The rarest – and most sought after – of all Bob Dylan albums. That’s right – this is the 1A matrix pressing which plays the four tracks that were withdrawn. It is NOT the Canadian pressing or timing strip issue which list the deleted tracks but play the standard cuts. The labels and cover here show the replacement tracks – which is consistent with the few other mono copies that have turned up over the past fifty years. However, check the picture which shows the vinyl for Side 1: the middle track is “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall”, and you should be able to see it is the widest band, since it is the longest song. On standard copies of this record, that track is sequenced last in the #6 position. VINYL CONDITION: visually VG+ In regular room light, surface appears very clean with no serious defects. Under 100 watt bulb, one can see a number of light marks, some people describe as hairline or spidery, so there is evidence that record was played, as pretty much all copies of this popular album were, but not abused. There are no feelable scratches or marks that tick, pop, skip, stick, or thump. The cover is in pretty typical shape for this issue. There is wear on front, a bit of staining on back, corner bumps, and a closed 1.5 inch split in the middle of top seam, which I could repair undetectably but haven’t. If you really care about displaying, we will throw in nice, nearly flawless second print cover, the main difference being that it only references the monaural number on the back upper right and does not list the stereo for some reason. Hear for yourself as we have uploaded sound files for the tracks. Occasionally there is some kind of surface noise, but it is minimal and the fidelity is remarkable, I suppose due to being such an early and limited pressing. Blowin’ in the Wind. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall. Bob Dylan’s Blues. Let Me Die in My Footsteps. Don’t Think Twice. (Gamblin’ Willie’s Dead Man’s Hand). Talkin’ John Birch Blues. Honey Just Allow Me One More Chance. I Shall Be Free. HERE IS THE STORY: last summer August 2015, a friend of mine was visiting his brother-in-law. They got to talking about old records, and the brother-in-law mentioned that he had a Dylan album that he remembered there was something unusual about. So they got it out and played it, and, sure enough, the songs did not match those printed on the label. Lo and behold, this legendary anomaly had been sitting on the guy’s shelf for more than 50 years. Fewer than a couple dozen have ever surfaced. And though skeptical at first, there was the photographic proof. I think all serious record nuts have heard of it – I had an old Goldmine GUIDE TO COLLECTIBLE RECORD ALBUMS by Neal Umphred from 1994 which has an article entitled, “The World’s Most Valuable Album”. So I have been researching for months, talking and emailing with nationally known Dylan and record experts. It was finally decided to put this one on consignment with me and list in conjunction with Bob’s 75th who woulda thunk it? Unless they discover a box of these hidden away in the Columbia catacombs, this copy will someday sell for more than whatever is paid today – the owner may change his mind and hold on for posterity. So here is what may be the chance of a lifetime. Related content of interest. Rolling Stone article May 27, 2016 about creation of FREEWHEELIN. Make sure you realize this is a vinyl LP. If you are looking for cds, go to the cd category. M: Generally reserved for sealed records, but may be used for an opened record with absolutely no evidence of play M-: May have no marks or a couple very light marks, which would not be noticed except for extremely close inspection, and which will not affect play. EX: May have a few very light marks which are nearly invisible and most likely do not sound. VG+: May have some visible light marks but no feelable scratches. May play with a minimum of noise during quiet passages. Note: items posted in the past may have slightly different grading abbreviations; however the old “NM” is the same as “M” defined above, “NM-” equals “M-“, etc. Please note that grades are visual. It seems to me that play-grading is even more subjective and entails other variables, such as the sensitivity of one’s equipment. I have not listened to many of these records but will try to upon request. There is not a huge amount of difference between M/M-/EX. As anyone who has handled a lot of used records knows, some play better than they look and VICE VERSA. The item “The freewheelin’ BOB DYLAN withdrawn CL 19861A matrix LP” is in sale since Thursday, July 28, 2016. This item is in the category “Music\Records”. The seller is “wlber” and is located in Nashville, Tennessee. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Genre: Folk
- Record Size: 12″
- Duration: LP
- Record Grading: Very Good Plus (VG+)
- Special Attributes: 1st Edition
- Record Label: Columbia
- Release Year: 1963
- Speed: 33 RPM
- Country of Manufacture: United States
- Style: Contemporary Folk
- Sleeve Grading: Very Good Plus (VG+)
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States