Bob Dylan – Cesar Diaz & Other Assorted Desperados, 1990 Late Summer Tour

Bob Dylan
CESAR DIAZ & OTHER ASSORTED DESPERADOS
1990 Late Summer Tour of North America
Pink Panther Records

This is an interesting tour leg for the Never Ending Tour. GE Smith was exiting the band,
but presumably because of contractual commitments & lack of a suitable replacement, continued to play until October 1990.

Bob decided he would play a series of live auditions with various guitarists supplementing GE Smith:
John Staeheley (13,15,18 August),
Steve Bruton (19-29 August),
Miles Joseph (31 August 31-3 September),
Steve Ripley (4-9 September), and
Cesar Diaz (11-12 September) were all given this trial.

According to Cesar Diaz, Bob’s guitar & amp technician (& occasional guitar player), these weren’t the only ones auditioned. There were auditions at the rehearsals prior to the late summer tour & then again after it prior to the North American fall tour.

John Staeheley & Cesar Diaz eventually were the winners from this very public & messy gunfight & played the 1990 Fall Tour together.

There is a theory that Bob’s problems in 1991 were the result of GE’s departure & the inability to find a suitable replacement. There was nothing wrong with the auditioned guitar players – the problems lay elsewhere. The tapes prove it.

The 1990 late summer tour tapes vary from poor to excellent with sound quality. However, the best versions of each song give a very interesting collection. Unfortunately, most (but not all) of the Steve Ripley auditions are in poor sound.

The transition points in Bob’s career are always interesting & this is no exception – you will be surprised.

I also don’t doubt that Bob was drinking heavily at the time – there are just too many eye-witness accounts that this was so. However, this tour leg (& the 90 Fall Tour which followed) offer perfectly coherent & well executed songs without the slurred & forgotten lyrics, nasal whine & general disinterest of early 1991.

You haven’t seen it yet, but the 1990 Fall Tour Pink Panther is a real gem. Neither Bob nor the band fell apart musically in late-1990, despite all the stories.

PS – the two Edmonton concerts that begin this compilation are in poor sound, but the performances are wonderful.
If you want to hear Nowhere Man, put up with the sound, if you don’t, press the skip button.

all sourced from 100% lossless FLAC from best available sound sources.

converted to mp3@320kbps from the FLAC.

FLAC version to follow

Statistics for this compilation (yes, lies, damn lies & statistics masquerading as facts)

80 ball-tearing, sensational tracks
78 different songs
18 concerts are represented here (from the total of 23 concerts)
6 hours & 1 minute of music
1 bob

Rehearsals,
Unidentified Studio,
Unidentified Location, USA,
August 1990

In The Pines / Man Of Constant Sorrow / A Long Time A-Growin’ / Hey La La (Hey La La) /
Precious Memories / House Of Gold / Peace In The Valley / Everybody’s Rockin’ /
(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay / Stand By Me / Moon River / Shut Your Mouth / Trouble /
On A Night Like This / Eternal Circle / Spanish Harlem Incident / Heart Of Mine /
Had A Dream About You, Baby / One More Cup Of Coffee (Valley Below) / When Did You Leave Heaven?

Band: Dylan / Garnier / Parker / Smith

There is no tape in circulation from this rehearsal.

Note that Bob was rehearsing Moon River before the death of Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Cesar Diaz interviewed by Clinton Heylin

There were like seven people [auditioning for Smith’s place].
We were out in somewhere like Tulsa, or Texas, and that’s where we were having the auditions,
and then they went on the road with us. Every once in a while a new guy would come in.
One of the guys asked Bob for an autograph right after he auditioned for Bob. He blew it. Only one of them came back, [John Staeheley].
I saw him drink a pint of Jack Daniel’s backstage before a gig, ’cause he was so nervous.
Steve Bruton flew in his wife, thinking he was starting the shows at the Beacon Theater, and Bob just blew him off.

Jubilee Auditorium
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
12 August 1990

1.Nowhere Man (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
2.The Water Is Wide (trad.)

Concert # 211 of The Never-Ending Tour.
First concert of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 41.
Concert # 133 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums).

Acoustic with the band on The Water Is Wide.

Bob Dylan (harmonica) on The Water Is Wide.

LB-5898

Poor sound [C].

Jubilee Auditorium
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
13 August 1990

John Staeheley audition

3.No More One More Time (Troy Seals-Dave Kirby)
4.Queen Jane Approximately
5.Political World

Concert # 212 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Second concert of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 42.
Concert # 134 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and John Staeheley (guitar).

Bob Dylan (harmonica) on Queen Jane Approximately.

LB-4927;
xref-00581

Good sound [B].

Jubilee Auditorium
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
15 August 1990

John Staeheley audition

6.Early Morning Rain (Gordon Lightfoot)
7.Gotta Serve Somebody
8.It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry

Concert # 213 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Third concert of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 43.
Concert # 135 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) John Staeheley (guitar).

Bob Dylan (harmonica) on:
Early Morning Rain,
Gotta Serve Somebody,

LB-4928;
xref-00584;
Equipment: Audience recording > Unknown transfer >
CDR (x) > EAC (Secure/Offset) > FLAC (Level 8)

Good sound [B].

Jubilee Auditorium
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
16 August 1990

9.Lay, Lady, Lay

Concert # 214 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 4 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 44.
Concert # 136 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums).

Bob Dylan (harmonica) on Lay, Lady, Lay.

LB-4929;
xref-00590

Very good to excellent sound [B+].

Champs de Brionne Music Theater
George, Washington
18 August 1990

John Staeheley audition

10.Shelter From The Storm
11.Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay (Steve Cropper/Otis Redding)
12.Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
13.Man Of Constant Sorrow (trad. arr. Bob Dylan)
14.Gates Of Eden
15.Everything Is Broken
16.I Shall Be Released

Concert # 215 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 5 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 45.
Concert # 137 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and John Staeheley (Guitar).

Acoustic with the band:
Man Of Constant Sorrow,
Gates Of Eden.

Bob Dylan (harmonica) on:
Shelter From The Storm,
Everything Is Broken.

LB-9587;
Taper: JEMS;
Transfer: Mike Ziegler;
Equipment: Nakamichi CM-700 > Panasonic SV-250;
Transfer: Tascam DA-20 MKII > PreSonus FireStudio Project > Adobe Audition 3.0;
Lineage: DAT(M) > WAV [48kHz/16bit] > WAV [44.1kHz/16bit] > Flac

Very good to excellent sound [B+].

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Portland, Oregon
21 August 1990

Steve Bruton audition

17.Subterranean Homesick Blues
18.You’re A Big Girl Now
19.I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight
20.Lakes Of Pontchartrain (trad.)
21.What Good Am I?

Concert # 218 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 8 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 48.
Concert # 140 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and Steve Bruton (guitar).

Acoustic with the band on Lakes Of Pontchartrain.

Bob Dylan (harmonica) on:
You’re A Big Girl Now,
Lakes Of Pontchartrain.

LB-9593;
Taper: JEMS;
Transfer: Mike Ziegler:
Equipment: Nakamichi CM-700 > Panasonic SV-250;
Transfer: Tascam DA-20 MKII > PreSonus FireStudio Project > Adobe Audition 3.0;
Lineage: DAT(M) > WAV [48kHz/16bit] > WAV [44.1kHz/16bit] > Flac

Very good to excellent sound [B+].

State Fair Grandstand
Des Moines, Iowa
26 August 1990

Steve Bruton audition

22.I Believe In You
23.I Want You
24.Ballad Of A Thin Man
25.Girl Of The North Country
26.Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
27.Shooting Star
28.Let’s Learn To Live And Love Again (Jack Scott)

Concert # 220 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 10 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 50.
Concert # 142 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and Steve Bruton (guitar).

Acoustic with the band:
Girl Of The North Country,
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.

Bob Dylan (harmonica) on:
I Want You,
Ballad Of A Thin Man,
Girl Of The North Country,
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,
Shooting Star,
Let’s Learn To Live And Love Again.

LB-6435;
Transfer: JTT;
Equipment: Low Generation Cassette (TDK SA90, Dolby C) (JG) >
Akai GX95 (Dolby C) > Line in to Soundforge 9 >
FLAC Level 6 align on sector boundaries

Good sound [B].

Holiday Star Music Theater
Merrillville, Indiana
27 August 1990

Steve Bruton audition

29.Maggie’s Farm
30.Simple Twist Of Fate
31.Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
32.Man Of Peace
33.Desolation Row
34.It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
35.It Ain’t Me, Babe
36.Moon River (Henry Mancini/Johnny Mercer)
37.Friend Of The Devil (Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter/John Dawson)
38.Blowin’ In The Wind

Concert # 221 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 11 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 51.
Concert # 143 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and Steve Bruton (guitar).

Acoustic with the band:
Desolation Row,
It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding),
It Ain’t Me, Babe,
Blowin’ In The Wind.

3, 10, 17 Bob Dylan (harmonica) on:
Simple Twist Of Fate,
It Ain’t Me, Babe,
Blowin’ In The Wind.

Only known live version of Moon River.

First Friend Of The Devil.

Moon River was dedicated to Stevie Ray Vaughan who died in a helicopter crash the night before
after having played at an Eric Clapton concert in Alpine Valley.

BobTalk:

Everybody here knows about Stevie so … So this one’s for Stevie. Wherever you are Stevie.
(plays Moon River).

LB-2248

Excellent sound [A-].

Holiday Star Music Theater
Merrillville, Indiana
28 August 1990

Steve Bruton audition

39.To Be Alone With You
40.Positively 4th Street
41.Song To Woody
42.It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
43.Mr Tambourine Man
44.The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
45.I’ve Been All Around This World (trad.)
46.Stand By Me (Ernest Tubb)
47.Barbara Allen (trad.)

Concert # 222 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 12 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 52.
Concert # 144 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and Steve Bruton (guitar).

Acoustic with the band:
Song To Woody,
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue,
Mr Tambourine Man,
The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll.

Bob Dylan (vocal, guitar, harmonica), G.E. Smith (guitar) on Barbara Allen.

7-10, 17 Bob Dylan (harmonica) on:
To Be Alone With You,
Song To Woody,
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue,
Mr Tambourine Man,
The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll,
Barbara Allen.

Only known version of Stand By Me.

LB-7114

Excellent sound [A-].

Minnesota State Fair
Falcon Heights, Minnesota
29 August 1990

Steve Bruton audition

48.Ballad Of Hollis Brown
49.The Times They Are A-Changin’
50.Joey (Bob Dylan & Jacques Levy)

Concert # 223 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 13 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 53.
Concert # 145 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and Steve Bruton (guitar).

Acoustic with the band:
Ballad Of Hollis Brown,
The Times They Are A-Changin’.

Bob Dylan (harmonica) on The Times They Are A-Changin’

LB-4787;
xref-00616

Fair sound [B-].

Bob Devaney Sports Center
State Fair Park
Lincoln, Nebraska
31 August 1990

Miles Joseph audition

51.Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
52.All Along The Watchtower
53.Shooting Star
54.Like A Rolling Stone
55.Highway 61 Revisited

Concert # 224 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 14 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 54.
Concert # 146 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and Miles Joseph (guitar).

Bob Dylan (harmonica) on:
Shooting Star,
Like A Rolling Stone.

G.E. Smith (back-up vocal) on Highway 61 Revisited.

LB-4060;
Taper: Legendary Taper C (LTC);
Equipment: Audio disks derived from analogue master >
(dBpowerAMP set to compression level 6), > flac

Good sound [B].

Swiss Villa Amphitheater
Lampe, Missouri
1 September 1990

Miles Joseph audition

56.Marine Hymn (trad.)
57.Tangled Up In Blue
58.Masters Of War
59.I’ll Remember You
60.Love Minus Zero / No Limit

Concert # 225 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 15 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 55.
Concert # 147 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and Miles Joseph (guitar).

Short instrumental Marine Hymn.

Acoustic with the band on Love Minus Zero / No Limit.

Bob Dylan (harmonica) on:
Tangled Up In Blue,
I’ll Remember You,
Love Minus Zero / No Limit.

LB-4362;
Equipment: AUD Master Cassette [no equipment info] >
DAT(clones) > CD > EAC > WAV > Soundforge 6.0 > CD Wave > FLAC

Excellent sound [A].

Riverfront Amphitheater
Hannibal, Missouri
2 September 1990

Miles Joseph audition

61.Absolutely Sweet Marie
62.Mama, You Been On My Mind
63.Boots Of Spanish Leather
64.Pledging My Time

Concert # 226 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 16 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 56.
Concert # 148 with the second G. E. Smith band:

Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and Miles Joseph (guitar).

Acoustic with the band:
Mama, You Been On My Mind,
Boots Of Spanish Leather.

Bob Dylan (harmonica) on:
Absolutely Sweet Marie,
Mama, You Been On My Mind,
Boots Of Spanish Leather.

Sound man was arrested before the show for “unnecessary noise” during the support act.

First four songs were played via the musicians’ monitors only.

LB-0165;
xref-00586

Very good to excellent sound [B+].

Riverpark Amphitheater
Tulsa, Oklahoma
4 September 1990

Steve Ripley audition

65.Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)
66.Tomorrow Is A Long Time

Concert # 227 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 17 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 57.
Concert # 149 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and Steve Ripley (guitar).

LB-0140

Good sound [B].

Fair Park Music Hall
Dallas, Texas
6 September 1990

Steve Ripley audition

67.Ol’ Mac Donald (trad.)
68.Man In The Long Black Coat
69.Willing (Lowell George)
70.Trail Of The Buffalo (trad. arr. Woody Guthrie)
71.Every Grain Of Sand
72.In The Garden

Concert # 229 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 19 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 59.
Concert # 151 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and Steve Ripley (guitar).

Short instrumental Ol’ MacDonald.

Acoustic with the band on Trail Of The Buffalo.

Bob Dylan (harmonica) on:
Willing;
Every Grain Of Sand.

First version of Little Feat’s Willing.

LB-9612;
Taper: JB;
Equipment: Sony ECM 939T Mic > Sony WM-D6 >
Protools (for level adjustment, eq, compression, track separation) > Flac

Good sound [B].

Palmer Auditorium
Austin, Texas
9 September 1990

Steve Ripley audition

73.Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues

Concert # 231 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 21 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 61.
Concert # 153 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and Steve Ripley (guitar).

Only Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues during 1990.

LB-7108

Poor sound [C].

Paola Solerli Amphitheater
Santa FÈ, New Mexico
11 September 1990

Cesar Diaz audition

74.One Too Many Mornings
75.A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
76.Just Like A Woman

Concert # 232 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 22 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 62.
Concert # 154 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and Cesar Diaz (guitar)

Acoustic with the band:
One Too Many Mornings,
A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.

Bob Dylan (harmonica) on:
One Too Many Mornings,
Just Like A Woman.

LB-0145

Good sound [B].

Mesa Amphitheater
Mesa, Arizona
12 September 1990

Cesar Diaz audition.

77.Watching The River Flow
78.John Brown
79.Silvio (Bob Dylan & Robert Hunter)
80.Tears Of Rage (Bob Dylan & Richard Manuel)

Concert # 233 of The Never-Ending Tour.
Concert # 23 of the 1990 Late Summer Tour Of North America.
1990 concert # 63.
Concert # 155 with the second G. E. Smith

band: Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar),
Tony Garnier (bass), Christopher Parker (drums) and Cesar Diaz (guitar).

Acoustic with the band on John Brown.

Bob Dylan (harmonica) on Watching The River Flow.

G.E. Smith (back-up vocal) on Silvio.

LB-0138

Very good to excellent sound [B+].

Rock on, Bob!