Bob Dylan will release ‘The Complete Budokan 1978’ later this year.
The album is part of his ongoing Bootleg Series, a kind of alternate discography that is composed of studio outtakes, experiments, live recordings, and more. Initially released as a Japan-only live album in 1978 – an international release followed the subsequent year – ‘Bob Dylan At Budokan’ remains a sought-after concert LP, representing Dylan at a pivotal moment in his career.
Digging into the archives, ‘The Complete Budokan 1978’ represents a treasure trove for fans. Boasting a slew of never-before-heard live takes, the original concerts – February 28th and March 1st, 1978 – were recorded to 24-channel multi-track analog tape, making for pristine audio quality.
Original producer Tetsuya Shiroki has heard the new Bootleg release, commenting that the concert release “…capture(s) two days of this history-making tour. Nothing has been removed or altered in any way.”
Chief engineer Tom Suzuki says, “We mixed the record with the keyword ‘passion’ in mind. The result is a mix that surpasses the original 1978 release, providing a crisper and clearer sound where each instrument and Bob Dylan’s voice are distinctly audible.”
Available from as a 4CD boxset and a bumper vinyl package, ‘The Complete Budokan 1978’ will be released on November 17th – pre-order it now.
The full package is a thing to behold, too. It boasts newly remixed complete live recordings from the two Budokan concert dates featuring 36 previously unreleased tracks; facsimile memorabilia such as concert tickets, pamphlets, posters, and flyers; 60-page full-colour photo book of previously unpublished photos of Dylan on-stage and behind-the-scenes at the airport, press conferences and more; exclusive liner notes.
Check out this vital take on ‘The Man In Me’ below.
