London/Brixton (31-Mar-95)

I just watched this. The sound is great. Very loud and all the instruments are clear. The camera shot is predominantly positioned at the mic stand with a good close up of Dylan. The film is pretty clear. Probably a few generations high but nonetheless its a really steady and clear image. The performance is awesome. The vocals are really nice tonight proving the proper subtlety on acoustic numbers and power on the electric songs when needed. I give this 5 stars because of the exceptional performance, camera positioning, and sound.

Very nice concert. My first one to receive as a club member and it is fantastic. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll is haunting and tender; it raised the hair on back of my neck. D in perfect form. I've always had this notion that while Elvis was the 'king' of rock & roll, Dylan has certainly been the captain!

Epic stuff.
Great video. My copy (with the blocky title menu see screenshots) is clearly soundupgraded from a excellent source with brief dropouts between some songs and rates 5 STARS for audio. seamless a/v sync.
Performance highlights from top to bottom.
Truely a must have, top ten personal list.

D182 STILL DREAMIN' YET

Within ten seconds of this DVD starting, you know you're in for a treat. Picture is fine (few odd blips later on); sound, if not the best then near enough; intimate setting - a smoky, club-like atmosphere; camera rock-steady and close to the stage; a clear view of Bob, who's standing full-on to his audience, mike in hand, no guitar, no nothing - just a man (plus band) and his song. That song is Flood and so off we go on a joyous, bummer-free ride through 105 minutes of Spring '95 Bob-at-his-best, up for the game, knocking 'em in at will, harmonica to the fore (always a good sign), Señor (like Flood) sung without guitar, reserve or flaw. Song after song does the business - a slow-rocking Tombstone Blues, a Shelter that starts tender then builds in intensity, an exquisite guitar-free T Man (since its release, my favourite version of this was always the one on BS5, but this comes very close). Hattie Carroll is fine, then a lovely meditative Baby Blue (much without picture, though it hardly matters) raises the bar higher still. In The Garden sits very incongruously between H61 and Joey - D at his most inscrutable, dropping in a song about "his hero" (D047) and with an edge to it not previously evident. Maybe he played everything else this night to please us and that to please himself? It scores all the same. Joey, too, though inevitably somewhat abridged, is still powerful and insistent, D hammering home the final chorus with sweat flying off his head.

Though he actually sounds anything but, D looks jaded tonight. Considering this is the 627th show of the NET and only three weeks on from a rare sickness-induced cancellation, is it really any wonder? You might recall at the end of Last Waltz Robbie Robertson (who's well-placed to know) dismissing life on the road as "impossible" - yet still Bob pursues such a life relentlessly, with a determination that's almost scary; that has about it an air almost of fatalism. He shows up at these venues to thrill us or not, depending on how we're all feeling, then he's gone and, for much of each year, that's his lot. I’ve seen Jack Elliott described as an American national treasure (and so he is) but it's perhaps too easy to forget that, in his own way, and though he may not want to hear it, so is Bob. Precisely because it's so liberally distributed, it's too easy, maybe, to take for granted his fulsome prodigality, his incredible generosity of spirit; all he does for us and all he gives.

Back to the gig. Want to know who's in the band tonight? Tough luck! Before LARS we get this:

Thank you! Forgot to introduce the band. Not going to, either!

But, named or anonymous, the band are tight, D's now in fine voice and this is another song right on the money. Then comes a faithful, heartfelt Pages that stands in stark contrast to the throwaway reading he'll deliver at the House of Blues (D006) in 16 months time. Elvis Costello, Chrissie Hynde and Carole King join Bob on stage for the last two numbers and, as often, the presence of guests opens him up even more, making Released and RDW a fun-filled, upbeat pair to close on. D plainly enjoys singing with EC and the last words we hear on this DVD are Bob-to-crowd:

Elvis Costello - ain't he great?

You too, pal. You too.

BIG THANKS SS
STARS The full five. (Other beauts from this best of tours include D085.suu, D357.su and D703.su. Jump in!)

THe 95 UK tour is a fantstic period where Bob really pulled out all stops, and this dvd captures both the quality of the music and the fun he was having. Obviously the guitarless singing style is very unusual for the man...and the fantastic version of Senor proves that he can pull it off, but what makes this dvd so good is the fantastic finale where he is joined by Elvis costello, Chrissie Hynde and Carol King...I've never seen our man smile so much on stage..he is really having a good time. On a technical level, the sound is clear and clean, the picyure is steady (tripod) and close. This is one of a series of three consecutive nights..and both of the others are worthy of a look, particularly the night before where once again he is joined by Costello..all in all this is really worth a look.