Bob Dylan – Freewheelin’ (Hybrid-SACD, Mobile Fidelity)

It’s the sound of change. The musical voice of a new way of thinking. And the beginning of what is probably the steepest career in music history. The Freewheelin’ was Bob Dylan’s artistic and commercial breakthrough. It was a quantum leap compared to his previous album, because to put it bluntly, Bob Dylan’s first album was a flop. With around 5,000 copies sold, the record company just covered the costs incurred and producer John Hammond had to put up with a lot of ridicule. It’s a good thing that he couldn’t shake his belief in the young artist! That’s how The Freewheelin’ came into being in 1962. Instead of going for cover versions like on the debut album, Dylan showed his talent as a songwriter this time and took the wind out of his critics’ sails with titles like Blowin’ in the wind, Masters of War and A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.