Thank you. I suppose you’ve been reading the newspapers and watching the TV? And you see how much trouble this world is in. Madmen running loose everywhere. Anyway we, we’re not worried about that though — it doesn’t bother us — because we know this world is going to be destroyed. Christ will set up his kingdom for a thousand years in Jerusalem where the lion will lie down with the lamb — we know this is true. No doubt about it. So, it’s a slow train coming. It’s been coming for a long time, but it’s picking up speed.
~Bob Dylan(before Slow Train – Santa Monica first show 1979)
The first gospel tour (Nov 1, 1979 – Dec 9, 1979) might be the best of the the three gospel tours, here is a wonderful show from – first of four @ Santa Monica.
And we love the Gospel tours !
Civic Auditorium
Santa Monica, California
18 November 1979
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
Fred Tackett (guitar)
Spooner Oldham (keyboards)
Tim Drummond (bass)
Terry Young (keyboards)
Jim Keltner (drums)
Regina Mcrary , Helena Springs , Mona Lisa Young (background vocals)
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
–
… Dylan did appear on the Letterman Show, the day following the last Supper Club appearance, to perform a very fine “Forever Young”. It was an unusually assured TV performance by a grandly be-hatted Bob, and a spectacular end to what was by Dylan’s high standards, an indifferent year of touring.
~Andrew Muir (On The Road)
CBS TV Studio
New York City, New York
18 November 1993 Guest appearance at Late Night With David Letterman
I wasn’t quite sure how to do it and what material to use. I would have liked to do old folk songs with acoustic instruments, but there was a lot of input from other sources as to what would be right for the MTV audience. The record company said, “You can’t do that, it’s too obscure.” At one time, I would have argued, but there’s no point. OK, so what’s not obscure? They said Knockin’ on Heaven ‘s Door.
~Bob Dylan (to Edna Gundersen May 1995)
The concerts @ the Supper Club in Nov 1993 are considered by “most” fans to be “The Real MTV unplugged”. 4 fantastic shows in 2 days, all of them delivered at approximately 60 min.
The Supper Club New York City, New York 16 & 17 November 1993
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar & harmonica)
Bucky Baxter (pedal steel guitar & electric slide guitar)
John Jackson (guitar, banjo)
Tony Garnier (bass)
Winston Watson (drums & percussion)
–
The early show performance [of “Ring Them Bells – Supper Club 17 Nov]…. may well be the single finest moment of the Never Ending Tour..
~Clinton Heylin (Still On The Road)
Here are some audio & a video.
One Too Many Mornings and Queen Jane Approximately for the Supper Club performances (video):
A mixture of old classics, songs he hadn’t played for a while and tracks from World Gone Wrong were all treated to the true authentic voice of Bob Dylan. Not only that but each show seemed better than the previous one and some songs, such as, “Queen Jane” & “Ring Them Bells” , were performed nearly as well as they have ever been, either before or since.
-Andrew Muir (Razor’s Edge)
“…his fall 1979 concerts. “What Can I Do For You?”, “Solid Rock”, “Saving Grace”, “Covenant Woman” and “In The Garden” as performed at these shows are some of the finest work in Dylan’s oeuvre, but you’d never know that from listening to “Saved”, the 1980 studio album that features these compositions.
…….you’re awareness and appreciation of Dylan’s greatness is incomplete until you hear these songs (and “When He Returns”) as performed live in the fall of 1979..
~Paul Williams (Bob Dylan: Performing Artist, Vol 2: The Middle Years 1974-1986)
“….this gospel show explodes with vocal passion to be found in few other Dylan periods.”
~bobsboots.com
The November shows @ Warfield in 1979 are by many fans (& collectors) considered to be the highlight of the “Gospel Tours”. Nov 6,7,11 & 16 are the shows I’ve been listening to…. and Nov 16 is my personal favorite. It is an amazing concert… … it’s actually one of my absolute fav Dylan concerts, top 10 for sure.
Fox Warfield Theatre San Francisco, California 16 November 1979
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
Fred Tackett (guitar)
Spooner Oldham (keyboards)
Tim Drummond (bass)
Terry Young (keyboards)
Jim Keltner (drums)
Regina Havis , Helena Springs , Mona Lisa Young (background vocals)
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