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The [1988] tour “ended” on 24 September 1988 in New Orleans, but this was not quite the finish.
As previously mentioned, popular demand had led to four further nights being added at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
These shows quickly became a focus for the press and fans alike.
The former, previously misguided critics of the tour, now praised Dylan to the skies;
the latter, trying to read the runes of relatively unchanging set-lists, talked of a live album being released from the shows.
All this is rather ironic as the shows themselves, although fine, were far from being the best, or even up to the average standard, of the year.
~Andrew Muir (One More Night: Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour)

I’ve never minded touring, touring is part of playing. Anybody can sit in the studio and make records, but that’s unrealistic and they can’t possibly be a meaningful performer. You have to do it night after night to understand what it’s all about. …
I’ve always loved to travel and play my songs, meet new people and see different places. I love to roll into town in the early morning and walk the deserted streets before anybody gets up. Love to see the sun come up over the highway. ..
Then, of course, there’s playing on the stage in front of live people, feeling hearts and minds moving. Everybody don’t get to do that. Touring to me has never been any kind of hardship. It’s a privilege.”
~Bob Dylan (to Edna Gundersen, July 20, 1988)

The 88-tour was great, surely one of N.E.T.’s best.

Interstate part 3 was the weakest leg of this tour, but still some wonderful concerts.

 I really don’t have any place to put my feet up. We want to play because we want to play. Why tour? It’s just that you get accustomed to it over the years. The people themselves will tell you when to stop touring.
~Bob Dylan, August 5, 1988

The Tower Theatre
Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
13 October 1988

• Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
• G. E. Smith (guitar),
• Kenny Aaronson (bass)
• Christopher Parker (drums)

Absolutely Sweet Marie

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With God On Our Side

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I Shall Be Released

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Every Grain Of Sand

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The Tower Theatre
Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
14 October 1988

• Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
• G. E. Smith (guitar),
• Kenny Aaronson (bass)
• Christopher Parker (drums)

Wagoner’s Lad (trad.)

–

Radio City Music Hall
New York City, New York
17 October 1988

• Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
• G. E. Smith (guitar),
• Kenny Aaronson (bass)
• Christopher Parker (drums)

You’re A Big Girl Now

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Radio City Music Hall
New York City, New York
18 October 1988

• Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
• G. E. Smith (guitar),
• Kenny Aaronson (bass)
• Christopher Parker (drums)

To Ramona

Radio City Music Hall
New York City, New York
19 October 1988

• Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
• G. E. Smith (guitar),
• Kenny Aaronson (bass)
• Christopher Parker (drums)

A splendid Simple Twist Of Fate was the next treat, but Dylan’s voice was starting to go in places and the song came to a hesitant, oddly stumbling end.
One of the revelations of the tour had been saved for the October 1988 shows,  with the first ever live version of Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream at Upper Darby on 13 October 1988.
I do not think there was any fan who could have envisaged this long, comic monologue being pulled from his back pages;
but Dylan clearly enjoyed tackling it. You could hear the relish in his voice, particularly when he sang the words “my way” near the song’s conclusion.
~Andrew Muir (One More Night: Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour)

 

Simple Twist Of Fate

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John Brown

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Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream

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Barbara Allen (trad.)

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Oakland Coliseum
Oakland, California
4 December 1988
An all acoustic evening of music to benefit The Bridge School.

• Bob Dylan (vocal, guitar)
• G.E. Smith (guitar)

San Francisco Bay Blues (Jesse Fuller)

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Pretty Boy Floyd (Woody Guthrie)

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With God On Our Side

Check out:

• Alldylan @ Facebook
• –
• Bob Dylan: Live 1980 – 1989 (Video & audio)
  
• Bob Dylan: 8 essential videos from the 80’s
• –
• Karl Erik’s expectingrain.com
• Olof’s “Still On The Road“

-Egil