Bob Dylan: ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’ (1964), Autographed album cover –

Signed by Bob Dylan in black ink on reverse of the cover, ‘To Ray Best wishes Bob Dylan’, LP vinyl record present within paper sleeve, UK first press, CBS orange labels, BPG 62251; together with, a copy colour photograph depicted George Harrison (top) and Bob Dylan playing tennis while staying at Freland Farm, Bembridge, Isle of Wight, August, 1969, each image 7 ½ x 5 inches, overall sheet 11 ¾ x 8 ¼ inches; and accompanying Letter of Authenticity dated January 2025. (3)

‘The Times They Are A-Changin’ is the third studio album by the American singer-songwriter and released in February 1964 through Columbia Records. It was his first album to feature only original compositions, and the title track is one of Dylan’s most well-known and captured the social and political upheaval of the 1960s.

Provenance:

Signed in person by Bob Dylan whilst he was staying at Foreland Farm, Bembridge, Isle of Wight, for the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival, which he was headlining. Dylan signed this album as a personal favour for Ray Hooker who, with his wife, Ennis, were caretakers at Foreland Farm and would run errands, cook meals, order taxis and so forth for their guests. Ray asked Bob Dylan if he would sign this album for the vendor who lived nearby and was a huge Dylan fan in the 60s. Ray said that there had been a number of autograph requests, but Dylan wasn’t signing any, however, he was sure that Bob Dylan would sign the album cover as a personal favour to him, which he did.

Dylan stayed at the farm for the August Bank Holiday weekend and was joined by his guests, The Beatles and their would-be wives, Yoko Ono, Maureen Starkey, and Patti Harrison. The vendor who lived nearby, recalled the musicians set up an ‘impromptu studio’ in the adjoining barn and as security seemed to be quite lax with just the local bobby keeping watch on the premises, he and his friends were able stand outside the barn and listen to the ‘sessions’ going on inside.

Reference: "Bob then invited The Beatles to a game of tennis on the Forelands Farm courts. 'I'll play on condition nobody really knows how,' quipped John and, as Bob and John teamed up against Ringo and George, Patti Harrison giggled: 'This is the most exclusive game of mixed doubles in the world . . .' The game ended at 5.30, and Dylan piled into a white van along with Sara, Ringo, Maureen, and me for the five-mile drive to the festival site. We joked all the way." - Al Aronowitz from Looking Back At Bob, The Telegraph No. 42 Summer 1992.