The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan (1963)

For some reason folk is an often ignored genre. Well it certainly inspired The Byrds and Crosby Stills and Nash (who were one third Byrd admittedly) among others, but nowadays they tend to be equal recipients of this ignorance. So what happened to folk then? Well it’s obviously still there, since music (recorded music at least) doesn’t disappear. And, in fairness, it’s been rising again (like just about everything from the 60s and 70s it seems). But it always helps to look at the roots of a genre, so let’s.

For some reason blues is an often ignored genre. Well it certainly inspired The Yardbirds and Cream (who were one third yardbird admittedly) among others, but nowadays they tend to be equal recipients of this ignorance. Sounding familiar? Well it’s true. And the same thing goes for country, but we don’t need to go into that I’m sure.

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan is Bob Dylan’s first album. Well, technically Bob Dylan is his first, but he only wrote a couple of songs on that, contrasted with his writing all but a couple on this one. And really, it’s the writing which makes all the difference with Bob. You wouldn’t listen to him for his voice now would you?

Or maybe you would; it certainly has an appeal. And let’s not forget his harmonica. Unique in every respect. But then his lyrics: his imagery is as vivid as it comes, but it still manages to be completely unpretensious. And then there’s the music. The acoustic guitar and harmonica are an unmatched combination. Certainly there’s no dearth of appeal in this record.

Perhaps it isn’t all that original. After all, folk and blues had been around for years before The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. But it is here that the two are mixed together, to create a genre which could only be referred to as Zimmerman. There’s no rock and roll though; it obviously hadn’t reached the Midwest by this point. But then it’s hardly necessary.

Of course, that means that if you’re looking for a rock and roll record you’re looking in the wrong place. But if you aren’t narrowminded enough to only listen to rock and roll, this is essential. After all, what other albums could have such an effect on the world’s perspective on war? The Final Cut? Of course not.

This is probably one of the biggest mistakes in listening to this; this album is a lot more diverse than a mere anti-war statement. After all, it has “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”: the ultimate fuck you song. And it also has “Bob Dylan’s Blues”, among others, which is quite amusing. I suppose you could argue that with Vietnam just two years off, they’re all about war. But then so is “Viva Las Vegas”. And don’t forget, even within the protest songs there’s a wide range of voices in use: “Blowin’ in the Wind” is inquisitive, but “Masters of War” is downright hateful.

Of course, it’s sincere, which is what really matters. Every word is filled with not only meaning but soul; perhaps why there are no more than two instruments to spoil it. And if I haven’t sold you with that, I never will.

~ by Draco N. Slayer on 28 November, 2007.