In my opinion Bob Dylan At Budokan is an overlooked classic which is too often derided because he was experimenting with a very different sound on this album and the studio LP Street Legal.
I love it.
It’s over 50 years ago that Dylan released his first studio album – Bob Dylan – and he’s gone on to release some of the most critically regarded rock and folk albums ever. In particular his 1965 and 1966 albums are widely recognised as amongst the best ever recorded by anyone.
Since live albums either preview or promote studio albums, it’s useful to see the timing of the releases of the studio recordings.
Studio Albums by Bob Dylan
1962 – Bob Dylan
1963 – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
1964 – The Times They Are a-Changin’
1964 – Another Side of Bob Dylan
1965 – Bringing It All Back Home
1965 – Highway 61 Revisited
1966 – Blonde on Blonde
1967 – John Wesley Harding
1969 – Nashville Skyline
1970 – Self Portrait
1970 – New Morning
1973 – Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
1973 – Dylan
1974 – Planet Waves
1975 – Blood on the Tracks
1975 – The Basement Tapes
1976 – Desire
1978 – Street Legal
1979 – Slow Train Coming
1980 – Saved
1981 – Shot of Love
1983 – Infidels
1985 – Empire Burlesque
1986 – Knocked Out Loaded
1988 – Down in the Groove
1989 – Oh Mercy
1990 – Under the Red Sky
1992 – Good as I Been to You
1993 – World Gone Wrong
1997 – Time Out of Mind
2001 – Love and Theft
2006 – Modern Times
2009 – Together Through Life
2009 – Christmas in the Heart
2012 – Tempest
2015 – Shadows In The Night
Live Albums by Bob Dylan
What about the Bob Dylan live albums?
Here are the main live albums release by Bob Dylan
1960 – 1965 Live Collection 4 CD Set
1960 – 1965 Live Collection 5 CD Box Set
1961 – Live in New York Gaslight Cafe 1961
1961 – Live At Carnegie Chapter Hall New York City November 4 1961
1961 – 2000 Live Thirty-Nine Years Of Great Concert Performances
1962 – Live at The Gaslight 1962
1963 – Live at Carnegie Hall 1963
1963 – At Carnegie Hall October 26 1963
1963 – In Concert – Brandeis University 1963
1964 – Live 1964, Concert at Philharmonic Hall
1966 – Live 1966, The “Royal Albert Hall” Concert
1974 – Before the Flood
1975 – Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue
1976 – Hard Rain
1976 – Shelter From A Hard Rain
1978 – At Budokan – review rating 26/30
1984 – Real Live – review rating 24/30
1987 – Dylan & The Dead
1994 – MTV Unplugged
Has he released a live album that can stand shoulder to shoulder with his studio classics Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde On Blonde or Blood On The Tracks?
Perhaps not but I’d like to know what you think is the best Bob Dylan live album so please vote in my poll. If you are unfamiliar with the Dylan live albums, then the opinions of the other readers will help you to find the albums that will best suit your tastes.
Buying Albums By Bob Dylan
These albums are available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk
The Best Live Albums Of All Time
When Dylan started out he was a folk singer so you may be interested in the best live folk albums and the best singer songwriter live albums.
Because there are so many excellent singer-songwriter albums with very different styles, I have split the poll into two and you may find some of your favourites in the second division. Albums will be promoted when they get enough votes.
You can get these albums from Amazon.com – Amazon.co.uk.
In my opinion Bob Dylan At Budokan is an overlooked classic which is too often derided because he was experimenting with a very different sound on this album and the studio LP Street Legal.
I love it.