The tape of the benefit performance shows that Dylan’s voice had recovered significantly during his six weeks off; unfortunately, it also suggests again that the two-guitar acoustic set format was not very stimulating for Dylan as a performer in 1988. These are again lackluster, uninspired performances, interesting solely because this was only the third time in his career that Dylan is known to have performed “Pretty Boy Floyd” on stage and because, as he had at the October shows, Dylan added Lo “With God on Our Side” a verse about the Vietnam War that he didn’t write – the Neville Brothers had added it when they recorded the song on an album produced by Daniel Lanois earlier that autumn.
~Paul Williams (Bob Dylan: Performing Artist Volume 3: Mind Out Of Time 1986 And Beyond)
Oakland Coliseum Oakland, California 4 December 1988 An all acoustic evening of music to benefit The Bridge School.
I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin’ about half past dead
I just need some place where I can lay my head
“Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?”
He just grinned and shook my hand, “no” was all he said
Take a load off, Annie
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Annie
And (and) (and) you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Irvine, California 3 August 2013
Bob Dylan on grand piano
Donnie Herron on pedal steel
Stu Kimball on acoustic guitar
Colin Linden on lead guitar
Tony Garnier on bass
George Receli on drums & percussion
Jim James, Jeff Tweedy & Ryan Bingham on acoustic guitars and vocals
Ever a man of moods, Dylan returns to blazing form with a terrific 95-minute, 17-song set. Again a wealth of songs are introduced, five songs in the electric sets being performed for the first time on the 1988 tour: “Joey,” “Watching the River Flow,” “Tangled Up in Blue,” “It Takes a Lot to Laugh,” and Glen Glenn’s “Everybody’s Movin’.” Also introduced into the acoustic set are “San Francisco Bay Blues,” which is met with whoops of recognition by the Bay Area audience, “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” and a sensitive “Rank Strangers to Me,” the second selection from Dou:n in the Groove. Neil Young joins the band for the second electric set, staying on stage for the remainder of the show.
~Clinton Heylin (Bob Dylan: A Life in Stolen Moments Day by Day 1941-1995)
Greek Theatre University Of California Berkeley, California 10 June 1988
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
G. E. Smith (guitar)
Kenny Aaronson (bass)
Christopher Parker (drums)
Neil Young guitar on songs 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 & 17
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