The Bootleg Series Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue (live album) by Bob Dylan

From lleon79 01/26/2023 17:23

What a marvelous live album!

The crystal clear sound and production is one of the highlights on this brilliant live document. Superior to Before The Flood and one of the must haves from the Bootleg Series.

Thanks for the helpful comments below!

For some reason I generally prefer the Dylan bootleg series to his studio albums (even the classics). I dig how the live setting gives opportunity to breathe life into the songs. I find it easier to connect to than the studio versions. I like how Dylan and his band play fast and loose with classic songs on this one. Also, cutting between different performances works fine too.

Totally agree with Mercury, the band sound great. If you cant get "The Band" this one will certainly do!!

Recorded during the Rolling Thunder revue, this is far to superior to the dreadful, hard rain, recorded on another leg of the same tour. Some great songs and performances, especially the one's with Joan Baez. The Bootleg series, has certainly redeemed Dylan when it comes to live albums, whose history of in concert records was atrocious until this excellent series. One of the great Dylan live albums.

What a collection of musicians! A solid entry into the "Bootleg Series". A much better representation of what the show must have been like than "Hard Rain".

From MrRetardization 02/27/2014 08:30

The best live album by Dylan.

From Mercury 01/09/2014 00:13

8 January 2014

Boy, top to bottom this thing is very solid. At times this record just thrills. There is a sense of joy and rediscovery that comes from the band and Bob throughout, and this energy makes it all the more excellent of a listen.

The playing is just pure energy on the rock tracks and tender and gorgeous in the folk tracks and other soft stuff. This really captures with absolute perfection the energy of those gorgeous early concerts of The Rolling Thunder Review. I don't know exactly how they managed this... It must have to do with the clear remastering. The production just pops. The drums jump out at you and the melodies and harmony and detail all sound crisp. It's a work of art how well this stuff was recorded and presented.

And the vocals of Dylan are at all times absolutely spot on and passionate as hell. And did I mention the band on here is just about as great as any band I've ever heard play with Dylan? Yeah.

There are a couple points where I do lose some interest in it. This could just be me. I feel that the acoustic rendition of "Simple Twist of Fate" is lacking a certain conviction. In contrast to the first disc, it's a little bit of a let down.

The harmonies with Joan Baez don't always work all that well, especially on "Blowin' In The Wind". But overall I really love her contribution on the other tracks she's featured on. I don't know what happened, I'm actually finding myself liking her voice now. I used to hate it.

Overall, this thing is excellent and highly recommended to say the least.

Grade: 93/100