Bob Dylan - The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration

To commemorate 30 years since the release of Dylan's first Columbia album, a marathon tribute concert was held at New York's Madison Square Garden, with a galaxy of stars and voices from the past taking part. The cumulative effect of this tribute was staggering, revealing just how much truly great Dylan material there is to choose from all of his periods. A firm nucleus of the three surviving members of Booker T. & the MG's, plus G.E. Smith on guitar and Jim Keltner and Anton Fig on drums, anchors the bands, and most of the stars offer fresh slants on songs familiar and obscure. Among the more memorable interpretations are Richie Havens' moving "Just Like a Woman," completely within his style; the Clancy Brothers' fervent conversion of "When the Ship Comes In" to an irish folk idiom; the swinging, countrified "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" from Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, and Rosanne Cash; and a sullen "Masters of War" by Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready on acoustic guitars. Lou Reed went through the bootlegs to come up with the pounding "Foot of Pride," which is perfectly suited to Reed's declamatory style. Eric Clapton shrugs off his diffident manner to deliver one of the most electrifying performances of his life in "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" -- each guitar lick and vocal cuts angrily to the bone -- and George Harrison makes his first U.S. concert appearance in 18 years with "Absolutely Sweet Marie." Dylan himself appears at the end, wildly improvisational and harshly authentic in voice on "It's Alright, Ma" and "Girl of the North Country." By no means does this box contain the entire concert, though, and while the reason was probably to make the thing fit on two well-packed CDs, some of the deletions are inexplicable. To cite just a few examples, Harrison's "If Not for You" is missing; so are Clapton's "Love Minus Zero, No Limit" and some numbers by Booker T. & the MG's ("Gotta Serve Somebody" and "Lay Lady Lay" are in Stax's Time Is Tight box). Even Dylan's own performance of "Song to Woody" is not here; the booklet pleads "technical problems" but it sounded fine on the live telecast. Nevertheless, enough of the concert is here to suggest its triumph -- and all were reminded that the fountainhead of all of this music was still alive, creative, and unwilling to be consigned to the history books. ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Kooper Organ Anton Fig Drums, Percussion Benmont Tench Organ Bob Dylan Guitar, Vocals, Performer Bobby Clancy Percussion, Vocals Booker T. Jones III Organ Brenda King Choir, Chorus, Vocals (Background) Chrissie Hynde Guitar, Vocals, Performer Christine Ohlman Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus Cissy Houston Choir, Chorus Clancy Brothers Performer Curtis King Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus Darryl Keith John Vocals (Background) David Grissom Guitar David Thoener Mixing David Wild Liner Notes Dennis Collins Choir, Chorus, Vocals (Background) Don DeVito Producer Don Was Bass Donald "Duck" Dunn Bass Ed Simons Producer Eddie LeVert Vocals Eddie Vedder Vocals, Performer Eric Clapton Guitar, Performer, Vocals G.E. Smith Mandolin, Guitar Garth Hudson Accordion George Harrison Vocals, Performer, Guitar Harvey Goldsmith Producer Howie Epstein Bass Jeff Rosen Producer Jerry Barnes Choir, Chorus Jim Keltner Drums Jim Weider Guitar, Vocals John Cascella Keyboards, Accordion John Mellencamp Performer, Vocals Johnny Cash Performer, Vocals Johnny Winter Performer, Vocals, Guitar June Carter Cash Performer, Vocals Katreese Barnes Choir, Chorus Kenny Aronoff Drums Kerry Marx Guitar Kevin Wall Producer Kris Kristofferson Vocals, Performer, Guitar Leotis Clyburn Choir, Chorus Levon Helm Mandolin, Vocals Liam Clancy Vocals, Guitar Lisa Germano Violin Lou Reed Performer, Vocals, Guitar Mary Chapin Carpenter Vocals, Performer, Guitar Mickey Raphael Harmonica Mike Campbell Guitar Mike McCready Performer, Guitar Mike Wanchic Guitar Neil Young Guitar, Vocals, Performer Paddy Clancy Vocals, Harmonica Pat Peterson Percussion, Vocals (Background) Randy Ciarlante Drums, Vocals Reggie Young Guitar Richard Bell Accordion Richie Havens Vocals, Performer, Guitar Rick Danko Guitar, Vocals, Bass (Electric) Robbie O'Connell Performer, Guitar, Vocals Roger McGuinn Vocals, Guitar, Performer Ron Fair Piano Ron Wood Performer, Guitar, Vocals Rosanne Cash Performer, Vocals, Guitar Sam Strain Vocals Shawn Colvin Performer, Guitar, Vocals Sheryl Crow Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus Steve Cropper Guitar Stevie Wonder Performer, Harmonica, Piano, Vocals Sue Medley Vocals (Background) The Band Performer The O'Jays Performer Tom Petty Guitar, Performer, Vocals Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Performer Tommy Makem Banjo, Performer, Vocals Tracy Chapman Guitar, Vocals, Performer Walter Williams Vocals Willie Nelson Performer, Vocals, Guitar