Ottawa, Canada (30-Jul-89)

Ottawa '89:
General Comments
Audio: Average. Is there not a better audio out there of this performance? If not, need
someone to remix this - the vocal and lead guitar levels (in particular) peak throughout too much. This doesn't help when Dylan "eats the mic" as Grossman puts it.
Picture quality: Average. Pretty dark throughout. Dylan's face is just a shadow mostly. However, hats off to our taper who records a pretty consistent picture with little shakiness.
Vocal Performance: Great.
Band Performance: Pretty tight mostly even with Dylan's apparent lack of interest for finishing songs properly..........
SONG-BY-SONG BREAKDOWN
Most likely you go your way: pretty decent performance. Rather frantic pace. Love that ash-blond telecaster of his!
Pretty Peggy-o: What a rare treat! and a very nice version........
Masters of War: Very nice version.
I Want You: Great. Faithfully-haunting version. Once again, such a pity that the audio levels 'peak' here. I'm usually a huge fan of Bob's harmonica playing style but here it's just ok - a little disjointed (this might be on purpose though!). This song then flows into......
Ballad of a Thin Man: pretty decent (like all versions). Dylan once said on his '78 tour that this was a song that doesn't seem to change very much. I couldn't agree more but love it anyway.
Highway '61: Rockin'. Great bottleneck slide guitar and drums. This song is always great. Overall very tight.
It takes a train: rough transition from Highway '61 but turns out to be a great version with a very convincing vocal from Bob. This really made it for me as this is probably my favorite song from Highway 61 Revisited.
Baby Blue: Nice slow and moving version of this great song.
Girl from the North Country: Pretty solid. Up-tempo version.
Hattie Carroll: Another nice, not-played-often-enough Dylan song. I really love the 1975 version of this song - absolutely rollickin'. This song would probably sound good with some mandolins too......(just a thought).
One Irish Rover: A very rare gem indeed. Nice version - not quite as good as the duet version he performs with Van Morrison but then again what would be...
Silvio: Probably the best song from Clinton Heylin's least favorite Dylan album, "Down in the Groove". This one has often been played live over the years and you can really see why here because the band can really sink their teeth into it and let loose.
I shall be released: Very nice. I personally prefer the versions with The Band (with Richard Manuel's lovely harmonies) but really love how Bob keeps experimenting around with new arrangements of his songs like on this one.
LARS: Pretty awesome version of arguably the best R 'n R song of all time - not lost on the audience who give it a huge round of applause at the end.
Barbara Allen: One of the most beautiful folk songs of all time and one of the saddest (just listen to the lyrics). Great other versions to check out: Gaslight tapes and '81 tour versions.
Blowin' in the Wind: Pretty decent. Bob seems to put a lotta feeling into this version. Sing it with-a feelin'.......!
All Along the Watchtower: To me this is usually the most disappointing song of Bob's setlist. Don't get me wrong - it's a great song but he just seems bored with it....
'78 Songs: Overall the audio is pretty poor. The speed is wrong. Dylan sounds like Chip 'n Dale. However, the footage is pretty good mostly but the It ain't me Babe footage doesn't fit with the audio. First the lips are out of sync. Second, he's playing acoustic but visually we see an electric - oh well......However, I'm a huge fan of the '78 period so any footage is welcome.
VERDICT: Definitely worth watching but hopefully there will be a sound upgrade forthcoming.....
Big thank-you to mildmike99 for this one!