Bill Pagel
billp61@earth.execpc.com
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C O N T E N T S
INTRODUCTION
1. CALENDAR
2. RECORDINGS
3. THE GOSPEL TOUR 1979-1980
3.1 Introduction
3.2 The Musicians
3.3 The Show
3.4 Summary
3.5 The First Leg: November-December 1979
3.5.1 The dates
3.5.2 The songs
3.5.3 Comments
3.6 The Second Leg: January-February 1980
3.6.1 The dates
3.6.2 The songs
3.6.3 Comments
3.7 The Third Leg: April-May 1980
3.7.1 The dates
3.7.2 The songs
3.7.3 Comments
3.8 Gospel Tour Summary
3.8.1 Alphabetical song listing
3.8.2 Statistics
4. GOSPEL SONGS 1979-1980
5. REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
A year that started with three months in Bible class at The School
of Discipleship in Southern California, and ended with the start of the
famous Gospel Tour. Once again Bob Dylan did the completely unexpected.
Not only did he became a newborn Christian, he recorded a gospel record
with only original songs and hit the road with a show that did not
contain one single song from his previous records!
1. CALENDAR
January Playboy publishes the Ron Rosenbaum interview.
May 11-19 The SLOW TRAIN COMING sessions in Muscle Shoals, Sheffield
August 17 The 1966 film 'Eat The Document' is broadcast on New York
TV station Channel 13.
August 18 SLOW TRAIN COMING is released.
September Release of 'Gotta Serve Somebody/Trouble In Mind' single.
October 20 Dylan & Gospel band appears at Saturday Night Live with
three songs from SLOW TRAIN COMING.
November Release of 'Man Gave names To All The Animals/
When You Gonna Wake Up?' single.
November 1 The Gospel Tour starts with no less than 14 shows at the
Fox Warfield Theater in San Francisco.
December 8 The Bruce Heiman telephone interview is broadcast by
KMEX Radio in Tuscon.
2. RECORDINGS
May 1-11 The Street-Legal Sessions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Sheffield Alabama
1. Gotta Serve Somebody
2. Precious Angel
3. I Believe In You
4. Slow Train
5. Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking
6. Do Right To Me Baby (Do Unto Others)
7. When You Gonna Wake Up
8. Man Gave Names To All The Animals
9. When He Returns
10. Trouble In Mind
1-8,10 Mark Knopfler (guitar), Barry Beckett (keyboards and
percussion), Tim Drummond (bass), Pick Withers (drums),
Carolyn Dennis, Helena Springs and Regina Havis (background
vocals)
1,2,4,5,7,8 with the Muscle Shoal Horns.
9 Bob Dylan backed by Barry Becket on piano.
Produced by Jerry Wexler and Barry Becket
1-9 released on SLOW TRAIN COMING, August 18 1979.
1 and 10 released on single, Sept 1979.
7 and 8 released on single, November 1979.
4 and 6 released on single, January 1980.
1 and 3 released on BIOGRAPH October 28, 1985.
10 has an extra verse on the original tape.
Oct 20 Saturday Night Live
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NBC Studios, New York
1. Gotta Serve Somebody
2. I Believe In You
3. When You Gonna Wake Up
Backed by the Gospel band (see below).
3. THE GOSPEL TOUR 1979-1980
3.1 Introduction
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Gospel Tour consisted of three parts:
1. The first leg in November-December 1979
2. The second leg in January-February 1980
3. The third leg in April-May 1980
These parts will be referred to as leg 1 2 and 3 below.
This tour is unique among all Dylan's tour in that it:
* features only the gospel songs, no "old" songs,
* contains almost no variation between the shows,
* does not contain any solo acoustic performances at all and that it
* features lengthy raps from Dylan between songs.
3.2 The Musicians
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ L e g
Fred Tackett (guitar) 1 2 3
Spooner Oldham (keyboards) 1 2 3
Terry Young (keyboards) 1 2 3
Tim Drummond (bass) 1 2 3
Jim Keltner (drums) 1 2 3
Helena Springs 1
Regina Havis 1 2 3
Mona Lisa Young 1 2 3
Carolyn Dennis 2
Regina Peeples 2
Clydie King 3
Gwen Evans 3
Mary Elizabeth Bridgett 3
3.3 The Show
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A gospel concert opened with 6 songs by the backing singers plus Terry Young
on piano. Then without intermission 8 or 9 songs by Bob Dylan and the band,
one song by one of the backing singers and the band (without any Dylan
participation, except the introduction) and finally 7 songs by Bob Dylan
and the band. Encores: 2 songs (3 a few times) by Dylan and the band.
3.4 Summary
~~~~~~~~~~~
Number of shows: 78
Number of circulating shows: 71 91%
Number of complete shows: 69 88%
Number of unique shows: 21 29% [1]
Number of different shows: 17 23% [2]
Number of different songs: 24 [3]
Total number of performances: 1170
Mean number of songs/show: 16
[1] a unique show is a show where both the songs played and the order in
which they were played is unique
[2] a show is different from another show is the set of songs differ,
regardless of order.
[3] electric and an acoustic versions are regarded as different songs!
# of songs played # of shows
------------------------------
14 1
15 1
16 24
17 43
18 1
3.5 The First Leg: November-December 1979
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3.5.1 The dates
MA = mono audience recording
SA = stereo audience recording
- = no recording generally available
I = incomplete recording
Nov 1 Fox Warfield Theater. San Francisco, California SA
2 Fox Warfield Theater. San Francisco, California SA
3 Fox Warfield Theater. San Francisco, California SA
4 Fox Warfield Theater. San Francisco, California SA
6 Fox Warfield Theater. San Francisco, California SA
7 Fox Warfield Theater. San Francisco, California SA
8 Fox Warfield Theater. San Francisco, California SA
9 Fox Warfield Theater. San Francisco, California SA
10 Fox Warfield Theater. San Francisco, California SA
11 Fox Warfield Theater. San Francisco, California SA
13 Fox Warfield Theater. San Francisco, California MA
14 Fox Warfield Theater. San Francisco, California MA
15 Fox Warfield Theater. San Francisco, California MA
16 Fox Warfield Theater. San Francisco, California SA
18 Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California SA
19 Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California SA
20 Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California SA
21 Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California SA
25 Gammage Center, Tempe, Arizona MA
26 Gammage Center, Tempe, Arizona MA
27 Golden Hall, San Diego, California MA
28 Golden Hall, San Diego, California MA
Dec 4 Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico MA
5 Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico MA
8 Community Center, Tuscon, Arizona MA
9 Community Center, Tuscon, Arizona MA
3.5.2 The songs
A November 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9
B November 10,11,13
C November 14
D November 15
E November 16
F November 18,19,20,21,27 and 28
December 4,5,8 and 9
G November 25
H November 26
A B C D E F G H Tot
Gotta Serve Somebody 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 26
I Believe In You 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 26
When You Gonna Wake Up 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 26
When He Returns 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 26
Man Gave Names To All The Animals 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 26
Precious Angel 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 25
Slow Train 7 7 6 7 7 7 7 7 26
Covenant Woman 8 8 7 8 8 8 8 8 26
Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking 9 9 8 9 10 9 9 9 26
Do Right To Me Baby 10 10 9 10 11 10 10 10 26
Solid Rock 11 11 10 11 12 11 11 11 26
Saving Grace 12 12 11 12 13 12 12 12 26
What Can I Do For You? 13 13 12 13 14 14 14 14 26
Saved 14 15 14 15 16 13 13 13 26
In The Garden 15 14 13 14 15 15 15 15 26
Blessed Is The Name 16 16 15 16 17 16 16 25
Pressing On 17 17 16 17 18 17 24
No Man Righteous 9 1
Total # of songs played 17 17 16 18 17 17 16 15 439
3.6.2 Comments
Recommended shows:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All the Santa Monica shows are excellent and here Dylan performs in front
of an enthusiastic audience, not all that common during this tour.
The reason is that these were four benefit shows to aid World Vision
International, a non-denominational Christian charity organization.
In complete contrast the audiences at the two shows in Tempe are probably
the most hostile Dylan has ever played to, before and since. The second
show in particular features some lengthy angry raps by Dylan and is unique
in that Dylan refused to play any encores.
Songs
~~~~~
The Slow Train outtake 'No Man Righteous' is performed on Nov 16. This is
one of two known versions of this terrific song.
3.6 The Second Leg: January-February 1980
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3.6.1 The dates
MA = mono audience recording
SA = stereo audience recording
- = no recording generally available
I = incomplete recording
Jan 11 Paramount Theater, Portland, Oregon -
12 Paramount Theater, Portland, Oregon -
13 Paramount Northwest Theater, Seattle, Washington SA
14 Paramount Northwest Theater, Seattle, Washington SA
15 Paramount Northwest Theater, Seattle, Washington SA
17 Opera House, Spokane, Washington -
18 Opera House, Spokane, Washington -
21 Rainbow Music Hall, Denver, Colorado MA
22 Rainbow Music Hall, Denver, Colorado PA,I
23 Rainbow Music Hall, Denver, Colorado MA
25 Orpheum Theater, Omaha, Nebraska MA
26 Orpheum Theater, Omaha, Nebraska MA
27 Uptown Theater, Kansas City, Missouri MA
28 Uptown Theater, Kansas City, Missouri MA
29 Uptown Theater, Kansas City, Missouri MA
31 Orpheum Theater, Memphis, Tennessee MA
Feb 1 Orpheum Theater, Memphis, Tennessee MA
2 Jefferson Civic Center, Birmingham, Alabama MA
3 Jefferson Civic Center, Birmingham, Alabama MA
5 Civic Auditorium, Knoxville, Tennessee SA
6 Civic Auditorium, Knoxville, Tennessee SA
8 Municipal Auditorium, Charleston, West Virginia SA
9 Municipal Auditorium, Charleston, West Virginia SA
3.6.2 The songs
A January 13,14,16,21,23,25,26,27,28,29 and 31
February 1,5 and 6
B January 22
C February 2 and 3
D February 8 and 9
A B C D Tot
Gotta Serve Somebody 1 1 1 18
I Believe In You 2 2 2 18
When You Gonna Wake Up 3 3 3 18
When He Returns 4 X 4 4 19
Man Gave Names To All The Animals 5 X 5 5 19
Precious Angel 6 X 6 6 19
Slow Train 7 X 7 7 19
Covenant Woman 8 8 8 18
Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking 9 X 9 9 19
Do Right To Me Baby 10 X 10 10 19
Solid Rock 11 X 11 11 19
Saving Grace 12 X 12 12 19
Saved 13 13 13 18
What Can I Do For You? 14 14 14 18
In The Garden 15 15 15 18
Blessed Is The Name 16 17 16
Pressing On 17 16 16
Are You Ready 16 2
Total # of songs played 17 8 16 17 312
3.6.3 Comments
Recommended shows:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seattle, January 14
Denver, January 22 (Incomplete PA tape)
Knoxville February 5.
3.7 The Third Leg: North America
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3.7.1 The dates
MA = mono audience recording
SA = stereo audience recording
- = no recording generally available
I = incomplete recording
Apr 17 Massey Hall, Toronto, Canada SA
18 Massey Hall, Toronto, Canada SA
19 Massey Hall, Toronto, Canada SA
20 Massey Hall, Toronto, Canada SA
22 Theatre St. Dennis, Montreal, Canada SA
23 Theatre St. Dennis, Montreal, Canada SA
24 Theatre St. Dennis, Montreal, Canada SA
25 Theatre St. Dennis, Montreal, Canada SA
27 Palace Theater, Albany, New York SA
28 Palace Theater, Albany, New York SA
30 Kleinhaus Music Hall, Buffalo, New York SA
May 1 Kleinhaus Music Hall, Buffalo, New York SA,I
2 Memorial Theater, Worcester, Massachusetts SA
3 Memorial Theater, Worcester, Massachusetts MA
4 Syracuse Area Landmark Theater, Syracuse, New York SA
5 Syracuse Area Landmark Theater, Syracuse, New York SA
7 Bushnell Memorial Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut SA
8 Bushnell Memorial Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut MA
9 City Hall, Portland, Maine SA
10 City Hall, Portland, Maine -
11 Ocean State Performing Arts Center, Providence, Rhode Island SA
12 Ocean State Performing Arts Center, Providence, Rhode Island -
14 Stanley Theater, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania -
15 Stanley Theater, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania MA
16 Stanley Theater, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania MA
17 Civic Theater, Akron, Ohio SA
18 Civic Theater, Akron, Ohio SA
20 Franklin County Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, Ohio MA
20 Memorial Hall, Dayton, Ohio MA
3.7.2 The songs
_ standard set
|
|
| A p r i l M a y
V 18 19 23 24 1 7 16 17 18 Tot
Gotta Serve Somebody 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 25
I Believe In You 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 23
When You Gonna Wake Up 3 3 3 3 3 X 3 3 3 3 26
Ain't Gonna Go To Hell 4 4 4 4 4 X 4 4 4 4 26
Cover Down, Break Through 5 5 5 5 5 X 5 5 5 5 26
Precious Angel 6 6 7 6 6 X 6 6 6 6 26
Man Gave Names To All The Animals 7 7 6 7 7 X 7 7 7 7 26
Slow Train 8 8 8 8 8 X 8 8 8 8 26
Do Right To Me Baby 9 9 9 10 9 X 10 9 9 25
Solid Rock 10 10 10 11 10 X 11 10 10 10 26
Saving Grace 11 11 11 12 11 X 12 11 11 11 26
Saved 12 13 13 13 12 X 13 12 12 12 26
What Can I Do For You? 13 12 12 14 13 X 14 13 13 13 26
In The Garden 14 14 14 15 14 X 15 15 14 14 26
Are You Ready 15 15 15 15 15 X 16 16 15 15 26
Pressing On 16 16 17 16 X 17 17 16 16 25
Covenant Woman 2 2 2
I Will Love Him 16 9 2
No Man Righteous 9 1
Lay Lady Lay 14 1
Blessed Is The Name 17 1
When He Returns 9 1
I Will Sing 17 1
Total # of songs played 16 16 16 17 16 14 17 17 17 17 419
3.7.3 Comments
Lay Lady Lay is an instrumental fragment only. Dylan responds with "OK,
we'll play it, if you sing it" to one of the ubiquitous requests for
this song.
Recommended show is Hartford, May 8.
3.8 Gospel Tour summary
3.8.1 Alphabetical song listing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
L e g
1 2 2 Tot
Ain't Gonna Go To Hell 26 26
Are You Ready 2 26 28
Blessed Is The Name 25 16 1 42
Covenant Woman 26 18 2 46
Cover Down, Break Through 26 26
Do Right To Me Baby 26 19 25 70
Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking 26 19 45
Gotta Serve Somebody 26 18 25 69
I Believe In You 26 18 23 67
I Will Love Him 2 2
I Will Sing 1 1 [by Max Dyer]
In The Garden 26 18 26 70
Lay Lady Lay 1 1
Man Gave Names To All The Animals 26 19 26 71
No Man Righteous 1 1 2
Precious Angel 25 19 26 70
Pressing On 24 16 25 65
Saved 26 18 26 70
Saving Grace 26 19 26 71
Slow Train 26 19 26 71
Solid Rock 26 19 26 71
What Can I Do For You? 26 18 26 70
When He Returns 26 19 1 46
When You Gonna Wake Up 26 18 26 70
3.8.2 Statistics
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
# of # of
songs % perf. %
-------------------------------------------
Electric 23 95.8% 1169 99.9%
Instrumental 1 4.2% 1 0.1%
Outtakes 5 20.8% 98 8.4%
Albums 18 75.0% 1071 91.5%
Covers 1 4.2% 1 0.1%
-------------------------------------------
# of # of
Album songs % perf %
------------------------------------------------
Nashville Skyline 1 4.2% 1 0.1%
Slow Train Coming 9 37.5% 579 49.5%
Saved 8 33.3% 491 42.0%
4. GOSPEL SONGS 1979-1980
1979:
May Baby Give It Up [1]
Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking
Gotta Serve Somebody
I Believe In You
Man Gave Names To All The Animals
No Man Righteous [2,4]
Precious Angel
Slow Train
Trouble In Mind
When He Returns
When You Gonna Wake Up
Ye Shall Be Changed [2]
September More Than Flesh And Blood [1]
Responsibility [1]
Saving Grave
Someone Else's Arms [1]
Tell Me The Truth One Time [1]
The Wandering Kind [1]
What's The Matter [1]
Without You [1]
October Covenant Woman
In The garden
Pressing On
Saved
Solid Rock
Stand By Faith [3]
What Can I Do For You
1980:
February Are You Ready
Ain't Gonna Go To Hell For Anybody [5,6]
Cover Down, Break Through [5,6]
I Will Love Him [5,6]
Why'd They Talk About Me [5]
Notes
~~~~~
[1] Co-written with Helena Springs
[2] Out-take from the SLOW TRAIN COMING sessions, not in circulation.
[3] Rehearsed before the start of the tour but never performed,
no circulating version exists. Copyrighted in November.
[4] Also called 'Ain't No Man Righteous, No Not One'.
Two live performances. Recorded by Jah Mallah and released on the album
'Jah Mallah' on Modern.
[5] Probably out-takes from the SAVED sessions (see "1980").
[6] Only live performances known.
5. REFERENCES
Articles:
---------
Ain't Gonna Go To Hell For Anybody (lyrics) - Isis #20
Ain't No Man Righteous, No Not One (lyrics) - The Telegraph #14
I Ain't Gonna Go To Hell For Anybody (lyrics) - The Telegraph #5
Interview With Mark Knopfler - The Telegraph #16
Saved! (three very good articles by Clinton Heylin) - The Telegraph #28,29.30
Slow Train (essay) John Hinchey - The Telegraph #12
Visions On A Slow Train (essay) Wes Stace - Fourth Time Around #2
Books:
------
Bert Cartwright The Bible In The Lyrics Of Dylan 1985
John Herdman Voice Without Restraint 1982
John Hinchey Bob Dylan's Slow Train 1984
Gerghard Jansen (ed) Slow Train Coming 1980
Paul Williams What Happened 1980
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