Entry count: 6513
Article Bob Dylan

May 2nd, 1965: On the Road with Bob Dylan - Part Three - 'The Dylan Magic is here to Stay'

On the Road with Bob Dylan - Part Three - 'The Dylan Magic is here to Stay'

The events we write about at Gaslight Records happened in some form or another 50 years ago to the day. Roll along with us and imagine you are back in 1974.

Support Gaslight Records

On May 2nd 1965, Bob Dylan played a sold out show at the De Montfort Hall in Leicester, England. Up until that point only The Beatles had sold out a concert at De Montfort, not even The Rolling Stones had filled the venue.

Newspaper headlines in Leicester the following day read, 'The Dylan Magic Is Here to Stay'; and 'Bob Dylan Sells out De Montfort Hall'.

Joan Baez was reportedly disappointed about not being invited to join Dylan on stage for the final songs of the night, a trend that continued throughout the whole tour. Dylan later addressed the tension that arose between himself and Baez on the '65 UK tour in Martin Scorsese's documentary No Direction Home:

"You know it was probably a stupid thing to do, not letting her play - but you can't be wise and in love at the same time. I hope she'll see the light sooner or later on that."

Listen below to Dylan performing "The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll" in Leicester, May 2nd 1965.

Dylan performed the entire side two of his new record Bringing It All Back Home at the De Montfort show, but neglected to play any of the album's 'electric' songs. The setlist was as follows:

"The Times They Are a-Changin'"

"To Ramona"

"Gates of Eden"

"If You Gotta Go, Go Now (or Else You Got to Stay All Night)"

"It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)"

"Love Minus Zero/No Limit"

"Mr. Tambourine Man"

Intermission

"Talkin' World War III Blues"

"Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"

"With God on Our Side"

"She Belongs to Me"

"It Ain't Me Babe"

"The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll"

"All I Really Want to Do"

"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"

The all-acoustic format brought with it unreserved appreciation from fans and critics alike. Local paper The Mercury wrote, "His 100-minute solo performance to a sell-out audience of more then 3,000 at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall last night proved by its sincerity and sheer magic that he will outlive and probably outgrow any mere popularity boom"; and "In the last few months his “sound” and the almost mystical lyrics which he writes himself. . .have started off a new bandwagon in popular music, and have begun a fresh teenager cult on both sides of the Atlantic."

How quickly the tide of praise turned on Dylan, however. Upon returning to the venue one year later, he and his backing band were booed and jeered at by the crowd throughout the entire electric portion of their set. Reviewers had done an about-face on their 1965 positions also. One wrote that Dylan was "sacrificing lyric and melody to the God of Big Beat"; while another said that he had been "buried in a grave of deafening drums."

More recent news

John Prine returns with second album

News

August 26th, 1972: John Prine returns with second album

 
Joni Mitchell recording 5th studio album

News

August 24th, 1972: Joni Mitchell recording 5th studio album

28-year-old Joni Mitchell has begun recording her 5th studio album in Hollywood, California. For The Roses is Mitchell's follow up to her 1971 album Blue.

 
Bruce Springsteen has begun recording debut album in New York

News

August 23rd, 1972: Bruce Springsteen has begun recording debut album in New York

John Hammond signed Springsteen to Columbia Records earlier this year.

 
Black Sabbath share debut single 'Evil Woman': Listen

News

February 7th, 1970: Black Sabbath share debut single "Evil Woman": Listen

The English rock band's debut album is due out this week.

 
Norman Greenbaum releases 'Spirit In The Sky' from his debut album: Listen

News

December 30th, 1969: Norman Greenbaum releases "Spirit In The Sky" from his debut album: Listen

Greenbaum's sings the gospel on his new single

 
Watch The Jackson 5 perform single from their debut album on Ed Sullivan

News

December 23rd, 1969: Watch The Jackson 5 perform single from their debut album on Ed Sullivan

Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 is the latest release from Motown

 
The Clancy Brothers have released a new album of Christmas songs: Listen

News

December 20th, 1969: The Clancy Brothers have released a new album of Christmas songs: Listen

Irish folk group, The Clancy Brothers have recorded 11 songs to bring a little joy to your Christmas

 
See photos from The Doors album cover shoot in Los Angeles today

News

December 18th, 1969: See photos from The Doors album cover shoot in Los Angeles today

The new Doors album is due for release early next year.

 
Four people died over the weekend at The Altamont Speedway Free Festival

Article

December 10th, 1969: Four people died over the weekend at The Altamont Speedway Free Festival

Here's the story of Altamont in quotes from many of the people involved.

 
The Rolling Stones have released a new studio album ahead of their free concert tomorrow at Altamont

News

December 5th, 1969: The Rolling Stones have released a new studio album ahead of their free concert tomorrow at Altamont

As The Stones finish their run of U.S. concert dates they have released their eighth album, Let It Bleed.

 
Emmylou Harris covers Bob Dylan on debut album

News

December 3rd, 1969: Emmylou Harris covers Bob Dylan on debut album

Listen to Harris's cover of Dylan's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" from her album Gliding Bird

 
Peter Stone Brown covers Bob Dylan's 'She Belongs To Me'

Live At The Gaslight

Peter Stone Brown covers Bob Dylan's "She Belongs To Me"

Recorded in Atlantic City at Dylan Fest in 2015

 
Loading more