Bob Dylan - "Folksinger's Choice" with Cynthia Gooding... March 11, 1962

Last night I caught the first installment of Martin Scorcese's documentary on Bob Dylan, "No Direction Home", and the images and sounds of a young Dylan immediately made me think of this classic bootleg.

Though listed in many publications as a March 11, 1962 performance, it was recorded in February of that year and the March date was a rebroadcast. What we actually hear is the unedited version of the studio session.

Dylan and host Cynthia Gooding chat between each of the 11 songs, and Gooding does a great job of allowing Dylan to expound on his 'alternative biography'. At her prodding, Mr. Dylan spins tall tales about his life around the carnival in his now famous enigmatic voice. Although he never reveals any elaborate details, Dylan somehow convinces the listener that there is a faint possibility his nomadic adventures actually occurred. Gooding clearly admires his astounding talent and at times seems overwhelmed, most notably by "Death of Emmitt Till" (this is the very first known performance of "Till").
Apparently, she had met Dylan on a number of occasions previously, going back to 1959 when they both attended a party after one of her concerts. Later, when she saw Dylan performing at the Folk City in New York, she commented:

" People listen ... he talks and he laughs and just when they are about to catch him in a lie, he takes out his harmonica and blows them down."

Some (like my co-workers) criticize this as being a poor vocal performance, or containing lackluster song selection/interpretation, but the historical significance is undeniable. In the science of dissecting Dylan's evolution, historians and documentarians are always looking for that "missing link." Well, this is one of the precious early stages in his evolution that has been captured, or fossilized, for all time. Dylan, at the tender age of 20, has soaked up so many pivotal influences and has reinterpreted them in his own unique and remarkable way that his genius is imminent. While watching "No Direction Home", a few of his contemporaries seem to still harbor jealousy for Dylan's talent. It is no wonder, considering they failed to develop their personal and distinctive voices, while Dylan was a seemingly immediate and singular virtuoso. The detractors were analogous to fundamentalist creationists ("this is the way these songs were written, and that is the way they must forever be sung, damn it!") while Dylan was a consummate evolutionary. This is absolutely essential listening.

Links to Dylan on "Folksinger's Choice":

Part 1
Part 2