Bob Dylan

INCLUDES 2 BONUS TRACKS

This collector’s LP edition contains Bob Dylan’s self-titled debut album for Columbia, Bob Dylan (originally released in March 1962). Made in a matter of hours, it cost $402 to record (according to John Hammond) and it serves as an introduction for anyone wanting to explore Dylan’s first steps as a professional musician. This is the material upon which his legend and unique style were built.

On his first LP, recorded at New York’s Columbia Recording Studios, on November 20-22, 1961, Dylan sang topical folk songs, accompanying himself on harmonica and guitar. The record contained only two originals (“Song to Woody” and “Talking New York”) and eleven cover versions, mostly old folk and blues numbers. Dylan takes an arranger’s credit on many of the traditional songs, but a number of them can be traced to his contemporaries. For example, the arrangement of “House of the Rising Sun” was developed by Dave Van Ronk, who was a close friend at the time. During his recording of “Baby Let Me Follow You Down”, Dylan mentions the arranger, Eric Von Schmidt, whom he met in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Despite the low cost and short amount of time spent on Dylan’s first album, John Hammond recalled how difficult it was to record the legendary figure: “Bobby popped every ‘p’, hissed every ‘s’, and habitually wandered off mike. Even more frustrating, he refused to learn from his mistakes. It occurred to me at the time that I’d never worked with anyone so undisciplined before”.

In addition to the original masterpiece, this special edition includes 2 bonus tracks from the same period – consisting of the B-side “Mixed-Up Confusion”, and a nice cover of the blues standard “Baby, Please Don’t Go”, recorded for WBAI Radio broadcast in 1962.

PERSONNEL:

BOB DYLAN, vocals, guitar and harmonica.

All tracks produced by John Hammond.
Recorded by Knuerr and Dauria at Columbia Recording Studios (Studio A),
New York City, November 20 & 22, 1961.

On “Mixed-Up Confusion”: Bob Dylan (vocals, guitar & harmonica), George Barnes, Bruce Langhorne (guitar),
Gene Ramey (bass), Dick Wellstood (piano), Herb Lovelle (drums). Produced by John Hammond.
Recorded at Columbia Recording Studios (Studio A),
New York City, November 14, 1962.

On “Baby, Please Don’t Go”: Bob Dylan (vocals, guitar & harmonica). WBAI radio broadcast, New York City,

(*) BONUS TRACKS: March 11, 1962. The program was called “Folksinger’s Choice” and was hosted by Cynthia Gooding.

SIDE 1

01. YOU’RE NO GOOD
02. TALKIN’ NEW YORK
03. IN MY TIME OF DYIN’
04. MAN OF CONSTANT SORROW
05. FIXIN’ TO DIE
06. PRETTY PEGGY-O
07. HIGHWAY 51
08. MIXED-UP CONFUSION (*)

SIDE 2

01. GOSPEL PLOW
02. BABY, LET ME FOLLOW YOU DOWN
03. HOUSE OF THE RISIN’ SUN
04. FREIGHT TRAIN BLUES
05. SONG TO WOODY
06. SEE THAT MY GRAVE IS KEPT CLEAN
07. BABY, PLEASE DON’T GO (Recorded live for WBAI Radio) (*)