The Bootleg Series Vol. 5: Live 1975-the ... - Dylan, Bob (CD 2002)

Bob Dylan has always been somewhat of a question mark for music listeners of the 2000's. Songs like "Blowin in The Wind", "Like A Rolling Stone", "Tangled Up In Blue"...are what so many artists aspire to be, but to actually listen to bob dylan for those of us spoiled in the digital age is kind of hard. "Like A Rolling Stone" starts off with that rocking start? i am very dissapointed everytime i hear that start with out a huge surge of sound and bass that it would have been had the technology been better. Acousticly Dylan is still the best, and songwriters owe alot to him but if you want to hear bob dylan and not "the next bob dylan" buy this CD.

"Rolling Thunder Revue" is the 5th set in the acclaimed bootleg series. It documents a tour in 1975 but that's not importent. What is importent is the sound here and the songs that Dylan seems inspired by.

The first three songs set a rocking template, "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You", "It Aint Me Babe" and "Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" all show Dylan in fine vocal form, espicially the opening track which is the closest i've heard Dylan to rock and roll. If you already know these songs- this takes some getting used to because he changes the words and the lyric rythem constatnly and he continues to do so throughout the whole CD.

Things take a turn for the different with "Lonesome Death of Poor Hattie Carrol", a classic acoustic 60's song turned ballad with the support of a full band. "Romance In Durango" and "Isis" are fairly new songs at this time and come off as so; more focus and the raw passion that this whole CD displays.

Next, another change comes as the band leaves and Dylan is onstage with but a harmonica and guitar. He delivers the kind of performance that makes him a legend in the first place, "Mr Tamborine Man" and "Simple Twist Of Fate" have never sounded so good- and the lyrics are put on full display as he passionatly delivers these brilliant songs written almost 10 years apart from each other. ("Simple Twist Of Fate" was a fairly new song at the time)

Joan Baez then joins the guitar, harmonica, and Dylan for some rousing sing-a-long renditions of "Blowin In The Wind", "Mama You've Been On My Mind" and "I Shall Be Released". All of which serve as a brilliant end to disc 1.

Disc 2 starts off brilliantly with three more songs with Dylan, his guitar and his harmonica. "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" and "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" inspire even the biggest Dylan-hater to say "yeah, he's pretty good". The acoustic version of "Tangled Up In Blue" that follows is, to me, one of the highlights of Dylan's career and this song is just so good.

The band returns yet again for some more of what i would call the Rolling Thunder Revue sound- kind of a rolling, thunderus...revue of sorts. "The Water is Wide" borrows Joan Baez again and features some of the melodic and harmonious gifts Dylan is not exactly recognized for.

We go back to rocking with "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" another 60s acoustic song taken by the band and made better, "Oh, Sister" and "One More Cup Of Coffee" roll along slowly and purposfully. "Hurricane" is a brilliant song no matte where it is, here it is delivered with the kind of passion you would expect this "Let Him Go" type song to have.

Dylan's most passionate performance comes with "Sara" a song to his ex-wife who inspired so much of "Blood On The Tracks" (his 1974 comeback album aptly titled towards heartbreak)

"Just Like A Woman" continues the amazing standard already set and "Knockin On Heavens Door" brings it all home and is there really any other song better suited to do so?

All In all, Dylan is a genuis. i cant prove that to you. but this CD can