NEARER TO THE FIRE – Bob Dylan 1981

5 The Shot Of Love Tours 1981

5.1 Introduction

5.2 The show

5.3 The musicians

5.4 First Shot Of Love Tour – US June

5.4.1 The dates

5.4.2 The songs

5.4.3 Statistics

5.5 Second Shot Of Love Tour – Europe June-July

5.5.1 The dates

5.5.2 The songs

5.5.3 Statistics

Next

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Nearer To The Fire

5 The Shot Of Love Tours 1981

5.1 Introduction

The Shot Of Love Tour consisted of three parts:

1. Four warm-up shows in the US in June

2. Tour of Europe June-July

3. US and Canada Fall Tour October-November

5.2 The show

The concerts during the first two legs were structured much like the Musical Retrospective shows in November:

Set 1	4 songs by the backing singers plus Terry Young on piano; this section was dropped at the end of the European tour.
	10 – 12 songs by Bob Dylan and the band
	1 song by one of the backing singers and the band
Set 2	10 – 14 songs by Bob Dylan and the band
Encore	1 – 2 songs by Bob Dylan and the band 1 – 2 songs by Bob Dylan solo.

The Fall tour shows started with 12 songs by Dylan and the band, followed by one song sung by the backing girls. Then about 10 more songs by Dylan and the band and for encores Blowin' In The Wind with Dylan on piano, one or two songs solo and then one or two song with the band.

5.3 The musicians

Fred Tackett (guitar)

Steve Ripley (guitar)

Willie Smith (keyboards) - Europe only

Al Kooper (keyboards) - US only

Tim Drummond (bass)

Jim Keltner (drums)

Arthur Rosato (drums) - US only

Background vocals:

Clydie King

Regina McCrary

Carolyn Dennis - Europe only

Madelyn Quebec

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5.4 First Shot Of Love Tour – US June

5.4.1 The dates

June

10	Chicago, Illinois	Poplar Creek Music Theater, Hoffman Estates	MA
11	Clarkston, Michigan	Pine Knob Music Theatre	SA
12	Clarkston, Michigan	Pine Knob Music Theatre	SA
14	Columbia, Maryland	Marjorie Merriweather Post Pavilion	SA/PA

PA	soundboard recording
MA	mono audience recording
SA	stereo audience recording

5.4.2 The songs

In order played

				June
		10	11		12	14	S
Gotta Serve Somebody		1	1		1	1	4
I Believe In You		2	2		2	2	4
Like A Rolling Stone		3	3		3	3	4
Till I Get It Right		4	4		4	4	4
Man Gave Names To All The Animals		5	5		5	5	4
Maggie's Farm		6	6		6	6	4
Simple Twist Of Fate		7	7		7	7	4
Ballad Of A Thin Man		8	8		9	8	4
Girl From The North Country		9	9		10	9	4
Dead Man, Dead Man		10	10		11	10	4
Abraham, Martin And John		11	13			11	3
Lenny Bruce		12	14		15	12	4
Covenant Woman		13	15				2
Solid Rock		14	16		18	15	4
Just Like A Woman		15	17		17	17	4
Watered-Down Love		16	18		16	16	4
What Can I Do For You?		17	19		21		3
When You Gonna Wake Up		18	20		22	19	4
Forever Young		19	21		19	18	4
In The Garden		20	23		23	20	4
Blowin' In The Wind		21	24		24	21	4
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue	AC	22					1
We Just Disagree			11			14	2
Slow Train			12		14		2
Masters Of War			22		20		2
It Ain't Me, Babe	AC		25				1
Fever					8		1
Rise Again					12		1
Mary From The Wild Moor	AC				13		1
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right	AC				25	22	2
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues						13	1
Total # of songs		22	25		25	22	94

In song order

				June
		10	11		12	14	S
Abraham, Martin And John		11	13			11	3
Ballad Of A Thin Man		8	8		9	8	4
Blowin' In The Wind		21	24		24	21	4
Covenant Woman		13	15				2
Dead Man, Dead Man		10	10		11	10	4
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right	AC				25	22	2
Fever					8		1
Forever Young		19	21		19	18	4
Girl From The North Country		9	9		10	9	4
Gotta Serve Somebody		1	1		1	1	4
I Believe In You		2	2		2	2	4
In The Garden		20	23		23	20	4
It Ain't Me, Babe	AC		25				1
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue	AC	22					1
Just Like A Woman		15	17		17	17	4
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues						13	1
Lenny Bruce		12	14		15	12	4
Like A Rolling Stone		3	3		3	3	4
Maggie's Farm		6	6		6	6	4
Man Gave Names To All The Animals		5	5		5	5	4
Mary From The Wild Moor	AC				13		1
Masters Of War			22		20		2
Rise Again					12		1
Simple Twist Of Fate		7	7		7	7	4
Slow Train			12		14		2
Solid Rock		14	16		18	15	4
Till I Get It Right		4	4		4	4	4
Watered-Down Love		16	18		16	16	4
We Just Disagree			11			14	2
What Can I Do For You?		17	19		21		3
When You Gonna Wake Up		18	20		22	19	4
Total # of songs		22	25		25	22	94

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5.4.3 Statistics

Show statistics

Number of shows	4
Number of circulating shows	4
Number of circulating & complete shows	4
Number of unique shows[1]	4
Number of different shows[2]	4
Number of different songs[3]	31
Number of unique songs[4]	31
Number of performed songs	94
Mean number of performed songs	23
Variation[5]	1.3

Song statistics

	# of		# of
	songs	%	perf.	%
Electric	27	87.1	89	94.7
Acoustic	4	12.9	5	5.3
Albums	25	80.6	82	87.2
Singles	0	0.0	0	0.0
Outtakes	0	0.0	0	0.0
Covers	6	19.4	12	12.8

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5.5 Second Shot Of Love Tour – Europe June-July

5.5.1 The dates

June

21	Toulouse, France	Stade Municipal des Minimes	SA
23	Colombes, France	Stade de Colombes	SA
26	London, England	Earls Court	SA
27	London, England	Earls Court	SA
28	London, England	Earls Court	SA
29	London, England	Earls Court	SA
30	London, England	Earls Court	SA

July

1	London, England	Earls Court	SA
4	Birmingham, England	International Arena, National Exhibition Center	SA
5	Birmingham, England	International Arena, National Exhibition Center	SA
8	Stockholm, Sweden	Johanneshovs Isstadion	SA
9	Drammen, Norway	Drammenshallen	SA/PA
10	Drammen, Norway	Drammenshallen	SA
12	Copenhagen, Denmark	Brøndby-Hallen	SA
14	Bad Segeberg, West Germany	Freileichttheater	SA
15	Bad Segeberg, West Germany	Freileichttheater	SA
17	Loreley, West Germany	Freileichtbühne	SA
18	Mannheim, West Germany	Eisstadion	SA
19	Munich, West Germany	Olympiahalle	SA
20	Munich, West Germany	Olympiahalle	SA
21	Vienna, Austria	Stadthalle	SA
23	Basel, Switzerland	Sporthalle, St. Jakob	SA
25	Avignon, France	Palace des Sports	SA

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PA	soundboard recording
SA	stereo audience recording

5.5.2 The songs

In order played

						June											July
		21	23	26	27		28	29	30	1	4	5	8	9	10	12	14	15	17	18	19	20	21	23	25	S
Gotta Serve Somebody		1	1	1	1		1	1	1	1		1	3	1	2	2		2					2			15
I Believe In You		2	2	2	2		2	2	2	2	2	2	4	2	3	3	2	3	2	2	2	2	3	2	4	23
Like A Rolling Stone		3	3	3	3		3	3	3	3	3	3	5	3	4	4	3	4	3	3	3	3	4	3	5	23
Till I Get It Right		4	4	4	4		4	4	4	4	4	4	6	4	5	5	4	5	4	4	4	4	5	4	6	23
Man Gave Names To All The Animals		5	5	5	5		5	5	5	5	5	5	7	5	6	6	5	6	5	5	5	5	6	5	7	23
Maggie's Farm		6	6	6	6		6	6	6	6	6	6	8	6	7	7	6	7	6	6	6	6	7	6	8	23
Simple Twist Of Fate		7	7	7			7	7	7	10	7	9	9	7		8		8				9				14
Ballad Of A Thin Man		8	8	8	8		8	8	8	11	9	8	12	10	9	10	8	10	8	8	8	8	9	8	10	23
Girl From The North Country		9	9	9	9		9	9	9	8	8	7	11	9	8	9	7	9	7	7	7	7	8	7	9	23
Dead Man, Dead Man		10	10	10	10		10	10	10	9	10		10	8		11	10	12	10		10					16
We Just Disagree		11								19										9						3
Knockin' On Heaven's Door		12			23		24	25	27	28	27	23	26	26	24	24	26	27	26	27	27	27	25	27	29	21
Slow Train		13	12	12	11		11	11	13	12	12	11	13	12	11		15	15	15	15	15	15	16	15	16	22
Lenny Bruce		14	14	15	13			14	22	15	13	12	16	15	13	13	14	14	13	14	14	14	15	14	15	22
Mr. Tambourine Man		15	11	11	14		15	15	16	16	16	13	19	16	14	14	16	16	16	16	16	16	17	16	17	23
Solid Rock		16	15	17	15		16	16	17	17	17	14	18	17	15	15	17	17	17	18	17	17	18	18	18	23
Just Like A Woman		17	16	16	16		17	17	18	18	18	15	20	18	16	16	18	18	18	19	18	18	19	19	19	23
Watered-Down Love		18	18	19	17		18		19	23		10	21			17	20		21	21	21	19			21	16
Forever Young		19		18	18		19	20	11	21	11				17	18	11	22	14	11	11	11	12	11	25	19
Masters Of War		20	17	21				19		20	21	18		21							19					9
When You Gonna Wake Up		21	20	22	19		20	21	23	24	22	19	22	22	20		22	23	22	22	22	23	21	23	24	22
In The Garden		22	21	23	20		21	22	24	25	24	20	23	23	21	21	23	24	23	24	24	24	22	24	26	23
Blowin' In The Wind		23	22	24	21		22	23	25	26	25	24	24	22	1	22	24	25	24	25	25	25	23	25	27	23
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right	AC	24		25					26		26			25				26				26				7
Let It Be Me			13																							1
What Can I Do For You?			19	20					20		15	17	17					20		17				21		9
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue	AC		23		22								25							26						4
Abraham, Martin And John				13					12																	2
Barbara Allen				14							20															2
I Don't Believe You					7																					1

						June											July
		21	23	26	27		28	29	30	1	4	5	8	9	10	12	14	15	17	18	19	20	21	23	25	S
Let's Begin					12			12		13			14	13	12	12	13	13	12	13	13	13	14	13	14	16
Mary From The Wild Moor	AC						12																			1
All Along The Watchtower							13	13	21		14		15	14		19						20				8
In The Summertime							14	18	15		23				10		9	11	9		9		10	9	11	12
It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)	AC						23			27																2
Love Minus Zero/No Limit	AC							24																		1
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues									14																	1
Here Comes The Sun										7																1
Shot Of Love										14										10		10	11	10	12	6
Heart Of Mine										22	19	16		20	19			19		23	23	21	20	22	23	12
Saved											1						1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	3	10
City Of Gold												21														1
It Ain't Me, Babe	AC											22			23											2
She Belongs To Me	AC												1													1
The Times They Are A-Changin'	AC												2		1											2
The Times They Are A-Changin'														11			12	1	11	12	12	12	13	12	13	10
Jesus Is The One														19	18	20	21	21	20			22			22	8
It Ain't Me, Babe																23	25		25		26		24	26	28	7
Saved By The Grace Of Your Love																	19		19	20	20			20	20	6
Unidentified Instrumental																								17		1
Instrumental Jam																									2	1
Total # of songs		24	23	25	23		24	25	27	28	27	23	26	26	24	24	26	27	26	27	27	27	25	27	29	590

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In song order

						June											July
		21	23	26	27		28	29	30	1	4	5	8	9	10	12	14	15	17	18	19	20	21	23	25	S
Abraham, Martin And John				13					12																	2
All Along The Watchtower							13	13	21		14		15	14		19						20				8
Ballad Of A Thin Man		8	8	8	8		8	8	8	11	9	8	12	10	9	10	8	10	8	8	8	8	9	8	10	23
Barbara Allen				14							20															2
Blowin' In The Wind		23	22	24	21		22	23	25	26	25	24	24	22	1	22	24	25	24	25	25	25	23	25	27	23
City Of Gold												21														1
Dead Man, Dead Man		10	10	10	10		10	10	10	9	10		10	8		11	10	12	10		10					16
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right	AC	24		25					26		26			25				26				26				7
Forever Young		19		18	18		19	20	11	21	11				17	18	11	22	14	11	11	11	12	11	25	19
Girl From The North Country		9	9	9	9		9	9	9	8	8	7	11	9	8	9	7	9	7	7	7	7	8	7	9	23
Gotta Serve Somebody		1	1	1	1		1	1	1	1		1	3	1	2	2		2					2			15
Heart Of Mine										22	19	16		20	19			19		23	23	21	20	22	23	12
Here Comes The Sun										7																1
I Believe In You		2	2	2	2		2	2	2	2	2	2	4	2	3	3	2	3	2	2	2	2	3	2	4	23
I Don't Believe You					7																					1
In The Garden		22	21	23	20		21	22	24	25	24	20	23	23	21	21	23	24	23	24	24	24	22	24	26	23
In The Summertime							14	18	15		23				10		9	11	9		9		10	9	11	12
Instrumental Jam																									2	1
It Ain't Me, Babe	AC											22			23											2
It Ain't Me, Babe																23	25		25		26		24	26	28	7
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue	AC		23		22								25							26						4
It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)	AC						23			27																2
Jesus Is The One														19	18	20	21	21	20			22			22	8
Just Like A Woman		17	16	16	16		17	17	18	18	18	15	20	18	16	16	18	18	18	19	18	18	19	19	19	23
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues									14																	1
Knockin' On Heaven's Door		12			23		24	25	27	28	27	23	26	26	24	24	26	27	26	27	27	27	25	27	29	21
Lenny Bruce		14	14	15	13			14	22	15	13	12	16	15	13	13	14	14	13	14	14	14	15	14	15	22
Let It Be Me			13																							1
Let's Begin					12			12		13			14	13	12	12	13	13	12	13	13	13	14	13	14	16
Like A Rolling Stone		3	3	3	3		3	3	3	3	3	3	5	3	4	4	3	4	3	3	3	3	4	3	5	23
Love Minus Zero/No Limit	AC							24																		1
Maggie's Farm		6	6	6	6		6	6	6	6	6	6	8	6	7	7	6	7	6	6	6	6	7	6	8	23
Man Gave Names To All The Animals		5	5	5	5		5	5	5	5	5	5	7	5	6	6	5	6	5	5	5	5	6	5	7	23

						June											July
		21	23	26	27		28	29	30	1	4	5	8	9	10	12	14	15	17	18	19	20	21	23	25	S
Mary From The Wild Moor	AC						12																			1
Masters Of War		20	17	21				19		20	21	18		21							19					9
Mr. Tambourine Man		15	11	11	14		15	15	16	16	16	13	19	16	14	14	16	16	16	16	16	16	17	16	17	23
Saved											1						1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	3	10
Saved By The Grace Of Your Love																	19		19	20	20			20	20	6
She Belongs To Me	AC												1													1
Shot Of Love										14										10		10	11	10	12	6
Simple Twist Of Fate		7	7	7			7	7	7	10	7	9	9	7		8		8				9				14
Slow Train		13	12	12	11		11	11	13	12	12	11	13	12	11		15	15	15	15	15	15	16	15	16	22
Solid Rock		16	15	17	15		16	16	17	17	17	14	18	17	15	15	17	17	17	18	17	17	18	18	18	23
Till I Get It Right		4	4	4	4		4	4	4	4	4	4	6	4	5	5	4	5	4	4	4	4	5	4	6	23
The Times They Are A-Changin'	AC												2		1											2
The Times They Are A-Changin'														11			12	1	11	12	12	12	13	12	13	10
Unidentified Instrumental																								17		1
Watered-Down Love		18	18	19	17		18		19	23		10	21			17	20		21	21	21	19			21	16
We Just Disagree		11								19										9						3
What Can I Do For You?			19	20					20		15	17	17					20		17				21		9
When You Gonna Wake Up		21	20	22	19		20	21	23	24	22	19	22	22	20		22	23	22	22	22	23	21	23	24	22
Total # of songs		24	23	25	23		24	25	27	28	27	23	26	26	24	24	26	27	26	27	27	27	25	27	29	590

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5.5.3 Statistics

Show statistics

Number of shows	23
Number of circulating shows	23
Number of circulating & complete shows	23
Number of unique shows[6]	23
Number of different shows[7]	23
Number of different songs[8]	51
Number of unique songs[9]	49
Number of performed songs	590
Mean number of performed songs	25
Variation[10]	2.0

Song statistics

	# of		# of
	songs	%	perf.	%
Electric	43	84.3	570	96.6
- instrumental	2	3.9	2	0.3
Acoustic solo	8	15.7	20	3.4
Albums	36	73.5	524	88.8
Singles	0	0.0	0	0.0
Outtakes	2	4.1	9	1.5
Covers	11	22.4	57	9.7

Recommended shows

The four London shows at Earl's Court are all excellent! Mannheim 18 July.

TV-broadcasts

Solid Rock, Just Like A Woman and Watered-Down Love from Toulouse, June 21 partly broadcast by Antenne 2 TV, France, 22 June.

Gotta Serve Somebody from Drammen, 9 July, partly broadcast by Norwegian TV same day.

Like A Rolling Stone from Bad Segeberg, 14 July, partly broadcast by ARD TV, West Germany, 15 July and by ZDF TV, West Germany, 16 July.

Shot Of Love from Avignon, 25 July, partly broadcast by ABC-TV, USA, 10 October 1985 in the program "20-20". This track is also available in full as PA recording.

Heart Of Mine from Avignon, 25 July, partly broadcast by MTV, 25 January 1985.

Songs

One new gospel song, written in Oslo during the tour, Jesus Is The One, is performed eight times with different lyrics each time. City Of Gold and Covenant Women are both played for the last time.

Some rare acoustic renditions from this part of the tour:

Blowin' In The Wind

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

It's Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)

Love Minus Zero/No Limit

She Belongs To Me

The Times They Are A-Changin'.

Rare covers:

Barbara Allen – with the band!

Fever

Here Comes The Sun – first verse only, Dylan changes to Girl from North Country when he realizes he does not know the words

Let It Be Me – duet with Clydie King

Mary From The Wild Moor – "a real old song".

The "Unknown Instrumental" in Basel is played for no apparent reason. The fact that Dylan says hello to Brigitte Bardot during the concert has led to the suggestion that this is a Bardot movie theme.

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[1] a show is unique if no other show has the same songs in the same order

[2] a show is different from another show if the set of songs are different, regardless of order.

[3] electric and acoustic versions are counted as different songs.

[4] a song is counted as unique regardless of how it is performed.

[5] variation is computed as the ratio between number of different songs and mean number of performed songs.

[6] a show is unique if no other show has the same songs in the same order

[7] a show is different from another show if the set of songs are different, regardless of order.

[8] electric and acoustic versions are counted as different songs.

[9] a song is counted as unique regardless of how it is performed.

[10] variation is computed as the ratio between number of different songs and mean number of performed songs.