1974 is an important year in the life of Bob Dylan.
I’ve put together a list of the ten best songs recorded (studio or live) this year. One rule applies: it has to be officially released in some form. I’ve nominated 25 songs & I challenge everyone reading this to set up their own “Bob Dylan – Top 10 songs recorded in 1974”. Feel free to ignore my nominated songs list and please use the comments section to share lists & thoughts.
…and by the way lists are fun.
Relevant albums
Before The Flood Released June 20, 1974 Recorded February 13–14, 1974, in Los Angeles,
except track 4: January 30, 1974, in New York
Blood On The TracksReleased January 20, 1975
Recorded September 16–19, 1974, at A&R Recording in New York,
New York and December 27–30, 1974, at Sound 80 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
BiographReleased November 7, 1985 Recorded November 1961-August 1981
The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3
(Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991Released March 26, 1991 Recorded November 1961 – March 1989
Blood on the Tracks – New York Sessions source: Original test pressingRecorded 16 September – 8 October, 1974 Bootleg
A very good 88-concert and the sound on the circulating soundboard tape is incredible.
It is concert #15 of the Never Ending Tour & this tour is “labeled” the Interstate 88 Tour, part 1.
Jones Beach Theater Jones Beach State Park Wantagh, New York 30 June 1988
Wantagh, New York
Wantagh (pronounced /WAHN-taw/) is a hamlet and census-designated place (an unincorporated section of the town of Hempstead) in Nassau County on Long Island, New York, United States. The population of Wantagh was 18,871 at the time of the 2010 census.
Wantagh is known as “The Gateway to Jones Beach“.
Musicians:
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
G. E. Smith (guitar)
Kenny Aaronson (bass)
Christopher Parker (drums)
Setlist
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
You’re A Big Girl Now
Tangled Up In Blue
Masters Of War
I Shall Be Released
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
Lakes Of Pontchartrain (trad.)
A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
Eileen Aroon (trad., arr. Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem) I know a valley fair, Eileen Aroon I know a cottage there Eileen Aroon Far in the valley shade I know a tender maid Flow’r of the hazel glade, Eileen Aroon
Boots Of Spanish Leather
Silvio (Bob Dylan & Robert Hunter)
Gates Of Eden
Like A Rolling Stone
The Times They Are A-Changin’
All Along The Watchtower
Maggie’s Farm
Jones Beach Theater
Address
1000 Ocean Parkway
Wantagh, New York 11793
Location
Jones Beach State Park
Type
Amphitheatre
Opened
1952
Renovated
1992
Expanded
1998
Former name(s)
Jones Beach Marine Theater(1952-94)
Jones Beach Amphitheater (1994-2000)
Jones Beach Theater (2000-02)
Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater (2002-06)
And yet to have been present at the best of the 1984 shows (Paris, Barcelona, Vienna, Offenbach), particularly if one was somewhere towards the front of the sea of humanity, able to see the man and hear him, must have been an unforgettable experience. Here is Dylan offering himself – through his singing; he does almost no talking between songs – openly and enthusiastically and warmly.
… Paris (July 1) is my favorite show of the tour (based on the tapes).
~Paul Williams (BD Performing artist 1974-86)
“There must be some way out of here,” said the joker to the thief
“There’s too much confusion, I can’t get no relief
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth”