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Hard Rain

by Bob Dylan

Released: September 13, 1976

Rock

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Why This Album Matters

The presence of Sara and the troubled marital context are supported by separate first-hand recollections from Baez, Burke and Stoner. Rolling Stone identifies her as the song's apparent target rather than a proven one, while Dylan's own later comments dispute the autobiographical assumption; the candidate therefore preserves that uncertainty.

The Album

Tim Riley and Janet Maslin noted that the album represented a period when the Rolling Thunder Revue had lost some of its earlier excitement. Additionally, four tracks were recorded on May 16, 1976, in Fort Worth, Texas. "Hard Rain" is a live album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 13, 1976, by Columbia Records.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

It captures performances from the second leg of…

It captures performances from the second leg of the Rolling Thunder Revue tour, with recordings primarily from a May 23, 1976 concert at Hughes Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado.

This concert was also broadcast by NBC as…

This concert was also broadcast by NBC as a one-hour special, coinciding with the album’s release.

The 2002 release The Bootleg Series Vol

The 2002 release The Bootleg Series Vol.

5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder…

5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue and the 2019 14-disc collection Bob Dylan – The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings offered more comprehensive recordings from the tour, complementing the earlier released footage.

Despite heavy promotion, the NBC broadcast did not…

Despite heavy promotion, the NBC broadcast did not perform well in the ratings.

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Explore the Album

Bob Dylan - Hard Rain

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Then

Reception

Despite this, the album achieved commercial success, reaching No. 17 on the US charts and No. 3 in the UK, and was certified gold. Robert Christgau criticized the Revue's rock and roll approach as clichéd.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Hard Rain" is a live album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 13, 1976, by Columbia Records. It captures performances from the second leg of the Rolling Thunder Revue tour, with recordings primarily from a May 23, 1976 concert at Hughes Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado. This concert was also broadcast by NBC as a one-hour special, coinciding with the album’s release. Additionally, four tracks were recorded on May 16, 1976, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Critical reception was mixed. Tim Riley and Janet Maslin noted that the album represented a period when the Rolling Thunder Revue had lost some of its earlier excitement. Robert Christgau criticized the Revue's rock and roll approach as clichéd. Despite this, the album achieved commercial success, reaching No. 17 on the US charts and No. 3 in the UK, and was certified gold.

The 2002 release The Bootleg Series Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue and the 2019 14-disc collection Bob Dylan – The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings offered more comprehensive recordings from the tour, complementing the earlier released footage. Despite heavy promotion, the NBC broadcast did not perform well in the ratings. Some tracks from Hard Rain, including "Lay, Lady, Lay," "Idiot Wind," and "Maggie's Farm," were later included in various Dylan compilations.