Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' + Amazingly rare 4 page in depth Robert Shelton interview from Melody Maker

Matrix side A): SBPG-62193-1A-1. side B): SBPG-62193-2B-1

Catalogue number: CBS 62193

(First released in 1963, this is the very rare second press from 1964; sometimes known as the first CBS press as the first was sub-contracted to Philips.)

Overall condition is EXCELLENT

Sleeve EXCELLENT The front, non-flipback, laminated picture sleeve with the Ernest J. Day cover is still bright and glossy in very good condition with no tears or splits, though there is very slight ring wear where the top edge of the record sits but otherwise it is in EXCELLENT condition with the colours still very bright there isn’t any writing, taping or stickers. Apart, that is from the double arrow, “Stereo” sticker which was stuck on at the record pressing plant as, in those days, there was such a small demand for stereo albums that they didn’t print separate sleeves with different catalogue numbers.

Spine EXCELLENT the spine is firm and totally legible. I will also include the original plastic outer that I bought with it, which still fits tightly and has successfully kept the dust off for all these years

Record EXCELLENT It’s pressed on heavyweight vinyl The record itself is clean and glossy and the disc retains its deep, black vinyl sheen.

Labels EXCELLENT The orange CBS rough textured paper labels labels show some minimal signs of use, have no writing and are clean with little spindle marking. The location of the catalogue number is to the side of the CBS logo and there is a large 'S' before the smaller 'BPG' on the label which was not the case on later pressings.

Audio Quality EXCELLENT It plays really well apart from some of the usual vinyl hiss and crackle between tracks that unfortunately are noticeable in some of the quietest passages but vanish after a few seconds and don’t detract from the overall sound, which is still amazing. although deep cleaning would probably remove them.

But, to quote the Record Collector grading system for the category of EXCELLENT, there is very little lessening in sound quality.”

It lays flat on the turntable and plays well without the needle sticking or jumping.

Please remember even new, factory fresh vinyl is likely to have some clicks and pops, but the richness of sound will always be better than digital. OK eventually the robots and aliens will make digital sound as good, but until then, it’s a compromise, you have to choose; deep rich tones and a beautiful sleeve (often with lyrics or other notes) or clinical sterility with nothing to see and a narrow frequency range.

Until 1970 I only ever played my albums on a Garrard Sp25 Mk11 with a Sonotone 9TAHC cartridge and from 1970 onwards on a Pioneer PL12D with a Shure N75 ED-T2 cartridge and stylus, tracking at 1.5 grams which I continue to use today – although the stylus has been replaced regularly

Track list: A1. Blowin In the Wind A2. Girl From the North Country A3. Masters of War A4. Down the Highway A5. Bob Dylan's Blues A6. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
B1. Don't Think Twice It's Alright B2. Bob Dylan's Dream B3. Oxford Town B4. Talking World War III Blues B5. Corrina, Corrina B6. Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance

B7. I Shall Be Free

PRESS CUTTING I’m also including an in-depth four page interview from Melody Maker in which Robert Shelton interviews Dylan. If you didn’t already know, Shelton was the New York Times critic who first championed Dylan to a wider audience in 1961 and contributed sleeve notes to his first album. Shelton was also the author of “No Direction Home” a highly regarded authoritative biography of Dylan. There are some fascinating insights into Dylan’s thoughts on a wide range of things that he normally would not discuss with the press. I think this press cutting is very rare, as I’ve never seen it referred to in books or on the web.

Summary:this ICONIC, masterwork album is a lovely piece of genuine memorabilia from a bygone time. There are very few people who have had such influence on music that they have totally changed it, even fewer who have single handedly changed the world. The Freewheelin' was Dylan’s second studio album it opens with "Blowin' in the Wind", which became an anthem of the counter culture, the anti-nuclear movement and the struggle for racial and sexual equality in the 1960s and even now. That alone would be enough to justify his place in history, but the album features several other compositions which have become accepted classics, especially "Masters of War" and "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall". If you haven’t heard it on vinyl this could be for you. It certainly doesn’t sound 58 years old!

Admittedly it is not in Mint condition, although the album overall counts as EXCELLENT but that is why I’m starting at a sensible price so a genuine fan or collector can enjoy it without paying rip off prices.

If you check my feedback you will see many people think my grading is spot on.

I’m not a dealer of any sort, but am just downsizing and having to clear things out and trying to survive on a poxy pension. Good luck with your bidding and feel free to ask any question.

Sorry but I accept Paypal only and it will be posted as soon as payment has cleared, which must be paid within 24hours of the end of the auction. This may seem harsh but I’m fed up with time wasters!

PLEASE NOTE – IF YOU CAN’T PAY DON’T BID!!!!!! IT WASTES EVERYONE’S TIME AND STOPS PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT THE RECORD GETTING IT.

OH AND IT MARKS YOU OUT AS A COMPLETE IDIOT! Rant over.

I use 12" Vinyl LP Record Cruciform postal mailers and protect them with an additional layer of bubblewrap. In the UK I use Royal Mail Signed For.

Price for postage is for 2nd class and reflects the fact that eBay & PayPal take a combined total fee of 13.4% on shipping charges. If you are outside the UK, I will use Ebay’s Global Shipping Program and you are therefore accepting their shipping terms and charges over which I have no control.

Record Collector grading system used

MINT: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

EXCELLENT: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and / or creasing.

VERY GOOD: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

GOOD: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.

FAIR: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and / or defaced.

POOR: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

As well as the above grades, Near Mint is often used as well; this is really for a record that appears new but is known to have been played because the label has light spindle marks or because it has come from a previous owner and is assumed to have been played by them. For records which appear to fall between the accepted grades, + and - are also often added to the grading.