...and your favorite -- or least favorite -- cover version of a song by Bob Dylan is...???
Discuss.
BTW, here's my favorite. And I gotta say -- I suspect it's gonna strike a lot of our long-time readers as surprising. Hell, it strikes ME as surprising.
In case that's a new one on you guys, that was actually a minor AM radio hit at the end of 1967. I remember thinking at the time it should have been much bigger, and being kinda pissed that it wasn't.
I should add that I haven't been able to find the musician credits anywhere online, so I 'm not sure who's playing (brilliantly) on it. I mean, I think it's Paul Butterfield on harmonica, but I can' t be sure. And the rhythm section just kills, but who are they?
I should also add -- and I'm not even remotely a Peter, Paul and Mary fan as a rule -- that a certain Shady Dame of my acquaintance noticed the other day that Mary Travers' vocals on it are oddly reminiscent of Carly Simon. Interesting.
An amusing postscript: My old college band The Hounds used to do a fabulous live cover of the song, but because we were wiseguys we used to sing it as "Say hello to valium/Say hello to librium."
In any case -- have a great weekend, everybody!!!
38 comments:
We'll, just for some international flavor
Si tu dois partir- Fairport Convention: https://youtu.be/YWI29hIqIxY?si=KtPg0Ep2iiT0hj4Y
Best sampling of Bob (From Masked and Anonymous:
Come Una Pietra Scalciata - Articolo 31 https://youtu.be/Vou1iIRw7HY?si=6cAydAnZx-6DG7Iz
I've got 2:
Hard Rain's Gonna Fall ... Bryan Ferry
This Wheel's on Fire ... Julie Driscoll/Bryan Auger
"I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine" - Thea Gilmore
Love that French Fairport version. Unfamiliar with the Gilmore, but will check it out.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Blue Ash's cover of Dusty Old Fairgrounds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnGS-cvWpy8
Fairport Convention- Percy's Song
Nils Lofgren & Paul Rodgers- Abandoned Love
World Party- All I Really Want To Do
Cyril Neville- I Want You
Manfred Mann's Earth Band- You Angel You
In the late '90s, the Black Crowes covered The Girl From the North Country which was, as per usual by the band, simply amazing.
hendrix - please crawl out your window
peter paul & mary - the times they are a'changing
joan baez - a simple twist of fate - the time I saw Joan in concert the impression of dylan in one verse made us all laugh
joan osborne - man in the long black coat
I agree on PP&M's Too Much of Nothing. Not a particular fan myself, but this cover is terrific.
My favorite is Charlie Parr's Blind Willie McTell:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXAsN169mzM
I’ll have to ponder runners-up, but #1 is the Band’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece.” Levon’s vocal is perfect.
Leon Russell (Live) - It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Favorites: Rick Nelson does very good versions of three Dylan songs (I Shall Be Released, She Belongs To Me and If You Gotta Go, Go Now) on his terrific "LIVE IN CONCERT AT THE TROUBADOUR" album from 1970.
Also: the Byrds' cover of "Spanish Harlem Incident" on their first album.
Oh god -- I'd forgotten the Jason and the Scorchers
50 Years of Blonde on Blonde by Old Crow Medicine Show is very good. They cover every song on the entire album live. Concert also available on dvd and bluray.
rs
"Too Much Of Nothing" is on the PP&M "LATE AGAIN" album. Wiki lists the musicians who played on the album. Harmonica is not Paul Butterfield but, rather, Charlie McCoy. Butterfield alumnus Elvin Bishop does play some guitar. Three drummers appear, including session aces Bernard Purdie and Herb Lovelle. Other session pros, including Toni Wine (vocals) and Paul Griffin (keyboards), are credited on the album.
Mary Lee's Corvette (Mary Lee Kortes) Blood On The Tracks- the entire album live at Arlene's Grocery. A few missteps, but overall a fine and daring version of the classic.
Brian Auger and the Trinity with Julie Driscoll This Wheel's On Fire
The Band When I Paint My Masterpiece
Worst The Beach Boys The Times They Are A-Changin' on the Beach Boys Party! album, which is pretty terrible even when they do their own songs.
Weirdest Dylan cover version:
Solomon Burke: Maggie's Farm.
Talk about an ear worm once it slips it way into your head.
Captain Al
As much as I love that album, that particular track is shall we say — not good.😎
Wilko Johnson/Roger Daltrey -can you please crawl out your window.
Fairport Convention- I'll keep it with mine
Was going to say the Jason and the Scorchers song, so I'll just second it
Dion- Baby I'm in the mood for you
My two favorites are The Byrds covering Mr. Tambourine Man, and My Back Pages. Least favorite is William Shatner butchering Mr. Tambourine.
Thanks for clearing that harmonica up -- I've thought it was Butterfield since forever, but now that I've listened, Charlie McCoy seems quite obvious.
Let's see -
Elvis - Tomorrow is a long time
Ian Hunter - Love in vain
and to put a smile on your face,
The Ramones - My Back Pages
rob
I second Fairport Convention's: Percy's Song as an all-time great!
Captain Al
Leroy Van Dyke (The Auctioneer, Walk on By) does a great version of "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue." No, seriously.
And Olivia Newton-John's "If Not For You" is one of the most gorgeous records ever made, imho.
Plus, Burl Ives does a pretty good "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight. "
Bob in IL
Can't believe nobody has cited Music From Big Pink - all three of its Dylan tunes (Tears of Rage, This Wheel's Own Fire, I Shall Be Released) are definitive.
Captain been a Fairport fan for God knows how many years.
Sandy Denny,'Richar
Well you get the point - will look up song, thanks -
I'll only list greats.
Jimi 'Watchtower'
Jason & His Nashville Scorchers 'AbSweet Marie'
Fairport 'Percy'
Rainy Day 'I'll Keep It With Mine'
Animals 'Baby Blue' (from late 70s comeback album)
and the best Dylan cover ever, even more stark than Dylan's exceptional version:
Nina Simone 'Hollis Brown'
C in California
I'd never heard this, and have almost no familiarity with Blue Ash, but that is a kick-ass version! Thanks for the heads-up/head's-up.
C in California
Willie Nile's entire album "Positively Bob: Willie Sings Bob"
Rod Stewart - "Tomorrow Is Such A Long Time", and "Mama You Been On My Mind"
Bettye LaVette - "Going Going Gone"
Top Jimmy And The Rhythm Pigs - "Obviously Five Believers"
...and most of the above, especially Jason
Pete, I didn't want to include the Band for obvious reasons. Also, for obvious reasons, I will always love Richie Havens' covers of Bob's music.
Maggie's Farm by Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals is one of my favourites. Whole album of Dylan reggae covers on " Is It Rolling Bob?" check it out.
Tim O'Brien did a record called Red on Blonde of all Dylan covers. I liked it. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx252NeXW5_pafkERi5gmBnBxa-e78gyH
DannyGuam
Paulinca - Yes, Richie Havens' cover of "Just Like A Woman" (from his "MIXED BAG" album) is excellent. Thank you for reminding me about that.
dang wonder how many names have done whole Bob tribute albums? Neal t
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