The “electric controversy” which saw Bob Dylan criticised for ditching folk music was “crap” according to Paul McCartney.
The Fab Four had been in attendance for a Dylan show, which had the songwriter play some of his folk hits. Just a year later and Dylan had “gone electric”, ditching the folk genre in favour of some revolutionary rock and roll. Paul McCartney would speak out in favour of Dylan’s turn from folk acoustics to stream-of-consciousness electric, and hit out at those who believed Dylan had “sold out”. George Harrison would kindle a friendship with the Mr. Tambourine Man hitmaker after The Beatles had split up, with the pair’s work in the studio together profiled across several unofficial bootleg releases. McCartney was also delighted by Dylan’s work, and says he had been excited for one particular song.
McCartney said: “I know it’s corny, but I heard him do [Mr. Tambourine Man] at the Albert Hall [May 9, 1965], and I was aching for him to do it and knowing Dylan, I thought he might not do it. Just to be awkward, just to be perverse.
“It was the infamous show where all the folkies thought he’d sold out. How crap is that? It was fantastic. First half is folky, and then the second half was electric with The Band – it was the all-time concert. But then of course, somebody starts going, He’s deserted the folk world!
“Yeah, no wonder, look at you mate. So he did it there, the first time I’d ever heard it live. A really good song, very much of the period. Totally nailed that year. I was lucky to be there.”
McCartney would get one detail incorrect, with The Band not known by this name at the time. The Hawks were supporting Dylan across these shows, with McCartney and the rest of the Fab Four in attendance on the night. It is believed all four of The Beatles were in attendance for the May 9, 1965 setlist, which heard the likes of Mr. Tambourine Man and It Ain’t Me, Babe performed. The setlist for that night can be found below.
- The Times They Are A-Changin’
- To Ramona
- Gates of Eden
- If You Gotta Go, Go Now
- It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
- Love Minus Zero/No Limit
- Mr. Tambourine Man
- Talkin’ World War III Blues
- Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
- With God on Our Side
- She Belongs to Me
- It Ain’t Me, Babe
- The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
- All I Really Want to Do
- It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
A year later, and Dylan would perform an electrified concert on his 1966 world tour in Manchester, England. The Free Trade Hall performance is notorious for the crowd member who yells out “Judas,” and the performance was later released as part of The Bootleg Series. It marks a very different setlist and style to the gig attended by The Beatles. The Free Trade Hall setlist can be found below.
- She Belongs to Me
- 4th Time Around
- Visions of Johanna
- It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
- Desolation Row
- Just Like a Woman
- Mr. Tambourine Man
- (break)
- Tell Me, Momma
- I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)
- Baby, Let Me Follow You Down (Eric Von Schmidt cover)
- Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
- Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
- One Too Many Mornings
- Ballad of a Thin Man
- Like a Rolling Stone
