Bob Dylan -- Recommended Live Performances



There is no particular set of criteria for selecting these performances, and I certainly don't claim that my choices represent the most technically excellent live versions. The list is simply my favorite live performances, and subject to change at whim. When no choice is listed, I simply haven't happened upon a performance that stands out to my ear (or, sometimes, I haven't heard a live Dylan version of the song at all).

Dates in italics represent the only known Dylan live performance, or, for the earliest years, the only surviving Dylan live performance. Corrections, and particularly identifications of songs I've omitted from the list, are encouraged, and will often be gracelessly acknowledged.

BOB DYLAN
Talkin' New York April 16, 1962
Man Of Constant Sorrow February 4, 1990
Pretty Peggy-O July 4, 1988
Highway 51 September 22, 1962
Baby Let Me Follow You Down November 25, 1976
House Of The Rising Sun July 17, 1986
Song To Woody October 16, 1992
See That My Grave Is Kept Clean Gaslight 10/62
FREEWHEELIN' BOB DYLAN
Blowin' In The Wind August 1, 1971 (E)
Girl From The North Country
Masters Of War February 16, 1994
Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall November 4, 1975 (E)
Don't Think Twice November 4, 2000
Bob Dylan's Dream April 12, 1963
Oxford Town October 25, 1990
Talking World War III Blues October 31, 1964
Honey Just Allow Me Folksinger's Choice
TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'
Times They Are A-Changin' November 13, 1975 (E)
Ballad Of Hollis Brown February 14, 1974 (A)
With God On Our Side November 17, 1994
One Too Many Mornings May 17, 1966
Only A Pawn In Their Game August 28, 1963
Boots Of Spanish Leather
When The Ship Comes In October 26, 1963
Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
Restless Farewell November 19, 1995
ANOTHER SIDE OF BOB DYLAN
All I Really Want To Do
Spanish Harlem Incident October 31, 1964
Chimes Of Freedom October 16, 1987
To Ramona October 16, 1987
My Back Pages December 10, 1997
I Don't Believe You January 6, 1974 (E)
It Ain't Me, Babe August 31, 1969
BRINGING IT ALL BACK
Subterranean Homesick September 4, 1988
She Belongs To Me February 14, 1974 (A)
Maggie's Farm June 7, 1988
Love Minus Zero/No Limit December 10, 1997
Bob Dylan's 115th Dream October 19, 1988
Mr. Tambourine Man December 2, 1975
Gates Of Eden
It's Alright Ma (I'm Only January 31, 1974 (E)
It's All Over Now Baby Blue July 24, 1965
HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED
Like A Rolling Stone May 17, 1966
Tombstone Blues September 3, 1965
It Takes A Lot To Laugh January 12, 1990
From A Buick 6 September 3, 1965
Ballad Of A Thin Man
Queen Jane Approximately
Highway 61 Revisited December 10, 1997
Just Like Tom Thumb's May 14, 1966
Desolation Row June 9, 1998
BLONDE ON BLONDE
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 February 15, 1999
Pledging My Time
Visions Of Johanna June 21, 1995
One Of Us Must Know August 12, 1997
I Want You
Memphis Blues Again May 3, 1976
Leopard-Skin Pillbox Hat May 16, 1966
Just Like A Woman
Most Likely You Go Your January 6, 1974 (E)
Absolutely Sweet Marie
Fourth Time Around May 5, 1966
Obviously Five Believers
GREATEST HITS
Positively 4th Street April 13, 1966
BASEMENT TAPES
Tears Of Rage April 18, 2001
Down In The Flood January 1, 1972
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere April 19, 1997
This Wheel's On Fire
JOHN WESLEY HARDING
As I Went Out One Morning January 10, 1974
I Dreamed I Saw St.
All Along The Watchtower July 12, 1996
Ballad Of Frankie Lee July 10, 1987
Drifter's Escape
Dear Landlord
I Pity The Poor Immigrant
The Wicked Messenger
Down Along The Cove June 14, 1999
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
NASHVILLE SKYLINE
To Be Alone With You
I Threw It All Away
Lay Lady Lay
One More Night
Tell Me That It Isn't True
Country Pie
Tonight I'll Be Staying
SELF PORTRAIT
I Forgot More Than You'll
Early Morning Rain July 16, 1989
Let It Be Me
Living The Blues May 1, 1969
Mighty Quinn August 31, 1969
Minstrel Boy August 31, 1969
NEW MORNING
If Not For You
If Dogs Run Free
New Morning
The Man In Me
GREATEST HITS II
I Shall Be Released
Tomorrow Is A Long Time April 12, 1963
Watching The River Flow
When I Paint My Masterpiece
PAT GARRETT/BILLY THE KID
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
DYLAN
Spanish Is The Loving May 11, 1976
PLANET WAVES
Going, Going, Gone
Tough Mama August 12, 1997
Hazel November 17, 1994
Something There Is About January 6, 1974 (A)
Forever Young
You Angel You February 8, 1990
Wedding Song
BLOOD ON THE TRACKS
Tangled Up In Blue
Simple Twist Of Fate
You're A Big Girl Now January 18, 1998
Idiot Wind
You're Gonna Make Me
Lily/Rosemary/Jack Hearts May 25, 1976 [NC]
If You See Her Say Hello
Shelter From The Storm September 15, 1987
Buckets Of Rain November 18, 1990
DESIRE
Hurricane
Isis December 4, 1975
Mozambique May 3, 1976
One More Cup Of Coffee June 15, 1988
Oh Sister
Joey
Romance In Durango
Sara
STREET-LEGAL
Changing Of The Guards December 9, 1978
Baby Stop Crying
Is Your Love In Vain?
Seņor September 15, 1987
True Love Tends To Forget
We Better Talk This Over
Where Are You Tonight?
SLOW TRAIN COMING
Gotta Serve Somebody June 24, 1998
Precious Angel
I Believe In You June 29, 1981
Slow Train
Gonna Change My Way Of
Do Right To Me Baby
When You Gonna Wake Up
Man Gave Names To All The December 5, 1979
When He Returns November 18, 1979
SAVED
Saved
Covenant Woman
What Can I Do For You?
Solid Rock
Pressing On
In The Garden March 31, 1995
Saving Grace
Are You Ready?
SHOT OF LOVE
Shot Of Love
Heart Of Mine
Lenny Bruce
Watered-Down Love
Dead Man, Dead Man September 15, 1987
In The Summertime
Trouble October 22, 1989
Every Grain Of Sand
Groom's Still Waiting November 15, 1980
INFIDELS
Jokerman
License To Kill
Man Of Peace
Union Sundown
I And I August 20, 1993
EMPIRE BURLESQUE
Tight Connection To My November 17, 1993
Seeing The Real You April 19, 1997
I'll Remember You
Clean-Cut Kid
Never Gonna Be The Same
Trust Yourself
Emotionally Yours
When The Night Comes
Dark Eyes December 17, 1995
BIOGRAPH
Abandoned Love July 3, 1975
Caribbean Wind November 12, 1980
Lay Down Your Weary Tune October 26, 1963
Percy's Song October 26, 1963
KNOCKED OUT LOADED
Driftin' Too Far From
Precious Memories
Got My Mind Made Up June 9, 1986
HEARTS OF FIRE
Couple More Years November 26, 1980
Had A Dream About You Baby July 2, 1988
DOWN IN THE GROOVE
When Did You Leave Heaven
Sally Sue Brown
Ugliest Girl In The World
Silvio
Ninety Miles An Hour
Rank Strangers To Me September 4, 1988
OH MERCY
Political World
Where Teardrops Fall
Everything Is Broken
Ring Them Bells
Man In The Long Black Coat July 5, 1998
Most Of The Time
What Good Am I? October 31, 1989
Disease Of Conceit
What Was It You Wanted
Shooting Star
UNDER THE RED SKY
Wiggle Wiggle July 24, 1991
Under The Red Sky August 23, 1997
Unbelievable
Born In Time December 10, 1997
T.V. Talkin' Song
10,000 Men November 10, 2000
2 x 2
God Knows August 8, 1997
Cat's In The Well October 24, 1992
THE BOOTLEG SERIES 1-3
Hard Times In New York Folksinger's Choice
He Was A Friend Of Mine September 6, 1961
Man On The Street September 6, 1961
No More Auction Block Gaslight 10/62
Talkin' Bear Mountain September 6, 1961
Let Me Die In My Footsteps July 2, 1962
Quit Your Low Down Ways July 2, 1962
Walls Of Red Wing April 12, 1963
Talkin' John Birch Paranoid April 25, 1963
Who Killed Davey Moore? October 26, 1963
Only A Hobo Oscar Brand 3/63
Moonshine Blues Gaslight 10/62
Seven Curses October 26, 1963
Mama You Been On My Mind June 15, 1988
If You Gotta Go, Go Now October 31, 1964
Nobody 'Cept You January 6, 1974 (A)
Seven Days April 19, 1996
Blind Willie McTell
Series Of Dreams
GOOD AS I BEEN TO YOU
Jim Jones June 19, 1993
Blackjack Davey September 13, 1993
Little Maggie
Hard Times
Tomorrow Night
You're Gonna Quit Me
WORLD GONE WRONG
Ragged And Dirty
Blood In My Eyes
Delia November 17, 1993
Two Soldiers
Jack-A-Roe
GREATEST HITS 3
Dignity November 18, 1994
UNPLUGGED
John Brown
TIME OUT OF MIND
Love Sick June 25, 1998
Cold Irons Bound
Standing In The Doorway October 1, 2000
Million Miles
Til I Fell In Love With December 10, 1997
Not Dark Yet
Make You Feel My Love
Trying To Get To Heaven
Can't Wait
Highlands June 25, 1999
BOOTLEG SERIES 4
Tell Me Momma May 17, 1966
SINGLES
Rita Mae May 3, 1976
Things Have Changed July 1, 2000
TRIBUTES/SOUNDTRACKS/ETC
Band Of The Hand
Blue-Eyed Jane January 26, 1999
Dear Mrs Roosevelt January 20, 1968
Grand Coulee Dam January 20, 1968
I Ain't Got No Home January 20, 1968
People Get Ready
Pretty Boy Floyd
You Don't Know Me November 5, 1991
UNRELEASED/MISCELLANEOUS
Ain't Gonna Go To Hell
Ain't No Man Righteous May 7, 1980
All Over You
Ballad Of The Gliding Swan
City Of Gold
Coming From The Heart October 31, 1978
Congratulations
Cover Down Break Through
Dusty Old Fairgrounds April 12, 1963
Farewell April 26, 1963
Heartland
Hero Blues January 3, 1974
Jesus Is The One
Let's Begin
Let's Keep It Between Us
Long Distance Operator December 4, 1965
Love You Too Much
Rocks And Gravel
Roll On John Folksinger's Choice
Shake
Sign Language
Standing On The Highway Folksinger's Choice
Stealin'
Stepchild
Thief On The Cross November 10, 1981
Train Of Pain
Troubled And I Don't Know August 17, 1963
Ye Playboys And Playgirls July 28, 1963
You've Been Hiding Too Long April 12, 1963
UNRELEASED COVERS
20/20 Vision October 25, 1991
1913 Massacre November 4, 1961
Abraham, Martin & John
Acne
Across The Borderline
Ain't No More Cane Gaslight October 1962
Alabama Getaway November 18, 1999
All My Tomorrows
And It Stoned Me
Answer Me
Around And Around
Baby Don't You Go
Baby Please Don't Go
Backwater Blues November 4, 1961
Barbara Allen
Be Not A Stranger
Big River
Black Cross Gaslight October 1962
Black Muddy River
Blessed Is The Name
Blue Bonnet Girl November 1, 2000
Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Blue Suede Shoes
Car Car September 6, 1961
Cocaine Blues December 16, 1997
Confidential
Crazy Love June 28, 1989
Cuckoo Is A Pretty Bird Gaslight October 1962
Dancing In The Dark January 12, 1990
Dark As A Dungeon
Deep Ellem Blues April 25, 1962
Deportees
Detroit City November 12, 1990
Dink's Song
Dolly Dagger
Don't Let Your Deal Go
Don't Pity Me
Don't Start Me To Talking March 22, 1984
Duncan And Brady
Dust My Broom
East Virginia Blues Scruggs December 1970
Eileen Aroon
Enough Is Enough
Everybody's Movin' June 10, 1988
Female Rambling Sailor
Fever November 22, 1980
Fixin' To Die
Folsom Prison Blues
Friend Of The Devil May 1, 1996
Girl I Left Behind September 29, 1961
Girl On The Green Briar
Give My Love To Rose
Go Down Moses September 5, 1987
Golden Vanity
Gospel Plow November 4, 1961
Gotta Travel On
Great Divide Gerdes September 1961
Hallelujah
Hallelujah I'm Ready
Handsome Molly
Hang Me Oh Hang Me
Hangknot Slipknot May 6, 1961
Hard Traveling Folksinger's Choice
The Harder They Come
Hazy Shade Of Winter July 1, 1992
Help Me Make It Through January 12, 1990
Here Comes The Sun July 1, 1981
Hey Good Lookin'
Hey Joe July 12, 1992
Hey La La (Hey La La)
Homeward Bound
Honky Tonk Blues February 15, 1999
Hootchie Cootchie Man
House Of Gold
Humming Bird
I Am The Man Thomas
I Can't Be Satisfied
I Still Miss Someone
I Walk The Line
I Will Love Him
I Will Sing
In The Pines January 12, 1990
It's All In The Game
It's Too Late
I'm A Steady Rollin' Man
Im Glad I Got To See You
I'm In The Mood For Love
I'm Moving On
I'm Not Supposed To Care
I'm Ready
Just A Little Bit
Justine
Kansas City
Key To The Highway January 12, 1990
Kind-Hearted Woman Blues Gaslight October 1962
Lady Came From Baltimore
Lady Of Carlisle
Lakes Of Pontchartrain June 10, 1988
Legend In My Time
Let The Good Times Roll
Let's Learn To Live And
Little Moses October 24, 1992
Lonesome Bedroom Blues
Lonesome Town
Lonesome Whistle Blues
Long Time A-Growin' November 4, 1961
Long Time Man Feel Bad Folksinger's Choice
Love Her With A Feeling
Make Me A Pallet On Your Faier October 1962
Making Believe June 24, 1989
Mary From The Wild Moor
Matchbox August 24, 1998
Moon River August 27, 1990
Moondance
More & More
Motherless Children Gaslight October 1962
My Head's In Mississippi
Nadine June 17, 1988
Naomi Wise
New Minglewood Blues June 24, 1996
Newry Highwayman June 19, 1998
No More One More Time
Nothing But You July 16, 1989
Nowhere Man August 12, 1990
Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie April 22, 1997
Old Rock & Roller
One Irish Rover
Pancho And Lefty
Paid The Price January 12, 1990
Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Savior February 24, 1999
Peace In The Valley
People Putting People Down
Pirate Looks At Forty June 6, 1982
Poor Lazarus
Pretty Polly September 6, 1961
Railroad Boy
Ramblin' Man
Real Real Gone
Red Cadillac And A Black
Repossession Blues
Rise Again November 30, 1980
Rock Of Ages
Rock With Me Baby
Roving Gambler
Sally Gal April 25, 1962
San Francisco Bay Blues
Shake A Hand
Shake Sugaree December 1, 1997
She's Love Crazy
Sitting On The Dock Of August 18, 1990
Smokestack Lightning Folksinger's Choice
Somebody Touched Me
So Long, Good Luck And
Soon March 11, 1987
Sounds Of Silence
Stand By Me
Stone Walls And Steel Bars
Talking Columbia May 6, 1961
Talking Fish Blues May 6, 1961
That Lucky Old Sun November 5, 1991
That'll Be The Day
This Land Is Your Land
This World Can't Stand
Trail Of The Buffalo July 24, 1991
Times We've Known November 1, 1998
Trouble No More January 12, 1990
Tupelo Honey
Unchain My Heart July 11, 1986
Uranium Rock
Vincent Van Gogh
Viola Lee Blues February 24, 1997
Waggoner's Lad October 19, 1988
Walk A Mile In My Shoes January 12, 1990
The Wanderer
The Water Is Wide November 11, 1975
We Just Disagree
We Three
Weary Blues From Waitin' April 18, 1976
Weeping Willow November 17, 1993 (II)
Weight
West L.A. Fadeaway
West Texas Gaslight October 1962
When First Unto This
White Dove December 17, 1997
Why Do I Have To Choose
Wild Mountain Thyme August 31, 1969
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Willin'
Yesterday