The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

Some thoughts on the recording dates for the released takes and the unreleased but circulated takes.

(based on Michael Krogsgaard's examinations in the Archives of Sony Records in New York City in 1995)

Compiled by Andreas Schmal

What follows is an effort to update the recording dates of the released or circulated takes from the sessions for Bob Dylan's second album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan". For nearly all circulated but unreleased outtakes, I'm referring to the unofficial CD "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan Outtakes (VIGOTON, VIGO 115).

The research has been done by Michael Krogsgaard. All I have done was listening to the music and trying to verify the recording dates.

| First session | Second session | Sessions 3-7 | 8th session + takes officially released |

First session:
April 24, 1962
Columbia Recording Studio A, New York City

1. Going To New Orleans (trad.) CO70085 Take 1 C (C=complete)
2. Going To New Orleans (trad.) Take 2 C

one of these takes was circulated and is track 10 on Vigotone (because this song wasn't recorded on any other "Freewheelin'" session). Before Michael Krogsgaard's examinations were published in "The Telegraph", the circulated take of "Going To New Orleans" was dated as follows:
M.K. 1991 (Michael Krogsgaard "Positively Bob Dylan"): 10/26/62
C.H. 1992 (Clinton Heylin "Behind The Shades" 2nd edition): 4/24-25/62
G.D. 1994 (Glen Dundas "Tangled Up In Tapes"): 4/24-25/62
3. Sally Gal (adapted from Woody Guthrie) CO70086 Take 1 C
4. Sally Gal Take 2 C
5. Sally Gal Take 3 C
one of these takes was circulated and is track 25 on Vigotone (because you can hear someone playing a bass on this track. According to M. Krogsgaard, on April 24 some or most of the takes were backed by a bass player - probably William E. Lee. On April 25 - when Sally Gal was also recorded - no bass player was involved in the recording sessions. Therefore, track 25 on vigotone must be from April 24. Dundas dated this track on April 24/25)
dated before:
M.K. (1991): 10/26/62
C.H. (1992): 4/24-25/62
G.D. (1994):4/24-25/62
the two other takes are as yet uncirculated.
6. Rambling, Gambling Willie CO70087 Take 1 C
7. Rambling, Gambling Willie Take 2 B (B=long false start)
8. Rambling, Gambling Willie Take 3 C
9. Rambling, Gambling Willie Take 4 C
according to Krogsgaard, take 4 was released on "The Bootleg Series 1- 3" and on the promotional edition of "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan". (I found no informations about Michael Krogsgaard's release informations concerning the takes, but he had seen all the relevant material).
dated before: 4/24/62
take 1,2B, and 3 are as yet uncirculated
10. Corrina, Corrina (arranged by Bob Dylan) CO70088 Take 1 C
11. Corrina, Corrina (arranged by Bob Dylan) CO70088 Take 2 C
one of these takes was circulated and is track 2 on Vigotone (because the next time this song was recorded - on October 26, there was a full band backing. On Vigotone's track 2 there is no band backing. Therefore: April 24. Glen Dundas dated this track on July 9 but according to Krogsgaard, there was no recording of this song on July 9).
dated before:
M.K. (1991): 7/9/62
C.H. (1992): 7/9/62
G.D. (1994): 7/9/62
the other take is as yet uncirculated
12. The Death Of Emmett Till CO70089 Take 1 C
according to Michael Krogsgaard, this take was released on the promotional edition of "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" and is also track 3 on Vigotone (because this song wasn't recorded on any other "Freewheelin'" session).
dated before
M.K. (1991): 7/9/62
C.H. (1992): 4/24-25/62
G.D. (1994): 4/24-25/62
13. Talking John Birch Paranoid Blues CO70090 Take 1 B
14.Talking John Birch Paranoid Blues Take 2 B
15. Talking John Birch Paranoid Blues Take 3 C
according to M.K., take 3 was released on the promotional edition of "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" and is track 6 on Vigotone (because there was no other complete recording of this song as part of the "Freewheelin'" sessions).
dated before:
M.K. (1991): 11/14/62
C.H. (1992): 4/24-25/62
G.D. (1994): 4/24-25/62
Take 1B and 2B are as yet uncirculated
16. (I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle CO70091 Take 1 B (Hank Williams/Jimmie Davies)
17. (I heard That) Lonesome Whistle Take 2 C (Hank Williams/Jimmie Davies)
take 2 was circulated and is track 5 on Vigotone. (because there was no other complete recording of this song as part of the "Freewheelin'" Sessions. Most likeley, Bob Dylan was backed on the original recording by - probably - William E. Lee because - according to Clinton Heylin in "Stolen Moments" - in the june 1980 edition of "Goldmine", this take was advertised "Lonesome Whistle Blues (with string bass)". Clinton Heylin also mentioned that there are two different mixes of this take, one featuring the string bass the other not. I'm not sure if there is a string bass on the mix on Vigotone).
dated before
M.K. (1991): 10/26/62
C.H. (1992): 4/24-25/62
G.D. (1994): 4/24-25/62
take 1B is as yet uncirculated
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Second session:
April 25, 1962
Columbia Recordings Studio A, New York City, New York

1. Rocks And Gravel (arranged by Bob Dylan) CO70096 Take 1 b
2. Rocks And Gravel Take 2 b
3. Rocks And Gravel Take 3 C

Take 3 was circulated and is track 09 on Vigotone (because the next time this song was recorded - on November, 1 - there was a full band backing a la Elvis Presley's "Sun-Studio-Recordings" in 1954/55. However, on VIGO's track 09 there is no band backing. Therefore: April 25.)
dated before:
M.K. (1991): 7/9/62
C.H. (1992): 7/9/62
G.D. (1994): 7/9/62
Take 1b and take 2b are as yet uncirculated
4. Let Me Die In my Footsteps CO70097 Take 1 C
according to M.K., this take was released on "The Bootleg Series 1-3" with one verse cut. The unedited version is track 11 on Vigotone (because this song wasn't recorded on any other "Freewheelin'" session).
dated before: 4/25/62
5. Talking Havah Negeilah Blues CO70098 Take 1 C
according to M.K., this take was released on "The Bootleg Series 1- 3" (this song wasn't recorded on any other "Freewheelin" session.
dated before: 4/25/62
6. Sally Gal (adapted from Woody Guthrie) CO70086 Take 4 C
7. Sally Gal CO70086 Take 5 C
Take 4 was circulated and is track 14 on Vigotone (because this track is introduced as "CO70086 take four"). dated before:
M.K. (1991): not mentioned
C.H. (1992): 4/24-25/62
G.D. (1994): 4/24-25/62
take 5 is as yet uncirculated
8. Baby, Please Don't Go (Big Joe Williams) CO70099 Take 1 C
9. Baby, Please Don't Go Take 2 b =short false start
10.Baby, Please Don't Go Take 3 C
Take 1 or take 3 were circulated and one of these is track 01 on Vigotone (because this song wasn't recorded on any other "Freewheelin'" session).
dated before:
M.K. (1991): 4/24-25/62
C.H. (1992): 4/24-25/62
G.D. (1994): 4/24-25/62
Take 2b and take 1 or take 3 are as yet uncirculated
11. Milk Cow's Calf's Blues (based on Kokomo Arnold) CO70100 Take 1 C
12. Milk Cow's Calf's Blues Take 2 b
13. Milk Cow's Calf's Blues Take 3 C
Take 3 was circulated and is track 07 on Vigotone (because - according to Clinton Heylin - in the June 1980 edition of "Goldmine", this track was advertised as "Milk Cow Blues - Take 3").
dated before:
M.K. (1991): 4/24-25/62
C.H. (1992): 4/24-25/62
G.D. (1994): 4/24-25/62
Take 1 and 2b are as yet uncirculated
14. Wichita (Going To Louisiana) (trad.) CO70101 Take 1 C
This take was circulated and is track 22 on Vigotone (because - according to Clinton Heylin - in the June 1980 edition of "Goldmine", this track was advertised as "Wichita Blues - Take 1").
dated before by all on April 24/25, 1962
15. Talking Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues CO70102 Take 1 B
16. Talking Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues Take 2 B
17. Talking Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues Take 3 C
According to M.Krogsgaard, take 3 was released on "The Bootleg Series 1-3".
dated before by all on 4/25/62
Take 1B and take 2B are as yet uncirculated
18. Milk Cow's Calf's Blues (based on Kokomo Arnold) CO70100 Take 4 C
This take was circulated and is track 21 on Vigotone (because - according to Clinton Heylin - in the June 1980 edition of "Goldmine", this track was advertised as "Milk Cow Blues - Take 4".
dated before by all on April 24/25, 1962
19. Wichita (going To Louisiana) (trad.) CO70101 Take 2 C
This take was circulated and is track 13 on Vigotone (because - according to C.Heylin - in the June 1980 edition of "Goldmine", this track was advertised as "Wichita Blues - Take 2").
date before by all on April 24/25, 1962
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