Bob Dylan / IL, USA 04.26.1963 FM Broadcast Stereo Master Edition

After completing the recording of his folk-era masterpiece *The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan*, Bob Dylan appeared on the Chicago radio program *Studs Terkel’s Wax Museum* as part of his promotional efforts. The broadcast featured a conversation with the renowned broadcaster Studs Terkel interspersed with performances of new songs, capturing Dylan just before the release of *The Freewheelin’*—right on the cusp of his massive breakthrough. The original broadcast master tape has survived, and the recording—capturing in superb audio quality the man who would soon become the darling of the era thanks to the album’s success—has long been regarded as a definitive title from the folk period. Thanks to its exceptional sound quality, the release of the show under the title *Studs Terkel’s Wax Museum* by the prestigious Yellow Dog label quickly made it a staple among collectors; indeed, many fans first encountered this historic broadcast through the Yellow Dog edition. With its impeccable content and sound quality—combined with the ambiguous copyright status typical of radio broadcasts—it even spawned a “gray-market” CD release about 15 years ago titled *Bob Dylan: Studs Terkel’s Wax Museum*. However, all previous releases had been in mono. It was only through a 1982 rebroadcast that a stereo version of the program was revealed to exist. While the earlier mono editions were excellent, the stereo version offered a superior experience in terms of soundstage, atmosphere, and clarity. Despite this, the stereo rebroadcast remained a rarity circulated only among core traders, leaving many fans to believe for years that the program existed only in mono. That said, the stereo recording itself was captured using a very primitive method. It was a simple two-channel recording with separate microphones for Dylan and Terkel; while this made their voices clearly distinct—left and right—during conversation, the musical performances suffered from an extreme stereo image where both the vocals and acoustic guitar emanated solely from the left channel. This peculiar soundstage may well have been the primary reason the recording remained unreleased for so long. To address this, we applied AI processing to the precious stereo master. We preserved the guitar’s left-channel positioning while naturally shifting Dylan’s vocals from the center to a position slightly to the right, achieving a stereo balance far more natural than the original. We also used AI to isolate and analyze the tape transfer noise that appeared in the latter half of the broadcast, removing it seamlessly. This effectively resolves a flaw that had previously hindered its release. Fans long accustomed to mono versions—such as the Yellow Dog release—will likely be struck by this new stereo experience. Furthermore, the sound quality is remarkably vivid, defying the fact that it was recorded in 1963. Given that this took place at the historic juncture just before the release of *The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan*, the recording’s value is immeasurable. Even more intriguing is that the first song Dylan performed was “Farewell”—a track later recorded for *The Times They Are A-Changin’* but ultimately left unreleased. (That studio take can be heard on the currently available *The Times They Are A-Changin’ Sessions & Outtakes*.) He also performed “Boots of Spanish Leather,” a standout track from that same album, serving as a powerful reminder of the immense creative drive Dylan possessed at the time. The way Dylan speaks during his initial conversation with Studs Terkel—following his performance of “Farewell”—perfectly mirrors the vocal mannerisms recreated by the actor in last year’s hit film. The relaxed atmosphere—capturing a moment just before the release of *The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan*—is truly delightful, and the way the program concludes with “Blowin’ in the Wind”—a song that would go on to become a defining anthem of the era—is incredibly symbolic. Additionally, “Who Killed Davey Moore?”—which was cut from the 1982 rebroadcast—has been included as a bonus track, featuring the original mono audio converted to stereo via AI technology. The entire program is now presented with a consistent stereo sound. Turn up the volume, and you’ll feel as though you are right there, immersed in the realistic atmosphere of Dylan and Studs Terkel conversing before your very eyes. This legendary radio broadcast from the folk era has finally been revived in what can truly be called the definitive real-stereo edition! Studs Terkel Wax Museum, Chicago, IL, USA – April 26, 1963 – SBD (STEREO) UPGRADE (56:56) 1. Farewell 2. Interview #1 3. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall 4. Interview #2 5. Bob Dylan’s Dream 6. Interview #3 7. Boots Of Spanish Leather 8. Interview #4 9. John Brown 10. Interview #5 11. Blowin’ In The Wind [Bonus track: Stereo Remix from the Original Mono Broadcast] 12. Who Killed Davey Moore?