  When I was younger, I thought Bob Dylan was a pompous dick. He represented everything that my little punk snotty-nose self hated: hippies, old music, acoustic softness, and worst of all--my parents liked him. Oh, foolish little Eric, how unwise I was. Since then, Dylan, to me, has become like fine cheese: something initially revolting that you grow slowly accustomed to over time--eventually realizing how complex the taste is and truly appreciating it. So, anyhow, I now have a few Dylan albums and enjoy them. However, this week I opened up a whole new level of Dylan appreciation. #6 in the Dylan Bootleg series came out, entitled urlLink Bob Dylan Live 1964: Concert at Philharmonic Hall . This is not only the best Dylan album I've ever heard, it is one of the very best live albums of all time. The concert has been available for years as a bootleg, this is its first legitimate release in the forty years since it was recorded. It is electrifying, powerful, beautiful, and poignant. The recording features a few future Dylan classics, such as "Mr Tamborine Man," "Gates of Eden," and "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" far in advance of their studio recording and commercial release. You can hear the edge of newness to these tunes, you can hear how much Dylan believes in them. Dylan is in a great mood during the show, talking with the audience, cracking jokes.
There are even a few episodes where Dylan forgets lyrics and asks the audience for a prompt. Joan Baez (his girlfriend at the time) sings on a few tunes with him. These don't sound as good as you imagine they might, but they are still a good listen. Throughout the concert you get the vibe that both Dylan and the crowd knew the evening was something unusual and, dare I say, magical.
For Dylan, he was at the top of his game in 1964--he would never be this good again. For the audience, they were probably experiencing something I can relate to--a point, during a great concert, where you realize you are experiencing something that will become one of the greatest musical moments of your life. It is a euphoric feeling, one you gladly savor. What an unexpected and pleasant surprise this CD has been to me this week. 
