During momentous occasions I’m sometimes struck by the thought of those no longer here to share them, like my mother who sadly will miss so many signposts in her grand-children’s lives. There are many people I’m sorry didn’t get the chance to see the election of our new president, particularly Barak Obama’s grandmother who only needed another twenty four hours to see the man she helped raise make history but I can’t think of many people who would have been more proud to see the first black president of the United States than Studs.

So in celebration of a life spent making the case for social justice and racial equality here’s an interview with Bob Dylan recorded on May 3rd, 1963, a mere three weeks shy of his 22nd birthday. Included is the earliest known recording of ‘Boots Of Spanish Leather,’ the as yet unreleased ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ and ‘Who Killed Davey Moore?,’ a song that wouldn’t be released until 1991 on the first installment of the Bootleg Series. There’s also a song called ‘Farewell’ that doesn’t appear on any of Bob’s records (although the lyrics appear on his website with a 1963 copyright) that sounds curiously like the Irish standard ‘Leaving Of Liverpool.’

Studs Terkel with Bob Dylan on WFMT, Chicago, IL

WFMT introduction

Farewell

Interview

A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall

Interview

Bob Dylan’s Dream

Interview

Boots Of Spanish Leather

Interview

John Brown

Interview

Who Killed Davey Moore?

Interview

Blowin’ In The Wind

Here’s the whole deal in a zip file (smaller mp3′s): Dylan And Studs

Now a little video to throw in the mix:

Now get out & vote dammit! If you aren’t registered to vote you’ve still a couple days left. October 20 is the deadline for mail in registration in California. Click here for a registration form. Lots of national voter info here.