Live 1964: The Bootleg Series Vol. 6 Concert At Philharmonic Hall

Bob Dylan

Columbia Records, 2004

http://www.bobdylan.com

REVIEW BY: Sean McCarthy

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 04/19/2004

Before dividing his fan base by going electric, before the motorcycle accident, before the marital breakup, before the weird gypsy whiteface makeup, before his flirtation with Christianity, Dylan was an energetic folk singer whose only baggage was only being a spokesperson for a generation.

Fans have been bootlegging Dylan's live performances since he emerged as a potential heir to Woody Guthrie. His early live recordings have mostly been an incomparable mess. Fortunately, the latest bootleg series captures Dylan at the cusp of ending one stage of his career and entering another phase that would change rock music forever. Recorded at the Philharmonic in New York, the crowd wasn't shouting "Judas" or erupting in cheers. Instead, the crowd was polite, albeit a bit cautious whenever Dylan introduced his new material.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

The most striking aspect of The Bootleg Series Vol. 6 is the clarity of the recording. For the most part, the concert was just Dylan and his guitar, with Joan Baez backing Dylan up in three songs. Dylan's voice has a preacher's clarity and there's no better example of this than his unveiling of the then-new song "Gates of Eden."

"I'm masquerading," Dylan joked to the audience on Halloween night. "I'm wearing my Bob Dylan mask," he quipped. He's not kidding. Only Cher and Madonna have worn more guises. Recorded when he was just 23, Dylan was at his showstopping best in The Bootleg Series Vol. 6. Throughout the two discs, you can hear Dylan's sometimes hilarious banter with the audience. Other times, you can hear his empathy for those who didn't know what to make with songs like "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)."

Virtually any song on The Bootleg Series Vol. 6 can be treated as a highlight. "Who Killed Davey Moore?" is Dylan at his protesting best and "If You Gotta Go, Go Now," proves that you don't have to surrender your sense of humor to be a social activist. For Dylan novices, The Bootleg Series Vol. 6 is a safe investment. For hard-core Dylan fans, it's a damn-near essential purchase.

In terms of evaluating The Bootleg Series, Vol. 6 doesn't obviously have the confrontational zeal of Bob Dylan Live 1966 - The Royal Albert Hall Concert, the concert which a fan famously yelled out "Judas!" during Dylan's electric set. It's more or less a memorable snapshot of an artist who wasn't going to look back after the release of Bringing it All Back Home. For rock fans that still don't get Dylan, this double-CD on an overcast Sunday afternoon is an excellent introduction.

Rating: A

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© 2004 Sean McCarthy and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Columbia Records, and is used for informational purposes only.