DVD Compilation #07

If this dvd consisted only of the 3/84 Letterman performance that alone would make it essential.But it does'nt..As well as featuring possibly Bob's greatest tv performance we also get a great "Forever Young" from '93 (Bob looks fantastic..great hat!!) the definitive "Lovesick" from '98 and the J.Cash tribute from '99..Also a glimpse into Bob's less good years.."Like A Rolling Stone" from '92 is pretty dire..but it does leave you wondering how Bob manages turn it around so often as then we go straight to '93 with Bob both looking and singing magnificently..In short it is a great idea to collect all these performances in one place..Both sound and vision is top-notch..An absolute essential to anyones collection..I've only had it a couple of days and I've already watched it many times! Thanks to "Silenttype" for sending me a copy.In short..get it..it's great!!!

I watch this one all the time. The Letterman rehearsal is good, it shows that Dylan sings well (most of the time) even when it doesn't "matter." It's cool to see how much changes from rehearsal to showtime. The actual '84 Letterman show is awesome. Each song gets better, from a solid "Don't Start Me Talkin'," to a riveting "License to Kill" and finally the superb performance of "Jokerman." These 3 songs surely constitute Dylan's best TV performance to date. There is a moment in Jokerman when he picks up the wrong key harp, then instructs the band something (keep playing maybe, finish without me?), the drummer enjoys the spotlight for a second, then a roadie finally finds the harp and Dylan is back at it. From the time he gets the harp to the end of the song is magical. And not a Sigfried and Roy-type magic either.
The next Letterman performance in '94 is also phenomenal. Letterman mentions the "special concerts" at the time, which were the Supper Club shows. The Forever Young played is great, with some cool guitar by Bob.
I skip over a few of the next ones, but "Things Have Changed" is a good performance. Also cool is Dylan's acting when he gets the Grammy lifetime acheivement award in '91. It would be embarrassing if it wasn't acting. That's right, acting. But it is good acting, as it fools the crowd and even a panicked Jack Nicholson. Funny. Dylan's joke makes good use of tension to grab a laugh, then he spits out a clearly planned, typically enigmatic statement that has an interesting story behind it. See an article called "Bob Dylan's Unshakeable Monotheism" (jewsweek.com) There is also the "Soy Bomb" incident during an above-average performance of Lovesick.
Finally, the Cash tribute, a song about trains, is a must-have. I disagree with the above reviewer, this isn't a one-time watch and file it away disc. There are several moments here which reward multiple viewings/listenings just like any good Dylan performance.