On the eve of America’s bicentennial as the country prepared for nationwide celebrations, Bob Dylan and a coterie of musicians, poets, friends, and collaborators set out on a carnivalesque tour to, in the words of Allen Ginsberg, “reclaim America.” The tour symbolically opened at the War Memorial Auditorium in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and crisscrossed its way across New England and Canada. There was very little advertising or promotion for the concerts and the performers played in small and off-the-beaten-path venues. The performances, arrangements, duets, and interludes have taken on a mythic place in Dylan’s career. In this episode, music writer, author, and our resident Rolling Thunder Revue expert, Ray Padgett shares his insights on the magic, mystique, and lore surrounding one of Dylan’s most creative and collaborative tours.
Bio:
Ray Padgett is a Burlington, Vermont-based music writer and author. His newsletter Flagging Down the Double E’s focuses on myriad aspects of Dylan’s live performances from his deft interviews with musicians who’ve played with Dylan, covers, arrangements, and specific shows. He is also the author of Pledging My Time: Conversations with Bob Dylan’s Band Members, Cover Me: The Stories Behind the Greatest Covers of All Time, and I’m Your Fan: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, part of the 33 1/3 series. He has a chapter in a collection of essays reconsidering Dylan’s work in the 80s edited by Court Carney and me that will be published by LSU press in Fall 2026.
Links:
Website:
Instagram: @rayfpadgett
X: @rayfp
BlueSky: @raypadgett.bsky.social
