December 14: Bob Dylan – Mixed Up Confusion (Single) released in 1962

bob-dylan-mixed-up-confusion-columbia

The single disappeared without a trace, becoming the man’s first serious collectible (it was so unsuccessful that “stock” copies are rarer than “promos”).
~Clinton Heylin (Revolution in the Air: The Songs of Bob Dylan, 1957-1973)

The song was recorded with an electric band on November 14, 1962, during the sessions for The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan but was not used on that album. Instead the song, backed with “Corrina, Corrina” (a different take from the Freewheelin one), a traditional blues song, appeared as Dylan’s first single, released in the United States on December 14, 1962, as Columbia 4-42656.

 According to legend, Dylan wrote the song in a cab on the way to the Columbia studios for the recording session.

Wikipedia:

B-side Corrina, Corrina
Released December 14, 1962
Format 7″
Recorded November 14, 1962, Columbia Recording Studios, New York City,New York
Genre Folk rock
Length 2:28
Label Columbia
Writer(s) Bob Dylan
Producer John H. Hammond

A different version of the song, recorded on November 1, 1962, with later overdubbing, was released on the compilation album Masterpieces in 1978 and on the original 1985 issue of the Biograph box set; the 1997 reissue of Biograph includes a stereo version of the released single, recorded on November 14, 1962, in place of this alternative version. Olof Björner’s website lists all the different takes of this song, recorded by Dylan in October and November 1962.

Personnel:

  • Bob Dylan (guitar, harmonica, vocal)
  • George Barnes (guitar)
  • Bruce Langhorne (guitar)
  • Dick Wellstood (piano)
  • Gene Ramey (bass)
  • Herb Lovelle (drums)

Produced by John Hammond

Other versions

All versions from “The 50th Anniversary Collection“.

Bob Dylan The_50th_Anniversary_Collection

Recorded at:

Columbia Recording Studios
New York City, New York
26 October 1962

&

Studio A
Columbia Recording Studios
New York City, New York
1 November 1962


-Egil

4 thoughts on “December 14: Bob Dylan – Mixed Up Confusion (Single) released in 1962”

  1. The cover is from the Dutch single release, which I recall getting played on French radio. Bob didn’t look like that in 1962.

  2. I have a 1966 release of this same single, exact cover, orange label, but with slightly different copy, icons, #s, etc., and it was made in Holland. Is this a rare item? Any idea how much this would fetch? It’s in excellent shape. Thanks.

    1. Oh, I would imagine that it would sell for quite a lot, likely thousands of U.S dollars.

      Good luck with this. And Pearl, please inform, as I genuinely wish you well and want to know what ultimately happened with this matter. Finally, have you informed the PBS people at “History Detectives” of your treasure. It would make a great show.

      My father was an old an rare book dealer, he made big money doing this in ways that you or I will never understand. If I can help in any way my email address is [email protected].

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