Bob Dylan: 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration (1993)
**** (out of 4)
Was there really another artist other than Bob Dylan to receive such a tremendous tribute? There have been countless tributes over the years but I honestly can't think of a bigger one that happened before or after this one. I mean, pretty much everyone who was somebody are on hand here and the performances are just riveting.
There are countless great performances scattered throughout the nearly three hour running time but some of the highlights include: John Mellencamp (Like a Rolling Stone), Stevie Wonder (Blowin' in the Wind), Lou Reed (Fool of Pride), Tracy Chapman (The Times They Are a Changin'), Johnny Cash (It Ain't Me Babe), Kris Kristofferson (I'll Be Your Baby Tonight), Richie Havens (Just Like a Woman), When the Ship Comes In (The Clancy Brothers), Eric Clapton (Don't Think Twice, It's All Right), Neil Young (Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, All Along the Watertower), The O'Jays (Emotionally Yours), George Harrison (Absolutely Sweet Marie), The Band (When I Paint My Masterpiece), Tom Petty (License to Kill, Rainy Day Woman, Mr. Tambourine Man) and then Dylan performs on It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), My Back Pages, Knockin' on Heaven's Door and Girl from the North Country.
If you're a fan of any of these artists then you'll be thrilled to have such strong performances. Often times these tributes get famous people who just aren't comfortable with the songs they're performing but that's not the case here. The entire concert has an atmosphere where you know a legend is being paid tribute to and everyone knows all the legends in the building so everyone brings their A game. This concert also features the now infamous moment of Sinead O'Connor being booed off the stage, which is too bad because her rehearsal version of "I Believe in You" is among the best tracks out there.