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Real Live
Dylan onstage playing harmonica and guitar into a microphone
Live album by
Bob Dylan
ReleasedNovember 29, 1984 (1984-11-29)
RecordedJuly 5–8, 1984
Genre
Length50:15
LabelColumbia
ProducerGlyn Johns
Bob Dylan chronology
Infidels
(1983) 		Real Live
(1984) 		Empire Burlesque
(1985)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicStarStarStar[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStar[2]
Robert ChristgauB[3]
Record MirrorStarStarStar[4]
Rolling StoneStarStarStar[5]

Real Live is a live album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on November 29, 1984, by Columbia Records. Recorded during the artist's 1984 European Tour, most of the album was recorded at Wembley Stadium on 7 July, but "License to Kill" and "Tombstone Blues" come from St James' Park, Newcastle on 5 July, and "I and I" and "Girl from the North Country" were recorded at Slane Castle, Ireland on 8 July.[6]

Background

[edit]

Produced by Glyn Johns, it features Mick Taylor (formerly of the Rolling Stones) on lead guitar, Ian McLagan (formerly of the Faces) on keyboards, and a guest appearance from Carlos Santana.[7] The performances on Real Live were recorded in support of his successful Infidels album.

Reception

[edit]

While Infidels was hailed as a "return to musical form" (as described by Kurt Loder in Rolling Stone magazine), critical reception for Real Live was generally mixed. Released in December to capitalize on the Christmas shopping season, Real Live still sold in disappointing numbers, reaching a then-career low of No. 115 in the U.S. and No. 54 in the UK.

In his review for Rolling Stone, Kurt Loder, rating the album 3/5, wrote, "Although cynics may find that Dylan's trademark wheeze is verging on self-parody by this point, his singing is truly spirited throughout. The band he assembled for the tour generally serves him well, if without inspiration...some fans may get a giggle out of the rhythm riff – lifted from Ray Charles' 'I Believe to My Soul' – that graces 'Ballad of a Thin Man'. But 'Highway 61 Revisited' is well done as a rocker and 'Tombstone Blues' with Carlos Santana rolls along with great energy."[8]

In Bob Dylan: The Complete Album Guide, Rolling Stone panned Real Live but recognized the album's heavily revised version of "Tangled Up in Blue" as a "forgotten classic".[9] The feature quoted Dylan as stating: "On Real Live, ['Tangled Up in Blue']'s more like it should have been. The imagery is better".[9]

NJ Arts's Jay Lustig cited "I and I" as the standout track from the album and praised Mick Taylor's "stellar guitar work" on it.[10]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Bob Dylan.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Highway 61 Revisited"5:07
2."Maggie's Farm"4:54
3."I and I"6:00
4."License to Kill"3:26
5."It Ain't Me, Babe"5:17
Total length:24:44
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Tangled Up in Blue"6:54
2."Masters of War"6:35
3."Ballad of a Thin Man"4:17
4."Girl from the North Country"4:25
5."Tombstone Blues"4:32
Total length:26:43

Personnel

[edit]
  • Bob Dylan – guitar, harmonica, keyboards, vocals

Additional musicians

[edit]

Production

[edit]
  • Guido Harari – cover photograph[11]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Real Live
Chart (1984–1985) Peak
position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[12] 31
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[13] 13
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 28
UK Albums (OCC)[15] 54
US Billboard 200[16] 115

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Real Live

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
is a live by American , released on November 29, 1984, by . Recorded during Dylan's 1984 European tour, the album primarily captures performances from in on July 7, 1984, with additional tracks from shows in , , and Newcastle, . It features ten songs spanning Dylan's career, including classics like "," "," and "," alongside newer material from his 1983 studio Infidels such as "License to Kill" and "I and I." The recording showcases Dylan's band augmented by reggae rhythm section and , and guitarist on select tracks, reflecting a period of stylistic experimentation following his born-again Christian phase. Though not a commercial blockbuster, Real Live documents a vigorous phase in Dylan's live performances, emphasizing raw energy over polished production, and stands as his first live release since 1976's Hard Rain.

Background and Context

1984 European Tour

The 1984 European Tour marked Bob Dylan's return to large-scale stadium performances following the release of his studio album Infidels in late 1983, featuring 27 dates across continental Europe, the , and from May 28 to July 8. The itinerary began at Verona's Stadio Bentegodi in and included stops in cities such as (May 1, though some accounts place the official start later), , , , , , ( on July 7), Newcastle ( on July 5), , and culminated at in Ireland. Co-headlined with for all shows, the tour emphasized electric arrangements of Dylan's catalog, drawing crowds exceeding 100,000 at alone, where special guests like appeared. Dylan's core touring band consisted of on lead guitar (formerly of ), on keyboards (ex-Faces), bassist Greg Sutton, and drummer , delivering a raw, rock-oriented sound suited to outdoor venues. opened select dates, including , , and , performing approximately ten songs before Santana's set, while guested in . Setlists heavily featured material from Infidels alongside classics like "" and "," with Dylan occasionally varying arrangements for spontaneity, as noted in contemporary accounts of the tour's energetic, unpolished vibe. Recordings from the tour's concluding performances—Newcastle on July 5, on July 7, and on July 8—formed the basis for Dylan's live album Real Live, released later that year, capturing the ensemble's chemistry amid stadium acoustics challenges like wind and crowd noise. This outing revitalized Dylan's stage presence post-Infidels, bridging his born-again phase with a return to secular, high-energy rock delivery, though critics later observed the album's selections prioritized newer tracks over full tour diversity.

Relation to Infidels Album

"Real Live" captures live renditions of two tracks from Dylan's preceding studio album, Infidels (released October 27, 1983): "I and I" and "License to Kill". These performances, recorded during the 1984 European tour, reflect Dylan's efforts to promote Infidels, which featured a return to secular songwriting after his gospel phase and achieved commercial success, peaking at number 20 on the Billboard 200. The tour, comprising 27 dates across and organized by promoter Bill Graham, directly supported Infidels with Dylan incorporating its material into sets dominated by earlier catalog staples. While Infidels emphasized studio polish with contributions from musicians like and , the live versions on "Real Live" adopt a rawer, tour-honed energy, as heard in the accelerated tempo of "License to Kill" (3:26 duration) compared to its studio counterpart (3:33). "I and I", extended to 6:00 in performance, showcases Dylan's improvisational style amid the tour's backing band, including Taylor on guitar. Critics noted the inclusion of Infidels tracks as a highlight amid otherwise standard setlist choices, providing contemporary variety to the album's otherwise retrospective leanings. This selection underscores "Real Live" as a promotional extension of Infidels, bridging studio innovation with live immediacy, though Dylan performed few other Infidels songs like "Jokerman" sporadically during the tour.

Recording and Production

Venue and Dates

Real Live was recorded during the final dates of Bob Dylan's 1984 European Tour, drawing from three specific concerts held in July. The bulk of the material, including "," "," "Jokerman," "," "," and "," was captured at in , , on July 7, 1984, before an audience of approximately 72,000. "License to Kill" and "" were sourced from the performance at in , , on July 5, 1984. "I and I" and "" came from the show at in , , , on July 8, 1984, which drew around 30,000 attendees.
TrackVenueDate
, July 7, 1984
, July 7, 1984
I and I, SlaneJuly 8, 1984
License to Kill, NewcastleJuly 5, 1984
, NewcastleJuly 5, 1984
Jokerman, July 7, 1984
, July 7, 1984
, July 7, 1984
, SlaneJuly 8, 1984
, July 7, 1984

Personnel and Instrumentation

The touring band for the performances featured on Real Live consisted of on guitar, harmonica, and lead vocals; , formerly of , on ; Greg Sutton on bass guitar; on ; and , formerly of the Faces, on keyboards. This lineup provided a straightforward rock ensemble, emphasizing electric guitar-driven arrangements with rhythmic support from bass and , augmented by McLagan's keyboard contributions for texture on tracks like "." Dylan's harmonica solos, as heard on "" and "," added a bluesy, folk-rooted element reminiscent of his earlier work, while Taylor's guitar work delivered prominent solos and riffs suited to the high-energy live setting. A notable featured on guitar for the rendition of "," recorded at on July 8, , infusing the track with his signature Latin-inflected phrasing and extended . No additional , such as horns or secondary percussion, was employed across the album's selections, maintaining a compact five-piece core (plus the guest) that prioritized direct amplification and stage presence over orchestral embellishments. This configuration reflected Dylan's shift toward raw, band-centric live performances during the 1984 European tour, diverging from the denser production of his recent studio album Infidels.

Post-Production Choices

The post-production of Real Live was overseen by , a veteran engineer and producer renowned for his work on live and rock recordings with artists including , the Who, and Led Zeppelin. Johns mixed the multi-track recordings captured during Dylan's 1984 European Tour, focusing on preserving the raw energy and audience interaction of the performances while achieving clarity in the large-venue sound. No evidence indicates the use of overdubs or extensive splicing, aligning with the album's title emphasizing unadulterated live capture, in contrast to some prior Dylan live releases that incorporated studio elements. Track selection prioritized a balance of classic hits and newer material from Infidels (1983), drawing primarily from the July 7, 1984, concert at in , which provided eight of the ten tracks. To incorporate "License to Kill," recorded earlier at the on June 21, 1984, and "Tombstone Blues," sourced from in Ireland on July 8, 1984, Johns compiled a cohesive sequence across shows, avoiding a single-concert limitation that might have excluded key songs. Johns completed the mixes independently after inviting Dylan for playback sessions, which the artist did not attend, resulting in minimal artist input during finalization and underscoring Johns' autonomy in balancing instrumental separation, vocal prominence, and crowd ambiance. The process yielded a praised for its immediacy, with the HiFi Stereo Review noting in 1985 that Johns' efforts made the album "sound as if it had been" optimally rendered despite the challenges of recording. This approach prioritized fidelity to the tour's intensity over polished studio artifice.

Musical Content

Track Listing and Arrangements

"Real Live" comprises ten tracks, all written by Bob Dylan, drawn from live performances during his 1984 European tour, emphasizing a blend of recent material from the "Infidels" album and earlier catalog staples. The selections reflect Dylan's setlist priorities at the time, balancing high-energy rock numbers with introspective acoustic pieces, performed with a tight ensemble that included electric guitar leads from former Rolling Stones member Mick Taylor.
No.TitleLength
15:07
24:54
3I and I6:00
4License to Kill3:26
55:17
66:45
76:23
84:14
94:20
105:42
Arrangements on the album favor straightforward rock instrumentation for the electric tracks, with Dylan's and harmonica driving the band—comprising Taylor on , on keyboards, Sutton on bass, and on drums—toward a raw, Stones-influenced energy that amplifies the songs' rebellious themes. Tracks like "," "," and "" (the latter featuring guest guitar from ) deliver aggressive, uptempo renditions with prominent guitar riffs and driving rhythms, diverging from their original studio productions by prioritizing live immediacy over polished overdubs. "I and I" and "License to Kill," drawn from "Infidels," retain reggae-inflected grooves but gain intensity through the full band's propulsion, with Dylan's vocal delivery marked by snarls and improvisational phrasing. Acoustic selections provide contrast, stripping back to Dylan's solo guitar and voice for intimacy. "" stands out with substantially revised lyrics—altering nearly a quarter of the narrative from the 1975 "" version, shifting perspectives and details while preserving the winding structure and folk-rock melody—creating a refreshed interpretation performed unaccompanied. Similarly, "" appears in a sparse, harmonica-accented folk arrangement echoing its 1963 debut, emphasizing lyrical clarity over embellishment. "" and "" adopt electric treatments with ominous builds, the former's protest edge heightened by extended jamming and the latter's underscored by Taylor's wailing solos, illustrating Dylan's practice of evolving songs through live reinvention.

Key Performances and Variations

The performances on Real Live emphasize high-energy electric arrangements, drawing from Dylan's 1984 European tour sets that typically alternated acoustic and electric segments, though the album prioritizes rock-oriented renditions to showcase material from the recent Infidels album alongside classics. Guitarist Mick Taylor, formerly of the Rolling Stones, contributed raw, blues-inflected solos throughout, enhancing tracks like "Tombstone Blues" (recorded July 5, 1984, at St. James' Park, Newcastle) with extended improvisations absent from the 1965 Highway 61 Revisited studio version. A highlight is the radically rewritten "Tangled Up in Blue," performed at Wembley Stadium on July 7, 1984, which diverges from the 1975 Blood on the Tracks original through altered lyrics, shifted narrative perspectives (starting in third person), and intensified imagery focused on time and relational flux. Dylan, accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica, favored this iteration, stating in a 1985 Rolling Stone interview: "On Real Live [‘Tangled Up in Blue’] is more like it should have been. I was never really happy with it... On Real Live, the imagery is better and more the way I would have liked it than on the original recording." The version's structure blends personal reflection with broader existential themes, delivered with urgent vocal phrasing. Tracks from Infidels, such as "Jokerman" and "License to Kill," adapt studio and new wave elements into fuller band dynamics, with "License to Kill" (from , July 8, 1984) amplifying its prophetic warnings through crowd-responsive energy and Taylor's gritty leads, contrasting the more restrained production on the 1983 album. "" receives a streamlined electric treatment, stripping some acoustic folk intimacy of the 1978 Street-Legal recording while retaining its cyclical amid driving . These variations reflect Dylan's practice of evolving songs live, prioritizing immediacy over fidelity to studio forms.

Commercial Performance

Chart Positions

Real Live reached a peak position of number 115 on the in January 1985, debuting at number 122 the week of January 5, 1985, and remaining on the for a total of nine weeks. In the , the entered the Official Albums on December 15, 1984, and peaked at number 54.
Chart (1984–1985)Peak position
US Billboard 200115
UK Albums (OCC)54

Sales and Certifications

Real Live peaked at number 115 on the US Billboard 200 chart in January 1985, marking one of Dylan's lower-charting releases at the time. In the United Kingdom, the album reached number 54 on the UK Albums Chart upon its release in December 1984. Despite these positions, it generated limited sales momentum, with no specific shipment or unit figures publicly reported by Columbia Records or industry trackers. The album received no certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for US sales thresholds such as gold (500,000 units) or platinum (1,000,000 units). Similarly, it attained no awards from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), which certifies albums at 100,000 units for silver and 300,000 for gold.

Critical Reception

Initial Reviews

Upon its release on November 29, 1984, Real Live received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the album's raw energy and the contributions of guitarist Mick Taylor while questioning Dylan's vocal delivery and the selection of material. In Rolling Stone, Kurt Loder awarded the album three out of five stars, noting heartening signs of renewed commitment in Dylan's singing despite his raspy voice bordering on self-parody; Loder highlighted the band's muscular performances, particularly Taylor's "blazing" guitar work on tracks like "Tombstone Blues" and "Like a Rolling Stone," which injected vitality into the 1960s standards comprising much of the set. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice gave Real Live a B grade, crediting the locomotive-like drive from Taylor and the familiarity of two-decades-old songs for the album's propulsion, though he implied the effect could be replicated without Dylan's presence. Christgau singled out "Maggie's Farm" and "Tombstone Blues" as standouts for their ferocity, but dismissed "License to Kill" and "I and I" as lumbering attempts at reggae-inflected material, and observed altered lyrics in "Tangled Up in Blue" that enhanced its narrative intrigue. Other contemporary assessments echoed this ambivalence, with some reviewers viewing the album as a competent but unremarkable document of Dylan's 1984 European stadium tour, overshadowed by the stronger studio work of Infidels earlier that year. Critics generally agreed that Taylor's blues-rock expertise elevated the arrangements, yet the reliance on crowd-pleasing classics and Dylan's strained limited the record's artistic depth.

Retrospective Evaluations

In later assessments, Real Live has been reevaluated more positively than its initial mixed reception, with critics highlighting its documentation of a vigorous 1984 European tour featuring guitarist , formerly of . Music writer Jay Gabler described it as "Dylan's most underrated live recording," emphasizing the energetic rendition of "I and I" from the contemporary album Infidels. A 2013 reconsideration of Dylan's output praised the album as a strong live document capturing the tour's lineup, including Taylor's contributions and drummer . Specific performances have drawn acclaim; Dylan himself endorsed the album's version of "Tangled Up in Blue" as superior to the 1975 studio original, citing its revised lyrics and arrangement drawn from later tours. However, not all reevaluations are glowing; a 2024 review rated it 3 out of 5 stars, commending "I and I" and crowd engagement on "It Ain't Me, Babe" but faulting strained vocals and diminished intensity on staples like "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Maggie's Farm." Aggregate and editorial ratings reflect persistent ambivalence, with assigning 2.9 out of 5 based on its competent but unexceptional capture of the era's setlists, prioritizing Infidels material over earlier hits. user average stands at 2.9 out of 5 from nearly 800 ratings, underscoring its niche appeal among completists rather than broad consensus as a standout live effort.

Legacy

Cultural Impact

The album Real Live documented select performances from Bob Dylan's 1984 European Tour, a period marked by his collaboration with former guitarist , whose contributions added a gritty rock edge to arrangements of classics like "" and "." This tour, spanning 27 dates across 13 countries from May to July 1984, revitalized Dylan's stage presence following the studio success of Infidels (1983), showcasing his ongoing evolution of material through live reinterpretation rather than static replication. Particularly notable is the rendition of "Tangled Up in Blue," recorded at London's Wembley Stadium on July 7, 1984, which Dylan has described as closer to his original vision than the Blood on the Tracks (1975) studio take, emphasizing a more narrative-driven flow unburdened by overly painterly constraints. This version, with its altered chronology and heightened urgency, exemplifies Dylan's practice of lyric variants in performance, influencing scholarly analyses of his oeuvre as a fluid, non-canonical body of work. While Real Live did not achieve the paradigm-shifting cultural resonance of Dylan's output, it reinforced his reputation among dedicated followers for raw, unpolished authenticity, with tracks like a reenergized highlighting shifts from folk protest to aggressive rock delivery over two decades. Retrospectives have credited the album with preserving a snapshot of Dylan's mid-1980s resurgence, amid a decade often critiqued for inconsistency, thereby contributing to discussions of his enduring adaptability in live contexts.

Reissues and Availability

"Real Live" was reissued on in 1985 by , with editions released in (CDCBS 26334 / CK 39944) and (32DP 196). Further CD reissues appeared in subsequent years, including versions cataloged on such as those from the early 2000s. A notable vinyl reissue occurred in 2019 by Columbia/Legacy (catalog 19075846961), pressed on 180-gram vinyl and including a digital download code. A remastered edition became available digitally around 2013, as evidenced by listings on streaming platforms. Discogs documents over 60 versions of the across formats, predominantly variations of original and reissue pressings rather than new remasters. As of October 2025, "Real Live" streams on major platforms including and . Digital downloads are offered on Amazon, while physical reissues and used copies remain accessible via retailers like and , often bundled with codes. The is also listed for purchase on Bob Dylan's official website.

References

  1. https://www.bobdylan.com/albums/real-live/
  2. https://www.discogs.com/master/28321-Bob-Dylan-Real-Live
  3. https://genius.com/albums/Bob-dylan/Real-live
  4. https://www.allmusic.com/album/real-live-mw0000189849
  5. https://www.bobdylan-comewritersandcritics.com/pages/programmes/dylan-1984-european-tour.htm
  6. https://www.musicthisday.com/lists/concerts/recommended-bob-dylan-concerts-1984
  7. https://www.bobdylan.com/setlists?filter_year=1984
  8. http://www.shewan.co.uk/bob-dylan-st-james-park-newcastle-5th-july-1984/
  9. https://whereseric.com/tour/1984-20/
  10. https://www.facebook.com/groups/362182460459536/posts/24074064432178006/
  11. https://www.flaggingdown.com/p/gregg-sutton-remembers-bob-dylan
  12. https://longandwastedyear.com/2014/06/15/the-1984-tour/
  13. https://gimmemt.com/d/1876-essay-bob-dylan-european-tour-1984-by-gimmemtguy
  14. https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/the-bob-dylan-real-live-1984-european-tour-thread.655047/
  15. https://elusivedisc.com/bob-dylan-real-live-lp/
  16. https://www.flaggingdown.com/p/unreal-live
  17. https://www.bobdylan.com/albums/infidels/
  18. https://www.flaggingdown.com/p/an-interview-with-bob-dylans-1984
  19. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bob-dylan-infidels/
  20. https://www.ebay.com/itm/305739861830
  21. https://www.discogs.com/release/1837926-Bob-Dylan-Real-Live
  22. https://bobserve.com/olof/84-3.htm
  23. https://www.discogs.com/release/5530474-Bob-Dylan-Real-Live
  24. https://rsdmrkt.com/upc/886972498027
  25. https://music.fandom.com/wiki/Real_Live:Bob_Dylan
  26. https://www.theaudiodb.com/album/2143488-Bob-Dylan-Real-Live
  27. https://open.spotify.com/album/7lHhEmNQuQVBZ8TqrtEPHX
  28. https://www.mixonline.com/blog/2270
  29. https://www.discogs.com/release/15776117-Bob-Dylan-Real-Live
  30. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-HiFI-Stereo/80s/HiFi-Stereo-Review-1985-04.pdf
  31. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/bob-dylan/real-live/
  32. https://www.flaggingdown.com/p/now-it-goes-like-this-tangled-up
  33. https://bob-dylan.org.uk/archives/5121
  34. https://recordsandcharts.com/albumrun.php?alid=6379
  35. https://www.expectingrain.com/dok/cd/dylancharts.html
  36. https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/bob-dylan-real-live/
  37. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28513/bob-dylan/
  38. https://alldylan.com/november-29-bob-dylan-released-real-live-in-1984/
  39. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/real-live-206018/
  40. https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=4701
  41. https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2020/12/every-bob-dylan-studio-album-reviewed
  42. https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2013/11/bob-dylan-1980s-songs-boxed-set
  43. https://cultfollowing.co.uk/2024/02/12/bob-dylan-real-live-review/
  44. https://www.discogs.com/release/3635541-Bob-Dylan-Real-Live
  45. https://www.ebay.com/itm/127314605617
  46. https://music.apple.com/us/album/real-live-remastered/717157147
  47. https://www.amazon.com/Real-Live-Remastered-Bob-Dylan/dp/B00FITJAHC
  48. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bob-Dylan-Real-Live-Music-Performance-Vinyl/446945787
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