Bob Dylan Announces 39-Disc The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1976 Live Recordings Box Set with 371 Unreleased Tracks

Bob Dylan is set to release an expansive archival collection that captures the essence of his 1976 Rolling Thunder Revue tour. This monumental 39-disc box set, titled The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1976 Live Recordings, is scheduled for release on November 6th through Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings. It contains an extraordinary 371 tracks previously unreleased to the public, offering a comprehensive sonic document of nearly every show from the tour’s second leg.

The Rolling Thunder Revue was a notable chapter in Dylan’s career, characterized by its eclectic line-up and intimate performances. The second leg of the tour covered 27 dates from mid-April to late May 1976, traversing venues across the southern and midwestern United States. This box set meticulously chronicles these performances, delivering a deep dive into Dylan’s live artistry during this period.

A unique aspect of the collection is the remastered presentation, derived from original multi-track tapes, ensuring high-quality sound fidelity. Complementing the box set, a separate three-LP vinyl release of the complete May 16th, 1976 concert in Fort Worth, Texas, will also be available concurrently. This offering allows fans to experience one of the tour’s full performances in analog form for the first time.

The tour featured an impressive roster of collaborators and guest artists who contributed to its dynamic sound. Joan Baez, a significant figure in Dylan’s history, appears on several tracks, lending her vocals and guitar to songs such as "Blowin’ in the Wind," "Railroad Boy," "Wild Mountain Thyme," and "Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)." Other notable guest appearances include Willie Nelson, Joni Mitchell, poet Allen Ginsberg, and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, each enriching the live performances with their distinctive contributions.

Backing Dylan was a talented ensemble of musicians, including bassist Rob Stoner, violinist Scarlet Rivera, drummers Howie Wyeth and Gary Burke, and guitarists Mick Ronson, Steven Soles, and T Bone Burnett. The group’s diverse instrumentation created a rich, layered sound that supported Dylan’s storytelling and musical experimentation throughout the tour.

Among the extensive tracklist, the set includes the May 23rd, 1976 concert in Fort Collins, Colorado, historically significant as it was broadcast once as the NBC special Hard Rain but had never been officially released in any format until now. This inclusion offers a rare and valuable glimpse into a live event that has since become a sought-after artifact among Dylan enthusiasts.

The box set’s liner notes, penned by music journalist Mikal Gilmore, provide further context to this era of Dylan’s career, emphasizing the ephemeral nature of the Rolling Thunder Revue experience and inviting listeners to immerse themselves in this historic musical journey.

To give a taste of what the collection holds, the song "Going, Going, Gone" has been shared as a preview track. This release exemplifies the raw energy and emotional depth found throughout the live recordings.

The tracklist spans performances from multiple venues, beginning with the April 18th show in Lakeland, Florida, and continuing through stops in cities such as St. Petersburg, Tampa, Orlando, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Pensacola, Mobile, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houston, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, Gatesville, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Wichita, and Fort Collins. Each concert captures unique set lists and moments, highlighting the tour’s spontaneity and Dylan’s evolving live interpretations.

This unprecedented release is poised to be a landmark archive for Dylan’s live catalog, offering both longtime fans and new listeners an unparalleled opportunity to explore one of his most legendary touring periods in exhaustive detail. With the inclusion of rare performances, influential collaborators, and high-quality remastering, The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1976 Live Recordings stands as a testament to Dylan’s enduring impact on music history.