BOB DYLAN: THE 30th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT CELEBRATION

An impressive group of singers showed up for this celebration of Bob Dylan.

The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration is a live double-album release in recognition of Bob Dylan’s 30 years as a recording artist. Recorded on October 16, 1992, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, it captures most of the concert, which featured many artists performing classic Dylan songs, before ending with three songs from Dylan himself.

The house band for the show were the surviving members of Booker T. & the M.G.’sBooker T. Jones on organ, Donald “Duck” Dunn on bass, and Steve Cropper on guitar. Joining them was drummer Anton Fig filling in for the late Al Jackson, plus drummer Jim Keltner. Longtime Saturday Night Live bandleader and initial lead guitar player in Dylan’s Never Ending Tour G. E. Smith served as the music director of the whole event as well as a sideman on guitar and mandolin for several artists. Background singers were Sheryl Crow and Sue Medley among others.” — Wikipedia

I enjoyed the number of songs these artists covered. I especially liked Neil Young’s rendition of “All Along the Watchtower.” Richie Haven’s does a nice job with “Just Like a Woman.”

There’s also a DVD and Blu-ray video of this concert. Are you a Dylan fan? Is your favorite Dylan song on this Track List? GRADE: A

TRACK LIST:

John Mellencamp*–Like A Rolling Stone6:53
John Mellencamp*–Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat4:20
Kris KristoffersonIntroduction0:56
Stevie WonderBlowin’ In The Wind8:54
Eddie Vedder / Mike McCreadyMasters Of War5:15
Lou ReedFoot Of Pride8:53
Tracy ChapmanThe Times They Are A-Changin’3:01
June Carter Cash / Johnny Cash*–It Ain’t Me, Babe3:50
Willie NelsonWhat Was It You Wanted5:47
Kris KristoffersonI’ll Be Your Baby Tonight3:11
Johnny WinterHighway 61 Revisited5:10
Ron WoodSeven Days5:27
Richie HavensJust Like A Woman5:50
The Clancy Brothers And Robbie O’Connell With Special Guest Tommy MakemWhen The Ship Comes In4:24
Mary-Chapin Carpenter* / Rosanne Cash / Shawn ColvinYou Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere3:52
Neil YoungJust Like Tom Thumb’s Blues5:38
Neil YoungAll Along The Watchtower6:20
Chrissie HyndeI Shall Be Released4:27
Eric ClaptonDon’t Think Twice, It’s All Right6:17
The O’JaysEmotionally Yours5:49
The BandWhen I Paint My Masterpiece4:23
George HarrisonAbsolutely Sweet Marie4:44
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers*–License To Kill4:53
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers*–Rainy Day Women #12 & 354:48
Roger McGuinnMr. Tambourine Man4:15
Bob DylanIt’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)6:22
Bob DylanRoger McGuinnTom PettyNeil YoungEric ClaptonGeorge HarrisonMy Back Pages4:39
Everyone (11)Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door5:39
Bob DylanGirl Of The North Country5:12

19 thoughts on “BOB DYLAN: THE 30th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT CELEBRATION

  1. Steve Oerkfitz

    I’m a big Dylan fan. I’m surprised that I don;’t have this. I did at one time. I have an ex girlfriend who absconded with a bunch of my cd’s about 25 nyears ago.
    I remember liking most of the tracks, although I didn’t like Lou Reed’s Foot of Pride. I like Lou I just don’t care for that particular song. My favorite Dylan songs includeLike A Rolling Stone, Highway 61 Revisted, Tangled Up in Blue, Positively 4th Street. The latter two not covered here. Actually I like a lot of Dylan’s songs . It’s easier to name favorite albums-Highway 61 Revisted, Bring It All Back Home, Blonde On Blonde, Time Out of Mind,Blood on the Tracks and Street Legal.

    Reply
  2. Deb

    It’s hard to pick a favorite here—I like almost all of them—but if it’s feet-to-the-fire time, I’ll go with Richie Havens’s version of “Just Like A Woman.” Havens always bought interesting interpretations to his versions of songs. Imho, his version of “Eyesight to the Blind” (the Sonny Boy Williamson song used to great effect in “Tommy”) is the best version of that song ever.

    Reply
  3. Patricia Abbott

    I like almost all of them too. And my husband was a huge Dylan fan. He had most of his albums.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Patti, THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT CELEBRATION is one of the best tribute CDs I own. I’m not surprised that Phil was a huge Dylan fan. He knew great music when he heard it!

      Reply
  4. Jeff Meyerson

    I can’t believe this went to tally under the radar with me. It might be because Jackie is not a Dylan fan. Yes, I am and a lot of favorites here (though some are missing). OK, just ordered the DVD for Jackie, who collects these concerts. Favorites here include Blowin’ in the Wind, Masters of War, I Shall Be Released, too many others to mention. Give me BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME or HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED, I’m happy.

    Reply
  5. Steve Oerkfitz

    And don’t forget The Masked Marauders album which has “Dylan” singing Duke of Earl. Also just found my cd of the 30th Anniversary Concert. Also check out the soundtrack cd of I’m Not There which has over 30 artists covering Dylan songs.

    Reply
  6. Wolf

    Too many fantastic songs to choose from, but I agree:
    HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED is the best album!
    Now a bit OT:
    I’ve never managed to get to a concert of his so I was really sorry a few years ago when I heard that he’d do an open air concert in my hometown, Tübingen (famous for its university) but I was in Hungary at the time.
    When I came back friends told me their horrible experiences. Just before the concert it had started to rain like crazy and they had not been allowed to bring umbrellas – too dangerous weapons …
    So they just stood in the downpour and some even left early.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Wolf, I rarely attended open air concerts for the very reason your friends experienced. The same for outdoor weddings!

      Reply
  7. Steve Oerkfitz

    Got my Cd and listened to it. I have a new least favorite-The Richie Havens version of Just like a Woman.

    Reply
  8. Todd Mason

    “Just like a Woman” is probably Dylan’s most popular song I hate, but I’ll try a Richie Havens version. I’d try the album, for that matter.

    My favorite Dylan in his versions probably run toward “Maggie’s Farm” or “Like a Rolling Stone” or “Subterranean Homesick Blues”…

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Todd, “Like a Rolling Stone” rocked my world in 1965 and led me to my first rock concert: Dylan and The Band at Kleinhan’s Music Hall.

      Reply

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