In 1978 ging Bob Dylan voor het eerst sinds zijn legendarische concertreeks met The Band uit 1966 weer op tournee buiten de VS. Eerste stop was Japan, waar twee concerten in de Budokan arena in Tokyo opgenomen werden voor een exclusieve Japanse release. De dubbel LP, samengesteld uit die twee concerten, werd al snel wereldwijd uitgebracht, maar sneeuwde een beetje onder aangezien het ’s mans derde live LP was in vier jaar. In 2007 ontdekte men de originele tapes, en na vijftien jaar gesteggeld te hebben om toestemming van het Dylan kamp, horen we nu eindelijk de volledige twee concerten, op de 4CD box en de zeer gelimiteerde 8LP box, die u in Japan had moeten bestellen, dan wel een fraaie selectie van niet eerder uitgebrachte tracks, op de dubbel LP. De uitgebreide band, met Steve Douglas op sax en David Mansfield op dobro, viool en mandoline spelen de sterren van de hemel, en de songkeuze behelst Dylans complete carrière tot dan toe. Een enkele cover, van Roland Janes en Tampa Red, maakt het geheel af. Niet in de bootleg series, maar wel opnieuw een waardevol historisch document. (Jurgen Vreugdenhil)
Tracks
Disc 1
1. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
2. Repossession Blues - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
3. Mr. Tambourine Man - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
4. I Threw It All Away - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
5. Shelter From The Storm - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
6. No Limit
7. Girl From The North Country - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
8. Ballad Of A Thin Man - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
9. Maggie's Farm - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
10. To Ramona - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
11. Like A Rolling Stone - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
12. I Shall Be Released - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
13. Is Your Love In Vain? - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
14. Going, Going, Gone - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
Disc 2
1. One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later) - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28
2. Blowin' In The Wind - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
3. Just Like A Woman - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
4. Oh, Sister - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
5. Simple Twist Of Fate - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
6. You're A Big Girl Now - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
7. All Along The Watchtower - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
8. I Want You - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
9. All I Really Want To Do - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
10. Tomorrow Is A Long Time - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
11. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 19
12. Band Introductions - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
13. It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28,
14. Forever Young - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
15. The Times They Are A-Changin' - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - February 28, 1978
Disc 3
1. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
2. Love Her With A Feeling - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
3. Mr. Tambourine Man - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
4. I Threw It All Away - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
5. No Limit
6. Shelter From The Storm - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
7. Girl From The North Country - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
8. Ballad Of A Thin Man - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
9. Maggie's Farm - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
10. One More Cup Of Coffee (Valley Below) - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 19
11. Like A Rolling Stone - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
12. I Shall Be Released - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
13. Is Your Love In Vain? - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
14. Going, Going, Gone - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
Disc 4
1. One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later) - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 19
2. Blowin' In The Wind - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
3. Just Like A Woman - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
4. Oh, Sister - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
5. I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Jap
6. You're A Big Girl Now - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
7. All Along The Watchtower - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
8. I Want You - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
9. All I Really Want To Do - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
10. Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
11. The Man In Me - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
12. Band Introductions - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
13. It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 197
14. Forever Young - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978
15. The Times They Are A-Changin' - Live At Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - March 1, 1978