Afternoon Snack: Bob Dylan & the Rolling Thunder Review, “It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry”

Finally.

Someone posted the entire Rolling Thunder Bootleg Volume 5, which essentially covers what was a normal Rolling Thunder Review gig by Dylan and his Renaldo and Clara band in 1975.

The Rolling Thunder Band, who toured between October of that year and May of 1976, totally cranked it out, featuring the likes of Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Joan Baez, Steven Soles, Roger McGuinn, and my faves, T-Bone Burnett and Mick Ronson.

This version of It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry not only completely deconstructs the original studio version, but it just fucking smokes.

The interplay between Burnett and Ronson, along with great growling bass of Rob Stoner, makes this my favorite Dylan period.

And, this cut is my favorite on the disc and of the set. In fact, this might be my all time favorite live song recording, with my all time favorite guitar solos.

Check out the first Ronson solo, during which he plays the same Chuck Berry lick 16 times before blasting into some free-form Chuck-land. Then, to make sure we get it, he closes the song out with another totally killer blast that even Keef would smile about.

Swear to God: fire comes out of the speakers (or is it my head?) every time I play this.

Please note, that this link posts the entire 22-song box set, and though it is all terrific, #16 is It Takes a Lot to Laugh on the playlist.  Sorry for the inconvenience, but you will see it is more than worth it!

2 thoughts on “Afternoon Snack: Bob Dylan & the Rolling Thunder Review, “It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry”

  1. Ronson does a few things so right. First, he can play, period. Second, he choose great notes and licks, but I think most important, his pyrotechnics and sonics are better than just about anyone (maybe save David Gilmour). He just knows when to play with his notes and some cool tricks he has learned.

    I just totally love his playing. Up there with Richard Thompson and Frisell for me which is pretty good.

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