Bob Dylan: 5 Brilliant live performances from the year 1978

Posted on by Egil Mosbron


[about touring only for the money] They always say that. There are more important things in the world than money. It means that to the people who write these articles, the most important thing in the world is money. They could be saying I’m doing the tour to meet girls or to see the world. Actually, it’s all I know how to do. Ask Muhammad Ali why he fights one more fight. Go ask Marlon Brando why he makes one more movie. Ask Mick Jagger why he goes on the road. See what kind of answers you come up with. Is it so surprising I’m on the road? What else would I be doing in this life – meditating on the mountain? Whatever someone finds fulfilling, whatever his or her purpose is -that’s all it is.
-Bob Dylan (Jonathan Cott Interview, Portland – Sept 17, 1978)

Facts from Wikipedia:

A year-long world tour, performing 114 shows in Asia, Oceania, North America and Europe, to a total audience of two million people. For the tour, Dylan assembled an eight piece band, and was also accompanied by three backing singers.

Location North America, Europe,
Oceania, Asia
Start date February 20, 1978
End date December 18, 1978
Legs 5
No. of shows 114

Universal Amphitheater
Los Angeles, California
7 June 1978

  • Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
  • Billy Cross (lead guitar)
  • Alan Pasqua (keyboards)
  • Steven Soles (rhythm guitar, backup vocals)
  • David Mansfield (violin & mandolin)
  • Steve Douglas (horns)
  • Jerry Scheff (bass)
  • Bobbye Hall (percussion)
  • Ian Wallace (drums)
  • Helena Springs, Jo Ann Harris, Carolyn Dennis (background vocals)

One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)

I didn’t mean
To treat you so bad
You shouldn’t take it so personal
I didn’t mean
To make you so sad
You just happened to be there, that’s all



Blackbushe Aerodrome
Camberley, England
15 July 1978

Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power)

Thank you. This is a recently written song. Written and inspired, this song is inspired by a man named Harry Dean Stanton. Some of you may know him, some of you maybe not. He’s in the house tonight! Stand up and take a bow! Put the light on him! Yes, put the light on him! Yes put the light on this man! Anyway, this is called Tales Of Yankee Power.

Senor, senor, do you know where we’re heading?
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon?


Municipal Auditorium
Nashville, Tennessee
2 December 1978

Changing of the Guards

Sixteen years
Sixteen banners united over the field
Where the good shepherd grieves
Desperate men, desperate women divided
Spreading their wings ‘neath the falling leaves


Charlotte Coliseum
Charlotte, North Carolina
10 December 1978

Tangled Up In Blue

Early one mornin’ the sun was shinin’
I was layin’ in bed
Wondrin’ if she’d changed at all
If her hair was still red


Charlotte Coliseum
Charlotte, North Carolina
10 December 1978

Girl From The North Country

If you’re traveling till the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
For she once was the true love of mine


Recommended concerts from 1978

  • February 28, 1978 – Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan
  • June 7, 1978 – Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA
  • June 15, 1978 – Earls Court, London, England
  • July 6, 1978 – Pavillon de Paris, Paris, France
  • July 8, 1978 – Pavillon de Paris, Paris, France
  • July 15, 1978 – Blackbushe Aerodrome, Camberley, England
  • October 7, 1978 – Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island
  • November 1, Dane County Memorial Coliseum, Madison, Wisconsin
  • December 10, 1978 – Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC
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-Egil

5 thoughts on “Bob Dylan: 5 Brilliant live performances from the year 1978”

  1. HI Egil, it’s great to see the pics from Blackbushe Aerodrome. I was at that gig along with my older brother. Never realised Harry Dean Stanton was also there, a brilliant actor and singer too. We had been at Earls Court the previous month for one of 5 nights of Dylan gigs there. Keep on Keeping on with the best blog.
    Dave

  2. Thank You!
    Really a great version of Tangled Up in Blue. This “the Bible Version” is quite another song than the usual version. Beautiful!

  3. Bob was in such great voice during the mid- to late-’70s, so it’s always a treat to hear different stuff from that period. I have to agree that Tangled Up in Blue here is transcendent. The altered lyrics never cease to surprise, but it is Bob’s passionate, bluesy delivery on this occasion that makes this song unique and wonderful.

  4. The vocal on Changing of the guards isn’t so great, he drags the words out, sounds off key and looks to be kind of blase about it and the mix is terrible. Maybe not really a great version of such a beautiful song. And the backing vocals sound clipped and superficial to me.

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