Newcastle, England (05-Jul-84)

This is some of the best 1984 footage around, but if given an option I would first recommend the 'Master' sourced with sound upgrade D027.asu or (next best) the 'Master' sourced D027.a versions. Check screenshots to make sure.
I think that this is one item in the catalog where getting the 'right' version is well worthwhile.

Video: Newcastle 1984 is good to have as a document of a long-ago tour, but it is not a particularly satisfying experience. It’s an outdoor concert. Due perhaps to the age of the document and the high contrast caused first by sunlight, then apparently by lighting, Bob’s face is washed-out through most of the concert, his eye sockets looking like dark sunglasses on his featureless face. There are glimpses with more detail when he turns in profile, or backs away from the microphone, but watching Bob’s expressions and effort are part of the fun a video provides, and this doesn’t have much to see. There are some positives in the video; the taper does do an interesting job of panning occasionally to other band members, and even catches the guitarists during their leads, and there is some sense of immediacy provided as the taper shoots through the crowd, rather than over their heads.
Audio: The majority of the songs are clipped. Most clip part of the instrumental intro or conclusion (or both), but several suffer from a missing line or two at the start. The sound is not great, but is always listenable; the volume is a little low.
Performance: Bob shows some real energy, and occasionally some passion, but it doesn’t really seem to build into a good or powerful section; too much of the show remains, in spite of the energy, somehow subdued and rather flat. Maybe it’s more that the video is not revealing, and doesn’t contribute much. There are, of course some highlights; It starts with an energetic and relatively (for Bob) carefully enunciated Highway 61. In it and the next 2 songs, there is energy and inflection, but not much tune-delivered in something of a snarl. Bob breaks 2 acoustic strings playing Just Like a Woman, and the prettiest harmonica of the night gets clipped before it’s done. Song 8 is Hard Rain, and it’s the first song I really liked. Tangled comes next, and it has the “Real Live” lyrics, which I’ve always liked a lot. It has another good harp break. Most of the harmonica the rest of the way is plain-neither interesting nor beautiful. Thin Man is a nice version. The best block of songs of the show is the 4 acoustic songs: Every Grain of Sand is not a lovely version, but it’s filled with real passion, especially the last verse. However, it’s clipped at both ends, and the vocal is a bit muffled. Tambourine Man is pretty nice, with some pretty tune and nice inflection. North Country is a lovely version, more like the original in tune, speed, and style. It Ain’t Me Babe has some audience singalong, and it brings some smiles from Bob. From there the show begins to go somewhat flat again, but Santana guests with lead guitar on some tunes at the end, adding sparkle to them, and a nice lead guitar/harmonica break in Blowin’ in the Wind that raises it up a notch.
Highlights: Hard Rain, Tangled (for the alternate lyrics), Thin Man, Tambourine Man, and North Country.
I love Bob. I’m so thankful that these documents exist, and so glad that the tapers took the effort and the risk of filming the shows. I’m reluctant to give low marks to a show, but for me, this is a only a 3; not horrible, but not something I’m likely to come back to soon.