Dylan's self-titled debut album was produced in a matter of hours and cost just $402 to record (according to producer John Hammond). It serves as an introduction for anyone wanting to explore Dylan's first steps as a professional musician. 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 album 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 Dylan's close friend at the time. A significant portion of the album is possessed by the style and spirit of Woody Guthrie, whose influence as a singer and guitarist hovers over Man of Constant Sorrow and Pretty Peggy-O, as well as the two originals here - the savagely witty Talkin' New York and the poignant Song to Woody.
Tracklist:
1. You're No Good
2. Talkin' New York
3. In My Time of Dyin'
4. Man of Constant Sorrow
5. Fixin' To Die
6. Pretty Peggy-O
7. Highway 51
8. Mixed-Up Confusion
9. Gospel Plow
10. Baby, Let Me Follow You Down
11. House of the Risin' Sun
12. Freight Train Blues
13. Song To Woody
14. See That My Grave is Kept Clean
15. Baby, Please Don't Go
16. Corrina, Corrina
