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.
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)
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
–
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)
Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)
I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)
Ballad Of Hollis Brown
Masters Of War
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
Political World
Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35
What Was It You Wanted
Blowin’ In The Wind
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
Song To Woody
Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
Everything Is Broken
Tight Connection To My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love)
Man In The Long Black Coat
I Shall Be Released
Like A Rolling Stone —
Dark As A Dungeon (Merle Travis)
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 )
To Be Alone With You
Most Of The Time
All Along The Watchtower
I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight
John Brown
Political World
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
The Times They Are A-Changin’
Mama, You Been On My Mind
It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
Girl From The North Country
Forever Young
Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You
Everything Is Broken
Just Like A Woman
It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
Man In The Long Black Coat
Like A Rolling Stone —
It Ain’t Me, Babe
Highway 61 Revisited
Full concert video (very dark, but better towards the end):
–
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)
Absolutely Sweet Marie
Man In The Long Black Coat
Positively 4th Street
Ballad Of A Thin Man
Pledging My Time
I Want You
Political World Video includes I Want You & Political world:
You Angel You
All Along The Watchtower
Boots Of Spanish Leather
To Ramona
She Belongs To Me
Mr. Tambourine Man
Disease Of Conceit
You’re A Big Girl Now
I’ll Remember You
Where Teardrops Fall
Seeing The Real You At Last
Every Grain Of Sand
Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35
Like A Rolling Stone —
It Ain’t Me, Babe
I’ve Been All Around This World (trad.)
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)
—
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
Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)
Ballad Of A Thin Man
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
Just Like A Woman
Masters Of War
Gotta Serve Somebody
Love Minus Zero/No Limit
It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
She Belongs To Me
It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
Disease Of Conceit
Everything Is Broken
In The Garden
Like A Rolling Stone —
Mr. Tambourine Man
Highway 61 Revisited
Full concert video:
–
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)
Subterranean Homesick Blues
I’ll Remember You
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
Tears Of Rage (Bob Dylan & Richard Manuel)
Masters Of War
Gotta Serve Somebody
Tomorrow Is A Long Time
Desolation Row
The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
John Brown
One Too Many Mornings
Everything Is Broken
Simple Twist Of Fate
All Along The Watchtower
I Shall Be Released
Like A Rolling Stone —
Barbara Allen (trad.)
The Times They Are A-Changin’
Highway 61 Revisited
Full concert video:
–
Civic Center Bismarck, North Dakota 15 June 1990
Subterranean Homesick Blues
I Believe In You (not included in video)
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again (not included in video)
I’ll Remember You (not included in video)
Masters Of War (not included in video)
Gotta Serve Somebody (not included in video)
It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) (not included in video)
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
John Brown
Boots Of Spanish Leather
Mr. Tambourine Man (not included in video)
Everything Is Broken
Political World
Shooting Star
All Along The Watchtower
I Shall Be Released (not included in video)
In The Garden
Like A Rolling Stone —
Blowin’ In The Wind
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
Silvio (Bob Dylan & Robert Hunter)
You’re A Big Girl Now
Shelter From The Storm
Masters Of War
Gotta Serve Somebody
It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
Gates Of Eden
Mr. Tambourine Man
Everything Is Broken
It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
I Shall Be Released
Like A Rolling Stone —
Blowin’ In The Wind
Highway 61 Revisited
AND 6 songs from Stadtpark, Hamburg, Germany – 3 July 1990.