Dylan covers
Posted by: graham55 on 03 August 2005
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.
Case in point: the new Mojo has a covermount CD, which I've had to turn off because it's so gutless.
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?
Incidentally, if anyone wants the CD (foc, of course) before it goes in the bin, let me know.
Graham
Posted on: 07 August 2005 by skraft
Robyn Hitchcock's Robyn Sings is a recreation of a Dylan bootleg that has since been released. Despite and because of its rigorous faithfulness, it's quite fascinating.
Posted on: 08 August 2005 by ChrisG
skraft
I'd forgotten about Robyn's CD, which is embarrasing as I'm a huge Hitchcock fan1! It's doubly embarrasing as I was at Robyn's gig when he recreated the "Albert Hall" (which we now know to be Manchester) bootleg which became the CD that you mention, incidentally his version of "Visions of Johanna" with a band is very good on the second CD of that set. I was at Dylan's Albert Hall gig in 1966, which was the last ever show that Dylan performed with the Band/Hawks of that set.
Chris
Posted on: 08 August 2005 by Jim Ashton
From 'Live At Keystone' by Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders et al, 'It takes alot to laugh, it takes a train to cry' and (especially!) 'Positively 4th Street'.
With Garcia's voice on excellent form, the trademark emotively ringing guitar in all its glory, Saunders supportively propulsive on organ and John Kahn simply astonishing on bass this is one magnificent session and P4S IMHO its finest moment.
Jim
Posted on: 10 August 2005 by Nick_S
How about the reggae covers? I thought some sample tracks I heard from the second album were interesting variations (I have not come across the first album).
various artists, Blowin' In The Wind: A Reggae Tribute to Bob Dylan....(2002)
various artists, Is It Rolling Bob?: A Reggae Tribute to Bob Dylan....(2004)
Nick
Posted on: 11 August 2005 by patk
I'm glad someone finally mentioned Jerry Garcia. I think some of Jerry's solo efforts and a few with the Grateful Dead were good performances of Dylan tunes. I always enjoy hearing "A Simple Twist of Fate", and a few others, done by Garcia.
Posted on: 11 August 2005 by Brentmeister
Two songs I haven't seen mentioned were Cher's first solo effort, "All I Really Wanna Do" and the Four Season's "Don't Think Twice".
