This live bootleg was recorded in 1966 during the European leg of Bob Dylan’s tour, that mainly took place in the United Kingdom. Bob Dylan started out as a singer and songwriter mainly influenced by Folk and Blues music. His first albums sounded like that, acoustic with guitar, harmonica. The song texts were the main reason why he obtained recognition. He was considered a spokesman for some. His texts were sociologically-conscious, politically-motivating and about American society as he witnessed it. Songs were critical towards the Vietnam war, establishment, corruption, racism and slavery. Besides those protest songs, he also rewrote some ballads and sang about past loves also.
During these recordings Bob Dylan starts with his traditional songs and they were well received by the London audience that expected this type acoustic ‘folk songs’. But in the second part he lets himself be accompanied by a band that plays on drums and electric guitars. Never seen before in his folk-styled pieces and highly untraditional for music in general during those years. A man in the audience yelled “Judas” at him, he replied “I don’t believe you”…
This recording is a reflection of this twist or change Bob Dylan created within his music and so gave birth to Rock ‘n Roll as we know it. The electrical sound he adapted caused many waves. His success increased, although also a group of fans could not appreciate this and evolution went too fast for them. The change gave music a completely new elan. And the audience felt that something had happened in that concert.
The lesson learned is that change is always confrontational. And that by following his inner vision, he no longer gave the audience what they wanted.
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