Item : BOB DYLAN - THE COMPLETE GASLIGHT TAPES 1962(1CD)

Condition :  NEW 

Gaslight Cafe, New York City, New York, USA 15th October 1962 SBD

The most important and classic live recording of Bob Dylan in 1962 is a recording of a gig held at a cafe called the Gaslight in October. This was during the production of Dylan's masterpiece album "FREEWHEELIN' BOB DYLAN", which he produced during his folk era, and it is a recording that captured him in the midst of his great leap as an artist with the best soundboard recording, so it has an unshakable reputation as a classic now and in the past. In fact, the sound quality is extremely clear for a live recording that captures Dylan before his big break.

Although it is a soundboard recording, it is a live performance of Dylan singing and playing at a cafe that does not have a large stage. The advantage of folk artists is that they can record good sound even with a simple setup of two microphones and a tape recorder in the early 1960s. Also, it was not recorded with the intention of being a live album, so the opening song "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" starts with a cut-in, and the final song "West Texas" is a cut-out, but the sound quality is so clear that you don't even notice it.

In other words, since it was not recorded by Columbia, there are fewer adult ties, and yet the sound quality is very good, so it was released as a box set from the LP era, and it was also a recording of an early Dylan live performance that was blessed with many items.

In the CD era, the two types of Gaslight items, the moderately equalized Rattlesnake version and the raw Scorpio version, became the two giants for enthusiasts, and in 2006 the official release finally came... or so you might think, but it was only released overseas, and only at the cafe chain because it was a cafe live. The final blow was the incomplete version.

The remaining songs were finally released in 2012, but this time, due to copyright measures, the format is even more difficult to obtain than the 2006 version. Although each song was recorded in the best sound quality possible to clear out the two previous giants, it is not easy to obtain them as standard recordings. And yet, there have been no subsequent releases, and the impossible situation of these classic live recordings being left hanging in the air continues to this day.

So this time, the Gaslight has finally released them all together in the best sound quality ever. The definitive release of the classic recordings that are synonymous with Dylan's folk-era live performances has finally been realized.

Not only is the sound quality extremely clear, but the content is also wonderful. From the opening, you can hear the freshness of the new song "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," which had not even been recorded at the time, in the best sound quality. What is most moving is that the audience starts singing along in response to the greatness of the new songs. This was a dazzlingly pure scene that was unique to Dylan in his folk music days in 1962, recorded on the soundboard.

The following song, "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right," is said to be the oldest recorded live performance, and the lyrics were not even completed at this point. The value of having a soundboard recording of the two songs that would become Dylan's signature songs before they were officially recorded is enormous.

The reason why Gaslight is considered an important recording is that it plays "No More Auction Block," which is said to be the original source of "Blowin' In The Wind," which is no exaggeration to say is one of the most famous songs of the 20th century. "Blowin' In The Wind" had already been recorded at this point, but its release was still some time away. It is thought that Dylan played the original instead of the new song on a whim because of this timing.

Because of this precious performance, "No More Auction Block" was the first to be officially released in 1991, but this version has much clearer sound quality than the version heard there. However, the version released in 2012 had a higher pitch for some reason, so this time it has been adjusted properly.

For this reason, "Blowin' In The Wind" was not performed on this day, and instead, the earliest live take of the song performed at a cafe in Montreal in July was included as a bonus. This is also one of the very famous Dylan live recordings from 1962, and it is recorded in the best quality ever, and the fresh performance is very attractive.

The cover songs performed throughout the album are also wonderful, and surprisingly, Robert Johnson's "Kindhearted Woman Blues" features some amazing blues guitar playing. The following year, "FREEWHEELIN' BOB DYLAN" was released, and he was instantly promoted to folk star status. This is the long-awaited definitive edition of an important recording of Dylan in 1962, recorded on the best soundboard, with a youthful look as shown on the cover. Here's a look at Dylan's folk-era live performance! (74:24)

1. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

2. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

3.Black Cross

4. No More Auction Block

5.Rocks and Gravel

6.Barbara Allen

7. Moonshiner

8. Motherless Children

9. Handsome Molly

10.John Brown

11. Ballad of Hollis Brown

12. Kind Hearted Woman Blues

13. See That My Grave Is Kept Clean

14. Ain't No More Cane

15. Cocaine

16. The Cuckoo

17. West Texas

Bonus track

Finjan Club, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2nd July 1962

18.Blowin' In The Wind

SOUNDBOARD RECORDING