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Bob Dylan – Never Ending Tour 1990 – Part 1

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People can learn everything about me through my songs, if they know where to look. They can juxtapose them with certain other songs and draw a clear picture. But why would anyone want to know about me? It’s ridiculous.
-Bob Dylan (to Edna Gundersen on August 31, 1990 in Lincoln, Nebraska)

Never Ending Tour 1990

  • 1990 Fastbreak Tour; Jan 12 – Feb 8, a total of 15 concerts
  • 1990 Spring tour of North America; May 29 – June 18, a total of 16 concerts
  • 1990 Summer festival tour of Europe; June 27 – July 9, a total of 9 concerts
  • 1990 Late Summer tour of North America; August 12 – September 12, a total of 23 concerts
  • 1990 US Fall tour; October 11 – November 18, a total of 30 concerts

All in all Dylan played 93 concerts in 1990.

Bob Dylan – Never Ending Tour 1990 – Part 1 will cover the first 3 legs.

No changes in the Band, still:

(the second) G. E. Smith band

  • G. E. Smith (guitar)
  • Tony Garnier (bass)
  • Christopher Parker (drums)

But G.E. Smith left the band after a concert @ The Beacon Theatre, New York City – October 19, 1990.

Check out:

1990 Fastbreak Tour

  • First concert: Toad’s Place, New Haven, Connecticut – 12 January 1990
  • Last concert: Hammersmith Odeon, London, England – 8 February 1990
  • 15 concerts

My earlier post – Bob Dylan: The Fastbreak Tour 1990 (audio & video) – covers the first part of this leg pretty good.

The last 10 gigs were in Paris (4 shows) & London (the 6 “famous” Hammersmith 1990 shows)

All four Paris concerts were @ Le Grand Rex

January 29, 1990

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January 30, 1990

Check out:

January 31, 1990

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February 1, 1990

Forever Young

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Hammersmith Odeon
London, England

February 3, 1990

So many things shone out on the opening night: Dylan’s mobility (in such contrast to 1989); his happiness; the hugely appreciative reception given to Oh Mercy songs; the brilliant recasting of “Tight Connection” into “Has Anybody Seen My Love?”. “It Takes A Lot To Laugh” alone would have been more than enough to satisfy me for the entire week. Instead, the residency was to supply jewel upon jewel, night after night.
-Andrew Muir (One More Night: Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour)

The highlights of the opening show, enthusiastically received by the English press, include a definitive “Pretty Peggy-0,” an increasingly good “Tight Connection to My Heart,” and a menacing “Man in the Long Black Coat.”
-Clinton Heylin (A Life in Stolen Moments)

Check out:

February 4, 1990

One More Cup Of Coffee (Valley Below)

What Good Am I ?

The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll & Man Of Constant Sorrow

I Shall Be Released & What Was It You Wanted

February 5, 1990

The third night is more disappointing. After an exhilarating first electric set that includes the definitive “Tight Connection to My Heart,” with a heartstopping harmonica introduction, Dylan slips into “greatest hits” mode after the acoustic set.-Clinton Heylin (A Life in Stolen Moments)

Watching The River Flow

Just Like A Woman

All Along The Watchtower

Tight Connection To My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love)

What Was It You Wanted

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February 6, 1990

On the 6th we got one of the week’s highlights: Merle Travis’s “Dark As A Dungeon”, performed in a dark, deep voice that croaked and crackled with emotion and emphasis.
-Muir, Andrew (One More Night: Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour)

  1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)
  2. I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)
  3. Ballad Of Hollis Brown
  4. Masters Of War
  5. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
  6. Political World
  7. Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35
  8. What Was It You Wanted
  9. Blowin’ In The Wind
  10. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
  11. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
  12. Song To Woody
  13. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
  14. Everything Is Broken
  15. Tight Connection To My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love)
  16. Man In The Long Black Coat
  17. I Shall Be Released
  18. Like A Rolling Stone
    —
  19. Dark As A Dungeon (Merle Travis)
  20. Highway 61 Revisited

Full concert audio:




February 7, 1990

The February 7th show featured a rapturously received “Forever Young” that brought memories of 1978 and would have made a fitting finale. Dylan began it as a benediction to the audience, but it grew into a defiant declaration of intent. That same night, there was also an oddly arranged “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You” (making its first appearance since 1976) – the almost shouted lyrics intimating that the narrator was moving on rather than staying. It is reasonable to assume that most people’s favourite on the 7th was “Most Of The Time”. “I can survive, I can endure”, Bob sang, with his voice making clear that it was at a terrible cost.
-Muir, Andrew (One More Night: Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour )

  1. To Be Alone With You
  2. Most Of The Time
  3. All Along The Watchtower
  4. I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight
  5. John Brown
  6. Political World
  7. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
  8. The Times They Are A-Changin’
  9. Mama, You Been On My Mind
  10. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
  11. Girl From The North Country
  12. Forever Young
  13. Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You
  14. Everything Is Broken
  15. Just Like A Woman
  16. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
  17. Man In The Long Black Coat
  18. Like A Rolling Stone
    —
  19. It Ain’t Me, Babe
  20. Highway 61 Revisited

Full concert video (very dark, but better towards the end):

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February 8, 1990

Suddenly, unbelievably, the residency was approaching its end. We had reached the encores of the last show. Each passing moment was becoming ever more precious.
A strong version of the acoustic classic “It Ain ‘t Me, Babe” opened the encores. This had grown into one of his most bonding live songs: both singer and audience aware of the irony of greeting its lyrics of denial with such a rapturous reception.
The traditional “Hang Me, Oh Hang Me” (aka. “I’ve Been All Around The World” or “The Blue Ridge Mountains”) was sung by Dylan in a throaty but deeply satisfying growl. Deep bass lines and simple guitar strokes lent gravity. For a man who had been criss-crossing continents for the past five years, the sentiments of “Lord, Lord, I’ve been all around this world” seemed fitting. A hush came over the hall. It was one of the most perfect moments of my life.

Then a blistering, rip-the-paint-off-the-walls “Highway 61 Revisited” brought the whole thing to a rousing, exhausting finish. It was a long time before many of us left the hall , so reluctant were we to leave the scene of our extraordinary experience.
~Andrew Muir (One More Night: Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour)

  1. Absolutely Sweet Marie
  2. Man In The Long Black Coat
  3. Positively 4th Street
  4. Ballad Of A Thin Man
  5. Pledging My Time
  6. I Want You
  7. Political World
    Video includes I Want You & Political world:
  8. You Angel You
  9. All Along The Watchtower
  10. Boots Of Spanish Leather
  11. To Ramona
  12. She Belongs To Me
  13. Mr. Tambourine Man
  14. Disease Of Conceit
  15. You’re A Big Girl Now
  16. I’ll Remember You
  17. Where Teardrops Fall
  18. Seeing The Real You At Last
  19. Every Grain Of Sand
  20. Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35
  21. Like A Rolling Stone
    —
  22. It Ain’t Me, Babe
  23. I’ve Been All Around This World (trad.)
  24. Highway 61 Revisited

There was a huge over-reaction from fans in the following weeks. “The best since ’75”, said many; “since ’66”, said others. I joined in this daft game, to a slightly lesser extent, by affirming it “the best I’d seen him since 1978”. Though easily dismissed by later perspectives, these heady claims certainly felt right at the time. The high standard of performance and the intimacy of the venue provoked an immediate need to elevate the Hammersmith 1990 residency over past triumphs such as the 1979 and 1980 tours, or if one was thinking of UK-only gigs the sumptuous 1981 concerts.
-Andrew Muir (One More Night: Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour)

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1990 Spring tour of North America

  • First show: Sporting Auditorium, University Of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada – 29 May 1990
  • Last Show: Centennial Centre Concert Hall, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada – 18 June 1990
  • 16 concerts

The Never Ending Tour started up again May 29, 1990 in Montreal, with the same band but a significant new twist in that the acoustic sets were now “acoustic band” sets, with Garnier on standup bass and Parker playing with brushes or just maintaining a backbeat.
-Paul Williams (Bob Dylan: Performance Artist 1986-1990 And Beyond)

Ottawa National Arts Center Opera
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
1 June 1990

  1. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)
  2. Ballad Of A Thin Man
  3. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
  4. Just Like A Woman
  5. Masters Of War
  6. Gotta Serve Somebody
  7. Love Minus Zero/No Limit
  8. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
  9. She Belongs To Me
  10. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
  11. Disease Of Conceit
  12. Everything Is Broken
  13. In The Garden
  14. Like A Rolling Stone
    —
  15. Mr. Tambourine Man
  16. Highway 61 Revisited

Full concert video:

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O’Keefe Centre For The Performing Arts
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
5 June 1990

The first night’s semi-acoustic set features two requests from the eighth row. The first is “Tomorrow Is a Long Time,” shouted out as Dylan is about to start “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.” Dylan surprisingly responds, “It sure is. Awfully long,” and proceeds to unearth a lovely, subdued version. Two songs later, the same misfit asks for “John Brown,” and Dylan duly obliges with his most mannered rendition.
-Clinton Heylin (A Life in Stolen Moments)

  1. Subterranean Homesick Blues
  2. I’ll Remember You
  3. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
  4. Tears Of Rage (Bob Dylan & Richard Manuel)
  5. Masters Of War
  6. Gotta Serve Somebody
  7. Tomorrow Is A Long Time
  8. Desolation Row
  9. The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
  10. John Brown
  11. One Too Many Mornings
  12. Everything Is Broken
  13. Simple Twist Of Fate
  14. All Along The Watchtower
  15. I Shall Be Released
  16. Like A Rolling Stone
    —
  17. Barbara Allen (trad.)
  18. The Times They Are A-Changin’
  19. Highway 61 Revisited

Full concert video:

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Civic Center
Bismarck, North Dakota
15 June 1990

  1. Subterranean Homesick Blues
  2. I Believe In You (not included in video)
  3. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again (not included in video)
  4. I’ll Remember You (not included in video)
  5. Masters Of War (not included in video)
  6. Gotta Serve Somebody (not included in video)
  7. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) (not included in video)
  8. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
  9. John Brown
  10. Boots Of Spanish Leather
  11. Mr. Tambourine Man (not included in video)
  12. Everything Is Broken
  13. Political World
  14. Shooting Star
  15. All Along The Watchtower
  16. I Shall Be Released (not included in video)
  17. In The Garden
  18. Like A Rolling Stone
    —
  19. Blowin’ In The Wind
  20. Maggie’s Farm

video:

1990 Summer Festival Tour of Europe

  • First concert: Laugardalshöll, Reykjavik, Iceland – 27 June 1990
  • Last concert: Casino de Montreux, Montreux, Switzerland – 9 July 1990 (Montreux Jazz Festival)
  • 9 concerts

Stadtpark
Hamburg, Germany
3 July 1990

No More One More Time (Troy Seals-Dave Kirby)

Old Rock ‘n Roller (Charlie Daniels-Jack Gavin- Charlie Hayward-Taz DiGregorio)

Internationales Congress Centrum
Berlin, Germany
5 July 1990

Let’s Learn To Live And Love Again (Jimmy Rule, David Briggs)

Torhout-Werchter Rock Festival
Werchter, Belgium
8 July 1990

  1. Silvio (Bob Dylan & Robert Hunter)
  2. You’re A Big Girl Now
  3. Shelter From The Storm
  4. Masters Of War
  5. Gotta Serve Somebody
  6. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
  7. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
  8. Gates Of Eden
  9. Mr. Tambourine Man
  10. Everything Is Broken
  11. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
  12. I Shall Be Released
  13. Like A Rolling Stone
    —
  14. Blowin’ In The Wind
  15. Highway 61 Revisited

AND 6 songs from Stadtpark, Hamburg, Germany – 3 July 1990.

  • Old Rock & Roller
  • All Along The Watchtower
  • I Shall Be Released
  • Like A Rolling Stone
  • Blowin’ In The Wind
  • Highway 61 Revisited

Video:

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Alldylan / Borntolisten @ Facebook

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-Egil

2 thoughts on “Bob Dylan – Never Ending Tour 1990 – Part 1”

  1. Here’s a little contribution of mine, folks. At the 27:00 of this video below you can see Bob playing in a big festival on my country (Brazil). It was called the Hollywood Rock. Part of his gig was aired on TV here.

    Hope you enjoy it. By the way, I would love having that silver Tele…

  2. Just cherry-picking songs from here and there, I am again and again astonished at the levels of songwriting and singing exhibited on this tour. There were a lot of under-appreciated songs such as Where Teardrops Fall that I could not stop playing when Oh Mercy and the surrounding albums came out, and these live versions are startlingly good.

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