Bob Dylan & The Band - New Year's Eve Concert - Academy of Music - Dec. 31, 1971

Crash On The Levee (Down In The Flood) 00:00
When I Paint My Masterpiece 05:43
Don't Ya Tell Henry 09:58
Like a Rolling Stone 14:10
Rolling Stone Magazine
Issue 101/Feb. 3, 1972
New York - Bob Dylan celebrated New Year’s Eve with a surprise appearance at the Band‘s concert at the Academy of Music.
Dylan strode onto the stage following the Band’s encore number and was greeted with a joyous roar of recognition by more than 3000 fans who had already listened to two and a half hours of music with the Band.
Dressed in a dark corduroy jacket, white T-shirt, jeans and boots, and playing an old solid-body electric guitar, Dylan ripped through four numbers in 20 minutes, with the Band in its old role as his backup group.
The appearance was clearly unrehearsed. Dylan and the boys in the Band huddled before each song to work out chords and impromptu arrangements.
They did “Down in the Flood,” featured on Dylan’s Greatest Hits Volume II but performed here with much of the 1968 basement tapes; “When I Paint My Masterpiece,” done in the Band’s version; “Don’t You Tell Henry,” also a relic of the basement tapes and here performed live by Dylan for the first time; and “Like a Rolling Stone,” a long rousing version which brought back memories of Dylan’s touring days.
Dylan introduced the last tune with an apology, explaining to the audience that “we haven’t played this together in six years.” (Actually, he played the song with the Band at the 1969 Isle of Wight festival, but no one rose to correct the error.)
“Like a Rolling Stone” marked the high point of the short set, with Robbie Robertson and the Band pumping away 1965-style and the audience shouting along on the chorus. Dylan smiled broadly as the crowd roared, “How does it feel . . . ” back at the stage. Even the Band’s new horn section, who shared the second half of the bill, shouted along with the crowd.
Down in the large orchestra pit tape machines rolled away during the Dylan performance, as they had throughout the Band’s New Year’s Eve concert, which ended a four-day stint at the Academy of Music. A spokesman for the Band said it was “not yet definite” what would be done with the tapes.
The concert started late because the Band wished to be onstage when 1971 passed on. An obscure Japanese samurai movie was shown during the day. When midnight did roll around it was greeted by Garth Hudson, who interrupted his traditional organ solo on “Chest Fever” with a sprightly “Auld Lang Syne.”

[@martinkatz8714]

This was the first time I saw Dylan play. It was a special birthday treat for me!!!

[@chriscooke2974]

Thank you for bringing back memories. I worked at the Academy of Music (1971-72) and remember The Band's run of four nights very well. Amazing music, sound and crowds. I was working in the lobby when my boss (Steve Hirsch) said a special guest would come out for the encores and he needed extra security and wanted me in "the pit" in front of the stage. Never told me who the special guest was, so imagine my surprise when Bob Dylan appeared. Happy New Year everyone, stay safe!

[@paintedpassport]

That's a great story, Chris. Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year!

[@danh367]

wonderful New Years memory

[@liamclarke5851]

Keith Kevan , Herbie Mitch, Bave Jacobs and many more great guys worked there, seems like yesterday

[@peterhendriks4736]

I always love those drunken sailor background vocals only the band could produce. Unclose harmony.

[@strumyk45]

It`s fuckin deadly

[@jnm92]

This version of When I Paint My Masterpiece is so incredible.. It sounds drunk, aggresive, amazing. Love Bob when he's completely out of his head.

[@tonyhoyt]

LONG LIVE THE BAND !

[@nelsonx5326]

Long live Bob Dylan.

[@traceyswanberg9340]

Fantastic and with the band especially how good is Levon

[@barbarapowell137]

Such a strong voice in a good place

[@louisemariediemer7402]

Message I hear is yah goddah find yourself. That is a truthful message from Bob Dylan to us!!! It’s only Rock & Roll and we Love ❤️ to Rock & Roll all Day and Night makes this experience Alright!!!!

[@rb6338]

Thanks for sharing this spontaneous and billiant moment of music with Bob and the Band ! These guys wrote and performed the best rock&folk music forever!

[@deanallen927]

This would be a fucking AWESOME E.P.

[@paulferranti8536]

They released this Dylan set on a extended anniversary edition of The Bands "Rock Of Ages"

[@psychicannettedion]

So awesome

[@carmelcrowley158]

I saw the lightning cross the road, high tides are rising pack up your suitcase, best frien now, well put your records on love that sound, what's going to rise way down, going to have find yourself

[@tomdavidson3069]

Just hearing this for the 1st time..Fantastic ! Thank you so much.

[@boczernyk2619]

Love The BAND , just watching all the new archivist uploads on KZbin. Last Waltz in HD is a gem

[@mario7frankielee]

not just another upload! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@franfigarotta4760]

Just fantastic. Perfect time to sit back and forget!

[@barbarapowell137]

Love to hear them thank you

[@barbarapowell137]

As good as it gets😊

[@monicatolipan3238]

Absolutely awesome!!! THANKS SO MUCH!

[@smalltimeblues]

Pretty accurate description. Most people forget about the Samurai movie. Lucky to have seen this show and one earlier in the week. For the record, the encore was "Rock 'n Roll Shoes."

[@nissi.k]

Thank you Painted Passport! This is fantastic! Happy New Year! 🎉

[@janbrandt6857]

Brillant Sound for a 71 bootleg(?) recording!

[@barbarapowell137]

Garth helped make this sound so good

[@helenbostock2350]

What ever the matter will you now great

[@Dan_Frechette_Songwriter]

Yes!!!

[@QuaaludeCharlie]

We had a flood here in St.Louis this Year :) QC

[@Sumotori.]

When I Paint My Masterpiece By Bob Dylan [Verse 1] Oh, the streets of Rome are filled with rubble Ancient footprints are everywhere You can almost think that you’re seeing double On a cold, dark night on the Spanish Stairs Got to hurry on back to my hotel room Where I’ve got me a date with Botticelli’s niece She promised that she’d be right there with me When I paint my masterpiece [Verse 2] Oh, the hours I’ve spent inside the Colosseum Dodging lions and wasting time Oh, those mighty kings of the jungle, I could hardly stand to see them Yes, it sure has been a long, hard climb Train wheels running through the back of my memory When I ran on the hilltop following a pack of wild geese Someday, everything is going to be smooth like a rhapsody When I paint my masterpiece Bridge] Sailing 'round the world in a dirty gondola Oh, to be back in the land of Coca-Cola [Verse 3] Well, I left Rome and landed in Brussels On a plane ride so bumpy that I almost cried Clergymen in uniform and young girls pulling mussels Everyone was there to greet me when I stepped inside Newspapermen eating candy Had to be held down by big police Someday, everything is going to be different When I paint my masterpiece

[@boczernyk2619]

I grew up next door to the Bill Graham Filmore East. high school on 15th Street. Got held up at age 14 by a big black junkie w a knife wanting a quarter 25 cents...on the way to the Academy of Music on 14th Street. Many shows at Academy along w Fillmore

[@frederickpando9444]

Robbie Robertson said the most amazing thing about Bob Dylan is that he can remember the lyrics to songs that over ten minutes long...well he forgot the lyrics to the second verse to Like A Rolling Stone.

[@nelsonx5326]

I always wondered about that. I like stories like that about Bob because they make him more human. I wrote one song in my life and don't have it memorized. I play classical guitar and have a dozen intricate songs memorized, but it's like my hands know the song. Dylan's songs have so much imagery, he might be able to see what picture to sing about next.

[@suzannebailey2219]

I forgive him!

[@LoveFlatfootin1]

I always heard that he did that purposely to avoid being bored.

[@stevenhk8856]

Funny!!

[@marakaretsos5204]

🎹🎵☘️⭐️

[@golds04]

The lyrics? It was NYE......Wrong words and all- still majestic. Ty

[@lorenzozorloni693]

Dylan said sixteen years about Like a rolling Stone!😂

[@ricardoborges8931]

@13:43 "let's do rolling stone and leave" 😂

[@yamapenny5960]

supergeil

[@targarosko]

♥♥♥♥♥

[@tageschance5501]

#joshuasrow ❤

[@RandomEarthCinema]

worst lyrical flub in bob's career at 16:43

[@paintedpassport]

Dylan flubbed the same section at the Isle of Wight, which was the only other time he performed "Like a Rolling Stone" between 1966 and 1974. I blame the mystery tramp.