Orig '67 MONO 2LP BOB DYLAN "BLONDE ON BLONDE" Folk psych VISONARY MASTERPIECE

$

54

FROM MY PERSONAL COLLECTION OF OVER 55 YEARS!

        MONO SONG MIXES = ORIGINAL       

 360 SOUND COLUMBIA 1967 FIRST PRESSING !!!   

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                  BOB DYLAN

     '' BLONDE ON BLONDE ''

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            USA - Columbia 360 Sound - C2L - 41 = MONO

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***(SCARCE ... MONOPHONIC PROMO 1967 first issue***

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2LP set ::: 360 Sound Columbia Records  ORIGINAL 1967 FIRST PRINT in glorious MONO - A highly collectible artifact, 50 years of age :::::

 >>> This is the SCARCE'67 ORIGINAL PROMOTIONAL RELEASE with "females" photo version that is sought after and was withdrawn (on the gatefold's inside.)

There is something about this album is difficult to define. It is the finale of Dylan’s unofficial trilogy of studio albums (Alongside Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited) recorded in barely over a year, from March ’65-May ’66 that established him as an electric rock and roll artist branching away from the folk community.

One thing that instantly sets this album apart from the others in the “trilogy” is its length. The only double album of the bunch, clocking in at a whopping seventy-one minutes, it easily towers over single albums Bringing It All Back Home (Forty-seven minutes) and Highway 61 Revisited (Fifty-one minutes). Because of this it may be easy to that it is brim with filler, but this is not the case. There is no real filler, just songs that are lesser than others.

Blonde on Blonde opens with “Rainy Day Women #12 and #35”, which is far from his best lyrically, but is lots of fun with its dual meaning chorus “Everybody must get stoned”, wedged between studio members laughing. This leads into “Pledging My Time”, a bluesy number which is not hugely interesting musically, but certainly appealing with almost universally relatable lines such as “Well, early in the mornin', Til late at night, I got a poison head ache, But I feel all right.” All of this builds up to the seven minute “Visions of Johanna”, a long winding lyrical masterpiece that is perhaps the best thing Dylan ever did. Side 1 then closes with “One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)”, which is a bit of a grower. Upon first listen it may seem long-winded and somewhat boring, but at a certain point its raw honesty and emotion seem to fit in perfectly with its slow pace, revealing a fantastic song.

Side two is the highlight of the album. Although the best song (“Visions of Johanna”) lies on side one, side two has the best flow of songs. It opens with “I Want You”, a short and sweet ode of an unconventional love (Or lust?). This is immediately followed by “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again”, another lyrically brilliant seven minute song most likely written as an expression of Dylan’s disillusionment with being in between the folk and electric communities. Side two’s penultimate track, “Leopard-Skin-Pillbox-Hat”, another grower, which is speculated to be about everything from the titular hat to Edie Sedgwick, an actress and model associated with the Warhol factory. Interestingly enough, the following song “Just Like A Woman” was supposedly inspired by Edie Sedgwick. “Just Like A Woman” is a fantastic song and side closer both musically and lyrically.

Side 3 is possibly the weakest side, but this is not to say that it is in anyway of poor quality. The highlight is “4th Time Around”, a fairly nostalgic reflection on a young romance occasionally seen as a reference to The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood”. The issue with this side seems to be that it’s simply just a bit lacking compared to the others. There’s no seven minute, long winding metaphorical journeys like “Johanna” or “Stuck Inside of Mobile”. Most of the appeal here is more musical than lyrical, which is fine, but when listening to Dylan you can expect to find some lyrical brilliance.

Side four consists of the lone eleven-minute ode to Dylan’s then wife Sara Lownds “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands”, which was publicly acknowledged to be about Sara in Dylan’s ’76 song “Sara”. Like most of the album, it has a somewhat slow melody and beautiful, brilliant, and surreal lyrics.

While its length may be a deter to it at times, Blonde on Blonde is, on the whole, a brilliant effort from Mr. Dylan and among his very best. Blonde on Blonde-Approved!

CONDITION: The Cover: PROMO PUNCH HOLE AND PROMO STICKER IN TOP FRONT RIGHT!!!! VERY EARLIEST MONO RELEASE rated: CLEAN VG front and back cover has some rub and edge rub, NO SPLITS! Still tight and beautiful very presentalble! 50+ years of age pretty decent condition for that! The insides with the withdrawn cover photos is VG+ the thick gatefold cover seams are strong, no delete marks, no writing, strong colors

The Vinyl:  rated: VG+ to nice VG- and better. Few light scratches and scuffs, paper marks, nothing alarming, expect to play very good with some light background noise in places more apparent in the quieter passages, not too bad  and this 1st press thick MONO press plays flat and loud. Best in MONO! While NOT mint readily acceptable...remember this MONO'67 original two eye promotional release is over 50 years of age.  All FOUR (((mono))) 360 Sound labels are clean with 2 labels have a name in pen writing. Not dominant and I think it gives some character. PLEASE SEE PHOTO of this highly sought after promo Dylan fan must have in MONO!

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