This truly is a collector's edition, and we'd go one step ahead and say it is rather limited edition LP that consists of 13 tracks and which is supposed to be the debut album (1962) of singer – songwriter Bob Dylan. The LP comes in a clear record sleeve with no artwork, instead what you get is only a plastic sleeve, with no indication of the songwriters, producer or even the band members names. In between the red and white is a blurred colour filling on the vinyl, which looks like a smugde or something. That aside, you will cherish the young face of Dylan on the centre spindal area of the record that also has the playlist of each side.

The sound otherwise is of great quality like any other record and it’s a great piece to have in your record collection.

The tracklisting includes traditional tunes which are adapted from other songwriters but are now well known to many around the world. There are ten of them so you have You`re No Good, In My Time Of Dying, Man Of Constant Sorrow, Fixin` To Die, Pretty Peggy and Highway 51 that makes it on Side One while we have Gospel Plow, Baby, Let Me Follow You Down, House Of The Risin` Sun, Freight Train Blues.

Dylan also tips songs on his own and addresses one to Songs To Woody a homage to his songwriting idol Woody Guthrie, while he croons lovingly on the bluesy Talkin` New York. The last track that showcases Dylan’s preoccupation with death in See That My Grave Is Kept Clean.

Now fifty years plus down the line, this album was released somewhere in late 2012 to commenorate 50 years of Dylan in the music business, Dylan no longer does what he did on this album. Almost all his songs are his own, and even though he chose to play it safe a half-century ago by interpreting the music of others on this album, he writes and sings his own songs.

The self titled album is the sound of a talented young man at the beginning of his career and on the verge of a beginning a life in the music industry all by himself. This album did not do too well, but then a new artist deserves a chance to prove himself and Dylan surely did that, for all his subsequent albums are now best sellers. John Hammond who saw the raw talent in Dylan and groomed him to become one of the top singers in America, also groomed other newcomers like Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, who today are big names in the music scene and have songs that are equally memorable. Hammond the person responsible for signing the folk singer to Columbia, saw the young American popularity rise threefold in no time, becoming the country’s darling then and even now.

Reissued on Vinyl – 7^th Oct. 2013

Label: Mischief Music

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira