Bob Dylan – The Complete Budokan 1978 (Live) (2023) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Bob Dylan – The Complete Budokan 1978 (Live) (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 04:29:12 minutes | 5,60 GB | Genre: Rock, Folk Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Columbia – Legacy

The original double album included 22 tracks, selected from the two shows Dylan played at the legendary Budokan Hall in Tokyo on February 28 and March 1, 1978 during his first ever tour of Japan. Fast forward to 2006, when our Japanese office found the original multi-track tapes to both full shows in their archives. It’s taken 17 long years since then but we are now finally getting ready to release all 58 songs from the two nights that were recorded in a fantastic new mix by the original engineer Tom Suzuki and with new artwork by the original art director Teruhisa Tajima. This CD box set includes all 58 songs, 36 of which are previously unreleased, in a stunning 12×12 inch box set with a 60-page book including tons of unseen photography, a copy of the original 20-page tour book, ticket stub replicas, two posters and two facsimile print ads. This box is being imported from Japan.

The Complete Budokan 1978 captures some of Dylan’s very first concert appearances in Japan and is an essential release for diehards, while an intriguing curio for the casual listener. Complete Budokan encompasses all of the material originally issued as a double LP in 1978, plus three dozen additional tracks. This lovingly remastered album, sourced from the original 24-channel multi-track analog tapes, sounds far crisper than the original release (especially the vocals). Released to coincide with the 45th anniversary of the original eight-show run at the infamous Budokan auditorium, we hear the entirety of two shows from February 28 and March 1, 1978.

Bob Dylan is at a fascinating crossroads in his career here, and in fine voice. The album finds our hero in between the traveling circus that was the mid 1970s Rolling Thunder tour, and one year before his conversion to Christianity. Dylan shows us what a traditional American great he is, with a near-orchestral band and dramatically reworked takes on classic songs. Some of these arrangements are wonky, especially to modern ears. But they’re always intriguingly put together, and intricately executed takes—the highlight being a knockdown, muscular “The Man in Me.”

It’s clear from the start that this is not your grandpa’s Dylan. Stirring leads on saxophone, mandolin, and fiddle deliver the vocal melodies to “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.” “Shelter from the Storm” is given a halting, reggae-ish tempo, a positively E Street-worthy sax solo, and the delightful touches one would expect from the Dead. Other tunes stray closer to a Vegas revue. “I Threw It All Away” is transformed into a full-blown showtune, as the backing vocals take center stage. One wonders if a line of chorus dancers were onstage for this or the lilting, tango-esque take on “Love Minus Zero.” There is occasional flute, notably on “Mr. Tambourine Man,” which we weren’t sure about at first, but by the third listen we were absolutely digging it, even as it takes the tune straight to Margaritaville. – Mike McGonigal

Tracklist:
1-1. Bob Dylan – A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (04:32)
1-2. Bob Dylan – Repossession Blues (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (02:49)
1-3. Bob Dylan – Mr. Tambourine Man (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (05:26)
1-4. Bob Dylan – I Threw It All Away (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (05:25)
1-5. Bob Dylan – Shelter from the Storm (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (04:44)
1-6. Bob Dylan – Love Minus Zero / No Limit (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (04:16)
1-7. Bob Dylan – Girl from the North Country (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (05:02)
1-8. Bob Dylan – Ballad of a Thin Man (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (04:44)
1-9. Bob Dylan – Maggie’s Farm (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (05:04)
1-10. Bob Dylan – To Ramona (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (04:40)
1-11. Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (06:33)
1-12. Bob Dylan – I Shall Be Released (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (04:28)
1-13. Bob Dylan – Is Your Love in Vain? (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (05:00)
1-14. Bob Dylan – Going, Going, Gone (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (04:03)
2-1. Bob Dylan – One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (04:32)
2-2. Bob Dylan – Blowin’ in the Wind (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (04:31)
2-3. Bob Dylan – Just Like a Woman (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (05:02)
2-4. Bob Dylan – Oh, Sister (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (04:40)
2-5. Bob Dylan – Simple Twist of Fate (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (04:16)
2-6. Bob Dylan – You’re a Big Girl Now (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (05:32)
2-7. Bob Dylan – All Along the Watchtower (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (04:13)
2-8. Bob Dylan – I Want You (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (02:31)
2-9. Bob Dylan – All I Really Want to Do (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (03:57)
2-10. Bob Dylan – Tomorrow Is a Long Time (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (04:23)
2-11. Bob Dylan – Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (05:08)
2-12. Bob Dylan – Band Introductions (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (02:40)
2-13. Bob Dylan – It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (06:34)
2-14. Bob Dylan – Forever Young (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (07:18)
2-15. Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – February 28, 1978) (05:02)
3-1. Bob Dylan – A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (04:05)
3-2. Bob Dylan – Love Her With A Feeling (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (02:52)
3-3. Bob Dylan – Mr. Tambourine Man (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (05:04)
3-4. Bob Dylan – I Threw It All Away (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (05:17)
3-5. Bob Dylan – Love Minus Zero / No Limit (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (04:05)
3-6. Bob Dylan – Shelter from the Storm (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (04:51)
3-7. Bob Dylan – Girl from the North Country (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (04:17)
3-8. Bob Dylan – Ballad of a Thin Man (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (04:48)
3-9. Bob Dylan – Maggie’s Farm (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (05:31)
3-10. Bob Dylan – One More Cup Of Coffee (Valley Below) (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (03:28)
3-11. Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (06:50)
3-12. Bob Dylan – I Shall Be Released (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (04:23)
3-13. Bob Dylan – Is Your Love in Vain? (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (04:14)
3-14. Bob Dylan – Going, Going, Gone (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (04:04)
4-1. Bob Dylan – One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (04:44)
4-2. Bob Dylan – Blowin’ in the Wind (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (04:35)
4-3. Bob Dylan – Just Like a Woman (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (05:06)
4-4. Bob Dylan – Oh, Sister (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (04:57)
4-5. Bob Dylan – I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (04:23)
4-6. Bob Dylan – You’re a Big Girl Now (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (04:58)
4-7. Bob Dylan – All Along the Watchtower (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (03:27)
4-8. Bob Dylan – I Want You (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (02:43)
4-9. Bob Dylan – All I Really Want to Do (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (03:49)
4-10. Bob Dylan – Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (04:09)
4-11. Bob Dylan – The Man in Me (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (03:51)
4-12. Bob Dylan – Band Introductions (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (01:56)
4-13. Bob Dylan – It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (06:39)
4-14. Bob Dylan – Forever Young (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (07:50)
4-15. Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan – March 1, 1978) (05:11)

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