Early Dylan ('61-'63): The Beginnings of a Unique Style

This week, Laura and Robert are going back to the beginning to examine what we can learn about Bob Dylan’s unique style from listening to some early recordings. In the early 1960s, Dylan developed at such rapid speed, these recordings are precious documents of an artist finding his style and finding an audience along with it. We discuss which skills he honed until they were just right, the things he tried that were ultimately discarded, and we answer the question of who is playing the guitar on “Don’t Think Twice (It’s All Right)” (spoiler: we think a certain Dylan biographer is wrong).

Playlist:

1. House Of The Rising Sun [Mackenzie Home Tapes]

2. All Over You (Gerde's Folk City, "The Banjo Tape", 8 February, 1963)

3. Don't Think Twice (It's All Right) (Witmark Demo)

4. Hero Blues [Take 1]

5. That's All Right, Mama [Take 1]

6. He Was A Friend Of Mine