Dylan covers

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quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
I'm amazed at how many established musicians try to cover Bob Dylan songs. With markedly few exceptions, few have little or anything to add: amongst the exceptions, I'll include the Byrds and (of course) Hendrix.

I'm far from being Bob's greatest fan, and a little can go a long way, but I can't think that others do much with his songs. Am I alone in thinking this?

Well, I think that just as with pretty much everything else, there are good and bad Dylan covers, and since there are an enormous number of Dylan covers (surely one of the most covered contemporary songwriters), it stands to reason that there are an awful lot of bad ones.

But also some very good ones, too.

Here are just a few:

You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go - Shawn Colvin, Cover Girl

Just Like a Woman - Bill Frisell, This Land

A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall - Bill Frisell, East/West (I haven't heard this yet, it's a new live album coming out next week, but Frisell can do no wrong in my book)

The Times They Are A-Changin' - Joshua Redman, Timeless Tales

Mostly Dylan - Tom Corwin and Tim Hockenberry (almost everything on this album is good, some are very good, plus the great Bonnie Raitt on one track)

And, if I may humbly suggest one of my own offerings:

The Times They Are A-Changin' - Fred Simon, Windham Hill America (this is a sampler with various artists, so I can't vouch for everything on it ... but then, that's why God invented iTunes)

More examples will inevitably come to mind.

Fred

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How about the Hendrix version of 'All along the watchtower"?

Steve.

And Manfred Mann - Mighty Quinn

Steve

That was very much what I had in mind: see above.

G

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quote:

Originally posted by Steve Bull:
How about the Hendrix version of 'All along the watchtower"?

Yeah, Graham mentioned Hendrix to start off (without citing the tune, because everyone knows, or should know, that one) but that's a classic cover, and along with the Byrds it kind of predates this list.

And although they would also be in the classic category, let's not forget the supreme Dylan interpreters, The Band. I actually prefer their version of When I Paint My Masterpiece to the original. And then there's their take on I Shall Be Released ... some have done it as well, perhaps, but no one better.

Fred

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I forgot "It ain't me babe" by the Turtles is pretty good too.

There was, of course, the Hollies Sing Dylan album.

Strangely enough Uncut have "Highway61 Revisited Revisited" as their CD this month. I actually like the Drive by Truckers' "Like a Rolling Stone".
And the Driscoll/Auger "Wheel's on fire" is pretty cool too.
Hwever, I do think that Hendrix' "Watchtower" is probably the finest version of a Dylan song ever, including most by Dylan. I think the original 45 was also one of the first singles to be released in Stereo. I clearly remember the excitement of getting my copy and walking back to school ( I was a boarder) to listen to it. I lost count of the number of times we played it that afternoon. Even today those opening Dave Mason acoustic chords give me goosepimples!

With Goths On Or Side by HMHB on Trouble over Bridgewater is based on a Bob Dylan song - and it's a great track.

Though even I agree that Jimi's Watchtower takes some beating.

Eddie Vedder's Masters of War , Eric Clapton's Don't think twice and the all-star My back pages, all from the 50th birthday concert, all superb.

Has anyone heard the Dylan birthday tribute, A Nod To Bob, put together by Greg Brown?

There are some terrific covers on it, particularly Greg Brown's "Pledging my Time".

I also like "Spanish Boots of Spanish Leather" on Nancy Griffith's Other Voices.

How come every time a post a reply I'm labelled a 1st timer?

Because you've got to make 5 posts before you're a New Member even if you do listen to some very interesting stuff.

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And then there's Keith Jarrett's wonderful version of My Back Pages.



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it's funny how people always cite Hendrix's version of Watchtower but never seem to mention his version of "Can you please crawl out your window," from his session with Alexis Korner for the BBC.

Also the Neville Brothers' versions of "With God on Our side" and "the Ballad of Hollis Brown" are rather good, Neil Young's "The times they are a-changing" and Cat Power's "Paths of Victory" are all rather good

Agreed, a lot of the stuff on the Mojo CD is entirely dispensible, I mean that Hollies cover is dreadful, but you cannot possibly describe Ben Weavers "Thin Man" as gutless, it's sensational and worth purchasing the magazine for alone.

The best Dylan covers are by Dylan at a gig, they're nothing like the originals and almost always entertain.

Chris

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[QUOTE]Originally posted by ChrisG:
The best Dylan covers are by Dylan at a gig, they're nothing like the originals and almost always entertain.
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Yep, looking forward to Brixton Academy in November.

quote:

Chris said "the Mojo CD is entirely dispensible, I mean that Hollies cover is dreadful:

Try the Hollies Sing Dylan [Parlophone PMC 7078 (mono)/PCS 7078 (stereo)]

Vocals -- Tony Hicks, Alan Clarke and Terry Sylvester
Banjo & Lead Guitar -- Tony Hicks
Bass Guitar, Piano & Organ -- Bernard Calvert
Rhythm Guitar -- Terry Sylvester
Drums and Percussion -- Bobby Elliott
Harmonica -- Allan Clarke

·All I Really Want to Do
·Blowin’ in The Wind
·I Shall Be Released
·I Want You
·I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight
·Just Like a Woman
·Mighty Quinn
·My Back Pages
·Quit Your Low Down Ways
·The Times They Are A’changin’
·This Wheel’s on Fire
·When The Ship Comes In

Mind you Evolution and Butterfly when Graham Nash was in the Hollies were great albums.

Rotf

Contrary view for me. I can't stand Mr Zimmerman's whining voice, but he's a fantastic song writer, and I love many of the above examples of his very fine songs, by other artistes.

I've just heard him absolutely murdering Simon and Garfunkel's 'The Boxer' on the Friday Bob Harris show. It was so painful; I had to turn it off!

On a brighter note; I've purchased this month's 'Uncut' mag for the freebie Dylan tribute CD, to get the superb version of 'Highway 61' by Dave Alvin.

John.

Asre Hendrix..All along the Watchtower.. To the best of my knowledge the acoustic guitar player is unknown.. Dave Mason was one of about 4-5 guitar players who laid down a track. The others offhand that i remember are Steve Winwood and Al Cooper.

I read an in depth interview with one of the engineers on the album somewhere ,that by the end of the session, no one could actually remember just which take and by whom it was.

I like all Dylan doing his-covers of others, and all others doing covers of Dylan.

New one out about 16th August 2005 - e.g. amongst 'Tribute' albums at:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/026-8051706-3398011

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quote:

Originally posted by Stevedog:
As re Hendrix..All along the Watchtower.. To the best of my knowledge the acoustic guitar player is unknown.. Dave Mason was one of about 4-5 guitar players who laid down a track. The others offhand that i remember are Steve Winwood and Al Cooper.

I read an in depth interview with one of the engineers on the album somewhere ,that by the end of the session, no one could actually remember just which take and by whom it was.

For what it's worth, according to the book Jimi Hendrix Sessions, by John McDermott with Billy Cox and Eddie Kramer, it was Dave Mason on 12-string guitar, as recalled by Kramer who was the engineer.

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Very recent covers of Bob include 'First Timer' by Elvis Costello-Imposters-Larry Campbell-Emmylou Harris performing 'When I paint my masterpiece' a few times at end of July 2005-early this month in USA - sounds great to me. (available as FLAC on bit-torrents/.mp3 often on WinMX-SoulSeek).

ROTF, if "My Back Pages" Ia typical of the Hollies Dylan Album then it's not for me, the arrangement is laughable, and I think they sorely miss Graham Nash, which bears out your comment on the other earlier albums.

Graham55 go listen to Ben Weaver's "Thin Man" again and if you still aren't moved give the CD (and mgaazine?) to somebody with blood in their veins.

Malky, yeah Brixton in November for me, and the NFT for the Scorsese documentary, and the Barbican for the "Talkin Bob Dylan Blues" tribute gig in Sepetember.

Everyone....... trust Christopher and go buy the Mojo magazine for the CD and Ben Weaver track, ...Oh and the Hugh Cornwell "Mobile" is well worth a listen.

...something is happening and you don't know what it is do you .....

Chris

quote:

For what it's worth, according to the book Jimi Hendrix Sessions, by John McDermott with Billy Cox and Eddie Kramer, it was Dave Mason on 12-string guitar, as recalled by Kramer who was the engineer.

Ahhhhhhh interesting, cos in the online article i read, it did say something to the effect of.

I know it has been documented that Dave mason was the guitar player on "Watchtower", but the truth is no-one remebers. Those sessions were totally crazy, people were drifting in and out of the studio as was their want. Several people laid down an acoustic track , but, by the time we came to mix the track no one had a clue just who's playing it was. Al Cooper claimed credit for it the most vehermently..

I;ll have to see if i can find the web site it was posted on, i was surfing reading up on recording techniques when i came across it, and the article was self penned by an engineer who did most of the ladyland sessions.

He also backed Noel reddings claim that certain Bass parts attributed to , lets say another well known person, were infact Redding and given the fact that book happened to have *that person* as a co-author one might go so far as to say certain people were trying to write history to suit their own , shall we say slant?

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quote:

Originally posted by Stevedog:
I;ll have to see if i can find the web site it was posted on, i was surfing reading up on recording techniques when i came across it, and the article was self penned by an engineer who did most of the ladyland sessions.

Wouldn't that be Eddie Kramer?

quote:

Originally posted by Stevedog:He also backed Noel reddings claim that certain Bass parts attributed to , lets say another well known person, were infact Redding

Which parts, which player?

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