Bob Dylan Beneath A Diamond Sky: Acoustic Performances, 1989

 

 

Bob Dylan Beneath A Diamond Sky: Acoustic Performances, 1989 

She Belongs To Me ­ Live ­ Rochester Hills ­ July 6, 1989 

Girl From The North Country ­ Live ­ Chicago ­ July 2, 1989 

Baby Let Me Follow You Down ­ Live ­ Berkeley ­ September 3, 1989 

Mr. Tambourine Man ­ Live ­ Boston ­ October 24, 1989 

Lakes Of Pontchartrain ­ Live ­ Frejus ­ June 13, 1989 

Every Grain Of Sand ­ Live ­ Athens ­ June 28, 1989 

Love Minus Zero/No Limit ­ Live ­ Chicago ­ October 31, 1989 

In The Pines ­ Live ­ Milwaukee ­ July 3, 1989 

It Ain't Me Babe ­ Live ­ Glasgow ­ June 6, 1989 

Forever Young ­ Live ­ Barcelona ­ June 16, 1989 

 

Greetings, 

This collection is not quite the revelatory set that the two other Thousand Highways Collection 1989 compilations are, but it is interesting nonetheless. 

The songs consist entirely of acoustic performances from 1989. This is right in the heart of one of Dylan's most fertile periods for performing acoustic songs, alongside 1961­1966, 1975, 1995, and 1999­2002. The songs aren't as strong as those played the preceding year, but offer more intriguing renditions of the singer's own catalog; while 1988's acoustic sets were strongest when representing traditional songs, 1989's are at their best in the presentation of original material. 

The summer tours make up the bulk of this set, due largely to Dylan's more limited vocal range in the Fall, and clearer tapes. The electric songs from the Fall Tour are loud enough to make it across the hiss of tape, but the acoustic songs fared less well. Even so, missing "Mr. Tambourine Man" from the Fall Tour would be a shame, so a performance from Boston graces this collection. 

Notable inclusions are a very rare outing for "Baby Let Me Follow You Down," the only live acoustic performance of "Every Grain of Sand," one of only three live performances of "In The Pines," and a very beautiful "Forever Young." Note that "Every Grain of Sand" had appeared on another Thousand Highways compilation, but I thought it too good not to include here. It is, perhaps, the defining acoustic performance of the year. 

"In The Pines" is intriguing, as it is said to be based on a version of the old song made popular by Bill Monroe, rather than the more familiar variant popularized by Leadbelly. I've not heard the Bill Monroe version, so I can't comment on whether this is true or not. 

"It Ain't Me Babe" is the performance mentioned in Andrew Muir's One More Night, in which the singer messes around with the audience's capacity to sing along. "Lakes of Pontchartrain" is, as ever, utterly beautiful, and should be in everyone's collection. This is the performance that originally brought the song to my attention some years ago. I wish Dylan had recorded a studio cut of this at some point, but there is no evidence to suggest that he did. 

The guitar work is pretty great throughout, owing to the combined efforts of the singer and the guitarist G. E. Smith, who played lead guitar in the year's electric sets. It really comes across in "Girl From The North Country," "Lakes of Pontchartrain," and "It Ain't Me Babe," but is quite pleasant throughout. Smith is one of the best accompanists that has played with Bob Dylan so far, and his talents are well­represented here. 

Thanks, CS

 

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