The Bob Dylan Debut Track That Described His First Under-The-Table New York City Gig

While it’s hard to imagine now, considering his prolific songwriting career, when Bob Dylan released his eponymous debut in 1962, only two of the thirteen tracks were original compositions. One of which described his first under-the-table New York City gig, which took place at Gerde’s Folk City on April 11, 1961.

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As was so often the case for Dylan in the early stages of his career, a friendly benefactor took the Minnesotan “hillbilly” under his wing and showed him a side door he could sneak through to get to where he wanted to go. Sometimes it was Woody Guthrie. Other times, it was Pete Seeger or Joan Baez. But in the spring of 1961, his musical guardian was Gerde’s Folk City co-owner Mike Porco.

Bob Dylan Makes First New York City Debut

Bob Dylan first made the trek from blustery Minnesota to New York City to be closer to his folk music idol, Woody Guthrie, who was in the hospital battling Huntington’s disease. While Dylan had just enough anti-authority attitude and trendy attire to fit in with the Greenwich Village folk scene, there was something notably different about him. He spoke differently. He seemed to think differently. And in a world as saturated as the music industry, different was priceless.

Dylan quickly made a name for himself at the local folk clubs around the city, wowing audiences with his impressive knowledge of the American folk song repertoire. Eventually, his talent landed him an invitation to open for blues musician John Lee Hooker. But there was a catch: Dylan was only 19, which meant he wasn’t old enough to obtain a union card and cabaret license. While this predicament seems antiquated now, it was enough to threaten his ability to go through with the gig back in 1961—until Mike Porco stepped in.

Club patrons had already been making their case for Dylan to Porco after watching the young troubadour perform elsewhere in New York. After Dylan had an exceptionally well-attended show at the New York University folk club, Porco was convinced. He was an official Dylan convert, acting as his legal guardian to bypass the union card and cabaret license requirements. Dylan would later call Porco “the Sicilian father I never knew I had.”

One Of Two Debut Originals Highlights This Pivotal Moment

Bob Dylan might have only had two original compositions on his 1962 self-titled debut. But he certainly made them count. Debut albums are the musical equivalent of a first impression. They tell audiences what an artist is about: their style, passion, opinions, and more. Dylan’s first album was full of folk standards like “Gospel Plow” and “Man of Constant Sorrow.” While he spent most of his time hiding comfortably behind these traditional tunes, he did pull back the curtain ever so slightly with the two original tracks on his first album: “Woody’s Song” and “Talkin’ New York.” 

The latter track offers a fascinating insight into Dylan’s perspective upon his arrival to New York City. thought I’d seen some ups and downs ‘till I come into New York town, he sings in the first verse. People going down to the ground, buildings going up to the sky. He described the struggles he faced as a Midwestern songwriter trying to break through in the Big Apple: I get on the stage to sing and play. Man there said, ‘Come back some other day. You sound like a hillbilly. We want folksingers here.

Until, finally, Mike Porco enters the picture. After weeks and weeks of hanging around, I finally got a job in New York town. In a bigger place, bigger money, too. Even joined the Union and paid my dues. Indeed, without Porco’s assistance at Gerde’s Folk City in April 1961, Dylan’s story might have been incredibly different.

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