A one-of-kind new Bob Dylan vinyl CD hybrid is being auctioned &ndash and I want it TechRadar Skip to main content TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. A one-of-kind new Bob Dylan vinyl CD hybrid is being auctioned &ndash and I want it By Becky Scarrott published 1 July 2022 How much? The answer my friend, is blowin' in the wind… (Image credit: McIntosh, Bob Dylan, Ionic Original) Audio player loading… Bob Dylan's first recording of Blowin' in the Wind since 1962, produced by T Bone Burnett, is being auctioned at Christie's in London on new vinyl/CD hybrid called Ionic Originals. Would you pay £1m for a new Bob Dylan recording on a format which very little is known about? Ionic Originals (not to be confused with the FitBit Ionic or the Hot Tools Pro Signature Salon Ionic AC hair dryer) are, apparently, lacquer painted onto an aluminium disc, which sort of sounds similar to a LaserDisc that can be played using a DVD player. So, analog music on a 12-inch CD-like disc? Not so fast; Burnett has said that each Ionic Original contains "a spiral etched into it by music… which can be heard by putting a stylus into the spiral and spinning it" which sounds like vinyl all day long, so we can't be sure. The thing is, I still find it desirable – because love him or loathe him (I'm in the former camp, obviously) it's a first in music history: a unique piece of music in a physical format that you might be the only person ever to own. And that's not all! This is the first recording to utilise multi-Grammy award-winner Burnett's patented technology. Burnett notes that the tech used to create an Ionic Original disc "advances the art of recorded audio and marks the first breakthrough in analog sound reproduction in more than 70 years, achieving dramatic improvements in listening experience and durability." So, July 7 is the big day: in Bob Dylan's impressive 60th anniversary year as a recording artist, this historic lot presents a unique opportunity for international collectors, music fans, historians, aficionados and audiophiles to own something truly special. Want to hear it before placing your best and final offer? Me too – we can be friends. Exclusive in-person listening experiences of the Blowin' in the Wind Ionic Original will take place in advance of the auction: by-appointment in Los Angeles (June 8) and New York (June 15) and as part of the public pre-sale exhibition in London (July 2-7). Opinion the actual physical tangible music format is still deeply important Bob Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind on Ionic Original; quite a big wooden box to take home too . (Image credit: Bob Dylan, McIntosh, Ionic) I almost didn't write this piece, because the current cost of living crisis can make a mockery of such events; some of us are choosing whether to heat or eat and here I am, waxing lyrical about £1m formats some of us may not own the kit to actually play? But that would have been grossly remiss of me – and not just because if you head to the listening sessions, you'll be able to hear it on a top McIntosh audio system comprising an MT5 Precision turntable (aka one of the best turntables in existence, and proof it does play like a record!) an MP1100 phono preamp (see also, the MA6300 integrated amp), and a MHA200 headphone amplifier, which will surely be hooked up to some of the best over-ear headphones available, all without having to buy said sound system. No, the reason this needs to be shouted about is that it's one of the most important songs written in the last century, and now, 60 years after Dylan first wrote it and cut the record, he is giving us a new recording of the track; one that is both deeply relevant for our times and resonates with me profoundly – and I'm certain I'm not alone here. It's also a reminder of what can be achieved from humble beginnings: Dylan first sang it on the diminutive stage of Gerde's Folk City in Greenwich Village in April 1962, but today it is woven firmly into the fabric of American culture – and soon, it will be auctioned for a massive fee. I'm not alone in thinking that analog, tangible music needs to be preserved and improved. Why else would vinyl have seen such an incredible resurgence in the past few years? The fact that Burnett is doing that is to be commended – albeit in a cost-prohibitive way. But don't you remember how expensive turntables used to be? Now, we can buy a deck for the cost of a nice meal, or from Ikea. For now, just close your eyes and imagine Dylan's slightly reedy, emotive, inimitable dulcet tones. How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man? Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly before they're forever banned? The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind. The answer is blowin' in the wind. (You can call your bank manager about the possibility of a loan later). Becky ScarrottSenior Audio Staff WriterBecky is a senior staff writer at TechRadar (which she has been assured refers to expertise rather than age) focusing on all things audio. Before joining the team, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing and reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance starts with a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. When not writing, she can still be found throwing shapes in a dance studio, these days with varying degrees of success. See more Audio news TechRadar Newsletter Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals! Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. MOST POPULARMOST SHARED1The iPhone 14 Pro is made of the wrong stuff; the Pixel 7 proves that to me2Stop saying Mario doesn't have an accent in The Super Mario Bros. Movie3Google Pixel Tablet is what Apple should've done ages ago4RTX 4090 too expensive? Nvidia resurrects another old favorite5More than one million credit card details leaked online1The iPhone 14 Pro is made of the wrong stuff; the Pixel 7 proves that to me2iPhone 15 tipped to come with an upgraded 5G chip3If this feature succeeds for Modern Warfare 2, Microsoft can't ignore it4Apple October launches: the new devices we might see this month5The Rings of Power episode 8 trailer feels like one big Sauron misdirect Technology Magazines (opens in new tab)● (opens in new tab)The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviewsFrom$12.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)