Expecting Rain

After all the "Million Dollar Bash" talk yesterday, I gave the original double album a spin yesterday. It struck me as pure, unadulterated fun. None of the grandeur of the three albums that preceded it (or JWH) just simple (often silly) tunes that bring a smile to your face.

Has Bob ever enjoyed himself that much before or after?

That's what has always got me about the basement tapes. That's the Bob event I would most want to be there for. Close number two is playing poker on the tour bus with the guys after a show like that L&T commercial.

I’ve seen the tour bus card playing photo,
but can’t say I’d ever seen that commercial, thanks.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zRo3r8g-w30

The songs may be silly at times, but to me the way Dylan sounds most of the time is still fairly dour. Hard to say how much fun he was really having based on that. He has been complimentary of the relaxed nature of the proceedings, saying (paraphrasing) "that it's the way to make a record."

He sounds more ebullient overall on the New Morning album.

That commercial seems like a precursor to his recent music videos. Bizarre characters, smug Bob, etc.

As to the Basement Tapes, they are great fun and the singing is top notch. Some real masterpieces in there too.

No sane person would record over 100 songs in a few months if they were not having fun

I'm not sure if it can be qualified as "the most fun", but I recall seeing an interview with George Harrison sometime in the late-90's or early 2000's where he says that Bob came to him talking about doing another Wilburys album after the passing of Roy. George said something to the extent of, "you WANT to do another one?". Bob replied, "don't you?". After those critically and commercially tumultuous 80's albums, I imagine the Wilburys gig was a blast.

Well, they did do another one after Roy passed. It tanked.

Since Dylan and Jeff Lynne are all that's left of the original Wilburys, perhaps Dylan and Lynne could form a new supergroup with Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake and Pitbull.

Except it didn't tank. It was not as successful as the first album but it did pretty well. In the UK it actually achieved a higher chart position than the first album.

I could mention a few times Bob's had more fun than that, but a gentleman doesn't tell.

You're correct. My mistake. They werent on the bus in the commercial but they were playing poker. I was confusing that and the pic.