Bob Dylan – Evening’s Empire, 1984-1986

Bob Dylan
EVENING’S EMPIRE
Pink Panther Records
late 1984 to early 1986

The non-Empire Burlesque studio tracks from late 1984 to early 1986,
along with miscellaneous live concerts.

A quiet year for Bob but an interesting one.

mp3@320kbps converted by NCH Switch from genuine FLAC.

FLAC version to follow.

Sound: generally excellent, sometimes very good, occasionally poor.

Rating stars: lots of ’em.

39 tracks
Three hours of fabulous music.

Bob Dylan
Intergalactic Studio
New York City, New York
24 July 1984

“Al Green” recording session

Honey Wait

Bob Dylan and probably Carolyn Dennis shared vocal,
Ron Wood (guitar), Steve Potts (drums).
Other musicians usually identified as members of Al Green’s band.

LB-4820

Delta Sound
New York City, New York
26 July 1984

Empire Burlesque recording session

2.Driftin’ Too Far From Shore
3.Firebird
4.Who Loves You More
5.Wolf (Groovin’ At Delta)

Bob Dylan (vocal, piano, synthesizer & guitar), Ron Wood (guitar),
John Paris (bass), Anton Fig (drums), Carolyn Dennis (vocal).

Backing vocals by Queen Ester Marrow, Peggi Blue and Carolyn Dennis
were added at an overdub session 3 March 1985.

Richard Seher (synthesizer) and Bashiri Johnson (percussion), Darryl Dixin,
Robin Eubanks, David Watson, Marvin Daniels (horns)
were added at an overdub session at Shake Down Studio, New York City, New York, March 1985.

LB-8350;
Real Cuts At Last (GWW Productions)
Transfer from Vinyl: JTT;
Equipment: Very Good Quality Vinyl Discs >
Technics SL-110/SME 3009 Series 111/Goldring G1010 >
Onkyo P-304 Pre Amp > Soundforge 9 >
FLAC Level 6 Align on sector boundaries;
Minimal vinyl restoration applied

The Power Station
New York City, New York
September 1984

Lone Justice recording session

6.Go Away Little Boy

Bob Dylan (vocal, guitar), Ryan Hedecock (guitar), Ron Wood (guitar),
Marvin Etzioni (bass), Benmont Tench (organ), Don Heffington (drums).

Oceanway Studios
Los Angeles, California
November 1984

7.In The Summertime (Ray Dorset)
8.Freedom For The Stallion (Allen Toussaint)
9.Oceanway Instrumental # 2
10.Oceanway Instrumental # 7

Bob Dylan (vocal & electric guitar) backed by unidentified musicians.

LB-6762;
Important Words (Wanted Man / WMM-014)

except Freedom For The Stallion

LB-6622;
Genuine Bootleg Series Take 2 (Scorpio / GZ H21975-H2202-H21930)

Cherokee Studio
Hollywood
Los Angeles, California
6 December 1984

Empire Burlesque recording session

11.New Danville Girl

Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), Mike Campbell (guitar),
Benmont Tench (keyboards), Howie Epstein (bass),

Cherokee Studio
Hollywood
Los Angeles, California
14 February 1985

Empire Burlesque Valentine’s Day recording session

12.Straight A’s In Love
13.Waiting To Get Beat
14.The Very Thought Of You

Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), Mike Campbell (guitar),
Vince Melamed (keyboards), Howie Epstein (bass), Don Heffington (drums).

Richard Seher (synthesizer) and Bashiri Johnson (percussion) were added
at an overdub session at Shake Down Studio, New York City, New York, March 1985.

A & M Studios
Hollywood
Los Angeles, California
28 February 1985

We Are The World recording session produced by Quincy Jones.

1.We Are The World (Michael Jackson/Lionel Ritchie)

Bob Dylan (vocal), Quincy Jones (vocal), Stevie Wonder (piano),
John Barnes (synthesizer), Michael Boddicker (synthesizer), Mike Melvoin (synthesizer),
Louis Johnson (bass), John Robinson (drums).

Eventually overdubbed with:

Dan Aykroyd (vocal), Harry Belafonte (vocal), Lindsey Buckingham (vocal),
Kim Carnes (vocal), Ray Charles (vocal), Sheila E (vocal), Bob Geldof (vocal),
Hall And Oates (vocal), James Ingram (vocal), Jackie Jackson (vocal),
La Toya Jackson (vocal), Marlon Jackson (vocal), Michael Jackson (vocal),
Randy Jackson (vocal), Tito Jackson (vocal), Al Jarreau (vocal), Waylon Jennings (vocal),
Billy Joel (vocal), Cyndi Lauper (vocal), Huey Lewis (vocal), Kenny Loggins (vocal),
Bette Midler (vocal), Willie Nelson (vocal), Jeffrey Osborne (vocal), Steve Perry (vocal),
Greg Phillinganes (keyboards), The Pointer Sisters (vocal), Lionel Richie (vocal),
Smokey Robinson (vocal), Kenny Rogers (vocal), Diana Ross (vocal), Paul Simon (vocal),
Bruce Springsteen (vocal), Tina Turner (vocal), Dionne Warwick (vocal), Stevie Wonder (vocal).

The Home Of Ron Wood
New York City, New York
12 July 1985

Rehearsals before Live Aid appearance

16.Blowin’ In The Wind
17.Careless Ethiopians
18.Little Maggie
19.When The Ship Comes In
20.Dark Eyes
21.Ballad Of Hollis Brown

Bob Dylan, Ron Wood, Keith Richards (guitars).

LB-0571;
Voices Of Freedom (Rattlesnake / RS-076)

John F. Kennedy Stadium
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
13 July 1985

Live Aid Concert

22.BBC Intermission

23.Jack Nicholson Intro
24.Ballad Of Hollis Brown
25.When The Ship Comes In
26.Blowin’ In The Wind

Bob Dylan, Ron Wood, Keith Richards (guitars).

27.Intermission

28.We Are The World (Michael Jackson/Lionel Ritchie)

Bob Dylan (guitar), shared vocals by Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, Mick Jagger,
Peter Paul And Mary, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Tina Turner and many many more.

29.BBC Intermission

Broadcast live on television worldwide by satellite.

Dylanís speech after Ballad Of Hollis Brown prompted the first Farm Aid concert later in 1985.

First live version of Ballad Of Hollis Brown since The Forum, Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, 14 February 1974.

First live version of When The Ship Comes In since Royal Festival Hall, London, England, 17 May 1964.

BBC Radio broadcast

Universal Studios
Los Angeles, California
19 September 1985
Farm Aid Rehearsals

30.Forever Young

Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), Benmont Tench (keyboards),
Debra Byrd, Queen Esther Marrow, Madelyn Quebec, Elisecia Wright (backing vocals).

31.Instrumental
32.Louie, Louie (Richard Berry)
33.That Lucky Old Sun (Haven Gillespie/Beasley Smith)

Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), Tom Petty (guitar),
Mike Campbell (guitar), Benmont Tench (keyboards), Howie Epstein (bass), Stan Lynch (drums),
Debra Byrd, Queen Esther Marrow, Madelyn Quebec, Elisecia Wright (backing vocals).

Memorial Stadium
University Of Illinois
Champaign, Illinois
22 September 1985

Farm Aid Concert

34.Shake

ITV UK Television

35.I’ll Remember You

Re-Transmissions (Storming Music Company / SMC-2642)

36.Trust Yourself

TV Guide (Head)

37.Maggie’s Farm

Re-Transmissions (Storming Music Company / SMC-2642)

Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), Tom Petty (guitar),
Mike Campbell (guitar), Benmont Tench (keyboards),
Howie Epstein (bass), Stan Lynch (drums),
Debra Byrd, Queen Esther Marrow, Madelyn Quebec, Elisecia Wright (backing vocals).

Willie Nelson (acoustic guitar) on Trust Yourself and Maggie’s Farm.

Madelyn Quebec (shared vocal) on I’ll Remember You and Trust Yourself.
Broadcast live by several radio and TV-stations in US and Canada.
Live debuts of Shake, I’ll Remember You and Trust Yourself.

John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center
Opera House
Washington, District Of Columbia
20 January 1986

Martin Luther King Day.

38.I Shall Be Released

Stevie Wonderís band Wonderlove.

39.Blowin’ In The Wind

Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), Stevie Wonder (shared vocal), Mary Travers (shared vocal),
Noel Paul Stookey (shared vocal & guitar), Peter Yarrow (shared vocal & guitar).

Broadcast by NBC-TV same day with two hours delay and later by several TV-stations worldwide
in the program An All-star Celebration Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

Rock on Bob!