Epic Poll: The Top 75 Bob Dylan Concerts

Deciding the Top 75 Dylan Concerts - Step One

Yup, this is about as big as polls get. You all know about the A-Z Mp3 Archive at http://expectingrain.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=15318, which is amazing, but overwhelming. Over at Backstreets, the Springsteen folks have a similar enormous mp3 collection (http://btxmp3index.jconserv.net/index.php), but have coupled with it is a list of the top 75 concerts to help with beginning to navigate these archives. I thought we should compile a similar one for our purposes and for use at the Archive. We're going to do it democratically with everyone having a say and able to vote to hopefully get the best list.

A few notes:
-These are concerts, not bootlegs, though if the concert was booted (and isn't available in better sound quality elsewhere) please indicate that.
-No compilations. Great as it may be, Bathed In a Stream of Pure Heat is ineligible.
-Each show is a vote in itself. For instance, Toad's Place counts as two separate shows, London 2003 as three.
-Only shows that are unreleased in full (so no Manchester 66)

Voting Rules:
-You can vote for up to 75 shows. Fewer is fine.
-You do not need to make all your votes in a single post, but make sure you do not go over 75 total.
-Each vote counts as one.
-These will be in chronological order, so there is no need to rank your votes.
-The deadline is June 1.

Some resources to help you decide:
Bill Pagel's Bob Links Setlist Database
The Dylanpool Searchable Database (through mid-05)
His Bobness Database
Bjorner: The Yearly Chronicles
Bjorner: Still On the Road
Dusty Old Fairgrounds: Setlists, Artwork, and Bootlegs (through 04)
Bob's Boots Home
Bob's Boots Must Haves
The Gopherstick Listening Guide 1992-2000

I'll start the poll with some late NET shows:

Berlin, Germany (Soul) 1996-06-17
Durham, NH 1997-04-11
Vienna, Austria 1999-04-30
Cardiff, Wales 2000-09-23
Liverpool, UK 2001-07-13
Uncasville, CT 2001-11-20
Tampa, FL 2002-02-02
Moncton, Canada 2002-08-08
Wembley Arena, London, UK 2003-11-15
Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK 2003-11-24

But I'm richer by far with a satisfied mind ...

stop it..................................

Quote:

the shoeless hunter
stop it..................................

What? I don't understand that reaction. Why is helping a newbie navigate the hundreds of concert recordings to find the best stuff a problem?

******************************
My Music Blog (w/ mp3s):
[the3penguins.blogspot.com]
Latest entries: Springsteen in Hartford and Montreal

My Covers Blog
[covermesongs.blogspot.com]
Updates every Monday!

Not a problem.

Quote:

the3penguins

Quote:

the shoeless hunter
stop it..................................

What? I don't understand that reaction. Why is helping a newbie navigate the hundreds of concert recordings to find the best stuff a problem?

i think it's a great idea, the3penguins!

the only problem being that i still consider myself very much a newbie, and am almost entirely dependant on the recommendations of others - Karen and Angry Crow Puking going above and beyond the call of duty! - for the ones i really *have* to listen to!

if Towerers live up to their usual standard, though, i'm sure i'll be very interested to see what turns up - might little comments explaining why it's considered so good be useful too?

Sheffield 66

Very nice idea, Ray. Here we go:


NYC (Gaslight Cafe), October 1962
Newport, July 25, 1965
Stockholm, April 29, 1966
Manchester, May 17, 1966
NYC (Woody Guthrie Tribute), January 20, 1968
Toronto, January 10, 1974
Toronto, December 1, 1975
NYC, December 8, 1975
Fort Collins, May 23, 1976
Toronto, October 12, 1978
San Francisco, November 16, 1979
San Francisco, November 12, 1980
San Francisco, November 15, 1980
London, July 1, 1981
New Orleans, November 11, 1981
Sydney, February 24, 1986
Saratoga, July 13, 1986
Tel Aviv, September 5, 1987
Brussels, October 8
Berkeley, June 10, 1988
NYC, October 19, 1988
NYC, October 12, 1989
Rio, January 25, 1990
London, February 8, 1990
Indianapolis, November 10, 1991
Springfield, October 28, 1992
NYC (Supper Club), November 16, 1993 - late show
Kiel, July 25, 1994
Boston, October 8, 1994
Prague, March 11, 1995
London, March 31, 1995
Oslo, June 29, 1995
Magdeburg, July 12, 1996
Bournemouth, October 1, 1997
London, October 5, 1997
Leipzig, June 2, 1998
NYC, November 1, 1998
Granada, April 18, 1999
State College, November 6, 1999
Portsmouth, September 25, 2000
Spokane, November 5, 2001
Berlin, April 11, 2002
Rosemont, November 1, 2002
New Orleans, April 26, 2003
London, November 23, 2003
Newcastle, June 22, 2004
Dublin, November 27, 2005
San Francisco, October 16, 2006
NYC, November 20, 2006



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/2007 06:49PM by stefan.

How about Bobs top 75 hats.

The white one. Probably the black one next. Although the blue one would be up there too. Too hard to pick really.

Quote:

The-Ghost-of-Electricity
The white one. Probably the black one next. Although the blue one would be up there too. Too hard to pick really.

I can't chose his best hat Ive not seen them all but Im very envious of these people that have seen or heard all Bobs shows and are able to pick 75 top ones out the 1000s of brilliant shows he's played .

Quote:

infidel

Quote:

The-Ghost-of-Electricity
The white one. Probably the black one next. Although the blue one would be up there too. Too hard to pick really.

I can't chose his best hat Ive not seen them all but Im very envious of these people that have seen or heard all Bobs shows and are able to pick 75 top ones out the 1000s of brilliant shows he's played .

I don't own 75 shows even after all these years. But if some one who has and knows a lot more than me can provide me with an essential list, thats great.

As for the hats for me it has to be the 84 straw followed by Blackbush 78.

Important note: You do not need to vote for 75. 5 or 10 of your favorites is very helpful too. You don't need to be an expert to vote, just a discerning listener.

******************************
My Music Blog (w/ mp3s):
[the3penguins.blogspot.com]
Latest entries: Springsteen in Hartford and Montreal

My Covers Blog
[covermesongs.blogspot.com]
Updates every Monday!

Quote:

the3penguins
You don't need to be an expert to vote, just a discerning listener.

:: Sits quietly at the back of the room, watches, awaits participation ribbon ceremony ::

[www.newponyrecords.org]

[members.tripod.com]

These might help.

[bobsboots.com]

Why can't people who are new to Bob just use the bobs boots must have list its much better than having 500 people put their own favorite shows on a list nobody is going to agree anyway and it will only confuse people who are new to bob

If we abstained from creating threads just because something like it had been put up or posted elsewhere, things would be very thin around here indeed.

There is also the fact that there are people here who have similar tastes to myself. So I know I could trust that I would like (if they were being honest)
what they suggested.

Quote:

the shoeless hunter

You aren't a fan of these Best of Bob threads, we get it, so why bother posting to them so many times?

******************************
My Music Blog (w/ mp3s):
[the3penguins.blogspot.com]
Latest entries: Springsteen in Hartford and Montreal

My Covers Blog
[covermesongs.blogspot.com]
Updates every Monday!

Quote:

Sri
There is also the fact that there are people here who have similar tastes to myself. So I know I could trust that I would like (if they were being honest)
what they suggested.

Everybody has the same tastes ?we all love Bob thats why we are here so whats the point of 50 different top 75s All bobs shows are worth hearing .

Quote:

the3penguins

Quote:

the shoeless hunter

You aren't a fan of these Best of Bob threads, we get it, so why bother posting to them so many times?

mind your own business Iggy Pop....................

I found the Bobsboots list invaluable when I started out, especially for the 60s. Not so good for the NET era though.

That's not to say this poll isn't useful, or fun. I think it is very ambitious to get a top 75 all time. I'd say a top 20 NET show recommendations might be useful.

I don't think it's very helpful to answer any newbie's request for advice on good shows with "they're all good". I've frequently picked out a few good shows to copy for people.

Quote:

infidel

Quote:

Sri
There is also the fact that there are people here who have similar tastes to myself. So I know I could trust that I would like (if they were being honest)
what they suggested.

Everybody has the same tastes ?we all love Bob thats why we are here so whats the point of 50 different top 75s All bobs shows are worth hearing .

If you say so Fidel ,but that is to suggest I collect all of them . And that just is not possible. Id like to collect say a few of the better ones from each decade . I will ask someone who cares

I doubt if I could write a list of 75 of Bob's songs without checking some titles, let alone put them in order of preference. I can't understand how anyone can even remember 75 gigs, let alone prioritise them.

Makes me realise I'm not a true fan, or, what did that guy call us recently? I'm not a 'serious Dylanologist'. You can say that again.

Quote:

infidel
All bobs shows are worth hearing .

Except the Gospel shows ..... and those awful two tracks he did at that Jazz Festival.

“You should always take the best from the past, leave the worst back there and go forward into the future."

Quote:

timbo
I've frequently picked out a few good shows to copy for people.

You certainly have, Timbo, thank you very much.

Quote:

timbo
I found the Bobsboots list invaluable when I started out ...

Me too.

“You should always take the best from the past, leave the worst back there and go forward into the future."

Quote:

Karen

Quote:

infidel
All bobs shows are worth hearing .

Except the Gospel shows ..... and those awful two tracks he did at that Jazz Festival.

mmm... like i said, Karen really has played a *wide* variety of Bob to me... and most of the time, i'm very grateful

Sheffield 66.







Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/10/2007 09:23AM by infidel.

Quote:

Tangled_up_in_Dylan

Quote:

Karen

Quote:

infidel
All bobs shows are worth hearing .

Except the Gospel shows ..... and those awful two tracks he did at that Jazz Festival.

mmm... like i said, Karen really has played a *wide* variety of Bob to me... and most of the time, i'm very grateful

You need to hear those fantastic gospel shows, then Mary!

n/t

tbc