Atlanta, GA (25-Jul-88)

Should have a lot going for it, this DVD. Only a couple of clipped songs short of a complete concert (5 stars) Video quality for an '88 tape, nae bad at all (4 stars). Reasonably clear view of the stage, both Bob and the Band (4 stars). Quite steady and free from heads despite being shot from the floor (4 stars). The band itself's in fine form (4 stars).
And put it all together - definitely 4+ Stars ??; nope, just a sorry 2 Stars, and even that's being generous.
It's just dull and boring, not one to be suffered more than once.
It's Bob, only at the end with F/Young & Maggies does he seem to get into 2nd gear. The other 15 tracks he just mumbles along in 1st., no commitment, no life, nothing. Maybe you had to be there ?
Avoid it.

It's July of 1988-an early show of the tour that still hasn't ended, and Bob comes to play. Not all the versions delight, but his intensity and engagement are high, and it makes for a show well-worth watching.

Video: The taper appears to have a floor position. It's not the closest camera location, but lighting is pretty good during most of the show, and the camera holds steady most of the time, and heads seldom interfere with the view. Camera shake or wandering is rare, focus is good most of the time. The camera is on G.E. Smith and Bob almost all of the time. Panning is rare; there are a few glimpses of bass and drums. The beginnings of Tambourine Man and Blowing in the Wind are cut. Otherwise, the show is complete. The date from the camera's counter is on screen for most of the show. It was irritating at first (and the date's even wrong), but I can't remember now if it stayed on for the whole concert; I guess that demonstrates that it's not that big a deal after a few songs.

Audio: Bob's vocal seems muffled on the first song, but the rest sounds fine.

Performance: The show starts with 6 electric songs, beginning with the relatively rare Subterranean Homesick Blues (though it appears to have been performed quite often in '88). As mentioned, Bob's vocal is muffled, and the words don't come through as clearly as they will in subsequent songs. Smith plays some fine leads. There is no harmonica in the show.

Just Like a Woman is second. Bob brings lots of energy to this electric version. It seems brash compared to the tender versions he has been doing for many years now.

Stuck in Mobile is up next. The engaged performance continues, and Smith produces more nice lead breaks.

Twist of Fate follows, with a lyric switch "she [rather than he] felt a spark . . . and wished that she'd gone straight"

Masters of War is a focused version, but done with more talk than tune.

Highway 61 is next, and an electric highlite. A fine version ends with an interesting twist; it's a bit hard to describe, but the instruments gradually grind to a halt like a train running out of steam. I'm no completist, but I've heard a fair number of performances of this rather frequent song, and I've not heard anything like it. Fascinating.

Finally an acoustic song: Girl from the North Country is another song that has Bob's full attention, particularly with a clear beginning to the vocal. It's not particularly tender, but it's well-done.

Tambourine Man is up next; it cuts in at "but still not sleeping." It's an enthusiastic, bright and ringing rendition as it was before the tender, wistful versions of '95 and later. The ending is a bit ragged.

Barbara Allen is a focused, intent and emotional rendering of the song in the somewhat breathless mannerism he's used on it elsewhere.

It Ain't Me Babe: A highlight for me. Well-done, with some interesting variation, as when he leaves a very long pause between "looking for" and "babe."

Pillbox Hat signals the end of the acoustic section.

I Shall Be Released follows; it is a nice, melodic, earnest performance, with some pretty lead guitar.

Silvio is what it is, but it is sung with commitment.

Rolling Stone is well-done. The crowd stands, and heads are a little problem, but not too bad. There is a strong crowd response, and Bob sings with some biting, passionate phrasing in places.

In the Wind is mixed; it cuts in with "before you call him a man." The questions have some conviction to them, but he sings the second verse in that breathy Barbara-Allen style.

Forever Young is electric. It's a favorite of mine, but rather disappointing, because the vocal this time just doesn't match the music's tender hope. The vocal in the third verse and chorus resemble a "Like a Rolling Stone" vocal.

The show wraps up with a Maggie's Farm which is solid, and not a toss-off.

Over all, this is a nice show, and valuable for its example of a time when the tour had barely left the station, and Bob was excited again about touring after some years of relative disinterest. It's well worth watching, and well worth obtaining for your collection.

A solid four stars