It has been rumored that Bob Dylan got the idea for 1975's Rolling Thunder Revue from attending the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. The idea of touring with a roving troupe of friends and musicians was incredibly appealing to him. In retrospect, it was one of the first of the big-event theme tours before the days of Lollapalooza and OzzFest.
Dylan was coming off his highly successful and acclaimed reunion with the Band, and he had released a powerful ode to boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, who was reportedly incarcerated…entire summary
Joan Baez - vocals, guitar
Roger McGuinn - vocals, guitar
Bob Neuwirth - vocals, guitar
T-Bone Burnett - guitar
J. Steven Soles - guitar
Mick Ronson - guitar
David Mansfield - steel guitar, violin, mandolin, dobro
Scarlet Rivera - violin
Rob Stoner - bass
Howie Wyeth - piano, drums
Luther Rix - drums, percussion
Ronee Blakley - vocals
Ramblin' Jack Elliott - vocals, guitar
It has been rumored that Bob Dylan got the idea for 1975's Rolling Thunder Revue from attending the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. The idea of touring with a roving troupe of friends and musicians was incredibly appealing to him. In retrospect, it was one of the first of the big-event theme tours before the days of Lollapalooza and OzzFest.
Dylan was coming off his highly successful and acclaimed reunion with the Band, and he had released a powerful ode to boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, who was reportedly incarcerated for a murder many felt he never committed. While championing his cause, Dylan came up with the idea of the Rolling Thunder Revue, and this show captures the caravan at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, Connecticut. It features folk icon Joan Baez and former Byrds leader/vocalist Roger McGuinn as the headliners. Also featured were Bob Neuwirth, T-Bone Burnett, and former David Bowie Ziggy-era guitarist, Mick Ronson. Joni Mitchell was another frequent guest, although she is not present on this show.
This recording features most of the non-Dylan segments of the show, especially a lengthy set from Joan Baez, who contributed beautiful renditions of "Joe Hill," "Long Black Veil," "Diamonds and Rust," and her version of Dave Loggins' one-off hit, "Please Come to Boston."
Other gems in the show include an early version of Warren Zevon's "Werewolves Of London" (sung by the entourage) and a beautiful tribute to the late baseball great Catfish Hunter, simply entitled "Catfish". Bob Neuwirth's heartfelt goodbye to Janis Joplin is an added highlight; he contributes "Mercedes Benz," which he was writing with Joplin at the time of her tragic death. Baez introduces McGuinn, who takes the band through sloppy but high energy versions of The Byrds' classics "Chestnut Mare" and "Eight Miles High." The recording concludes with Baez leading the band and the audience through a moving version of the Band's, "Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down."
collapse
