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Bob Dylan Debuts 1967 Basement Tapes Song Live

The Troutdale setlist included an archival Basement Tapes track that marks a 59-year interval from studio recording to first live play.

Overview

  • Dylan performed “Baby, Won’t You Be My Baby” for the first time in concert at the kickoff of his 2026 summer tour in Troutdale, Oregon.
  • The song was recorded with The Band during the 1967 Basement Tapes sessions and was not officially released until The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 in 2014.
  • Rolling Stone reports the 59-year span between the 1967 recording and its live debut is the longest gap in Dylan’s career between studio recording and first stage performance.
  • The Troutdale show featured 16 songs, including four covers and two tracks from 2020’s Rough and Rowdy Ways, underlining a mix of obscure material and recent originals.
  • Fans and critics see the surprise inclusion as a sign that Dylan may draw more from his archival catalogue on the rest of the summer tour, which continues with additional dates after Troutdale.