Tag Archives: bob dylan 1981

July 18: Bob Dylan live in West Germany 1981 (45 m video)

18 July: Bob Dylan Mannheim Germany 1981 (45 min Video)

The Bob Dylan World Tour 1981 was a concert tour by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The tour lasted from June 10, 1981 to November 21, 1981 and consisted of 54 concerts in three legs: 31 in North America and 23 in Europe. The tour promoted the release of Dylan’s 1981 album Shot of Love.

The European leg of the tour started on June 21 in Toulouse in France and consisted of twenty three concerts, the largest number of concerts taking place in England where eight shows were performed.  All shows from July 1 onwards were recorded by members of Dylan’s crew.

The European tour ended in tragedy in Avignon, France where a member of the crowd fell into the electric cables before the first song and caused total power loss. Dylan and the band improvised an unplugged instrumental until the power was restored and ‘Saved’ was started from the beginning. In the accident two people were killed, but the show went ahead despite the incident. Dylan returned to the United States in October to perform twenty three concerts there. Dylan also performed four concerts in Canada. The tour came to an end in Lakeland, Florida on November 21 after fifty-four concerts. (Wikipedia)

Rhein-Neckar-Stadion
Mannheim, West Germany
18 July 1981

There were also a very good audience taping available a couple of years back, well worth seeking out.

Continue reading July 18: Bob Dylan live in West Germany 1981 (45 m video)

November 10: Bob Dylan live in New Orleans, Louisiana, 1981 (full concert audio)

Redirecting to a newer version of this post….

Dylan delivers a knock-out performance. The gospel material is powerful and biting without a condescending edge. The older standards are performed with a new fire and passion that includes them among the best live versions to date. Dylan stumbles on the lyrics once or twice, but adds new lines as well that more than compensate. The vocals are crisp are over the top out front and in your face. The music is tight, well mixed, and well performed.
~bobsboots.com

Saenger Theater
Saenger Performing Arts Center
New Orleans, Louisiana
10 November 1981

  • Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
  • Fred Tackett (guitar)
  • Steve Ripley (guitar)
  • Al Kooper (keyboards)
  • Tim Drummond (bass)
  • Jim Keltner (drums)
  • Arthur Rosato (drums)
  • Clydie King, Regina Havis, Madelyn Quebec (background vocals)

Continue reading November 10: Bob Dylan live in New Orleans, Louisiana, 1981 (full concert audio)

July 18: Bob Dylan: What Can I Do For You? – Mannheim, West Germany 1981 (Video)

bob dylan europe 1981

You have given everything to me
What can I do for You?
You have given me eyes to see
What can I do for You?

Pulled me out of bondage and You made me renewed inside
Filled up a hunger that had always been denied
Opened up a door no man can shut and You opened it up so wide
And You’ve chosen me to be among the few
What can I do for You?

Eisstadion
Mannheim, West Germany
18 July 1981

Continue reading July 18: Bob Dylan: What Can I Do For You? – Mannheim, West Germany 1981 (Video)

Bob Dylan’s Best Songs: Angelina





Well, it’s always been my nature to take chances
My right hand drawing back while my left hand advances
Where the current is strong and the monkey dances
To the tune of a concertina

…. there were some real songs on this album that we recorded, a couple of really long songs, like there was one I did – do you remember Visions Of Johanna?…. Well, there was one like that. I’d never done anything like it before. It’s got that same kind of thing to it. It seems to be very sensitive and gentle on one level, then on another level the lyrics aren’t sensitive and gentle at all. We left that off the album.
~Bob Dylan (to Neil Spencer – July 1981)

Continue reading Bob Dylan’s Best Songs: Angelina