The Relationship between Dylan and The band started a couple of years earlier, when the basemant tapes were recorded (Between june and november of 1966, allthough it was only released in 1976). This Concert was a very good one, after having some big critics on a couple of his latest albums.
The Band and Dylan start off with a Dylan song, Most likely you go your way, (And i'll go mine).
This song was originally on Blonde on Blonde, recorded with an obvioulsy present saxophone, which sounds quite jazzy, until the clean electric guitar comes in in the background. But i think the Before the Flood version is way better. It brings the message more clearly by the main riff of the guitar.
The main message that's brought is this:
I'm gonna let you pass
And I'll go last.
Then time will tell just who fell
And who's been left behind,
When you go your way and I go mine.
This is actually a sentence which i remember every time, really great!
5//5
The second song is Lady Lay, completely electric. I originally didn't like the song because it was slow and sung to low on dylans voice. But with this version (His voice sounds like a jam session :) I actually like the song. What is great about this version is mainly the singing, and the small solo
s between the sentences. The hammond..piano?.. (don't know how to say it in english) is obviously there and is good in line with the other musicians.
5//5
The third song is one everybody know, Rainy day women.
The original starts of with a marching rythm giving by the drums and then a harmonica, and trombone come in, i don't hear a guitar, but it's probably there. In the Before the flood version of course the slide guitar which is used in most live redentions, same as the piano and the hammond. I particularly like the way dylan sings it here, more expressing.
4.5//5
4th song is a classic again, Knockin'on heavens door.
This as good as the original record, but played in a different style, with multiple voices in the chorus, instead of just Dylan. This song made me realise just how many guitars they were using. People who like the more folk style of playing will not prefer this song.
4.5//5
Another good one, It ain't me babe.
It is a good one, though i prefer the old version, but still a song worth listening and doesn't get bored.
4//5
6th song is Ballad of a thin man
I simply love this cover, it is great! Energetic singing, emotional guitar solo's, and a better main riff then in the originali really get jumpy after listening this song, and it makes me want to scream along with Dylan, which would be a disgrace because allthough is not that good as a singer, he's the only one who can do it like this!
5//5
7th is a song published by the band, called Up on cripple creek. I actually went there, cripple creek, allthough i was ten months old :S. I like the singing, but there's a real weard guitar in the background making some kind of alien sound, which doesn't make it sound better. In overall, a good song.
4.5//5
8th song is I shall be released, written by Dylan, but first published by the Band. Never heard the bands version, but when i compare it to Dylan's, it's pretty good. I think J.J. Robertson sings it with his high voice, very nice and emotional, but not that energetic as Dylans version as well as the original or Budokan's. In overall a good one!
4.5//5
9th song another Band song, called endless highway. Pretty good lyrics, allthough a bit flat compared to the previous songs. Singing reminds me of Jimmy Buffet, nice Hammond there, and good timing, never gets bored!
4//5
10th song a The Band song called The night they drove old dixie down, this is a great song to put in your car's radio, because it's a real sing along, multiple voices in the chorus. The piano is a bit lame, allthough it does add something. Never gets bored as well.
4.5//5
11th song, my favourite the band song on this album called stage fright.
The chorus really got my attention in the lyrics:
See the man with the stage fright
Just standin' up there to give it all his might.
And he got caught in the spotlight,
But when we get to the end
He wants to start all over again.
Nice chorus and made me think. The vocals really express the lyrics well, so if you want to hear one Band song on this Album, take this one!!!
5//5
12th song
After the break and the start of the next CD, or 4th LP :P They continue with Dylans songs again, this cover is great. Don't think twice allright was allways a love song, and this makes it a folkrocklove song :D Good action and good singing!
5//5
13th song
Just like a woman
This gets me back to the old times, his singing is real 70's, but his playing and the emotions in his voice are traditional, good cover, but doesn't add anything to the song
4.5//5
14th song
My favourite Song of all times, all genres, all artists etc.
It's allright ma, (I'm only bleeding).
This song was originally played with his Gibson Nick Lucas Special, his most famous guitar, this time however, it's played with a real strum guitar, sounds like a martin, maybe a gibson. His singing really makes this song better. The energetic strumming instead of the flatpicking is better allthough there are less details, i tried to copy some highlights of the lyrics, but i end up copieng the whole song, so you'll just have to listen it.
6//5
15th song
First Band song on the second CD, called The shape i'm in
The electric guitar returns as well as the Hammond, and J.J. Robertsons voice, great song, nicely played, but a bit lame lyrics in my opinion
4//5
16th song is another Band track called when you awake.
Nice intro riff with the electric guitar and harmonica, which makes you ask for more, but the song doesn't give it, the singing is good though, but certainly not the best track on this album, song has weird timing as well.
4//5
17th song
The weight, a great Band song, best after stage freight, nice story, and the singing is well timed, allthough it not may sound that way. Piano riffs are great and a miz between Jazz Blues and Rock, real great!!
5//5
18th song
They continue with Dylan again.
A classic again, All along the watchtower, one of the most covered tracks of Dylan, including himself. Electric version, which are the most live redentions of All along the watchtower. A bit more uptemo and nice guitar solo's good screaming/singing of dylan really emotional again, he sounds a bit pissed off. I bet you can see it in his eyes when you see it on tv. Great cover, but doesn't add something to the other electric versions of the song, worth listening though, over and over again.
5//5
19th song
Highway 61 revisited.
Didn't surprise me, allthough i didn't expect to not hear a slide guitar, i think the old one is better actually, because then it's just the 3 chord path that does it, and it's gone now, as well as the original rythm. it's good enough, but not as good as the original
4//5
20th song
Another classis
Like a rolling stone, this did surprise me, nice hammond in the background and a real surprising piano and electric guitar. It;s not better then the original, but it's certainly as good as the original and worth listening to. 4.5//5
21th song
Some say it's the best song he ever did, and they end the concert with it.
Blowing in the wind is electric, which surprises me as well, but you can clearly hear the melody in the guitar, which is nice. the singin is not as neat as on the studio version, but overall, a nice redention of a song that cannot be made better.
4.5//5
So, overall, an album worth buying and listening over and over. Allthough the more classical people may not like it. It never bores you, and mokes you want to dance, shout and love, not one song is sad, which is great. Pretty good guitar playing for Dylan. Singing could have been better but adds just that little bit extra to some songs, and it takes away unfortunately that extra on other tracks. A shame if you've never heard it
Please remember that i did not rate the song itself but the song compared to the original version on this cd, except for the ones i never heard of course. I give this one a 4.5 out of 5 because some songs just miss something, not mainly the Band songs, but some Dylan covers as well, but it's still worth to buy it 200 %. My first review after reading 3 of Dylan, which encouraged me. Comments are allways welcome, negative as well positive. I hope you enjoyed.
