Date: Wed, 3 May 2001 10:28:23 EDT Welcome back, folks, to edition 2 of playing catch up on about 12 months of backlog. We'll do our best to provide you with necessary info in a more timely manner from here on out....but no promises, heh heh. This pretty much shuts the door on the backlog, although "Rock of Ages" is left hanging in the wind for another day and perhaps several others have fallen through the cracks. Someday soon.......enjoy!!!! The following three sets are on the Japanese Shamrock label. These are all "deluxe" editions featuring gorgeous color glossy gatefold slipcases, "Shamrock" pic sleeves for the disks with rice paper protective inner sleeves, thick spine and protective outer mylar "bags." Each features vintage color photos on cover and inner gatefold sleeve. All are heavy-duty, high gloss cardboard sets w/snazzy design aesthetic on each. Fabulous looking, to say the least.......one could gather from the first (3) releases that the goal of Shamrock is to present upgraded versions of previously circulating but out-of-print material. Judging from these first three, we're in for some treats.BOB DYLAN w/MICK TAYLOR "LIVE AT PALAEUR 1984" 2CD (SHAMROCK 201003/4) Tracks: 22 Times: 61/60 Source: Line Quality: Excellent Paleur (Rome, Italy); June 19, 1984 Tracklist: Highway 61 Revisited, Jokerman, All Along The Watchtower, Just Like A Woman, Maggie's Farm, I And I, License To Kill, Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, Tangled Up In Blue, It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), Simple Twist Of Fate, Masters Of War, Ballad Of A Thin Man, When You Gonna Wake Up, Every Grain Of Sand, Like A Rolling Stone, Mr Tambourine Man, It Ain't Me Babe, The Times They Are A-Changin', I Shall Be Released, Tombstone Blues, Blowin' In The Wind A "reissue" of the impossible to find Wanted Man "Oh The Streets Of Rome," the only extant line recording from the '84 tour. This latest edition presents the show in fuller, more balanced sound - the earlier release was characterized by a tinny, thin sound with Mick Taylor far back in the mix. This set has more bottom and while Taylor is still not front and center in the mix he is more "in play" and Dylan's vocal sound is extraordinarily clear and defined. Dylan's lyrical improvisations are on dazzling display on "Tangled" and "Simple Twist" and the performance as a whole is a joy to behold. A wonderful set to say the least. Front cover photo of Bob & Mick Taylor is gorgeous. Pretty much essential. See above for packaging details.
"LIVE AT JONES BEACH THEATER 1988" 2CD (Shamrock SR-201005/6) Tracks: 17 Times: 40 /49 Source: Line Quality: Outstanding Jones Beach Theater(Wantaugh, NY); June 30, 1988 Tracklist: Subterranean Homesick Blues, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, You're A Big Girl Now, Tangled Up In Blue, Masters Of War, I Shall Be Released, Memphis Blues Again, Lakes Of Pontchartrain, A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, Eileen Aroon, Boots of Spanish Leather, Silvio, Gates of Eden, Like A Rolling Stone, The Times They Are A Changin', All Along The Watchtower, Maggie's Farm A fine upgrade of the old Midnight Beat title "Blown Out on the Trail," this one cleaner with a smoother sound and less hiss present even at mid-volume. Fabulous quality show and performance with a setlist that speaks volumes for the desirability of this one. If you're going to have one from '88, this is IT. Highly recommended for those lacking it in any form........as for upgrading from "Blown Out" > depends on you. More definition and clarity, less hiss here. A feast for the eyes and ears, this one. See above for packaging details.
"LIVE AT BRAND THEATER 1991" 2CD (Shamrock SR-201007/8) Tracks: 18 Times: 41/60 Source: Line Quality: Outstanding Brand Theater, Tulsa, OK, October 30, 1991 Tracklist: New Morning (beginning cut), Lay Lady Lay, All Along The Watchtower, Early Morning Rain, I'll Remember You, Gotta Serve Somebody, Simple Twist Of Fate, I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, Trail Of The Buffalo, Mr. Tambourine Man, Answer Me, It Ain't Me Babe, Every Grain Of Sand, Everything Is Broken, Man In The Long Black Coat, Maggie's, What Good Am I?, Ballad Of A Thin Man Here we have a "new" edition of the Tulsa, OK '91 soundboard recording, previously available on the now impossible to find Wanted Man "Answer Me" set. I've yet to A>B these so I can only comment thus: the sound here is absolutely terrific, smooth and clean, perfectly balanced and separated with sharp clarity and definition all around. A fine performance, too.....Bob is in great spirits and provides a LOT of uncharacteristic chatter when intro'ing and outro'ing several tunes. For instance, after "Early Morning Rain" we get: "That's one of my old songs........so old it wasn't even written by me." Or before "Trail of the Buffalo:" "Thanks everybody...this is my animal protection song..." Intro to "Answer Me:" "Thanks everybody...this is one of my new songs...we got a single coming out." A lively array of tunes with Bob's singing a sheer delight behind a tight, focused band. A most enjoyable listen in terrific quality......this one will make you want to revisit some of the other early 90's shows. As '91 goes, this is THE one with a great setlist, to boot. See above for packaging details.
"TROUBADOUR OF A NORTH COUNTRY" 2CD (STTP 051/052) Tracks: 15 Time: 100 Source: Aud Quality: Lame Spektrum (Oslo, Norway); July 18, 1996 Tracklist: Leopard-Skin Pillbox Hat, Man In The Long Black Coat, All Along The atchtower, Positively 4th Street, Most Likely You Go Your Way, Silvio, Tangled p In Blue, Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll, Ballad Of Hollis Brown, Absolutely Sweet Marie, Ballad Of A Thin Man, Highway 61 Revisited, Girl Of The North Country, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, My Back Pages Don't give this one a second thought. Poor quality of a show that was already done in decent fashion by KTS, ("North Wind Blowing"). Total waste of time....avoid at all costs.
"RAMBLIN' GAMBLIN' CASINO MAN" 2CD (Rattlesnake 18/19) Tracks: 24 Times: 72+ Source: Aud Quality: Exceptional (1) Sands Casino Copa Room (Atlantic City, NJ); November 19, 1999 (early) (2) Sands Casino Copa Room (Atlantic City, NJ); November 19, 1999 (late) Tracklist: (1) Roving Gambler, Mr. Tambourine Man, Stone Walls And Steel Bars, Desolation Row, Mama You Been On My Mind, It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), Tomorrow Is A Long Time, Masters Of War, One Too Many Mornings, Don't Think Twice, Tangled Up In Blue, Blowin' (2) Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie, Girl From The North Country, Visions Of Johanna, Rock Of Ages, A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, Maggie's Farm, The Man In Me, Tombstone Blues, Make You Feel My Love, Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat, Love Sick, Like A Rolling Stone Nicely captured AC '99 with first show completely acoustic (albeit - inexplicably - omitting "Not Fade Away") and a dandy of a listen....ditto for second show with (5) more acoustic numbers opening the set and a lovely "The Man In Me" also (more mystery as NFA deleted here also!!!). Getting past the curious omissions, this one leaves a fine taste with some wonderful performances, particularly the first show. Package is dressed up to fine effect w/multi-page booklet/pics/essay in usual Rattler fashion.
"HIGHWAY OF DIAMONDS Vol 3 - Covers 1988-98" 1CD (WWL-035) (1) November 1987 rehearsals (2) Power Station rehearsals (New York, NY); May 1989 (3) Radio City Music Hall (New York, NY); October 19, 1988 (4) "Guitar Legends" (Seville, Spain); October 17, 1991 (5) Waikiki Shell (Waikiki, Hawaii); April 24, 1992 (6) Palais Des Sport (Marseilles, France); June 29, 1993 (7) Wolf Trap (Vienna, VA); August 8, 1993 (8) Supper Club (New York, NY); November 17, 1993 (late) (9) House Of Blues (Atlanta, GA); August 3, 1996 (10) San Jose Arena (San Jose, CA); May 19, 1998 Tracklist: (1) Suzie Q, Trail Of The Buffalo (2) Not Fade Away, Peace In The Valley (3) Barbara Allen (4) Across The Borderline, Answer Me (5) Golden Vanity, Little Moses (6) Tomorrow Night (7) Black Jack Davey (8) Weeping Willow (9) Shake Sugaree, Alabama Getaway (10) Stone Walls And Steel Bars Depending upon one's perspective, this one is a hit or miss. As a stand alone piece, it holds together nicely and presents some "hard to find" tracks in excellent quality from line recordings. On the other hand, the collection offers nothing unavailable elsewhere, although many of the tracks are from pieces that are, admittedly, difficult to find these days. A fine listen but a perusal of the tracklist and assessment of what one already has on other "field recordings" will be the determining factor here. Pedestrian artwork.
"HIGHWAY OF DIAMONDS Vol 4 - Originals 1988-98" 1CD (West One) (1) 1987 rehearsals (2) Radio City Music Hall (New York, NY); October 19, 1988 (3) Orpheum Theater (Minneapolis, MN); September 3, 1992 (4) Orpheum Theater (Minneapolis, MN); August 30, 1992 (5) Supper Club (New York, NY); November 27, 1993 (late) (6) Wolf Trap (Vienna, VA); September 8, 1993 (7) Art Park (Lewiston, NY); August 16, 1994 (8) Wolf Trap (Vienna, VA); August 23, 1997 (9) El Rey Theater (Los Angeles, NY); December 16, 1997 (10) Madison Square Garden/The Theater (New York, NY); January 20, 1998 Tracklist: (1) All I Really Want To Do, Heart Of Mine (2) Bob Dylan's 115th Dream, With God On Our Side (3) Visions Of Johanna (4) Idiot Wind (5) Tight Connection To My Heart (6) Series Of Dreams (7) Man In The Long Black Coat (8) Tough Mama (9) Till I Fell In Love With You (10) The Man In Me See Vol 3 above......same holds true for this one. Nice quality throughout but offers nothing new. As a stand alone piece, this one may sit well with those fancying some great performances in excellent quality but wanting only an appetizer and not a full meal. More pedestrian artwork.