VA - Bob Dylan's Greenwich Village: Sounds from the Scene in 1961 (2011)

In early 1961, a 19 year old Bob Dylan, having dropped out of college at the end of his freshman year, travelled to New York City, ostensibly to visit his idol Woody Guthrie, hospitalised with Huntingdon's Disease. He headed straight for Greenwich Village, by then the epicentre of the folk music revival that Dylan was hoping to become a part of. In his recent autobiography Chronicles he writes; 'Greenwich was full of full of folk clubs and bars and those of us who played them all played the old timey folk songs, rural blues and dance tunes'

This 2 Disc Set represents the scene he discovered, the sounds he found 'Blowin' In The Wind' and the artists who were already playing the clubs and bars of the Village upon his arrival. From old timers like Pete Seeger and the Reverend Gary Davis, to the bright young stars of the new wave like Joan Baez, Dave Van Ronk and Phil Ochs. The collection also features contributions from the Beat Generation's principal writers and poets - the beats still had a considerable presence in the early 60s Village scene and were a huge influence on many from the Folk movement. Bonus tracks come from artists already playing the Village in '61 but who had yet to record.

Therefore these live recordings come from a slightly later time but their importance cannot be overstated. With fifty tracks in all and extensive notes by Dylan expert and music historian Derek Barker, all packaged with the collector in mind, this set is not only educational, historic and one hell of a good listen, it also acts as a fine tribute to a scene that - like the artist who prompted it's release - is now celebrating half a century of dedicated service.