Just before he released The Freewheelin' in May 1963, Bob Dylan performed a seven-song set at Massachusetts' Brandeis University“- a tape of which sat in the archives of Rolling Stone editor emeritus Ralph Gleason until two years ago. Dylan is as warmly engaging as ever on "Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues" and "Talkin' Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues," which remains one of his funniest songs. The only bummer? The tape doesn't start until partway through the opener, a rewrite of Henry Thomas' "Honey, Won't You Allow Me One More Chance?"

Early Bob Dylan: Classic Shots of the SingerPerforming with Joan Baez, Hanging with Allen Ginsberg and More

This story is from the April 28th, 2011 issue of Rolling Stone.

“Oh Sherrie”

Steve Perry's girlfriend Sherrie Swafford was actually in the studio when Perry began writing this song--his lone Top Ten hit as a solo act--with two co-writers. The trio began at midnight one night with just "Oh, Sherrie!" and "hold on, hold on." Three hours later, they had a complete song. Swafford, however, had to wait until the next day to hear it. "Sherrie actually got tired and went to bed," Perry said. She also appeared in the video, but their relationship did not hold on for long.