Key developments
Rolling Thunder '76 night two narrows setlist
Ray Padgett's April 20 blog says Rolling Thunder '76 night two shifted to a narrower repertoire centered on reprises from Rolling Thunder '75 after a more varied opening night. Dylan kept "Mr. Tambourine Man" as the solo opener, added "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)," and later ran through "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You," "Just Like a Woman," and "It Takes a Lot To Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" in versions described as closely tied to the 1975 arrangements.
Why it matters
It documents a specific change in Dylan's live repertoire on a key Rolling Thunder tour night.
Sources & driving stories
FLAGGING DOWN THE DOUBLE E'S · Ray Padgett
Flagging Down the Double E's coverageBlonde on Blonde feature marks sixtieth anniversary
Sam Liddicott's April 19 feature says "Blonde on Blonde" turns sixty on June 20, 2026 and frames the record as one of Bob Dylan's defining achievements. The piece places it within Dylan's 1965-66 run between "Bringing It All Back Home," "Highway 61 Revisited," and "John Wesley Harding," while emphasizing the Nashville and New York sessions, the "thin wild mercury" sound, and songs including "Visions of Johanna" and "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands."
Why it matters
It keeps a canonical Dylan album in focus ahead of its 60th anniversary.
Sources & driving stories
MUSIC MUSINGS & SUCH · Sam Liddicott
Music Musings & Such coverageWorth noting
WORTH NOTING
Belleview Biltmore linked to rehearsals
The blog ties Rolling Thunder preparation to a specific Florida hotel, adding a concrete location to the tour timeline.
WORTH NOTING
Recording speed may skew timing
The post suggests perceived instability in the performances could stem from recording-speed fluctuations rather than the band itself.
Still unclear
OPEN QUESTION
Did Rolling Thunder '76 keep this narrower repertoire?
Night two is described as more setlist-focused than night one, but the broader pattern across the tour remains unclear.
OPEN QUESTION
How much of the timing issue is technical?
If the irregularity comes from tape speed rather than performance, it changes how the live recordings should be interpreted.