One of the more unique Dylan shows I have seen was the double bill with Paul Simon at this indoor/outdoor amphitheater in Camden, just across the river from Philadelphia. The venue changes its name each year it seems, but the place has been there for more than 25 years.
While this show was not a joint show, there was some crossover moments, and those moments were worth the price of admission alone.
Simon opened the show and did a mix of his Simon & Garfunkel tunes along with his more Afro-centric Graceland-era material. Quiet songs like the opener “Bridge Over Troubled Water” were followed by full-band arrangements of hits like “Mrs. Robinson,” “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard,” “Late in the Evening” and “You Can Call me Al.”
After finishing his first encore with the wistful “Still Crazy After All These Years,” Dylan emerged and the pair broke into “The Sounds of Silence,” with both artists switching off on the verses. It was a perfect song for Dylan to perform with Simon and the results were stunning. Following that showstopper the two icons went back to their roots with covers of “That’ll Be The Day” and “The Wanderer,” and finishing it off with both artists taking turns on a playful, reggae-tinged “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.” This was the day JFK Jr. died, so not sure if this song was in reference to that or not, but it was a fitting ending.
After intermission Dylan came out with a four-song acoustic set, highlighted by “Love Minus Zero, No Limit” and “Tangled Up in Blue,” and was then joined by his band for a fairly standard set of hits including “All Along The Watchtower,” “Highway 61 Revisited” and “Like a Rolling Stone.” Making the set special however were “Make You Feel My Love” and “Not Dark Yet,” two songs that were relatively new at this time. He closed the show with an acoustic “It Ain’t Me Babe” and “Not Fade Away” by the Crickets, although Paul Simon did not join him at all during his set. It was a solid performance, but the fireworks really happened when both artists performed together.
Below are setlists and an audio-only Dylan/Simon recording of their four songs together.
Dylan’s Setlist
Somebody Touched Me (Ruth Brown cover) (Acoustic)
Mr. Tambourine Man (Acoustic, with harp)
Masters of War (Acoustic)
Love Minus Zero/No Limit (Acoustic, Larry on pedal steel guitar)
Tangled Up in Blue (Acoustic, with harp)
All Along the Watchtower
Make You Feel My Love
Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again
Not Dark Yet
Highway 61 Revisited (Larry on slide guitar)
Encore:
Like a Rolling Stone
It Ain’t Me, Babe (Acoustic, with harp)
Not Fade Away
Paul Simon Setlist
Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel song)
Can’t Run But
The Boy in the Bubble
The Coast
Trailways Bus
Mrs. Robinson (Simon & Garfunkel song)
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
Further to Fly
Graceland
The Cool, Cool River
Slip Slidin’ Away
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
You Can Call Me Al
Encore:
Late in the Evening
Still Crazy After All These Years
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