Whether listeners ever receive an official bootleg of the so-called Never Ending tour is yet to be seen. It remains unlikely, considering ownership and recording quality vary across the years of Bob Dylan’s notorious, ongoing shows. But it does remain staggering that a tour which has lasted longer than his perceived glory days has not yet been officially released. Enter The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 1/2: Never Ending Memories. Part three is as strong as the preceding two entries, and has within it a collection of sincerely impressive performances. We turn to bootlegs because we hope there is enough difference from show to show that it warrants our attention. Dylan proves just that, and we are lucky to hear such quality come through the hands of bootlegging experts. A Jokerman, which completely overhauls the song for a Brixton Academy crowd in London, kicks off a twelve-song compilation which sets an extremely high bar for future bootlegs of these tours. Â
You will not hear a Jokerman like this anywhere else. Not in the studio. Not in the outtakes out there. Even the live versions of the song featured on official and unofficial releases do not have the upbeat, staggering mood of this one. It’s the start of a very comfortable and exciting bootleg. Compared with the previous collection of songs, this Never Ending Memories installation has some recognisable hits. New Morning, Silvio, and Not Dark Yet are that fine line between memorable and deep cut. Connecting with these versions is what the dedicated fan will love most of all. That chance to be somewhere close to the show at hand, be it in the Hammersmith Odeon for One More Cup of Coffee or the Donald Bren Events Centre for Not Dark Yet. Whatever the case, the segue from song to song is managed well, a little flourish which makes all the difference.
Bootleggers who take this level of care in their projects are well worth seeking out. There’s a depth to Dylan’s work which can be found in just about any recording. Even the slumps are interesting. But there is no space for that here. This is twelve essential live performances from a master of the stage. Tell Me That It Isn’t True has such a magnificent warmth to it, something replicated on I Believe in You later in the compilation. Find this version of The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll in the right mood and it’ll have you in tears. Reflective flourishes of those who lived on farmland, those connected to people to get them out of trouble, and those who don’t have such luxuries. It’s the ongoing relevancy of this divide which brings out the best in the song, but also the call for strength in the face of disgust.
That much is needed now as it was then. Truly excellent performances from Dylan and the band, that’s what matters here. The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 1/2: Never Ending Memories is a magnificent trio of some all-time great moments from Dylan on stage. It’s a chance to hear his notes of reflection in songs of old, those tracks which never quite became reliable or consistent in his set. But they are not rare enough to be stunned by their appearance. Songs which have truly staggering studio versions are pulled apart by Dylan, built from the ground up on stage. It’s an inevitability of his live works but it should not be taken for granted. Hearing how different the instrumental variation can be for a song like New Morning is unbelievable. This bootleg trilogy is a goldmine for those who want innovative versions of all-time greats from Dylan.
