PV: You’re not preaching to us?
Dylan: No, no I’m not… I’m not… I’m not (pause) I could do a little bit of this and a little bit of
that but right now I’m just content to play these shows. I don’t have, uh… this is a stage
show we’re doing, it’s not, uh, a salvation ceremony.
-Paul Vincent Interview, San Francisco – November 18, 1980
1980 Concerts
- Second Gospel Tour
- From January 11 – Portland, Oregon –> February 9 – Charleston, West Virginia
- 24 Concerts
- Only religious songs
- 22nd Annual Grammy Award Ceremony
- February 27 – Los Angeles, California
- Gotta Server Somebody
- Third Gospel Tour
- From April 17 – Toronto, Canada –> May 21 – Dayton, Ohio
- 29 concerts
- Only religious songs
- Musical Retrospective Tour
- November 9 – San Francisco, California –> December 4 – Portland, Oregon
- 19 concerts
- Gradually more and more of his “old” songs began to infiltrate the setlists, the last show had about 50% non-religious songs
- A total of 72 concerts
Shrine Auditorium
Los Angeles, California
27 February 1980
22nd Annual Grammy Award Ceremony
- Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
- Fred Tackett (guitar)
- Spooner Oldham (keyboards)
- Terry Young (keyboards)
- Tim Drummond (bass)
- Jim Keltner (drums)
- Clydie King, Regina McCrary, Mona Lisa Young (background vocals)
Gotta Serve Somebody
You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls
Massey Hall
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
20 April 1980
- Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
- Fred Tackett (guitar)
- Spooner Oldham (keyboards)
- Tim Drummond (bass)
- Terry Young (keyboards)
- Jim Keltner (drums)
- Clydie King, Gwen Evans, Mary Elizabeth Bridges, Regina McCrary, Mona Lisa Young (background vocals)
What Can I Do For You?
You have given everything to me.
What can I do for You?
You have given me eyes to see.
What can I do for You?
Pressing On
Well I’m pressing on
Yes, I’m pressing on
Well I’m pressing on
To the higher calling of my Lord
Fox Warfield Theatre
San Francisco, California
16 November 1980
Guest guitarist – Jerry Garcia
The Groom’s Still Waiting At The Altar
We’re gonna play a new song here in the key of A. This is called The Groom Is Still Waiting At The Altar.
–
Prayed in the ghetto with my face in the cement
Heard the last moan of a boxer, seen the massacre of the innocent
Paramount Theater
Portland, Oregon
3 December 1980
Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power)
I play this song here for someone who came before to come to see me. A young girl I met in Durango Mexico, 1972. She’s out there somewhere I know. Are you out there? [cry from crowd “Yes”] OK. Well, then I’ll play it. Anyway her name is Victoria, she’s a, she’s a happy married young lady now, I think.
–
Senor, senor, do you know where we’re heading?
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon?
Seems like I been down this way before
Is there any truth in that, senor?
Recommended concerts from 1980
- January 12, 1980 – Portland
- January 15, 1980 – Seattle
- April 20, 1980 – Massey Hall, Ontario, Canada
- November 15, 1980 – San Francisco
- November 30, 1980 – Seattle
- Desember 3, 1980 – Portland
-Egil