On July 25, 1965, Bob Dylan shocked the music world by "going
electric" at the Newport Folk Festival. Five weeks later he played his first
full concert since the switchover, and his eight song electric set was met with utter
hostility from the fans at the Forest Hills Music Festival. His next show was
September 3rd at the Hollywood Bowl, and that historic concert is contained on this set.
Unlike the Forest Hills concert, which unfortunately has only come down to us in
the form of an awful quality audience tape (even by 1965 standards), a pristine quality
soundboard recording was used for this set. Dylan is met with surprising civility,
and even takes the opportunity to joke with the crowd. While the set list is nearly
the same as that of Forest Hills, Dylan does add "Ballad Of A Thin Man", which
gets its live debut. Dylan is backed by future Band Member Robbie Robertson and
Levon Helm, along with Al Kooper on organ and Harvey Brooks on bass. This is a
moment of rock history, and it's also some damn fine music. |