OK, a word before we start. The recording(s) I have of this concert are not vinyl, which is why I've placed it in the 'Alternate Take' category. In fact apart from one song, none of it is official. It is however a milestone - exactly 60 years to the day that Bob Dylan made "His First New York Concert" appearance. Arriving in New York in January '61 Bob started playing around the clubs - Gerdes Folk City, Cafe Wha!, Gaslight Café. Reviewed at Gerdes by critic Robert Sheldon he was signed to Columbia by John Hammond. On 29 September he made it to the recording studios, not for his own work but playing harmonica on a Carolyn Hester album. A few weeks later Izzy Young promoted him for a concert at the Carnegie Chapter Hall, a part of the main Carnegie Hall building. Although it is capable of holding up to 200 people, only 53 seats were sold - at $2 each !!
Dylan sang 22 songs, mainly traditional, some Woody Guthrie and a bit of Leadbelly and Bukka White, but importantly there were also some of his own compositions. 'Song to Woody', his homage to the aforementioned Woody Guthrie and his tongue in cheek autobiographical 'Talkin' New York'.
Out of those 22 songs, 7 have never been circulated and the remaining 15 are on a variety of incomplete recordings. The first 7 are on the unofficial 'Dylan's Root(s)' and 'Hard Times in NYC'. More appear on the 'Bob Dylan Live at Carnegie Chapter Hall, 1961 [SOUNDBOARD RECORDING]' boot with one track 'This Land is Your Land' included on the official 'Bootleg Series Vol.7 - No Direction Home'.
Two weeks after this concert, Bob was back in the studio recording his first album, the eponymous 'Bob Dylan' produced by John Hammond. Both 'Song to Woody' and 'Talkin' New York' appeared on this album and although it's probably more folklore than fact, John Hammond is famously quoted as saying the album cost a total of $402 to record.
Today is a landmark day in the history of Bob Dylan and his followers. Just two days ago, now aged 80, Bob started touring again. To be honest he never really stopped. Held up by the pandemic, after an unexpected hiatus, 'The Rough and Rowdy Ways' tour is on the road.
Bob Dylan Live at Carnegie Chapter Hall, 1961 [SOUNDBOARD RECORDING]
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