Product Description

With this album Dylan emerged from the cloak of Woody Guthrie and proclaimed his own unique talent. No longer detached--the set was originally entitled BOB DYLAN'S BLUES--he personalised his songs, famously rejecting four from the final draft in favour of others reflecting his newer muse. Protest songs were given a wider resonance--the text of "Masters Of War" remains sadly relevant decades later--while his love songs are haunting but universal statements. Dylan injected black humor into the talking blues and railed against injusticein all forms, with a perception encompassing the anger of ageneration. FREEWHEELIN' is a landmark in the development of folk and pop music.

Track Listing

1. Blowin' In The Wind
2. Girl From The North Country
3. Masters Of War
4. Down The Highway
5. Bob Dylan's Blues
6. Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall
7. Don't Think Twice It's Alright
8. Bob Dylan's Dream
9. Oxford Town
10. Talking World War III Blues
11. Corrina Corrina
12. Honey Just Allow Me One More Chance
13. I Shall Be Free

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30497 in Music
• Released on: 1989-10-09
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
With tracks including "Blowin' In The Wind," "Masters Of War," "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" and "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right," few could deny this album's claim to classic status. The Freewheelin'... saw Dylan emerge, fully-formed, from the shadow of his influences (Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams, Muddy Waters) and find his own voice: a vividly poetic stance, effortlessly merging social protest (de rigeur at the time for any self-respecting folk singer) with more personal statements, as in "Bob Dylan's Dream" and "Girl From The North Country." He was, at the time, just 21 years old. This is Dylan at his most unadorned, accompanied only by his own acoustic guitar and harmonica; John Hammond's production is suitably sparse, allowing the singer's language to resonate. Occasionally the result is whimsical ("Talking World War III Blues," "I Shall Be Free"), but mostly, it's the sound of an intensely ambitious, prodigiously gifted young man, passionately engaged with his subject matter and his times, single-handedly hauling American folk music into the late 20th century. --Andrew McGuire

Customer Reviews

An album everyone must own.
Iv'e been listening to Bob Dylan avidly for just over six months, and to say the least I will be a lifelong fan.
I have purchased over ten of his albums in this period of time. I am proud to say also that I saw him live on the 20th of November 2003 at the Sheffield arena something I will never forget and will repeat, it being my first ever concert!!
This man has also inspired me to pick up guitar and the harmonica
both of which I am loving and recommend anyone to do the same,
and a person who can do that has got to be worth something!
I mean you don't see Britney Spears inspiring people to do the same, her and other's alike just inspire vanity and talentless fools going on such shows as Pop Idol. They may be able to sing and be taught to dance ( half decently ), and why listen to cover versions of songs you can get the original to which have far more meaning and feeling. They don't, write, play or know music.
Bob Dylan, however does know music, and is music and drew from and was inspired by the Blues as other greats have done and more will continue to do so. He knew and played with Woody Guthrie and met loads of blues legends, i mean come on!!
Now enough on the artist more on the album. This is one of my favouite Dylan albums and as with all "good" musicians all the tracks are palatable ( in comparison to the pop tripe around at the minute where one hit single leads to an album! )
However Bob Dylan's latter album songs are all amazing when listened to not just for the music but the words/poetry which is what you should really be listening to.
Notable tracks are the obvious " Blowin in the Wind" a great protest song others which include Masters of War and A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall all of which are amazing. He also has a few songs about the opposite sex including the " Girl of the North Country ", " Corrina, Corrina " and " Honey Just Allow Me One More Chance ". One of my favourites is " Talkin' World War III Blues " which is similar to " Bob Dylan's 115th Dream " off of the album " Another Side of Bob Dyaln " in respect of the vivid imagery and story telling feel to the song, and proves the fact that Dylan is essential listening.
If your " considering " buying this album then you simply have not heard it. If you do not own it buy it. If you do own it give it to someone else and buy another !!
" Bob Dylan Forever "
( p.s if you ever get chance to see Bob Dylan live grab it with both hands!! )

Great moments
There are some marvellous songs here, and some not so marvellous, and some in between. Dylan didn't take long to mature, this was just his second record. "Blowin' in the Wind", "Girl from the North Country", "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall", and "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" are classics, and they carry the record, which without them would have been just an ordinary folk experience. The only songs which are less than all right are "Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance" and "Masters of War"; the former simply lacks sufficient quality, and the latter is a piece of self-contradiction, being so fierce in its railing against the masters of war, whoever they are, that it comes to resemble a war song itself. But all in all this is a fine record, Dylan's first major achievement - the first of many.

Was,Is and Will Be
He was young when he recorded this one. We know this because we do, otherwise we would have never known. A wisdom that surpasses age and a melody that comes from a lonely corner of your heart. "Girl of North Country", and I was in a different world. It was beautiful, late in the night. The purity this album has is a benchmark in itself. Hummed in the impeccable mercury voice, these are the songs of a wanderer going from one place to another. You will like this CD because you will carry these songs in your heart. You will find yourself remarking to people," Don't think twice, Its all right". You will yell out, "I just want you to know I can see through your masks". He sings from a voice that comes from the common man, from you and me. And he ask's questions that we ask. Why ? Why do we have wars ? "hard rain's a gonna fall", is a commentary on this wasteland the world has become. From one mood to another this album will carry you through an array of feelings. "lay lady lay" is a song of wanting and "Blowing in the wind" is an anthem. Some more of his albums that come in the same level as this one are: times they are a-changing, bringing it all back home, blonde on blonde and ofcourse his greatest hits compilations. These all albums though are not as laid back as this one but they sure are all masterpieces. Try them and you will have a new look on life at your hand. These are his best songs there were, the best there are and probably the best there will be. So go get them now.