The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

A masterpiece. While Dylan's debut album is mostly comprised of covers, with this second album he evolved into a true master of his craft. The songwriting on this is astonishing, and many of these are timeless. For example Blowin' in the Wind and Girl from the North Country are still as moving, and beautiful as they ever were. While Masters of War is still, if not more relevant today. Just incredible.

own

Look, no one is arguing that Dylan has a great voice. He doesn't. That said, there's a certain Americana tradition to it that's especially apparent in Talkin' WWIII Blues. This is my second Dylan album, 38 albums into the project and, I mean, dang. I didn't realize HE wrote Blowin' in the Wind. I thought it was the Mamas & Papas. Girl from the North Country, Masters of War, Don't Think Twice, It's All Right, are all spectacular. There's a simplicity of the pared back instrumentalization and music that lets you focus on the lyrics and meaning of the song. It's a good balance, even with lack of vocal agility from the singer. I don't really see getting sick of these songs. I could probably leave I Shall Be Free.

Listened 3/18/24. Stone cold classic. I had forgotten some of these songs and it was great to get reintroduced to them.

After an underwhelming debut, Dylan fires on all cylinders with his sophomore release. Lyrics are poetic, original, and hit as hard 60 years later as they did when they were contemporaneously written. Nobel prize for literature well deserved. 5/5

The first and maybe my favorite Dylan album I’ve listened to. Blowin in the Wind, Masters of War, and A Hard Rain are all peak singer/songwriter (4.5/5)

5/5 this was such an enjoyable ramble and music that’s very pure for me. Just fantastic.

What an album. It is crazy that Dylan went from being a wannabe folk singer doing voers and playing harmonica for other people to this. One of the best albums ever in my opinion.

It’s Bob fuckin’ Dylan, what else is there to say

Timeless, remarkable songwriting.

The classic with Blowin in the wind ..

A near perfect album! So many fantastic, timeless songs

<3

Simply great

4.6/5 Best Track: Don't Think Twice, It's Alright

Perfect album albeit with the head scratching closing choice of I Shall Be Free. “I jumped the fallout shelter. I jumped the string bean. I jumped the tv dinner. I jumped the shotgun”. It is good that Dylan stopped writing Wesley Willis caliber “funny songs” soon after this album.

A pillar of an album that holds the weight of the world. Incredible songs from a mind in the infancy of its brilliance. Still a very young man with a sharp vision of the future and a sharper tongue. These songs can break your heart, awaken the revolutionary or just make you laugh at times. Anytime you can genuinely experience multiple emotions in such a short amount of time is worth taking note of and cling to that album with both hands and all your heart.

A classic. Certainly one of Dylan's best, if you can make that distinction.

masterpiece starting from cover

sharp lyrics

Frábær plata og mitt persónulega uppáhald með honum. Don't think twice og A Hard Rain eru svo solid tvenna. Blowing in the wind auðvitað iconic lag fyrir the 60's.

Klárlega ein af bestu plötum allra tíma. Blowin in the wind kannski pínu ofspilað, en Girl from the North Country eitt af uppáhalds Dylan lögum mínum + Masters of War, Masters of War, A hard rain´s og Dont think twice.

Masterpiece.

A simple album for the death of a simple view of empires that come and go.

i've learned and forgotten how to play a lot of these songs countless times. classic folk album for me.

A classic.

10/10

amazing, classic

i love this. i've always liked bob dylan's singing and songwriting but his harmonica never fully clicked. after fully listening to this album I think if has. also, bob dylan core 🧥

I enjoy Bob

Love Bob Dylan

This was a good one for a Friday. I was able to spin my vinyl copy while enjoying my coffee.

Love it

I’d always had the misheard lyric ‘how many roads must a man walk down, before you CAN call him a man’ and by listening to this, it was corrected and gave me a better understanding of the song

I never "got" Dylan when I was younger. Just never had the occasion to listen to him much. Didn't appeal. When I was learning about music, I knew who he was, of course -- but he was just some folk singer to me. I knew people loved him, but that whiny voice and what I found to be uninteresting music (since at the time I was way into stuff like Queensryche) -- just never figured it out. Well, I grew up and I started to understand. And listening to him now as an adult is a new experience. This is spellcasting as much as it is songwriting. Going to have to do some revisiting. Thumbs way up. Unexpected banger: Talkin' World War III Blues

Dylan erbeast

Good album. Amazing lyricist

Love, love , love this album

Icons but not my thing

First

Where are today’s Bob Dylan’s?

I may have just been in the right headspace place to listen, but it was a great album. The song writing and lyrics were great.

My favourite Bob Dylan album with Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright. Love the simple acoustic arrangement.

made me cry, made me laugh. love bob dylan :)

A masterpiece. - Blowin’ In The Wind - Masters of War - Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright

One of my all time favorites

Well, this is pretty well a timeless classic. If you’ve never heard it, well, you must at least once. Appreciate his lyrics, and also put it into perspective - this is early 1960s. Incredible depth matched by very few.

as perfect of a folk album as they come.

Early Bob Dylan was a work in progress, not yet complete, but the album is still splendid and essential listening.

love bob dylan - i remember listening to this with my dad as a teenager

Love it!!

Two out of the four albums I’ve got so far have already been in my collection and some of my favourites, including Freewheelin’. A classic folk album. The protest songs hit just as hard as when they were first written, to when I first heard them 2 decades ago, to now. Highlights: Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alrights (one of my all time favourite songs), Oxford Town, Masters of War

Definitely deserves a place in this list. Masters of War is my favorite Dylan song, especially as covered by Eddie Veder. Blowin in the Wind is one of the most iconic 60s songs, a huge hit for Peter Paul & Mary who covered it. 5 stars.

THE KING

Duh

Easy five. I love the stripped-back production. Oh and the songwriting. Second to none. Very powerful.

лучшая гармошка в жизни!

Peak.

6/5 all day long

The best of the early folk stuff.

classic

Classic

This has some of the most transcendent music ever recorded. Blowin' in the Wind and Don't Think Twice, It's All Right are both on my shortlist for best-ever Dylan songs. A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall is perhaps his best early protest song. Girl from the North Country and Corrina, Corrina are just so nice to listen to. There are some clunkers on this, though. The run of Masters of War, Down the Highway and Bob Dylan's Blues is tough. And the back half is quite uneven. Even if I'm not crazy about a significant percentage of the songs on this album, not rating this five stars would be absolute lunacy.

Perfect end to end

Still resonant and brilliant and frankly kind of mind blowing.

Favorite album by one of my favorite artists. This one never gets old. Could be the best album of all time.

Learned a bit by Googling these songs this time around. Found better versions of Corrina, Corrina by southern blues musicians (written by Mississippi Sheiks but that one isnt on Spotify) - and learned about walking blues songs - listened to leadbelly and woody Guthrie versions. Still classic album

Altså…det er Bob. Og det er bra Bob. Det fins noe dårligere Bob. Men dette er kanskje noe av min favoritt Bob. Albumet føles ut som høst

Still a classic after all these years.

3/3

#38. Probably only Bob Dylan's third best album, but still better than most on this list. 5/5: perfection *This is the second album from this list I purchased. Song added to playlist: Girl From The North Country I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

They don’t make them like this anymore

What else than five stars?

I mean what are we even doing...

A good mix of joyful and rebellious songs

Masterpiece. Humorous as well as political. Dylan switches the use of his voice f the song requires it.

Bob Dylan is quickly becoming one of my favorite artists of all time. His lyricism is unmatched and his unique and emotive voice is a perfect vessel for it. This is the second Dylan album I’ve heard and it somehow surpassed my high expectations.

Loved this album

Should I bully my parents and grandparents for not getting me into Bob Dylan sooner yes or yes

Beautiful

I've listened to this album a million times, I even have it on vinyl. I know it's cliche to say this, but his music will never not be relevant - I put it on and when it immediately started with "Blowing in the Wind", I cried thinking of Gaza. "Masters of War" being two songs later, too, with "Girl From North Country" in between - a song that I play for my daughter, who is my girl from the north country. Bob Dylan's music simultaneously is of it's time and is transcendent; he captures and puts words to complex emotions in ways that I will never not find something in

Ya lo he escuchado. Es muy bueno. Dylan comentando sobre la pobreza, guerra, incluso en un tono agresivo y violento lo cual es genial. Y bueno, muchos temas icónicos aquí. Recomendado.

Good

Brilliant.

The first great record by Bob Dylan. There are so many good songs here. It is still amazing how a 23 year old could write songs so deep and so touching.

I think I love it. Simple, but touching acoustic instrumentation and the lyrics really are beautiful or scathing or depressing or whatever Bob wants them to be. 9/10

One of my favorite Bob Dylan albums. Though this album has a lot of lesser known songs, the fact that it includes songs such as 'Blowin' in the Wind, 'A Hard Rain's a Gonna Fall,' and 'Don't Think Twice It's Alright,' justify it as one of the greatest albums of all time. My only gripe is that the harmonica is mixed too loudly which results in a jarring effect when it comes in against the acoustic guitar. The songwriting on this album is superb as well. Dylan came to prominence in a hotbed of creativity and on this, his second album, manages to not only distinguish himself, but catapults him into a league of his own.

He is as free as he is wheelin'. Early Dylan is the best Dylan.

another beloved classic, filled with some of dylans best early work

The classic Bob Dylan album. It’s a folk masterpiece and always a joy to listen to.

Incredible folk. Really appreciate now how beautiful the songwriting is.

Great Essential Dylan!

Excellent, accompanied a generation through major cultural change.

A lyrical masterpiece- Masters of War is a huge stand out for me.

Easy 5 stars. I have loved this album for 20 years.

Wasn't really in the mood for this today. Still. Absolutely staggering. Gotta be a 5

Bob Dylan's "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" is a landmark album that transcends time and continues to resonate with listeners across generations. Released in 1963, this iconic record marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of folk and protest music, as well as Dylan's own illustrious career. It's an album that effortlessly blends poetic lyricism with a raw, emotionally charged delivery, showcasing Dylan's unparalleled songwriting talents. One of the defining features of "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" is the depth and breadth of its lyrical content. Dylan's songwriting on this album delves into themes of love, social injustice, political dissent, and the human experience. The opening track, "Blowin' in the Wind," with its timeless questions about peace and freedom, instantly became an anthem of the civil rights movement. Dylan's ability to distill complex issues into simple, thought-provoking verses is nothing short of brilliant, making this album an enduring symbol of protest and hope. Musically, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" offers a masterclass in folk music. Dylan's fingerpicking guitar style, harmonica interludes, and gravelly vocals create an authentic and intimate atmosphere. Tracks like "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" showcase his ability to convey profound emotions through sparse instrumentation, allowing his lyrics to take center stage. The album's simplicity is its strength, allowing the listener to connect with the raw, unfiltered essence of Dylan's artistry. Dylan's vocal delivery on this album is both haunting and compelling. His distinctive voice, often described as "nasal" or "raspy," adds a unique dimension to the songs. It's a voice that may not be conventionally beautiful, but it carries an undeniable authenticity and emotional weight that draws the listener in. Tracks like "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" and "Masters of War" are particularly striking in this regard, as Dylan's vocal delivery is charged with a sense of urgency and moral conviction. "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" also benefits from its cohesive sequencing. Each song flows seamlessly into the next, creating a narrative arc that takes the listener on a journey through Dylan's world. From the introspective moments of love and loss to the scathing critiques of war and inequality, the album weaves a rich tapestry of human experience. In conclusion, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" stands as one of the most important albums in the history of music. Its enduring relevance is a testament to Dylan's unparalleled songwriting prowess and his ability to capture the spirit of an era while transcending its confines. This album is not merely a collection of songs; it's a social and cultural document that continues to inspire and provoke thought. Whether you're a seasoned Dylan enthusiast or a newcomer to his work, this album is an essential addition to any music collection, and it serves as a timeless reminder of the power of art to change the world.

Génial 😍

Iconic

A true classic album.

This was an incredible, beautiful album. Definitely one of the best songwriters of all time.

This is the Bob Dylan album, substantially better than the other ones we've had on the list. Clearly the best formula is stripped back with a guitar and a harmonica, and any additional elements just detract. First half of the album was the best, most of it just as good as blowin in the wind, definitely a 5. Latter half not quite as good, so 4.5.

Classic

6 out of 5. No notes.

Incredible song writing!!

El primer disc a considerar de Dylan, encara deutor de la influència de Woody Guthrie, però trobant ja la seva pròpia veu. Una de les obres mestres indiscutibles del folk, i primera casa de clàssics tan atemporals com 'A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall', 'Blowin' in the Wind', 'Masters of War', 'Don't Think Twice It's All Right' o 'Girl from the North Country'. Trepitjava tan fort ja tan jove, i construïa la llegenda des dels seus primers pasos

Unbeatable

This is one of my favorite Dylan album, possibly my #1. Not much to say, it's just great. I will say that Masters of War gave me chills the first time that I heard it so many years ago. Brilliant song. Brilliant albu..

thisvhit

This is a really great album. I've always been a big Bob Dylan fan and this album is such an important step for him artistically. There are so many incredible songs on this record and his first real album where he wrote nearly every song, since only two tracks on his debut were originals. I love this one, it's an easy 5/5. Standout Tracks: Blowin' In the Wind, Girl from the North Country, Masters of War, A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, Don't Think Twice It's All Right, Bob Dylan's Dream, Oxford Town, Talkin' World War III Blues, Corrina Corrina, Honey Just Allow Me One More Chance, I Shall Be Free

It's great without a doubt, but maybe not as strong as some albums to come. The bar is high, but it's still Bob Dylan!

I like that this album captures the range of Bob Dylan’s personality. Sometimes he’s sincere and heartbroken (“Girl From the North Country”) and sometimes he’s cheeky and sarcastic (“Talkin’ World War III Blues”). Other times, like on the closer “I Shall Be Free,” he tells riddles and jokes, the meaning of which can be hard to pin down. In all fairness, he was only 21 years old when this was recorded and maybe he was still figuring out what he wanted to say and what he meant by it. You can hear that youthfulness on the opener, “Blowin’ in the Wind.” It’s an earnest song written with the wistful spirit of a young poet wondering about nothing less than the meaning of life. He sounds much more sure of himself on “Masters of War,” a stunning and angry song condemning war-mongering politicians that has unfortunately stayed relevant in the decades since its release. I’m also fond of “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” a breakup song that has its cake and eats it too — he gets his digs in by calling his ex-girlfriend a child and accuses her of wasting his “precious time,” but he still tries to claim the high road by forgiving her with a reluctant shrug: “It’s alright.” The tongue-in-cheek humor captures a certain perspective. He’s not happy but nothing more can be done to save the relationship and he’s content to walk away. The music on the album is beautiful. The spare arrangements put a spotlight on his songwriting. On all but one song, the only thing you hear is Dylan. His harmonica solos are wonderful — short but expressive passages that highlight the melancholy mood of the album. I don’t listen to this album often because it’s pretty quiet and requires a some extra attention to appreciate fully. But I really enjoyed revisiting this today.

it ain't no use in turning on your light, babe That light I never knowed And it ain't no use in turning on your light, babe I'm on the dark side of the road But I wish there was somethin' you would do or say To try and make me change my mind and stay But we never did too much talking anyway But don't think twice, it's all right How many albums can you think of where EVERY SINGLE TRACK is amazing? 5/5

A classic, superb

Classic folk rock gold 🤙🏽

"The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Ten of the 13 songs are original complications. The songs cover stories from racial civil rights movements to fear of nuclear warfare and are balanced with love songs. In 2002, it was on of the first fifty recordings chosen for the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry for its artistic significance. "Blowin' in the Wind" opens things up with just an acoustic guitar and harmonica. That's most of the songs on the album. Dylan asking simple and complex questions about racial injustice and life. And, well, those answeres are just blowing in the wind. An ominously guitar on "Master's of War." Dylan relentlessly attacking the faceless people benefitting from war. Dylan asks simple questions to his blue-eyed son and darling young one in "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall." They or maybe he answers with things that are ominous and optimistic. The duality and irony in the verses are pure poetry. Again, no answers but more questions. Utterly brilliant. The album closer "I Shall Be Free" juxtaposes Dylan getting and staying drunk, his oddball girlfriends and talking with John F. Kennedy about what to do to make the country grow. Well, Bridget Bardot, of course. We get Bob Dylan the comedian to end the album. What can you say about this album other than it is one of the best ever. The music straddles country, folk and ues with just a guitar, harmonica and a voice. The lyrics are serious, playful, funny and comedic. An absolute masterpiece.

Again, a nice one to revisit. Blood On The Tracks is my die hard favourite by Bobby D, so I was prepared to give this one 4*. However I'd forgotten about the humour and hadn't listened to greats like Don't Think Twice, It's All Right for years, so I think 5* is fair.

Half of the people can be part right all of the time Some of the people can be all right part of the time But all of the people can’t be all right all of the time I think Abraham Lincoln said that. “I’ll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours” I said that

An easy five. BDs hit and miss for me but this is incredible

if you are relying on an album review from me gtfo

As much a classic album as you can get. Not my favorite Dylan but so many great songs. Masters of War holds up depressingly well 60 years later. A song that's seen the politicians like Johnson and Nixon with Vietnam, cold warriors in the 70s and 80s like Reagan, Bush 1 and Thatcher. On to Bush 2 with Iraq and Afghanistan and its continuation into the Obama era. All of the defense contractors and others getting rich with blood money. And now today with Putin trying to take over Ukraine and the largest conflict in Europe since WWII. Will it ever end? The answer my friend is blowing in the wind.

cool

What songwriting

Classic folk album. Before Bob Dylan's voice became Bob Dylan's voice. Many of Bob's all time classics on this. Very cool.

King of folk, album pioneered it

The beginning of Dylan's absolute songwriting tear. Showcases his ability to spin lyrics like no one else. Maybe his voice isn't the best, but that's part of his appeal. He's rough, jagged around the edges, just like a lot of the things he sings about. An easy five stars.

Bob Dylan is probably overrated, right? Nobody can be as good as his reputation, right? This is his second album and it's basically perfect from start to finish. Damn it.

It turns out this Zimmerman kid has always been a pretty good songwriter. Like most Dylan albums, this is littered with classics, including "Girl From The North Country", the best version of which would appear years later on Dylan's Nashville Skyline album when he recorded it as a duet with Johnny Cash in something of a landmark performance. The pièce de résistance here is "Masters Of War", but I also ride hard for the song that played at the end of the first season of Mad Men, "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright". If you're like me and debating whether this album is either a 4 or a 5, take another long look at the album cover. We're going to treat Dylan's death like the Queen's death and mourn for weeks, only to realize he has no successor.

Really enjoyed this. I can hear the influence of this album on a lit of current acoustic records that I love.

To crank out such stuff and only just be getting started... ridiculous talent.

'Blowin' in the Wind', 'Girl from the North Country', 'A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall' and especially 'Don't Think Twice, It's All Right'. Enough said. This is Bob at his best.

Last time Dylan appeared on this list I rated the album based on the amount of harmonica. This is perhaps his most insisting and loud harmonica playing to date. Excellent! The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan almost feels like a compilation. There are no bad songs on this record and even after tons of listens I’m still equally surprised by the quality every damn time.

let's see how much the harmonica will screech for this one. Not too bad for this record. 5 Noooo whhyyyyy did he have to end Girl From the North Country on the worst ear-raping sound imaginable. Goddammit Bob.

I won't draft the tome I did for my previous Dylan review. Y'all now by now what I'm going to rate most of Dylan's art. I approached this listen with amazement that this is his SECOND album. Blowin' in the Wind, A Hard Rain, AND Masters of War all on one album. My lord this man was on fire. Some random thoughts: When my first baby was born, I was so happy when I saw his blue eyes so that I could sing, "Oh where you have you been my blue-eyed son." NOTE: I went into labor on Bobby's bday and I worked REALLY REALLY hard but Adler's bday is May 25th (1 day later). Google Patti Smith singing A Hard Rain at the Nobel Award Ceremony in Stockholm. Masters of War - wish there was required listening for political careers. Bob Dylan's Blues - Classic Dylan song in which he takes us some sweet journeys. Such short vignettes that I just carry throughout my life. "I can walk anytime I want around the block" was my response to EVERYONE who asked why I wasn't getting my drivers license when I was a teen. "I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours." Bob Dylan's Dream still makes me cry. Always did. Always will. "I wish I wish I wish in vain that we could sit simply in that room again Ten thousand dollars at the drop of a hat I'd give it all gladly if our lives could be like that"

So this is where it all came from! I get it! A wonderful album of wonderful songs, simply and perfectly performed.

This young Bob Dylan vibe hit me well today, even though not every song did. I was very intrigued by Corrina, Corrina, although I didn't really like the way he pronounced "Corrina".

Another from this master story-teller. It's hard to tell a lot of the songs apart but there is good and challenging and deep stuff here. It made me sad and angry and even laugh out loud a couple of times. In addition to Blowin' in the Wind (one of two songs I can play on the guitar) and Hard Rain, I particularly appreciated Masters of War and Oxford Town.

This is packed with the Dylanest Dylan. I’m haven’t always been the biggest fan, but it’s hard to understate the significance of this album. I’m definitely starting to get it. Really loved this.

Not my favorite Dylan album but it’s a great one nonetheless

This is probably the best version of "one dude with a guitar singing folk songs" there is.

This finally feels like Bob Dylan™️. Great stuff.

Masterpiece.

One of the all time albums, seriously! What else can be said about it. One of my most listened, most loved, meaningful albums to me.

I don't think I've ever heard an album that so perfectly captures being in your early 20s. Alternately drunk, angry, energetic, worried, stoned, political, melancholy, and frequently hilarious. It made me realize that, with Dylan, it's good to start at the beginning.

Bob Dylan's excellent songwriting on display.

Wow. I've never listened to a full album of Bob Dylan. This was a beautiful piece of art and poetry. And he was 21 when he recorded it. Incredible listen.

Well I didn't think twice. It is alright!

A classic album that transcends Bob Dylan. The song writing on here is flawless and it wrote the book on the drawled coffee house folk singer.

Amazing album full of brilliant songwriting.

Classic Bob Dylan Excellent early folk Early Bob Dylan at his best Very easy listening

This is peak Dylan right? He’s firing on all cylinders. Blowin in the Wind, Hard Rain, Don’t Twice, and one of my personal faves Talkin World War III Blues which has maybe my favorite line on the album: “I’ll let you be in my dream if I can be in yours - I said that”.

It is just great.

Mitt go to Dylan album i mine tidligste dylanår. Jeg er svak for kassegitar og profetiske uttalelser

The album that started it all with the songs that blew the minds of his contemporaries in the coffeehouses of Greenwich Village

Enough has been written about Bob Dylan. This is really good.

Great album with many of Dylan's legendary songs. This is what I think of when I think of Bob Dylan, great as some of his later stuff is.

Don't think twice might be my favorite Dylan song.

21 years old. Just a guitar, his voice and a bunch of good songs (the majority of which he wrote). The influence on the rest of the 60s was massive, the influence on all future music huge as well. Even before he went electric, his music was electrifying.

Any album that opens with possibly the greatest protest song ever written deserves a 5.

This album, full of heavy hitters, has to be one of Dylan's best. "Don't Think Twice It's Alright", "Masters of War", "Blowin in the Wind" are some of the greatest songs of all time and all three are on here. The lyrics are fantastic and the sound uniquely his own. I do think the second half begins to lag a bit, but the first half is so strong that this remains an easy 5.

My personal favorite, cuz it sounds like Dewey cox

Bob Dylan isn't my favorite, but his folky stuff like this is the best. Gotta love a Minnesota boy too. Personally I'd rate it a 4, but I feel the cultural impact of Dylan is so strong that I'll bump this up to 5 because of the necessity of listening to this album.

p60. 1963. 4.5 stars. Lyrically light years ahead of the competition at the time, and still a million times better than most of the dross served up today. He could knock up a decent tune as well - there are stone cold classics on this - and his voice isn't shot. Half a star docked for the occasional filler track.

How can a 21yo write "It's A Hard Rain.."? And include 4-5 other all time classics on one album? Even the longer/less tuneful ones are very entertaining. Just incredible

Fabulous

It's a beast of an album. Is it the best Dylan? Nah. But picking the "best" Bob Dylan record is an exercise in splitting hairs. It doesn't matter. Just call it what it is: a damn good record.

What a beautiful glorious album, I can’t believe it’s not among the top 20 of this site, it’s just perfect it has it all. I have a Japanese pressed copy and it sound great, always glad to have the opportunity to spin it.

Don't think twice, it's a five.

Besides 'Blood On The Tracks' this is the record that really made the Dylan sound "click" for me. Super well regarded classic for a damn good reason

Do I give this a 4 because it's not as good as his best stuff or a 5 because it's still better than 90% of the rest of this list? I think 5 is the correct choice here. Best track: Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

This album lives up to all of the praise and "importance" that history has placed upon it. It represents one of those moments in music history that changes the rules of what can, and should, be done. A true masterpiece.

I used to ask my parents what the Sixties were like but I never got a satisfying answer. This album is what I was looking for.

Beautiful album! Some great Dylan songs; 'Blowin' in the Wind', 'Masters of War', 'A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall', 'Don't Think Twice, It's All Right' and 'I Shall Be Free' are some of my favourite Dylan songs. 'Girl from the North Country' is also a great song, but I prefer the version as a duet with Johnny Cash. 5/5

I am late, or adjacent to Bob Dylan. He's always been there, and I've heard his music all my life. But I've never been a Bob Dylan listener. People tell me I'm wrong and this album backs up that opinion. Musically and lyrically this is an outstanding album.

My favourite of his albums that I have listened to, this does a better job of explaining why he has the reputation that he does. Some all time classics, and some really good but less famous songs, adds up to a five 🌟 score

Without a doubt, my favourite Dylan album. It drives me nuts how out of tune his guitar is on Down the Highway, but I can’t fault the rest of it. It doesn’t get much rawer than this.

If you told me you don't like his voice, or you don't like his music, I'd get it...but man, this album...was everything I want to think the 60s was and wish we could here the impact of in todays terms. Also, how perfect is that album cover? There's some moment of perfection captured in that image.

I had been thinking maybe I was being too stingy on my ratings … maybe some of those 4’s should be 5’s. But, nah, albums like this are why I’ve been saving them.

There is before Dylan, and after Dylan: not many artists can claim to have caused a schism in popular music like that. Whatever one feels about his voice, his passion and lyricism cannot be denied.

4,5/5 Classic Bob Dylan

A really great album with lyrics that made me both laugh and nearly cry. Some really powerful and moving storytelling, as well as some real emotion. Favourite: Masters of War

Life changing.

Awesome

Da je sve normalno, na današnji dan po meni bi jesen krenula, 21.09., i pogle koji album bi započeo sezonu? :)

It's a classic! How can you rate an album containing the song Blowin In The Wind any less than 5? That is a great great song that continues to move people to this day. We sang it in school choirs, everyone knows it. The other songs are pretty good as well. Love the album cover too. A moment in time.

That guitar strumming with those lyrics. It brings you to another place and time. His poetry is artful as it is real and a masterpiece when he sings it.

Right. Never really listened to Dylan other than as accompaniment to movies etc. But wow, there is some good stuff here.

xcvsdv

Classic Dylan. I could listen often

Probably the peak of Bob Dylan's early folk/protest singer period. Half the songs on this album are all-time classics, and the rest aren't bad either. 5 stars easy.

a classic dylan album, with some of his best folk tunes. what's not to love?

Enjoyed this album. I like Bob Dylan but this is the first album I’ve listened to. Easy background to my day music. Very political in lyric.

Great folk rock, classic album

I think this olis one of the best Dylan albums. The way it can pivot from dark and serious, to light and moving, to downright silly shows his absolute gift for songwriting. And it's STILL not his best album. Despite Blowin in the Wind being one of those songs that transcends the writer - it has always existed now, it is just a fact of life, you're born knowing it. Absolute five star album.

I get it.

Folk Dylan is the best Dylan. And where does a kid get song writing skills like that at so young? Outstanding record.

The master. So many great songs.

Excellent start to finish

Moaning and droning to perfection.

el ipie es topu

Poesía musicada. Espectacular

Made me want to run away

A classic. My second five star album.

Couldn't really work out what to rate this. Obviously not his best album, but as his debut into songwriting this a very strong start. Immediate classics. Songs that helped define a mood that was brewing in the 60s. Pure folk, but with something special.

This is Bob at the height of his poetic social justice power. And it’s only his second album! He comes out swinging with Blowin’ In The Wind. The songs are beautiful and moving, the music is an emotional and endearing accompaniment. It’s flawless, an impactful listen every time.

Stone cold classic! As good today as it ever was.

A poet and musician. Amazing album by one of the greats.

Ahh Dylan you've captured my heart again. What a delightful album certainly worth revisiting. I've got one more Dylan left on this list! Fave: I Shall Be Free

[Heard Before] (+) Girl From The North Country Masters of War Down the Highway Bob Dylan’s Blues A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right Bob Dylan’s Dream Talkin’ World War III Blues Corrina, Corrina (-)

This is where the mythologizing of Bob Dylan begins. In only fifty minutes, he conveys the spirit of an upcoming tidal wave of deep seated unrest, rebellion and questioning of authority figures and anointed deities. This album is just one of the cracks in the facade that was the conceived aura of the then-present, Bob's voice being the thundering sensation that roused the generation that venerated him. Essential listening.

I'm not the greatest fan of Dylan and I'm not alone in thinking I should like him but don't. I appreciate how hugely influential he was at the time but he grates after a while and gets a bit samey and again I'm not alone in this. Maybe the issue lies with me being spoilt by 58 years of ever more technically advanced and innovative music since this and I'm comparing it on the same level? I mean it's like listening to a recording of Robert Johnson and saying "He can't sing and his guitar goes right through me". Some things deserve respect.

A great record! It's got two stellar break-up songs, "Blowin' in the Wind" is one of Dylan's most iconic songs, "Bob Dylan's Dream" is great but heartbreaking, and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is epic, despite the limited instrumentation. At 50 minutes, it could have been a little shorter, but I personally don't think it overstays its welcome, even if I don't really like "Down the Highway" or "Bob Dylan's Blues" all that much.

Best folk album of the 60s

This is obviously a landmark album. It’s not necessarily Dylan’s most enjoyable but the significance is undeniable.

Perfect folk album

Loved listening to this!

This Dylan album gives everyone something to love. Rock, folk, politics, swagger. All encompassed in incredible music sensibilities and outstanding lyrics. Just wow.

Marvelous!

Yep.

And so it did happen like it could have been foreseen The timeless explosion of fantasy's dream At the peak of the night, the king and the queen Tumbled all down into pieces - Ballad in Plain D (the other side of Bob Dylan)

What an album! Knew a Bob Dylan offering wouldn't disappoint .

Another album I already own on Vinyl, one of my favourites!

What an album! Banger after banger. I love Bob Dylan but this is especially fantastic

The messages in the protest songs remain as strong as they did when the album was released.

I don’t really have anything to say about this album that hasn’t been said by many people. It’s in the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress, for Pete’s sake. There are better Dylan albums, but this is a better album than most artists will ever dream of making. It’s an important marker of the era in which it was made, but also a timeless work of art. Fave Songs (All songs from most to least favorite): Don't Think Twice, It's All Right; Girl from the North Country; Blowin' in the Wind; A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall; Masters of War; Corrina, Corrina; Bob Dylan's Dream, Talkin' World War III Blues, Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance; Oxford Town, Down the Highway; I Shall Be Free

So much warm and breadth from a voice and a guitar. His words are an orchestra.

Superb. Listened to it twice!

classic

9/10. I think this might be my favorite Bob Dylan album so far. It's nice to not have any ridiculously songs, and a lot of the songwriting here felt less rambley than many of his songs, though that's hard to quantify.

Really good Dylan. Can't believe he was in his early 20s. 9/10

Blues, folk and protest rock combine on this iconic album.

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right remains a favorite for me

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan is the second album of Dylan. It is one of his best. To be able to write classics like "Blowin' in the Wind", "Girl from the North Country", "Masters of War" and "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" when you're 21 years old... and those lyrics are from an old soul.

A masterpiece from, perhaps, the greatest song writer.

Brutal.

This is one of the best albums ever made. His voice was really peak and the songs are of a cleverness and creative quality few artists match

Love this album, really good early raw Dylan with a lot of classics, just him and his guitar

Perfection.

What artist fills this album? What poetry? Blowing in the Wind is a standard for the ages; Masters of War takes its place in the ranks of angry, powerful protest songs; Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right is a charming, elegant song; Corrina, Corrina a

Quel Album incroyable. On dirait un album qui pourrait changer le monde ou du moins amener un peu de paix. C'est un classique des classique. Il n'y a pas de mauvais moment pour écouter cela . 5/5

Classic. To carry 95 of the album with just a guitar is incredible. Everything is right; lyrics, melody, balance of ‘heavy’ to ‘light.’

It is a 5, however there are some notes -we all know there is an inferior cover -is masters of war THAT good a song -don’t think twice and hard rain gonna fall are AMAZINg songs

Folk masterpiece. One of Dylan's best from the 60s. Some of the second half tracks are very... Dylan-y, perhaps too Dylan-y. 9/10 1. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall 2. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right 3. Bob Dylan's Dream

27th August 2021 Was supposed to listen on Friday but had bad side effects from Covid jab the day before. Listened on Saturday morning while getting the house cleaned up before Gareth came round and watched Liverpool Chelsea. Dylan before the cycism set in. Beautiful, passionate and intelligent.

4th favorite Dylan album which still is a no-brainer 5 star choice. Even if the 2nd side is quite a bit weaker than side 1...that side 1; WOW

Took a song or two to get used to his style, but once I did I love it.

Great, just great

Possibly Bob Dylan's best album before he went electric and a personal favorite of mine. 9.4/10 Best Tracks: "Blowin' in the Wind" "Girl from the North Country" "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" "Bob Dylan's Dream"

Every song goes hard. One of my favourite albums.

Weltklasse

Premium groß - vor allem hard rain

Amazing album; Hard rains a comin, girl from the north country, and Bob Dylans blues among my favorites.

My favourite Bob Dylan album, with my favourite track: Masters of War.

Can't say much about this one. Beautiful music

U already no

Yep

Five all day long. Can understand those who don't like his voice but to write songs of the lyrical power of Masters of War; Hard Rain; BITW at what must have been 21/22 is mind-blowing. Impressive and depressing in equal measure.

of course its great!

Not my favourite album but it's classic Bob Dylan ffs 5/5

It sure is music.

Poesía musicada. Espectacular

Classic

lit ass album

Classic

Que disco tan agradable, lleno de canciones clásicas y de contenido poderoso. Cuando todavía no se le atoraba la nariz y todavía cantaba sin maullidos tan pronunciados; eso de entrada ayuda mucho. Las canciones perfectos ejemplos del rock folk más puro y bien hecho, melodías extraídas perfectamente del Mississippi, Pantanos y los Montes Apalaches con letras totalmente modernas para su tiempo, hablando desde mujeres, protesta, humor, derechos civiles, discursos políticos y hasta letras que a veces son demasiado perdidas en su propio mensaje y solo dejan confundido. Un álbum que no solo tiene la importancia de haber iniciado todo un movimiento y la carrera de quien (queriendo o no) fue un portavoz de una generación, sino que también ha envejecido con muchísima gracia y se sigue escuchando tremendamente bien. La amplitud de temas en las canciones, los cambios al cantar entre amores perdidos a sentimientos de verdadera devastación por la sociedad de su tiempo reflejan muy bien los tiempos tan difíciles y cambiantes que había. Tendría un detalle en que ciertas canciones se sienten de creación improvisada en su letra (p. ej. Bob Dylan's Blues) al punto en que no solo son difíciles de seguir, sino que a veces me dejan con una gran interrogación flotando arriba de la cabeza sobre qué trataban. Decir que es un disco excelente e importante se queda corto. Creo que sin duda es un disco que debería estar calificado al menos dentro de los 50 (si no es que 20) mejores discos de la historia. Sin banda, solo con una guitarra y una armónica es una postal perfecta de cómo era el mundo en ese momento y cómo estaba por cambiarse mucho en la manera de pensar y la trayectoria tanto de la música como de la sociedad.

All-time favourite. Everybody must listen to The Freewheelin'.

Either the second or third song with the long harmonica

What a classic!

Classic album, I’ve heard most of it before. Girl from the north country w cash is better.

Dylan's a great storyteller and now I wanna buy a harmonica, this Aussie gives it five Kanos from Mortal Kombat out of five.

A damn fine album

Heard before incredibly decent and fine

Only got to half. But enjoyed it. Felt like maybe I was the wrong generation though.

Great vibes, maybe good driving, good background, great sound quality, 87%

Superb

God damn it, Bob, you've done it again

#239 - It's hard to sit here and judge an album like this when the guy has had albums for the last 60+ years. The one thing that makes it tougher to listen to is at points it can feel kinda same-y. It's just a guy and his guitar for the most part). It's a great album overall though. With a career filled with so many albums, I have resigned myself to jumping into his various eras and listening to albums as the mood strikes me. Being on this generator helps with that, except if I am not in the mood. Today was the day where I was not particularly looking for this album, but here we are. It's a good second album. Truth be told I prefer his later 60's and 70's output more. its my favorite era in all of music. That said, there are lots of songs to point out and its well worth listening to a man and his guitar. Biggest Hit - Blowin In The Wind Biggest Miss (if I had to choose) - Talkin World War III Blues Hidden Gem - Masters Of War

I enjoyed it, but it is not my kind of genre. I can see why Bob Dylan is so weel loved by most people, but it is not one of the best for me.

Gode greier👍 Digger munnspill.

Folk/country, obviously. Immediately struck by the recording and songwriting quality. Vocals front and centre, but guitar crisp and perfectly captured, showing perfect playing technique. To think at the same or later time the Beatles were butchering their recordings with hard panning. Masters of War feels appropriate today, but I suppose it always is, which makes it a timeless song. Zoned out of listening to lyrics for a few tracks and it felt less inspiring. Once I listened again I was loving it again. So the lyrics and vocal delivery of them is key to enjoying this album. Those semi-absurd, semi-poetic lyrics that make an impression. Enjoyed it so much I relistened immediately, and Oxford Town stood out as powerful on the 2nd listen. Considering the time it was written, and it being written by a white folk musician. Best track - Masters of War, Talkin World War III Blues, Oxford Town 3.5 stars - it's clearly great quality, skill and talent. Does it round to a 4 or 3? 4

This is just a classic Dylan album. The album that cemented Dylan as a voice of a generation. Very political with his trademarked lyrical style. As much as I like this album it can get a bit repetitive, I feel like his songwriting was still in it's infancy at this point. Good album overall but plenty of room for improvement.

Baustelle, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Gutes Album.

For my last Bob Dylan album, I mentioned that he is an artist that is best enjoyed in small doses, where you can appreciate his lyrical and musical talent without getting a migraine from his voice and harmonica. So after spending 3 days working through the last Dylan album, this blasted site immediately hands me another one. Please space them out, I can only take so much harmonica. At least I only have 4 Dylan albums to go across over 900 albums. Surely the rest will be a bit more spaced out? So, my views on this album. I mean, Bob Dylan is an excellent lyricist and musician. Blowing In The Wind is a very good song. I respect it a lot, but I did still need to take this one a few songs at a time to keep myself together so I can't give it 5 stars. Special mention to Girl From North Country which ends with a multiple second harmonica squawk that is genuinely painful to listen to. Bob really put the harm in harmonica, my god.

# Album Name: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan # Artist: Bob Dylan # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Cracking little album. One of the best of Dylan's ive heard on here. # Top Tunes: Blowin in the wind / girl from the north country / masters of war / hard rains gona fall / dont think twice / corrina # Would I listen to it again? Yes

Classic Dylan !

Bob Dylan. No real surprises. But I like it.

Gives me some type of southern nostalgia that I shouldn’t be getting being born in 2003. Makes me feel like I just got done losing the civil war. If he had a bluegrass band playing with him this has 5 star potential.

The first half was better than the second, but this rocks. Folkin it up.

I usually do not like bob but I thought this was good maybe I was too harsh

Enjoyed this a lot, his lyrics are so dense and I like his writing style. The harmonica did get a little annoying listening back to back, but the songs are all great individually. Masters of War, and Don't Think Twice It's Alright were my favourites

Schwierig zu bewerten. Auf der einen Seite eine tolle Sammlung von Dylans frühen Folk-Klassikern wie "Blowin' in the Wind", "Masters of War", "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" und "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right", die auch heute immer noch nichts von ihrer Magie verloren haben. Gerade "Masters of War" finde ich thematisch auch super spannend. Auch so kleine Fingerübungen wie "Oxford Town" oder Storyteller wie "Bob Dylan's Dream" fügen sich hier gut ein. Allerdings gibt es hier auch einige Songs, die für mich gar nicht funktionieren. Vor allem im letzten Drittel langweilen mich die beiden Cover-Versionen sowie der doch sehr abstruse "Talkin' World War II Blues". "Girl from the North Country" ist auch so ein Song, der zu den bekannteren von Dylan gehört, mich aber immer ratlos zurückgelassen hat. Insgesamt ist die Platte mit 50 Minuten auch einfach deutlich zu lang. Man merkt, dass er hier noch ausprobiert. Einige dieser Experimente hätten aber auch gerne Outtakes für Dylan-Diehard-Fans bleiben können. Aufgrund der sehr hohen Qualität der ersten Hälfte komme ich daher noch auf eine ganz knappe 4.

Das 4. Dylan Album, das ich hier gehört habe und es freut mich zu saen, dass es auch das bislang beste ist. Allein deshalb muss ich, obwohl eine starke 3 für mich, eine 4 geben, damit es sich von meinen anderen Wertungen abhebt

Really great sophomore album from one of folk's most perennial voices. In many ways this kind of feels like the launching off point for the rest of his late 60s and early 70s catalogue, with poignant protest songs and a sense of surreal humor that would make tracks like "Like a Rolling Stone" and "All Along the Watchtower" such classic songs. Bob Dylan's biggest strength is his lyricism, and tracks like "Blowin' in the Wind", "Masters of War", and especially "Oxford Town" really show how simple yet poetic it can be as he describes the social injustices of the day and the true horror of that being your lived experience.

Great stuff, not every day stuff, but it's hard not to enjoy Dylan in his prime

Love this album. Maybe a little too long and a few songs that don't hit as hard but man the highlights are generational. Especially a fan of Masters Of War, Hard Rain and Oxford Town

Before the Spotify playlists were completely taken over by AI my new releases playlist tried to introduce me to some artist who tried to make this sort of music today, and it just never felt right. Everything was too topical, and I was already exhausted hearing about Trump. Bob keeps it vague and the lyrics are timeless, even if the music itself might feel dated. It’s not my favorite album by Dylan, but it has some real strong points. Can’t say I had paid much attention to ”masters of war” until today

Good songwriting, I still can't get over Bob's nasally voice. I'd strait love his stuff if he wasn't the singer.

3.5 great lyricist

Great folk album. Enjoyed the protest songs as well as some of the more humorous ones.

Really very nice and good. Finally something to break this slump.