Photo Credit: Barry Feinstein
1974 was an immensely important year for both Bob Dylan and the greater world of rock, which quaked with the legendary singer-songwriter’s explosive return to the stage. Nearly a decade after the 1966 motorcycle accident that forced the artist to withdraw from the live circuit, he returned triumphantly, imbuing his freshly electrified approach with a double dose of grit, zeal and spirit. Storming arenas for the first time in his career, Dylan and The Band–also at the height of its renown–blew through 30 dates in 42 days and set a new standard for rock performance that endures today.
Now, 50 years after that landmark era, Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings have announced The 1974 Live Recordings, an authoritative compendium of all the professionally recorded performances from the legendary run. To celebrate the golden anniversary of Dylan’s reemergence, the labels pored over the archives to capture his rapturous stage presence, culminating a likeness with unprecedented detail over a box set of 27 CDs. The collection comprises a staggering 417 previously unreleased live tracks, drawn from the 1/4” tape and cassettes from every single remaining stereo soundboard recording and the newly mixed 16-track tapes commissioned by David Geffen for release on Before the Flood.
To align with the release of The 1974 Live Recordings, Third Man Records has announced The 1974 Live Recordings – The Missing Songs From Before the Flood. This collection draws on the same original multitrack recordings as those featured in the larger box set, carefully curating versions of each track that Dylan performed, but never released on the classic ‘74 live album. Third Man’s version will be pressed on three vinyl LPs and one 7” record–plus a tri-fold sleeve, souvenir tour book and other archival odd-ends–and released via The Vault, the label’s vinyl subscription service.
The 1974 Live Recordings will arrive on streaming services and ship on September 20; the album is available to pre-order now. For fans overcome with anticipation, the labels have shared preview track: a previously unreleased rendition of “Forever Young,” set to tape in Seattle on Feb. 9, 1974. Listen to the first sample here or below.
Find the complete tracklist from The 1974 Live Recordings here.
