau Champlain, Montreal, Quebec - December 1975)

5. More And More (Webb Pierce cover, Dont Look Back outtake)

6. Dark as a Dungeon - Bob Dylan and Joan Baez (Live at Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA - November 21, 1975 - Evening)

Definitely Dylan Live - 14 July 2019

On Friday, Bob Dylan returned to London to play in front of 65,000 people as part of his co-headline concert with Neil Young in Hyde Park. On this week’s Definitely Dylan Live, Laura and Robert talk about their impressions of the night, discussing Dylan’s song choices (and what they might mean), his excellent mood, and some of the interesting differences in approach between Messrs Young and Dylan.

Here’s a beautiful video of Girl From The North Country from the Hyde Park concert (sounding suspiciously like Spanish Is The Loving Tongue).

And here’s the incredible version of Can’t Wait from Milan in 2011 that was mentioned in the show.

Playlist:

1. Ballad of a Thin Man (Live at Earl's Court, London, 27 June, 1981)

2. Girl From The North Country (Live at Madison Square Garden, New York City, 20 January 1998)

3. Can’t Wait (Alternate Version #2, from Bootleg Series 8: Tell Tale Signs)

4. Gotta Serve Somebody (Live at Earl's Court, London, 27 June, 1981)

Definitely Dylan Live - 7 July 2019

In anticipation of the Bob Dylan and Neil Young co-headline concert in Hyde Park on the 12th of July, this week’s Definitely Dylan Live is dedicated to the relationship between the two songwriting greats, as Laura and Robert talk about the times their paths crossed, both musically and personally.

Unfortunately there don’t seem to be any more tickets available (despite what was said in the episode), so hopefully you’ve already secured yours!

If you’d like to hear the two share a stage at the SNACK BAR Benefit concert in 1975, here’s a recording of their Helpless/Knocking on Heaven’s Door (or “Dragon’s Door”, as they sing it here)!

Also, for good measure, here’s the video of Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, and George Harrison singing My Back Pages at the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert.

A little anecdote that didn’t make it into the hour: Neil Young once lent Bob Dylan his tour bus, along with Hank Williams’ Martin D-28 guitar (dubbed “Hank”). Young recounts in an interview:

“You know, Bob Dylan was using my bus. He, he didn't have his own tour bus yet. And he was just getting into using buses, and, uh, so I let him use mine and, uh, when I gave it to him I, I told him that, uh, Hank was in the back and that if he wanted to use Hank, that Hank would be there for him. And so I don't know what he did with it, but he had it with him for a long time. And I don't know what he wrote or what he did, but I know, you know, something must have happened back there.”

Playlist:

1. Helpless - Neil Young (Live at the Last Waltz)

2. Knocking On Heaven’s Door - Bob Dylan

3. My Back Pages - Bob Dylan Feat. Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, George Harrison (30th Anniversary Concert)

4. Highlands - Bob Dylan

5. Bandit - Neil Young

Definitely Dylan Live - 23 June 2019

This week’s Definitely Dylan Live is still stuck on the recent Rolling Thunder Revue box set, because there’s just so many gems to discover! Laura and Robert dedicate the hour to some of their favourites, and on the way discuss duets with Joan Baez, and the role of the Band and the Basement Tapes for the Rolling Thunder Revue.

Disclaimer: there’s some Definitely Dylan content on the new Scorsese film coming very soon, but this episode ain’t it.

Playlist:

1. One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below) (Live at Harvard Square Theatre, Cambridge, MA - November 1975)

2. This Wheel’s On Fire (S.I.R. Rehearsals)

3. Tears of Rage (Seacrest Motel Rehearsals) - feat. Joan Baez

4. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry (Live at The Night of the Hurricane, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY - December 1975) - feat. Robbie Robertson

5. Patty's Gone to Laredo (S.I.R. Studio Rehearsals)

6. Never Let Me Go (Live at Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA - November 21, 1975 - Afternoon)

7. Hurricane (Live at Memorial Auditorium, Worcester, MA - November 1975)