Listen: Bob Dylan – Madison Square Garden, NY, 12/8/1975 – Rolling Thunder Revue

“This final night of the 1975 leg, when a huge entourage of musicians, celebrities and guests descended upon Madison Square Garden to raise awareness and funds for the defense of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, is the most monumental show of that tour.”
– Wolfgang’s Vault

This is a fantastic bootleg and a historic document, the sound is amazing. Why this wasn’t included in the official Bootleg series is a mystery to me.

“What the concert lacked in consistency it made up as a broadly inclusive compendium of musicians united in a cause. For all of the inevitable slow moments when guests shunt in and out of the spotlight, it made, for a long, relaxed yet—in Mr. Dylan’s parts, at least—zany, high‐energy, high‐intensity good time…

With this tour and with last night’s marathon concert, Mr. Dylan has reinvigorated the flagging New York folk‐rock scene, and he may well have reinvigorated the fashion of political commitment among artists. Most important of all. however, he has reinvigorated himself.”
– New York Times (Dec 9, 1975)

NYT article about the show:

This final night of the 1975 leg, when a huge entourage of musicians, celebrities and guests descended upon Madison Square Garden to raise awareness and funds for the defense of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, is the most monumental show of that tour.

Complete audio (almost…) show from Madison Square Garden 8th of December 1975:

 

Bootleg Song list:

CD 1

1. Good Love Is Hard To Find (Bob Neuwirth) 00:00
2. Intro (Bob Dylan) 02:55
3. Sleazy (Bob Neuwirth) 04:16
4. Hula Hoop (T-Bone Burnett) 07:52
5. Too Good To Be Wasted (Rob Stoner) (Not available)
6. Laissez Faire (Steven Soles) 12:59
7. Life On Mars (Mick Ronson) 18:04
8. Band Intro (Bob Dylan) 22:10
9. Alabama Dark  (Ronee Blakley and Bob Neuwirth) (Not available)
10. Need A New Sun Rising (Ronee Blakley) 24:20
11. Cindy (Bob Neuwirth) 28:47
12. Mercedes Benz (Bob Neuwirth) 32:36
13. Shadows And Light (Joni Mitchell) 36:15
14. Coyote (Joni Mitchell) 40:50
15. Edith And The Kingpin (Joni Mitchell) 46:18
16. Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow (Joni Mitchell) 50:36
17. Muhammad Ali And Others 53:49
18. Telephone Call from Rubin Carter 1:00:00

Bob Dylan – Isis – Madison Square Garden Dec. 8th 1975:

CD 2
1. Ramblin’ Jack (Bob Neuwirth) (Not Included)
2. Muleskinner Blues (Bob Neuwirth) 01:11:49
3. Pretty Boy Floyd (Bob Neuwirth) 01:15:00
4. Salt Pork, West Virginia (Bob Neuwirth) 01:20:31
5. I’m A Ramblin’ Boy (Bob Neuwirth) 01:23:29
6. When I Paint My Masterpiece (Bob Dylan) 01:27:05
7. It Ain’t Me Babe (Bob Dylan) 01:31:24
8. Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll (Bob Dylan) 01:36:48
9. Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You (Bob Dylan) 01:42:37
10. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry (Bob Dylan) (Not included/officially released)
11. Romance in Durango (Bob Dylan) 01:46:17
12. Isis (Bob Dylan) 01:50:38
13. The Times They Are A Changin’ (Bob Dylan & Joan Baez) 01:55:49
14. Dark As A Dungeon (Bob Dylan & Joan Baez) 01:59:15
15. Mama, You Been On My Mind (Bob Dylan & Joan Baez) 02:02:47
16. Never Let Me Go (Bob Dylan & Joan Baez) 02:05:46
17. I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine (Bob Dylan & Joan Baez) 02:08:40
18. I Shall Be Released (Bob Dylan & Joan Baez) 02:11:57

CD 3
1. Diamonds And Rust (Joan Baez) 02:17:16
2. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (Joan Baez) 02:22:07
3. Billy Rose (Joan Baez) 02:24:42
4. Joe Hill (Joan Baez) 02:28:25
5. Long Black Veil (Joan Baez) 02:31:28
6. Please Come To Boston 02:35:12 (Joan Baez)
7. Intro To Roberta Flack 02:39:31
8. 25th Of Last December 02:43:43
9. Why Don’t You Move In With Me 02:49:54
10. Eight Miles High 02:54:40
11. Chesnut Mare 02:58:40
12. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (Joan Baez) 03:04:19

Sara by Bob Dylan – 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue MSG NYC Dec. 8th:

CD 4
1. Love Minus Zero/No Limit (Bob Dylan) 03:08:21
2. Simple Twist Of Fate (Bob Dylan) 03:12:52
3. Oh Sister (Bob Dylan) 03:17:27 (incomplete due to a copyright claim. It incorrectly claims it to be the one from Montreal which was officially released)
4. Hurricane (Bob Dylan) 03:19:48
5. One More Cup Of Coffee (Bob Dylan) 3:29:10
6. Sara (Bob Dylan) 03:33:24
7. Just Like A Woman (Bob Dylan) 03:38:34
8. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan) 03:44:03
9. This Land Is Your Land (Bob Dylan) 03:48:15

This concert has been “released” as bootlegs several times, but never, as far as I know, in such a complete state.

“This is an audience recording done with mid-1970s amateur equipment, but don’t let that throw you. This is one of the best quality Rolling Thunder shows available. The vocals are up front, warm, and clear. The band is well mixed and flowing & tumbling down in the  groove with a unique folk-rock rolling thunder sound that has not been captured since the tour. The Desire material is fresh and powerful with the unmistakable violin of Scarlet Rivera. ”
– Bobsboots

“A Rolling Thunder venue is essential for any collection. While I prefer the Boston show from a couple of weeks earlier, this MSG show is as good, & there are those, I’m sure, that would choose it  as the favorite.”
– Bobsboots

On and off stage:
Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar; Bob Neuwirth – guitar, vocals; Joan Baez – vocals, guitar; Ramblin’ Jack Elliott – guitar, vocals; Roger McGuinn – guitar, vocals; Ronee Blakley – vocals, piano; T-Bone Burnett – guitar; Steven Soles – guitar; Mick Ronson – guitar; David Mansfield – steel guitar, violin, mandolin, dobro; Scarlet Rivera – violin; Rob Stoner – bass; Howie Wyeth – piano, drums; Luther Rix – drums, percussion; Musical Guests: Robbie Robertson – guitar; Joni Mitchell – vocals, guitar; Roberta Flack – vocals, piano; Roberta’s band: Gwen Guthrie – guitar, vocals; Harry Whittaker – keyboards; Anthony Jackson – bass; Crusher Bennett – percussion;; Speakers and other onstage Guests: Muhammad Ali; Rubin Carter (via phone); Coretta Scott King; Bill Franklin; John J. Hooker and more…

A big thanks to the uploader on YouTube!

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