Fifty-one years ago, on May 27, 1963, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, an album that Dylan had worked on, on and off, for over a year, was released.
The recording of the album began on April 24, 1962 and ended on April 24, 1963. There were sessions on eight different days at Columbia Studio A in New York. At least 36 songs were recorded.
Thirteen songs made it onto the album.
Here are some of the outtakes that I like along with some faves from the official release:
“Masters of War” (album version):
“Milk Cow Blues”:
“Hero Blues”:
“Girl From the North Country” (album version):
“Rocks and Gravel”:
“Corrina, Corrina” & “Whatcha Gonna Do” Plus from The Times They Are A-Changin’ sessions, “Eternal Circle” & “Restless Farewell”:
“(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle”:
“A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” (album version):
“Baby Please Don’t Go”:
“Let Me Die In My Footsteps”:
–- A Days of the Crazy-Wild blog post: sounds, visuals and/or news –-
Keith Jarrett Trio, “My Back Pages” (from Jarrett’s 1968 live album, Somewhere Before. Keith Jarrett – piano; Charlie Haden – double bass; Paul Motian – drums):
Duke Ellington, “Blowin’ in the Wind”:
Gene Norman Group, “Subterranean Homesick Blues”:
Bill Frisell, “Masters of War”:
Nina Simone, “Just Like A Woman”:
Nina Simone Live:
Van Morrison: “Just Like A Woman”:
Norah Jones, “Forever Young”:
Bill Frisell, “Just Like A Woman”:
Nina Simone, “I Shall Be Released”:
[In August of this year I’ll be publishing my rock ‘n’ roll/ coming-of-age novel, “True Love Scars,” which features a narrator who is obsessed with Bob Dylan. To read the first chapter, head here.]
– 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 –-
