GiGinJapan Artwork of Japanese CDs (mostly) Bob Dylan / Tokyo 2023 3rd Night / 2CDR / Uxbridge
Tokyo Garden Theater, Tokyo, Japan 14th April 2023
Play sample :
Bob Dylan’s performance in Japan has been highly praised for his wonderful stage performances every day, but I thought it would be natural for him to come with a fixed set list pattern, which has become an anchor stone after the tour resumed in 2021, but he decided to go to Tokyo two days. Suddenly, he performed a cover of Grateful Dead’s “Truckin'” and shook not only Japan but also the world.
Riding this surprising trend, Dylan performed a cover of Dead’s “Brokedown Palace” on the third day in Tokyo, which surprised me.
What’s more, it wasn’t just a cover of Dead’s song, but the fact that both songs were included in their famous album “AMERICAN BEAUTY” surprised maniacs all over the world. If it becomes such a shocking live performance for the first time, everyone should be eager to hear it.
However, as I mentioned in the simultaneous release of “TOKYO 2023 1ST NIGHT”, this time it will be difficult to record, just like in 2023. Still, the maniac who took the plunge captured the historic moment with a wonderful sound quality audience recording.
Needless to say, the exclusive audience recordings are wonderfully different from the mild charm of “1ST NIGHT”. As expected, the sound image is close to the sound image, and the sound image was recorded from the second row from the front.
There are places where the sound is close, so the limiter is applied a little, but even after subtracting that, the powerful recording condition is attractive. Besides, if you can listen to the first show of “Brokedown Palace” that surprised the world with this sound quality.
The previous day’s “Truckin'” was a blues-like and up-tempo song that was easy for the band to play, and it was a great success. There is a high possibility that the performance started on a whim, and there is a strong feeling that the band is desperately trying to match him.
Since the sound image of the audience recording provided this time is close, you can understand the impromptu and tense look of the band, but Dylan sings powerfully and leads the band. Is it a job that can be done because it is Dylan who is in great shape now?
However, his efforts were exhausted at the end of the song, and the performance moved on to the next song. Surprisingly, however, it is not a normal repertoire, but a surprise called “Melancholy Mood” that disappeared during the US tour last summer.
Dylan maniacs all over the world should love these improvisational developments, and the best and fastest release that allows you to hear the sudden change in Tokyo from the fixed set list of the last few years. The scene of such “Brokedown Palace” premiere is a must-listen all over the world!
★ Seats are in the second row of the center
連日の素晴らしいステージぶりが激賞されているボブ・ディランの来日公演ですが、2021年のツアー再開以降の碇石となっているセットリスト固定パターンで来るのが当たり前かと思いきや、東京二日目に突如グレイトフル・デッドの「Truckin’」のカバーを披露して日本はおろか世界中が震撼。
この驚きの流れに乗って東京三日目にはディランがやはりデッドの「Brokedown Palace」のカバーが披露されたのだからびっくり。
おまけにデッドの曲を単にカバーしたというだけに留まらず、どちらも彼らの名盤『AMERICAN BEAUTY』収録曲という共通点があったことも世界中のマニアを驚かせる結果となりました。そんな衝撃のライブ初披露ともなれば、誰もが聞きたくて仕方がないはず。
ところが同時リリースの『TOKYO 2023 1ST NIGHT』でも申しましたように、今回は録音が困難という2023年らしかぬ状況に。それでも録音を敢行してくれたマニアが正に歴史的な瞬間を素晴らしい音質のオーディエンス録音にて捉えてくれたのです。
言うまでもなく独占入手によるオーディエンス録音は『1ST NIGHT』のマイルドな魅力とはまた違った素晴らしさ。骨太で音像の近い録音状態はさすが奮発して前から二列目から敢行されただけのことはある。
音が近い分ちょっとだけリミッターがかかってしまう箇所があるのですが、それを差し引いてもこの迫力の録音状態は魅力的。それに何と言ってもこれだけの音質で世界中を驚かせた「Brokedown Palace」初披露を聞けるとなればもう。
前日の「Truckin’」はバンドが演奏しやすいブルース調かつアップテンポな曲だったことが功を奏して大成功に終わったのですが、今回は打って変わったバラード調、おまけに半ばディランの思い付きで始まった演奏の可能性も高く、バンドが彼に必死に合わせている感が強い。
今回提供されたオーディエンス録音の音像が近いので、そんな即興的かつバンドの緊張した面持ちも手に取るように解るのですが、そこをディランは力強く歌い上げてバンドをリード。今の絶好調なディランだからこそ成せる業かと。
しかし、そんな彼の奮闘も終盤は力尽きてしまい、演奏はなし崩し的に次の曲へと移ります。ところがびっくり、それがまた通常のレパートリーではなく、昨年夏のアメリカ・ツアーで姿を消していた「Melancholy Mood」というサプライズ。
世界中のディラン・マニアにとってこうした即興的な展開は大好物なはずで、ここ数年の固定セットリストから突如として起きた東京での変化をさっそく聞けてしまう最高かつ最速のリリース。そんな「Brokedown Palace」初披露の場面は全世界必聴です！
★座席はセンター2列目
Disc:1 (52:16)
1. Intro
2. Watching the River Flow
3. Most Likely You Go Your Way and I’ll Go Mine
4. I Contain Multitudes
5. False Prophet
6. When I Paint My Masterpiece
7. Black Rider
8. My Own Version of You
9. I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight
10. Crossing the Rubicon
Disc:2 (57:20)
1. To Be Alone With You
2. Key West (Philosopher Pirate)
3. Gotta Serve Somebody
4. I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You
5. Brokedown Palace
6. Melancholy Mood
7. Mother of Muses
8. Band introductions
9. Goodbye Jimmy Reed
10. Every Grain of Sand
Bob Dylan – vocal, piano, harmonica
Bob Britt – guitar
Doug Lancio – guitar
Donnie Herron – violin, mandolin, pedal steel, lap steel
Tony Garnier – bass
Jerry Pentecost – drums
Uxbridge 1899
