Bob Dylan Announces Massive New Box Set The 1974 Live Recordings

The 431-track collection captures Dylan’s mid-1970s arena tour with the Band
Bob Dylan and the Band
Bob Dylan and the Band, 1974 (Barry Feinstein)

Bob Dylan has announced a whopping 27-CD box set capturing his 1974 arena tour with the Band. The 1974 Live Recordings arrives September 20 and features 431 songs—417 of which are previously unreleased—as well as liner notes by journalist, critic, and Pitchfork contributor Elizabeth Nelson. Today, Dylan has released a version of “Forever Young” that he recorded live in Seattle on Saturday, February 9, 1974. Check it out below.

Of the massive tracklist, 133 songs have been newly mixed from the original 16-track tapes. In addition to the CD box set, Third Man Records will release The 1974 Live Recordings - The Missing Songs From Before the Flood, featuring versions of every song Dylan recorded that was not included on his 1974 live album, Before the Flood. The set is pressed exclusively on colored vinyl, and will be available through the Vault, Third Man’s direct-to-customer mail order service.

The 1974 Live Recordings celebrates the 50th anniversary of Dylan’s return to touring after an eight-year hiatus. Dylan’s pause occurred after he broke his neck in a motorcycle accident in 1966. The storied trek reunited Dylan with the Band, who backed him during all 30 concerts. The tour commenced on January 3 at Chicago Stadium, and spanned 42 days.

Bob Dylan recently joined Willie Nelson at his annual 4th of July Picnic concert. He will tour with Willie Nelson & Family through September.

Read Elizabeth Nelson’s Sunday Review of Dylan’s 1976 album Desire.

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Bob Dylan & The Band: The 1974 Live Recordings