Bob Dylan – 5ive of a Kind Review

What dreck can we drudge up from the depths of the Bob Dylan YouTube channel this year? 5ive of a Kind is an interesting release on paper. A chance to pair five very different versions of a classic song together, to hear out the revolutionary status of the track and the subtle details Dylan has brought to it over the years. Like a Rolling Stone, too, is an obvious choice for it. From its original inception in the 1960s, post-electric controversy, to the more recent performances where the fatigue of performing it so many times is clear, it proves to be an interesting look-in on an all-time great song from an all-time great artist. Rare it may be for the official YouTube channel to offer quality, let alone matching that of bootleggers who have free rein over the recordings they use, 5ive of a Kind begins with honest intentions and backs it with a fantastic version of Like a Rolling Stone from 1966.  

A boisterous but stern version of Like a Rolling Stone is what you get from 1966. The freshness of the song, the shock of the audience, that’s all contained in this volatile performance. A magnificent rendition of the track it is, too, with Dylan borderline shouting the lyrics at times. He pushes his vocal range a little too far at times on this performance, but what a magnificent time it is. Borderline shouting, and then suddenly slipping into the background of this hearty instrumental performance, a tremendous softness which answers that repeating question. How does it feel to listen to Like a Rolling Stone five times in a row? Pretty good. A great thrill to hear how the song has changed over the years, not just in performance, but in the meaning too. You can take a Dylan classic like Forever Young or Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door and interpret that longevity has aged the song for the better. New context reveals itself as time marches on. The same applies to Like a Rolling Stone.  

Eight years on and the thrills and newness of the song are lost. A slowed tempo, a swaying, burnt out sound which would mark Hard Live as an essential is in place. Still an enjoyable version, unlike the two versions from the 1980s. It was a mixed time for Dylan on stage and as much is reflected in the pair of performances, from 1984 and 1986 respectively. Not enough of a gap between them, as is the case for the first two songs of 5ive of a Kind, to hear much of a difference. Vocally solid and a stretch better when it comes to the recording quality, but the performances themselves are far from remarkable. Irrespective of the quality of these performances, it’s a rarity to hear something so unique come from the YouTube channel Dylan’s team continually fill with shovelware and repackaged, already released pieces.  

5ive of a Kind, with that context, is a triumph. Five versions of Like a Rolling Stone which are worth listening to. The 1986 version shared here is a nice experience, more because of what you can learn from this performance about Dylan’s slow build towards the so-called never-ending tour. That last, 1992 performance, shows the standard Dylan would set for decades to come, and it’s a strong end to an honest compilation. 5ive of a Kind is a one-of-a-kind experience from the Dylan YouTube channel, namely a project with a bit of sincerity behind it. At least there is movement in the right direction from the people responsible for these tapes, not another rehash of the apartment tapes or some live show which is readily available elsewhere. Progress is progress, and 5ive of a Kind opens an interesting conversation on the longevity of Like a Rolling Stone.