The 1974 Live Recordings – Bob Dylan and the Band
****

On January 3, 1974, Bob Dylan and the Band kicked off a 40-concert, 30-date, 21-city tour in Chicago. Dylan’s first ever arena tour had an average attendance of 18, 500. They would often play two shows a day.
The new studio album Planet Waves, on which Dylan was backed by the Band, would be released two weeks after the start of the tour. Dylan had not toured for eight years, following his July 1966 motorcycle accident. A double live album from the tour, Before the Flood, featuring both Dylan’s and the Band’s performances, was released on June 20, 1974.

Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:

• More of this review and a review of Mat Kearney
• Music News
• Song of the Week Lyrics ~ How Great is the Greatness of God by Matt Boswell, Bryan Fowler, and Matt Papa

To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the tour, The 1974 Live Recordings: Bob Dylan and The Band deluxe box set of Dylan’s performances from the tour have been released. It includes 431 tracks spread across 27 CDs, including 417 previously unreleased performances, including 133 recordings newly mixed from 16-track tape.
Dylan approaches these songs with high energy, backed by Band. As he often does, he changes the arrangements of the songs a good deal from the original. I listened to the twenty song The Live Recordings Sampler. The production quality is high, and the performances are excellent.

---

Mat Kearney – Mat Kearney
***

After more than twenty years in the music business, Mat Kearney returns with his self-titled eighth studio album. Nashville band The Brook & The Bluff played on a handful of the songs, and Kearney split production duties between himself, Micah Tawkls, and Marc Scibilia. The album features twelve acoustically driven songs – all of which Kearney wrote or co-wrote – with gentle melodies, crisp percussion, and memorable choruses. Kearney has described the album as a friendly, organic hug. The primary theme on the album is family – love songs to his wife, a song about his daughters, getting back home to family from being out on tour, etc.
I really like the music on this release, but I didn’t find the lyrics as interesting as some of his previous songs.

Here are a few comments about each song:
Headlights Home – This upbeat song was written by Kearney, Eli Teplin, Jordan Minton, and Jordan Reynolds. The song is about him heading back home after being out on tour. The song features some good drum work.

Palisades – This catchy song was written by Kearney, Brett Truitt, and Trent Dabbs. Musically this is my favorite song on the album. I like the line “We never really made it, but we’re closing in on a long-gone destination.”

Real One – This song was written by Kearney and Nate Miles. Kearney has said that this song is about having history with someone and realizing they are worth fighting for. “If you have got the one worth holding, then hold ‘em.” I enjoyed the drums on this song. The song features a memorable chorus.

Good Thing Going On – This love song was written by Kearney, Mokita and Trent Dabbs. This is a slower song that features a memorable chorus. Kearney has stated that the song is about the time spent with someone, enjoying the experiences you share with someone, the things you do together and then that feeling of missing them when they are not around.

Sumac – This song which features some good percussion and Kearney singing in a falsetto, was written by Kearney and Joseph Settine. Kearney has stated that the song is a celebration of the differences of people.

Drowning In Nostalgia – This song was written by Kearney, Mokita, and Trent Dabbs. Kearney has described it as the most fictitious song on the album. The easy-going song features some nice backing vocals.

My Two Hands – This love song was written by Kearney and Natalie Hemby. The song has a bit of a reggae beat. It is perhaps the least interesting song on the album.

Watch Me Go – This upbeat acoustic driven song was written by Kearney and Trent Dabbs.

Easy – This song was written by Kearney, who also played all of the instruments. The song is about how his wife makes everything look easy.

Dandelion – This upbeat song was written by Kearney, Emily Falvey and Nate Miles. Kearney has stated that he wrote the song about his daughters, and wanting to watch them soar into whatever passion or path they choose. The song features a memorable chorus and backing vocals.

Old Flame – This easy-going love song was written by Kearney and Trent Dabbs. He asks, “How about wasting one more day on that old flame”?

Daydream – This love song was written by Kearney, Josh Dorr, and Nick Bailey. Kearney has stated that the song is about the fantasy of being on vacation. The song has Kearney singing accompanied by acoustic guitar. The song features some excellent backing vocals.

Favorite songs:
Headlights Home
Palisades
Real One
Dandelion
Daydream

---

• Place in This World. Enjoy for King + Country and Michael W. Smith’s new recording of “Place in This World.”
• God the Son. Here is “God the Son,” a new Christmas song from Matt Redman.
• “Rearview” is a new song by TobyMac and Juan Winans.
• Somebody Prayed. Here is a new version of “Somebody Prayed” by Crowder and Dylan Scott.
• Carry You On. Here is Amos Lee performing “Carry You On” from Red Rocks.

---

How Great is the Greatness of God by Matt Boswell, Bryan Fowler, and Matt Papa
This week’s song of the week is “How Great is the Greatness of God” written and performed by Matt Boswell, Bryan Fowler, and Matt Papa. The song was recorded at the 2024 Sing! Conference and is the first song released from the conference live album. Watch the performance here.

Chorus
How faithful the Father above
How wondrous the works of the Son
How sweet is the Spirit given to us
How great is the greatness of God
Verse 1
Morning by morning with every dawn,
My soul with a new song awaits
Still in the evening my praise goes on;
Forever my God is the same
Verse 2
When my heart gazes on Calvary,
At all of Your mercies arrayed
“Oh, that my Savior would die for me!”
I sing out with infinite thanks
Verse 3
Oh what a comfort in every trial;
His presence is all that I need
Power that brought resurrection life,
That power is living in me