Just two months after astonishing his fans in Japan by incorporating Grateful Dead songs into his setlist, Nobel laureate Bob Dylan has once again surprised audiences by delving into the catalog of Van Morrison. During his performance at Plaza de Toros Alicante in Alicante, Spain, on Thursday evening, Dylan introduced a cover of Morrison’s beloved 1970 classic, “Into the Mystic,” marking the first time he has performed the song in his illustrious career. An exceptionally clean audience recording of this remarkable rendition is now available for fans to enjoy.
The musical connection between Dylan and Morrison stretches back many years. Van Morrison has been known to perform Dylan’s songs since his time as the frontman of the Sixties garage band Them. Their 1966 album, Them Again, featured a cover of Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue,” which has since remained a staple in Morrison’s live repertoire. Over the years, Morrison has also treated audiences to renditions of Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,’ “Just Like a Woman” and “I Shall Be Released.”
In return, Dylan has paid homage to Morrison by covering several of his songs throughout his Never Ending Tour, including “One Irish Rover,” “Carrying a Torch,” “Real Real Gone,” “And It Stoned Me,” “Crazy Love,” and “Moondance.” The two iconic musicians have also shared the stage on multiple occasions, notably performing together at Ireland’s Slane Castle in 1984, where they stupefied the audience with their collaborative renditions of “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” and “Tupelo Honey.” Additionally, in 1998, they embarked on a joint tour and also joined forces to perform “Crazy Love” in Athens for a BBC documentary crew.
Considering that both Dylan and Morrison are currently on tour in Europe, there remains a slim possibility that they might reunite on stage in the coming weeks, though it is unlikely. Dylan’s tour continues with a performance in Huesca, Spain, on Saturday night and concludes on July 9 in Rome, Italy. Meanwhile, Morrison is set to perform in Oslo, Norway, tonight and will commence his North American leg on Aug. 31 in Boston.
As Dylan explores the Van Morrison catalog, fans eagerly anticipate what he might surprise them with next. Suggestions include his rendition of “Madame George.” Regardless, the addition of these unexpected covers has added an exciting level of unpredictability to Dylan’s live performances.
Listen to Bob Dylan’s rendition of “Into The Mystic” below.
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