At Madison Square Garden 25 years ago today, a
galaxy of rock ‘n’ roll, rhythm and blues, country, and folk music stars
gathered for what one of them, Neil Young, termed “The Bobfest”—a tribute to
Bob Dylan on the 30th anniversary of his recording career.
While the most unusual performers might have been
The Clancy Brothers, Tommy Makem, and Robbie O'Connell on "When the Ship Comes In" (“Hello,
you never thought you'd hear Dylan with an Irish accent, did you?” they joked)
and the most ferocious one Neil Young on "All Along the Watchtower," my favorite was George Harrison, on “Absolutely Sweet Marie.”
Sadly, this YouTube clip does not feature Chrissie Hynde’s ecstatic
introduction of the “guitar hero” (“Let me give you a little clue: hallelujah,
hare Krishna, yeah yeah yeah!”), because that was on his prior song at the
show, “If Not for You.”
The ex-Beatle’s aversion to live performing had kept
him off the stage for most of the last 18 years, and he had given what turned
out to be his last full-length concert in the U.K. the prior spring, so it was
natural that, even for a song he had recorded successfully yours ago like “If
Not for You,” he might have played a big tentatively.
But “Absolutely Sweet Marie,” one of Dylan’s most
humorous songs (“Well, anybody can be just like me, obviously/But then, now
again, not too many can be like you, fortunately”), loosened Harrison up considerably,
and I can swear he’s having fun with Dylan’s—how shall I say it?—distinctive emphases of words (“all
these promises you left for me”).
(Harrison, reputedly “the quiet Beatle,” may also have been the one with the
slyest sense of humor.)
It’s easy to overlook “Absolutely Sweet Marie” on
the teeming double-album Dylan masterpiece Blonde
on Blonde, which made all the more welcome Harrison’s spotlight on the
tune. It’s impossible not to get caught up in Harrison’s infectious
appreciation of the tune. Certainly G.E. Smith, the musical director of the
show, did, as he unleashed a fun guitar solo, trading licks with one of the
rock ‘n’ roll masters of the instrument.
I’m not sure why Harrison wore this violet jacket
during his appearance. If it was meant to attract attention, it was unnecessary.
His terrific performance took care of that, with no other visual aids needed.
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