Bob Dylan The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (LP, 180g Vinyl)

(Columbia) 13 tracks

It is the sound of change. The musical voice of a new way of thinking. And the beginning of probably the steepest career in music history. The Freewheelin' was Bob Dylan's artistic and commercial breakthrough. In view of his previous album, it was a quantum leap, because it must be said so clearly: Bob Dylan's first album was a flop. With about 5,000 copies sold, the record company just covered the costs incurred and producer John Hammond had to put up with a lot of ridicule. How good that this could not shake him in his faith in the young artist! This is how The Freewheelin' was born in 1962. Instead of relying on cover versions as on his debut album, Dylan this time showed his talent as a songwriter and took all the wind out of his critics' sails with titles like Blowin' in the wind, Masters of War and A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall.

Dylan's songs mirrored the concerns, issues and emotions that an entire country was dealing with. With almost intrusive honesty, a clearly moral worldview and biting criticism, he points his finger at the insanity of war, the hypocrisy of segregation, the need for civil rights and freedom. In addition, he shows with equal talent in Bob Dylan's Blues or Bob Dylan's Dream also a cheerful, absurd-comic side or sings ravishing love songs (Girl From the North Country). Dylan released many more excellent albums, but he never surpassed The Freewheelin'.

A longplay for the ages: it is hardly possible to overestimate Bob Dylan's masterpiece The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1964) in the oeuvre of the master. Thus, with such world hits as Blowin' In The Wind, A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, Don't Think Twice, It's All Right and Girl From The North Country, he contributed significantly to the development of American songwriting culture.