The people from the Hurricane Carter movement kept calling me and writing me. And Hurricane sent me his book, which I read and which really touched me. I felt that the man was just innocent, from his writings and knowing that part of the country. So I went to visit him and was really behind him, trying to get a new trial.
~Bob Dylan (to Bill Flanagan, March 1985)
Tonight is billed as “The Night of the Hurricane,” and Dylan is in a good mood, dedicating one song to Al Grossman, who is in the audience and “‘is not running for President” (a dig at Muhammad Ali’s attempts to turn the benefit into a political rally). Baez hams it up during her set with Dylan, and Robbie Robertson joins the Revue for a great “It Takes a Lot to Laugh.” Although not as inspired a performance as Montreal, the concert ends the tour on a high note. The traditional end-of-tour party is at the Felt Forum after the show. The partying continues at a restaurant near the Westbury Hotel.
~Clinton Heylin (Bob Dylan: A Life in Stolen Moments Day by Day 1941-1995
The last show of the 1975 tour @ Madison Square Garden, New York City – 8 December 1975.
The show was a benefit concert for the imprisoned boxer, Hurricane Carter, hence the name of the show: “The Night of the Hurricane.” Special guests for the night: Robert Flack and Muhammad Ali.
Madison Square Garden
New York City, New York
8 December 1975
Night of The Hurricane
- Bob Dylan (vocal, guitar)
- Bob Neuwirth (guitar)
- T-bone J. Henry Burnett (guitar)
- Roger McGuinn (guitar)
- Steven Soles (guitar)
- Mick Ronson (guitar)
- David Mansfield (steel guitar, violin, mandolin ,dobro)
- Rob Stoner (bass)
- Howie Wyeth (piano, drums)
- Luther Rix (drums, percussion)
- Ronee Blakeley (vocal)
- When I Paint My Masterpiece
- It Ain’t Me, Babe
- The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
- Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You
- It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
- Romance In Durango (Bob Dylan–Jacques Levy/Bob Dylan)
This is Scarlet here, Scarlet Rivera … don’t clap yet! We’re got a new song to play for you. It’s called Romance In Durango. Influenced by the past and a bridge to the future. - Isis (Bob Dylan–Jacques Levy/Bob Dylan)
Here’s another new song. This is about the marriage ceremony between man and woman, it’s what happens when you get married, called Isis.
– - The Times They Are A-Changin’
- Dark As A Dungeon (Merle Travis)
- Mama, You Been On My Mind
- Never Let Me Go (Joseph C. Scott)
- I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine
- I Shall Be Released
Gonna dedicate this song to Mr. Richard Manuel, who does it so well. - Love Minus Zero/No Limit
- Simple Twist Of Fate
- Oh, Sister (Bob Dylan–Jacques Levy/Bob Dylan)
Gonna dedicate this to all our sisters out there tonight. - Hurricane (Bob Dylan–Jacques Levy/Bob Dylan)
We’re gonna play this song now. This is what this concert, or this show is all about, and this person, he’s a beautiful man, and beauty should never be in prison. - One More Cup Of Coffee (Valley Below)
- Sara
Lots of people make up the Rolling Thunder Revue, a lot of people who make it up you don’t see, and we are the Rolling Thunder Revue, and we shall return!
- Just Like A Woman
- Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
- This Land Is Your Land (Woody Guthrie)
Full show
–
The concluding date of Bob Dylan’s legendary 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue tour doubled as a benefit for wrongly imprisoned prizefighter Rubin Carter, the subject of Dylan’s famed narrative “Hurricane.” An excellent companion to Sony’s official release The Bootleg Series, Vol. 5: Live 1975, this unauthorized two-disc set captures the performance in its entirety, complete with superior sound quality and a beautiful package that mirrors Sony’s own aesthetics. The fiery, sinuous folk-rock sound that defined the Rolling Thunder dates reaches its apex here. Familiar songs like “It Ain’t Me, Babe,” “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” and “Just Like a Woman” radiate new life, galvanized by Dylan’s impassioned vocals and his all-star band’s crackling energy.
~Jason Ankeny (allmusic.com)
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