A distanza di 50 anni dal leggendario ritorno di Bob Dylan sulle scene, Columbia Records e Legacy Recordings festeggiano, per la gioia di fan, collezionisti e storici della musica, questo anniversario con una raccolta unica: The 1974 Live Recordings. Un box set che rappresenta una testimonianza monumentale del tour che ha segnato la rinascita live di Dylan dopo otto anni di assenza dai palcoscenici. Il cofanetto di 27 CD contiene tutti gli spettacoli registrati durante il tour del 1974, in cui Dylan è stato accompagnato da The Band. Con ben 417 tracce, molte delle quali mai pubblicate prima, questa raccolta è un vero e proprio tesoro per i fan e per i collezionisti. Tra queste, 133 brani sono stati recentemente mixati a partire da nastri a 16 tracce, garantendo una qualità audio eccezionale che cattura tutta l’energia di quelle esibizioni. Ad arricchire la pubblicazione, troviamo le note di copertina di Elizabeth Nelson, giornalista e critica musicale, che offre un’analisi accurata e affettuosa di uno dei tour più iconici della storia della musica rock.
Il tour del 1974, meglio conosciuto come Tour ’74, è considerato uno dei momenti cardine nella carriera di Bob Dylan. Lanciato il 3 gennaio al Chicago Stadium, il tour vide Dylan e The Band esibirsi in 30 date in soli 42 giorni, spesso con due spettacoli al giorno. La risposta del pubblico fu incredibile: in media, 18.500 persone affollavano ogni tappa del tour, dimostrando quanto l’attesa per il ritorno di Dylan fosse elevata. Gli spettacoli, carichi di energia, vennero descritti da Ben Fong-Torres di Rolling Stone come “incandescenti e travolgenti”, mentre Robert Christgau, una delle voci più autorevoli della critica musicale americana, affermò che Dylan “passava sopra le sue vecchie canzoni come un camion”. Non era solo l’interpretazione a colpire, ma anche la scelta dei brani: molti classici come “Like a Rolling Stone” e “All Along The Watchtower” vennero eseguiti dal vivo per la prima volta durante questo tour, diventando pietre miliari delle esibizioni future. Quando Bob Dylan decise di ritornare sul palco nel 1974, il mondo della musica era notevolmente diverso da quello che aveva lasciato nel 1966, dopo il suo incidente in moto. The Band, che all’epoca lo aveva accompagnato, aveva consolidato la sua fama pubblicando sei album e partecipando a eventi di rilievo come il festival di Woodstock. Da parte sua, Dylan era diventato una leggenda vivente, anche grazie al suo isolamento volontario e alla serie di registrazioni storiche, tra cui quelle contenute nei celebri Basement Tapes.
Il Tour ‘74 divenne così una delle prime grandi tournée rock che avrebbe definito le regole per i decenni a venire. Fu in questo contesto che nacquero rituali come l’accensione degli accendini durante i momenti culminanti di canzoni come “Like a Rolling Stone”, un gesto che sarebbe diventato simbolico negli anni a venire. Il tour fu inizialmente registrato in stereo da soundboard su nastro da 1/4″ e cassette. Verso la fine, Asylum Records, la casa discografica che aveva messo sotto contratto Dylan, commissionò registrazioni su nastro multitraccia, dando vita all’album live Before the Flood. La raccolta The 1974 Live Recordings non solo raccoglie tutti i nastri da 1/4″ e le registrazioni su cassetta del tour, ma offre una serie di brani registrati su nastro a 16 tracce, mixati nuovamente per ottenere la miglior qualità sonora possibile. Ogni performance è una testimonianza unica di un periodo irripetibile della storia del rock. Il cofanetto deluxe include le registrazioni complete di ogni spettacolo, una panoramica esaustiva delle variazioni e delle sfumature che caratterizzarono ogni esibizione.
Per i fan più appassionati, Third Man Records ha lanciato una raccolta complementare, The 1974 Live Recordings – The Missing Songs From Before the Flood, un set di 3 LP su vinile colorato, che offre una selezione curata a mano di brani che non trovarono spazio nell’album live originale. Questa collezione, disponibile esclusivamente attraverso il servizio The Vault, rappresenta un altro imperdibile tassello per i collezionisti. Uno dei momenti salienti di questa pubblicazione è la versione mai pubblicata di “Forever Young”, registrata durante il concerto a Seattle del 9 febbraio 1974, che offre una rara interpretazione live di uno dei brani più amati del repertorio dylaniano.
Tracklist
DISC 1
3 Gennaio, 1974 – Chicago Stadium, Chicago, IL
1. Hero Blues
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Tough Mama
4. It Ain’t Me, Babe
5. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
6. All Along the Watchtower
7. Song to Woody
8. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
9. Nobody ‘Cept You
10. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
11. Forever Young
12. Something There Is About You
13. Like a Rolling Stone
14. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
DISC 2
4 Gennaio, 1974 – Chicago Stadium, Chicago, IL
1. Hero Blues
2. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
3. It Ain’t Me, Babe
4. Tough Mama
5. Ballad of a Thin Man
6. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
7. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
8. The Times They Are A-Changin’
9. Love Minus Zero/No Limit
10. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
11. Nobody ‘Cept You
12. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
13. Maggie’s Farm
DISC 3
6 Gennaio, 1974 (Afternoon) – The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1. Ballad of Hollis Brown
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. It Ain’t Me, Babe
5. Tough Mama
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. To Ramona
11. Mama, You Been on My Mind
12. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
13. Nobody ‘Cept You
14. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
15. I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)
16. Forever Young
17. Something There Is About You
18. Like a Rolling Stone
DISC 4
6 Gennaio, 1974 (Evening) – The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. It Ain’t Me, Babe
5. I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. The Times They Are A-Changin’
11. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
12. Song to Woody
13. Mr. Tambourine Man
14. Nobody ‘Cept You
15. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
16. Forever Young
17. Something There Is About You
18. Like a Rolling Stone
19. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
DISC 5
7 Gennaio, 1974 – The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. It Ain’t Me, Babe
5. I Don’t Believe You
(She Acts Like We Never Have Met)
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Ballad of Hollis Brown
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. Just Like a Woman
11. Girl from the North Country
12. Wedding Song
13. Nobody ‘Cept You
14. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
15. Forever Young
16. Something There Is About You
17. Like a Rolling Stone
18. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
DISC 6
9 Gennaio, 1974 – Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Canada
1. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. It Ain’t Me, Babe
5. It Take a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Ballad of Hollis Brown
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. Just Like a Woman
11. Girl from the North Country
12. Wedding Song
13. Nobody ‘Cept You
14. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
15. Forever Young
16. Something There Is About You
17. Like a Rolling Stone
18. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
DISC 7
11 Gennaio, 1974 – Montreal Forum, Montreal, Canada
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)
5. It Ain’t Me, Babe
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Ballad of Hollis Brown
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. The Times They Are A-Changin’
11. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
12. Gates of Eden
13. Nobody ‘Cept You
14. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
15. Forever Young
16. Something There Is About You
17. Like a Rolling Stone
18. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
DISC 8
14 Gennaio, 1974 (Afternoon) – Boston Gardens, Boston, MA
1. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. It Ain’t Me, Babe
5. I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Ballad of Hollis Brown
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. The Times They Are A-Changin’
11. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
12. Gates of Eden
13. Just Like a Woman
14. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
15. Forever Young
16. Something There Is About You
17. Like a Rolling Stone
18. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
DISC 9
15 Gennaio, 1974 – Capital Centre, Largo, MD
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)
5. It Ain’t Me, Babe
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Ballad of Hollis Brown
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. The Times They Are A-Changin’
11. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
12. Wedding Song
13. Just Like a Woman
14. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
15. Forever Young
16. Something There Is About You
17. Like a Rolling Stone
18. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
DISC 10
16 Gennaio, 1974 – Capital Centre, Largo, MD
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. One Too Many Mornings
5. It Ain’t Me, Babe
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Ballad of Hollis Brown
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. The Times They Are A-Changin’
11. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
12. Gates of Eden
13. Nobody ‘Cept You
14. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
15. Forever Young
16. Something There Is About You
17. Like a Rolling Stone
18. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
DISC 11
17 Gennaio, 1974 – Coliseum, Charlotte, NC
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
5. It Ain’t Me, Babe
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Ballad of Hollis Brown
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. The Times They Are A-Changin’
11. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
12. Gates of Eden
13. Just Like a Woman
14. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
15. Forever Young
16. Something There Is About You
17. Like a Rolling Stone
18. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
DISC 12
19 Gennaio, 1974 (Afternoon) – Hollywood Sportatorium, Hollywood, FL
1. All Along the Watchtower
2. Ballad of Hollis Brown
3. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
4. The Times They Are A-Changin’
5. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
6. Gates of Eden
7. Just Like a Woman
8. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
9. Forever Young
10. Something There Is About You
11. Like a Rolling Stone
12. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
DISC 13
21 Gennaio, 1974 – The Omni, Atlanta, GA
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
5. It Ain’t Me, Babe
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Ballad of Hollis Brown
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. The Times They Are A-Changin’
11. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
12. Gates of Eden
13. Just Like a Woman
14. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
15. Forever Young
16. Something There Is About You
17. Like a Rolling Stone
18. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
DISC 14
22 Gennaio, 1974 – The Omni, Atlanta, GA
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
5. It Ain’t Me, Babe
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. Ballad of Hollis Brown
8. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
9. The Times They Are A-Changin’
10. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
11. Gates of Eden
12. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
13. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
14. Forever Young
15. Something There Is About You
16. Like a Rolling Stone
17. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
DISC 15
26 Gennaio, 1974 (Afternoon) – Hofheinz Pavilion, Houston, TX
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
5. It Ain’t Me, Babe
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Ballad of Hollis Brown
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. The Times They Are A-Changin’
11. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
12. Gates of Eden
13. Just Like a Woman
14. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
15. Forever Young
16. Something There Is About You
17. Like a Rolling Stone
18. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
DISC 16
26 Gennaio, 1974 (Evening) – Hofheinz Pavilion, Houston, TX
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
5. It Ain’t Me, Babe
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Ballad of Hollis Brown
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. The Times They Are A-Changin’
11. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
12. Gates of Eden
13. Just Like a Woman
14. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
15. Forever Young
16. Something There Is About You
17. Like a Rolling Stone
18. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
DISC 17
30 Gennaio, 1974 – Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. All Along the Watchtower
5. Ballad of Hollis Brown
6. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – released on Before the Flood
7. The Times They Are A-Changin’
8. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
9. Gates of Eden
10. Just Like a Woman
11. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) – Incomplete
12. Forever Young
13. Something There Is About You
14. Like a Rolling Stone
15. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
16. Blowin’ in the Wind
DISC 18
31 Gennaio, 1974 (Afternoon) – Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
1. All Along the Watchtower
2. Ballad of Hollis Brown
3. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
4. The Times They Are A-Changin’
5. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
6. Gates of Eden – Incomplete
7. Forever Young
8. Highway 61 Revisited – released on A Musical History (The Band)
9. Like a Rolling Stone – Incomplete
DISC 19
31 Gennaio, 1974 (Evening) – Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
5. It Ain’t Me, Babe
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower – Incomplete
8. Ballad of Hollis Brown
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. The Times They Are A-Changin’
11. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
12. Gates of Eden
13. Just Like a Woman
14. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
15. Forever Young
16. Highway 61 Revisited
17. Like a Rolling Stone
18. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
19. Blowin’ in the Wind
DISC 20
9 Febbraio, 1974 (Afternoon) – Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, WA
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. All Along the Watchtower
5. Ballad of Hollis Brown
6. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
7. She Belongs to Me
8. The Times They Are A-Changin’
9. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
10. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
11. Wedding Song
12. Forever Young
13. Highway 61 Revisited
DISC 21
9 Febbraio, 1974 (Evening) – Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, WA
1. The Times They Are A-Changin’
2. Just Like a Woman
3. Wedding Song
4. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
5. It’s All Right, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
6. Forever Young
7. Highway 61 Revisited
8. Like a Rolling Stone
9. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
10. Blowin’ in the Wind
DISC 22
11 Febbraio, 1974 (Afternoon) – Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA
1. All Along the Watchtower
2. Ballad of Hollis Brown
3. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
4. She Belongs to Me
5. The Times They Are A-Changin’
6. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
7. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
8. Wedding Song
9. Forever Young
10. Highway 61 Revisited
11. Like a Rolling Stone – Incomplete
12. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
13. Blowin’ in the Wind
DISC 23
11 Febbraio, 1974 (Evening) – Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
5. It Ain’t Me, Babe
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Ballad of Hollis Brown
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. The Times They Are A-Changin’
11. Just Like a Woman
12. Gates of Eden
13. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right – Incomplete
14. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
15. Forever Young
16. Highway 61 Revisited – Incomplete
17. Like a Rolling Stone
18. Maggie’s Farm
19. Blowin’ in the Wind
Disc 24
13 Febbraio, 1974 – The Forum, Inglewood, CA
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay – released on Before the Flood
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 – released on Before the Flood
5. It Ain’t Me, Babe
6. Ballad of a Thin Man
7. All Along the Watchtower
8. Ballad of Hollis Brown
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. She Belongs to Me
11. The Times They Are A-Changin’
12. Love Minus Zero/No Limit
13. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
14. Just Like a Woman
15. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
16. Forever Young
17. Highway 61 Revisited
18. Like a Rolling Stone – released on Before the Flood
19. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
20. Blowin’ in the Wind – released on Before the Flood (first two verses only)
DISC 25
14 Febbraio, 1974 (Afternoon) – The Forum, Inglewood, CA
1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay
3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
4. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
5. It Ain’t Me, Babe
6. Ballad of a Thin Man – released on Before the Flood
7. All Along the Watchtower – released on Before the Flood
8. Ballad of Hollis Brown
9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. She Belongs to Me
11. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
12. The Times They Are A-Changin’
13. Just Like a Woman
14. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
15. Forever Young
16. Highway 61 Revisited
17. Like a Rolling Stone
18. Blowin’ in the Wind – released on Before the Flood (last verse only)
DISC 26
14 Febbraio, 1974 (Evening) – The Forum, Inglewood, CA (Pt. 1)
- Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine) – released on Before the Flood
- Lay, Lady, Lay
- Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
- Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
- It Ain’t Me, Babe – released on Before the Flood
- Ballad of a Thin Man
- All Along the Watchtower
- Ballad of Hollis Brown
- Mr. Tambourine Man
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
DISC 27
14 Febbraio, 1974 (Evening) – The Forum, Inglewood, CA (Pt. 2)
- She Belongs to Me
- The Times They Are A-Changin’
- Just Like a Woman – released on Before the Flood
- Gates of Eden
- Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right – released on Before the Flood
- It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) – released on Before the Flood
- Forever Young
- Highway 61 Revisited – released on Before the Flood
- Like a Rolling Stone
- Maggie’s Farm
- Blowin’ in the Wind
Tutte le tracce sono inedite, salvo diversamente indicato*