Fifty-two years ago, Bob Dylan appeared at Gerde’s Folk City. He’d been playing there since 1961 when, on April 11, he played Gerde’s for the first time.
What’s important about the April 16, 1962 gig is that some of it was recorded, and the recordings are tremendous. They’re great in and of themselves, but it’s also fascinating to get another earful of an artist in transition. And with Bob Dylan, he’s always in transition.
These songs appeared on an official album released by Sony two years ago. They’re on the The 50th Anniversary Collection: The Copyright Extension Collection, Volume 1. Of course that was released as a very limited edition so that Sony could prevent the recordings from entering the public domain in Europe.
Anyway, enjoy.
“Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance”:
“Talkin’ New York”:
“Corrina, Corrina”:
“Deep Ellum Blues”:
“Blowin’ in the Wind”:
-– A Days of the Crazy-Wild blog post: sounds, visuals and/or news –
Fifty-one years ago, on February 8, 1963, Bob Dylan played a set at Gerde’s Folk City in Greenwich Village.
It was two years after Dylan had arrived in New York, nearly two years since he got one of his first breaks playing at Gerde’s, which was probably the most important folk club in the country at that time.
Poster for Dylan’s first gig at Gerde’s Folk City in 1961.
It was a review in the New York Times by Robert Shelton of Dylan opening for the Greenbriar Boys at Gerde’s that helped Dylan to get the attention of Columbia Records’ legendary A&R man John Hammond.
By February of 1963, Dylan had signed a record deal with Columbia Records, taken on manager Albert Grossman, secured a publishing deal with Whitmark and recorded his debut, Bob Dylan, and had it released to less than minor success.
He was six months away from his first hit, a version of “Blowin’ in the Wind” that Peter, Paul and Mary would take to #2 on the pop charts, setting the stage for one of the most long-lasting and successful careers in popular music.
Gerde’s Folk City.
Below are recordings of the songs Dylan recorded at Gerde’s in the order they were performed.
1 “Lonesome River Edge”:
2 “Back Door Blues”:
3 “Bob Dylan’s Dream”:
4 “You Can Get Her”:
5 “Farewell”:
6 “All Over You” (with Happy Traum):
7 “Masters Of War”:
8 Instrumental
9 “Keep Your Hands Off Her”:
10 “Honey Babe”:
11 “Goin’ Back To Rome”:
12 “Stealin’, Stealin’,” (with Happy Traum):
-– A Days of the Crazy-Wild blog post: sounds, visuals and/or news –-
