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Bob Dylan 1988 Never Ending Tour

Touring band
Bob Dylan:
vocal, guitar, harmonica
George Edward (G.E.) Smith: lead guitar, electric slide guitar, backup vocal
Kenny Aaronson: bass
Christopher Parker: drums

Big bands, strings and washed-out horns, background vocals and lack of inspiration, in 1988 Dylan throws it all away. With only drums (Chris Parker), lead guitar (G.E. Smith) and bass (Kenny Aaronson) a revived Dylan plays energetic rock and roll interspersed with short acoustic sets where traditionals sparkle. Who could ever imagine that this was the beginning of a work of art that encompasses decades?

After a bad year Dylan gets new inspiration from a cooperation with George Harrison, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison in The Traveling Wilburys. After this resulted in new songs and an album, Dylan starts with what turns out to be the first leg of the Never Ending Tour (NET). First a summer leg of 40 shows in the US, followed by 25 concerts in the US and Canada.
Neil Young plays electric guitar on the first 13 shows at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, CA and a few following shows.
The shows are short (60-90 minutes), with various supporting acts, among them The Alarm and Tracey Chapman. Almost no harmonica is played. The year ends with a  performance of 6 acoustic songs with G.E. Smith at the Bridge Benefit Concert at the Oakland Coliseum.

Releases
Down In The Groove
Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 (Traveling Wilbury’s are: Bob Dylan (guitar, keyboards, vocals); Roy Orbison (guitar, vocals); George Harrison (guitar, vocals); Tom Petty (bass, guitar, vocals; Jeff Lynne (guitar, synthesizer, keyboards, vocals).

Bob Dylan is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Recommended bootlegs
Live At Jones Beach Theatre 1988 (Shamrock SR- 201005/6). Perfect soundboard recording from Jones Beach, Wantaugh, NY, June 30. A must have.
Denver 1988 (Scorpio BD-08021). Soundboard recording of a great show in the Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, Denver, CO, June 15.

1988 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 71 shows, 87 different songs played, 13 live debuts and 19 covers played
* * * * * START OF THE NEVER ENDING TOUR * * * * *
DateVenueTitleNo of DisksLabel/SourceSoundArt/setlist/info
1988-04/05Malibu,Hollywood,Los Angeles, CAPark It Where The Sun Don't Shine2CDrHollow Horn/studioAOuttakes Traveling Wilburys Vol 1. See Compilations: Hollow Horn Studio Outtakes vol 8
1988-06-07Concord, CAConcord Pavilion1CDr/Tao-AFirst show in the Never Ending Tour (NET). Four live debuts: Subterranean Homesick Blues, Absolutely Sweet Marie, Lakes Of Pontchartrain (trad.) and Driftin' Too Far From Shore. w/Neil Young.
1988-06-10Berkeley, CA The Greek TheaterSan Francisco Bay BluesFlac/2CD Live Style LSD 20001/2
LB-5889
7w/Neil Young. Titel of this bootleg is from the Jesse Fuller song San Francisco Bay Blues, played in the acoustic set. Four covers in this show. Rank Strangers To Me (A. Brumley) and Everybody's Movin' (Glen Trout) were live debuts.
1988-06-15Denver, CO, Fiddler's Green AmphitheatreDenver 19881CDr/90mScorpio BD-08021/Sbd10Perfect recording of a great show. First ever performance of Eileen Aroon (Carolin O'Daly).
1988-06-17St. Louis, MOBorn in SpringFlacSouthside ButcherA-
1988-06-24Holmdel, NJ Garden State Performing Arts CenterNew Jersey 19881CDrScorpio BD-08022/Sbd10Entire 75 minute concert, another great show
1988-06-30Wantaugh, NYLive at Jones Beach Theatre2CDrShamrock 201005-6/Sbd10-
1988-07-03Portland, ME, Old Orchard BeachBy the Waterfront DocksFlac/1CDrScorpio BD0700810Excellent sound board recording.
1988-07-26Memphis, TN Mud Island AmpitheatreMudplex Part 1FlacMudrock 1-28w/Joe Walsh, guitar
1988-07-28Dallas, TX Starplex AmphitheatreMudplex Part 2FlacMudrock 2-3/LB-7842B+-
1988-09-04Bristol, CT Lake CompounceWanted ManFlacKiss The Stone KTS099/ SBD8Released: 1992, Italy. Debut of Had A Dream About You, Baby.
1988-09-07Essex Junction, VT Champlain Valley FairgroundsBeauty Walks On A Razor's EdgeFlac/2CDSouthside Butcher ProductionA-
1988-10-18New York City, NY, Radio City Music HallOld Man with Broken Teeth2CDrLB-1252A-Fillers: New York City, NY, Radio City Music Hall 1988-10-17
1988-10-19New York City, NY, Radio City Music HallStuck Inside New York2CDrKiss the Stone 012-138.5Fillers: Lake Compounce, Bristol, 1988-09-04
1988-12-04Oakland, CA, Alameda County Coliseum ArenaThe Bridge Benefit School Concert1CDrSbdAShort (six songs) acoustic set with G.E. Smith/Second ever performance of Pretty Boy Floyd
1988-12-04Oakland, CA, Alameda County Coliseum ArenaCrossroadsFlacSbdA+Acoustic set with G.E. Smith. Second ever performance of Pretty Boy Floyd (Woody Guthrie).