What are the definitive cover versions of Bob Dylan songs, that is, those covers that Dylan’s own original recordings cannot touch? What do you think the over/under is on such covers, 5, 10, 15? Why don’t we hash it out here in the Halls of Rock?
To prevent against Definitive Dylan Cover Version ballot-box stuffing by the likes of Dylanphobe Townsman Hrrundivbakshi, who might suggest that any Dylan cover beats the original version thanks to the lack of Dylan’s voice alone, any definitive cover version that’s suggested will be stricken from the record with as few as TWO reasoned objections by Townspeople.
We’re going to be counting on longtime Dylan fans to speak for the hundreds of deep cuts and “bootleg series” recordings that folks will suggest have been covered definitively, but I’ll start with one such cover version that I cannot see anyone objecting to:
Manfred Mann, “The Mighty Quinn”
Let’s settle this once and for all, shall we?
I’ll go for the other (possibly most obvious) one:
Hendrix “All Along The Watchtower”
TB
AND..
“Mr. Tambourine Man” by The Byrds.
TB
You’ve got it, TB: “All Along the Watchtower” is APPROVED! No objections to this one will be recognized.
I’ll object to The Byrds’ version of “Mr. Tambourine Man” because they cut some worthwhile verses. Anyone care to second my objection?
Here’s some that I thought of:
“Percy’s Song” Fairport Convention
“Tomorrow Is A Long Time” Rod Stewart & Elvis Presley
“If You Gotta Go (Go Now)” Manfred Mann
Diskojoe, if we’re looking for a DEFINITIVE version, you must choose one version of “Tomorrow Is a Long Time” so that we may assess your pick – or are you telling us you’ve got a version on which Stewart and Presley duet? 🙂
“If You Gotta Go (Go Now)” is a tough one. It’s funny you mention Fairport Convention, because just as easily their version of that song in French is also memorable. For me, actually, the definitive version is the one on the second Flying Burrito Brothers album. Most-Informed/-Opinionated Dylan fans: can we get a ruling, or is none of these versions worthy of “definitive” status?
“Percy’s Song” is by Fairport Convention is strong, but I’m not sure that I really know Dylan’s version. That may be telling me something… For Fairport Convention the first thing that came to mind was their version of “I’ll Keep It With Mine”? That version gets me every time. Can it be counted as DEFINITIVE?
PJ Harvey did a nice lo-fi version of “Highway 61 Revisited” early in her career.
Pearl Jam’s many live covers of “Masters of War”
Welcome aboard, sonicdissonance! I’ll leave it to our Dylanologists to assess your choices. I like the PJ Harvey version of “Highway 61 Revisited” while that whistle in the Dylan version detracts from my enjoyment of his original. PJ Harvey’s version…DEFINITIVE?
I find “Masters of War” to be an overrated Dylan song and typically don’t think too highly of Pearl Jam, but I do like the version of that song by The Staples Singers. Are either of these covers DEFINITIVE? I’m definitely not qualified to judge this one.
Keep ’em coming, and don’t expect me to make all the judgements. I think Hendrix’s version of “All Along the Watchtower” is the only cover I planned to approve immediately.
I’ve always been bothered by that whistle, too! I almost prefer the whistle-less version that appears on the Bootleg Series.
I wouldn’t call myself a Dylanologist, but I do have the tattoo!
If I were thinking of Rod Stewart doing Dylan, I might be more inclined to go with “Mama You Been On My Mind” or The Faces doing “The Wicked Messenger”.
Besides “Tambo Urine Man” by The Beards, I feel the need to throw out Peter, Paul, and Mary doing “Blowin’ in the Wind”.
TB
I actually kind of like Johnny Winter’s version of “Highway 61.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp5aXW5a6X8
I can see your objection, Mod, because it IS highly edited. But it’s definitive in the sense that more folks would recognize their version as opposed to Bob’s. Maybe that is the case with most of Bob’s songs. “I hate Bob, but I like his songs! He’s a better songwriter than he is singer.” All that jazz.
There’s so many Dylan covers, I’m trying to define “definitive”. Does it mean that betters the original? Or that it’s more recognized? That Byrds record is pretty special either way. The Turtles doing “Rolling Stone” comes to mind. It’s nice, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the original. Plus, it’s also edited.
Maybe Johnny Cash doing “It Ain’t Me, Babe”? Is that definitive?
I can get behind the Mann and Mighty Quinn. Of course I’m down with Hendrix. When Dylan does that song now (or anybody for that matter), they are essentially covering Hendrix instead of Dylan.
TB
TB, that’s a fine counter-argument for The Byrds’ “Mr. Tambourine Man.” All your points are valid and deserve to be assessed by our fellow Townspeople. My objection is yet without a fellow objection, so that’s telling me something. I think a version could be considered definitive if it’s much better known than the original by Dylan, but surely it helps that it’s also agreed on as being much better musicially. A case could be made for The Byrds WISELY editing three verses and focusing on the melody and groove. I won’t argue any further beyond my personal objection. I wouldn’t have sour grapes if The People let your choice stand.
Mr. Mod, I’m going to go w/the Elvis version of “Tomorrow Is A Long Time” since it was made prior to his ’68 comback & in fact came out as a “bonus track” on one of movie soundtracks (Spinout, I believe).
Damn TB, you beat me to the punch on “It Ain’t Me Babe”
I’d also like to submit:
My Back Pages by the Byrds
Like a Rolling Stone – Hendrix at Monterey (“Yeah, I know I skipped a verse, don’t worry.”)
For what it’s worth, I strongly SUPPORT “My Back Pages.”
I object to any version of “Like a Rolling Stone” but the original. You’re not a Dylanphobe like HVB, are you, cdm? I see what goes on in The Back Office, and I have come to know that the two of you often think alike!
I don’t know if I know the Johnny Cash version of “It Ain’t Me Babe,” but imagining it, I have trouble believing it tops Dylan’s version. I will not object, though, leaving that possible task to better-informed Townspeople.
“My Back Pages” is a worthy substitute for “Tamborine Man”. I can get behind that one, too. There’s so many Byrds/Dylan tunes…
The Cash version is what it is. It’s Johnny doing Bobby. I don’t know if I even think it’s tops the original, but it’s certainly good. There’s not many Dylan covers that top the originals to me, though.
Johnny Winter might get it with “Highway 61”.
What version of “I Shall Be Released” will be offered up?
George Harrison doing “If Not For You”? Anyone?
What Joan Baez song are we going with?
Where are the Billy Joel fans? “Make You Feel My Love”?
Anyone going to stand up for Sheryl Crow’s “Mississippi”? I’m not.
I’m not familiar enough with The Dead to make an offer. Stop lurking, Townspeople and get to it!
TB
I didn’t read the post carefully. I thought we were judging these songs within the context of other Dylan covers, not pitting them against the originals by the man himself.
I rescind Hendrix’s version of Like a Rolling Stone. Although I think it is excellent, it doesn’t come close to the original.
And no, while I respect HBV immensely for his pursuit of the perfect Tone, and his love of ZZ Top and Prince (but not ELO), I do not share his Dylanphobe tendencies.
I’m neither Phobe not Phile. I like Dylan a lot and think that he is one of the few true geniuses in the field, but honestly, I rarely listen to him any more and couldn’t care less about anything he’s done post Infidels.
I’d back Harrison’s “If Not For You.” I’m also thinking about suggesting Joe Cocker’s “Watch the River Flow.” There: I just did so!
Thanks for that careful review of what’s being asked, cdm. At this point, I sense nodding heads and a coming flood of healthy discussion. Either Townspeople had been confused or they were seeking out that Brian Hyland album produced by Del Shannon.
I agree with Harrison’s “If Not For You”
I’ll add Jason & The Scorchers “Absolutely Sweet Marie”
Which George Harrison also did a nice version of at the Bob Dylan tribute
I’d say no Dead versions are worthy contenders. Even when I was going to a lot of Dead shows, I still thought they did a crappy job of covering Dylan (they did a crappy job of covering most people for that matter). They were best when they just do their own thing.
And I can’t take Joan Baez’s voice.
Good call on “Absolutely Sweet Marie” but I’ll submit the Flamin’ Groovies version.
So the ruling is that definitive in this case also means better than the original? In that case I can’t go along with Manfred Mann. Even though it did come out afterwards, the version of Quinn the Eskimo on the Basement Tapes is unassailable.
That’s one objection to Manfred Mann’s outstanding version of “The Mighty Quinn,” or “Quinn the Eskimo,” as Dylan and The Band called it. Come on, BigSteve, the flute solo alone in Manfred Mann’s version is much better than the flute solo on the Basement Tapes version!
Your lone objection is registered…once and for all.
I also object to Manfred Mann’s “The Mighty Quinn.”
But, because I’m all about healing, I second Mr. Mod’s nomination of Fairport’s “I’ll Keep it with Mine.”
“The Mighty Quinn” by Manfred Mann, the only version anyone has ever consciously set the needle down to play other than to satisfy the curiousity of hearing what Dylan’s later, obscure version sounded like, has been eliminated from DEFINITIVE status. Townspeople have spoken. Would anyone like to join me in a moment of silence?
[ ]
I do appreciate the healing gesture, Oats.
I also always liked Sprigsteen’s version of “Chimes Of Freedom”, although it is really the Byrds arrangement.
The Byrds Play Dylan is a strong record just about start to finish,(don’t like thier Lay Lady Lay) I know it is a comp, but I listen to it as much as any other Byrds or Dylan.
Always wanted to put together a band that ONLY did Bob Dylan songs but not the Dylan arangements (More Byrds / Band) trouble is that most Drummers don’t like Bob very much
I’ll second PJ Harvey’s cover of “Highway 61 Revisited”
Jungleland, I’ve had the exact same idea! I even have a suitably pretentious name for this band — The Zimmerman Project. I’ll be your drummer, if I can sing like Levon.
I second I’ll Keep It With Mine. Didn’t Nico do that too? I don’t think I’ve ever heard it, but ti’s heard to imagine anything beating Fairport’s version. The Dylan version is way too weird to compete.
Re “Tomorrow Is A Long Time”–I’ll put the Sandy Denny version up against any of these others.
I’m voting against any cover version of Dylan’s “Highway 61” as being better than the original. PJ Harvey? Good Doctor, what have you been smoking there in South Dakota?
Yeah, even with the corny whistle, I’m not feeling DEFINITIVE version of “Highway 61” when I think PJ Harvey’s version. And although the Johnny Winter version gave me a good laugh, it wasn’t good enough to top Dylan’s original.
That’s two objections to PJ’s version and one, I believe, to Johnny’s version, so Johnny’s still got a chance to sneak through.
How could I have forgotten Guns N Roses definitive cover of “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”?!?!
Oh, wait…I heard it, then remembered.
I-I-Eye-I-I
TB
I Really like Dylan’s version of I’ll Keep It With Mine. I must object, however, to the Fairport Definitive label. The Nico version is excellent except, of course, for Nico. However, that guy from the Rain Parade got Susannah Hoffs to sing an adapted Nico arrangement on the Rainy Day album and that, is indeed definitive.
I’ll nominate the Band for “I Shall be Released”. I think that one is way definitive.
And all you Baez haters should give a listen to “Love is Just a Four Letter Word”. I’m not sure I’ve even heard a Dylan version, but she delivers it with classic finesse.
Moe Tucker’s version of “i’ll be your baby tonight” is smart. those who have heard it will know what i mean: with few changes except the addition of a clarinet (no changes to the tempo or the melody or any other fundamental part), she turns it into a ragtime flavored ballad. the “big fat moon, gonna shine like a spoon” bridge sails along effortlessly.
The Dylan/Byrds battle on “Mr. Tambourine Man” is for second place. Shatner owns it.
Rick Nelson – “She Belongs To Me” I bet Dylan would bow to that.
Doesn’t the Band do a version of “Forever Young?” It’s been a long time…
i’m surprised no rth smartasses have mentioned “you’ve got to hide your love away” or “stuck in the middle with you” as dylan “covers.”
and hey latelydavid, you right!…what *about* the gnr version of “knockin’ on heaven’s do-wow?” i mean…end of thread, right? i KNOW right???
Hey, sorry to get off topic, but this topic, as well as the latest poll, has me thinking about whether anybody has ever covered any Pete Townshend/Who songs. The only things I can think of is covers of early Who songs that were done back in the day by garage bands & the Underture to Tommy that was a Top 40 hit in the early ’70s. Otherwise, I really can’t think of anything by a major artist.
You know, I don’t know about “definitive” but I really like Buck Owens version of “Love Minus Zero/No Limit”. Just thought I’d mention it for those who happened to miss it. Also The Mac did a version of that tune on a recent recco.
I also feel the need to mention the great Doug Sahm (whose ghost seems to haunt the latest Dylan record) and his version of “Wallflower”. I wouldn’t call this a cover as it seems that it was written for Doug to do. For those who missed this one, you must check it out. It’s from the album Doug Sahm and Band.
What about Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger doing “Wheel’s On Fire”? Definitive?
TB
“i’m surprised no rth smartasses have mentioned “you’ve got to hide your love away” or “stuck in the middle with you” as dylan “covers.””
I was going to mention Public Execution by Mouse and the Traps from the Nuggets box but I got side tracked yesterday.
I initially wanted to put Townshend in the poll but realized there was a dearth of Who covers to judge. Not a “major band,” Diskojoe, but Philadelphia’s The Trolleyvox, led by our very own Townsman Tvox, cover “Our Love Was” on their 2007 album, Your Secret Safe. Good stuff! Then there’s that entire a capella cover of Sell Out by Charlie Haden’s daughter.
I gotta say the Byrds’ Spanish Harlem Incident for that big fat wrong bass note that sounds so good. Screw definitive!
Green Day put a version of My Generation on an early album. The Jam does versions of Disguises and So Sad About Us I like. I think the Ramones did Substitute on that covers album they had. One townsman of note did a fine version of Our Love Was.
I think the version of “Wheel’s On Fire” from Music From the Big Pink may be the definitive one.
Bid Steve – I think we have a band!
The Zimmerman Project!
This would be a great project for the RTH crew. Put together our “setlist” and pick the existing arrangement to base it on (Byrds, Band, Nico,Moe Tucker etc)
Since we as a group live all over the country, we may have to make this a “virtual” band (OR create “franchises” in every city.)
I used to play in a band that opened with “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” but we did it like if THE BAND did it, with a very Levon drum sound and 1/2 time for choruses.. I ‘ll have to dig up a recording of that (was 1996?)
Thinking the same thing, Mod. I like how he respectfully reproduced that hairy solo.
On the difficult covers poll, Ray Davies had a solid early lead yesterday (since yielded), which surprised me a little. Are there some notably bad Kinks covers out there from which I’ve thankfully been spared, or is it that bands have been apt to even try covering them vs. Dylan and the Beatles?
I forgot about those Jam & Ramones covers (& I have them all). Is that Petra cover of the Who Sell Out any good? Still, as Mr. Mod said, there hasn’t been too many covers of Who songs in comparsion to Dylan, the Beatles or even the Stones.
I voted for Ray Davies in the difficult covers poll mainly because his songs seem to be the least covered in comparsion w/the others mentioned in the poll. I would have voted for Townshend if that choice was there.
Speaking of bad Who covers, I can’t help up bring up Limp Bizkit’s version of “Behind Blue Eyes”. Maybe that should be a new topic thread here in the Hall: Wretched Covers. I can think of several. It will probably be way easier than definitive.
TB
I have three Kinks covers albums, and they are mostly unnecessary. Lotta bad stuff, some good stuff, very little superb stuff.
I do like The Jam’s “David Watts” and The Pretenders’ Davies covers. I voted for Ray because a lot of their best stuff is untouchable, I feel. Matthew Sweet covered “Big Sky” on one of the tributes I have, and it’s just pointless. It’s a perfect song and he brings nothing to the table. Kind of depressing.
Oats, do you mean the Brit tribute album that came out in ’89, the Rykodisc one & the one that came out on Subpop? I have all those & you’re right, they are mostly unnecessary, although I do have a soft spot for a verion of Live Life that appeared on the 1st tribute album that was done as if the ’65 Kinks did it instead of the ’78 Kinks.
This reminds me of another episode in my turning away from Elvis Costello, his version of “Days”. I remember reading him in an MOJO article claiming that his version, which was done for a movie, was better than the original. I couldn’t wait to hear it & when I finally did, it sounded like a turd. I was rather disappointed.
I think Townshend’s songs are so closely associated with his band’s playing style that it’s not worth trying to cover them.
I voted for Davies in the poll because I feel his presence in his own songs is so large that there’s no way to cover a Kinks song without aping Davies’ approach. Think of The Pretty Things’ “House in the Country.” It rocks a bit more, but The Pretty Things might as well be a Kinks tribute band for that one song. Same goes for Kinks covers I’ve heard by Fountains of Wayne, Elvis Costello, Yo La Tengo… Without that wistful/wisecracking Ray Davies mood, bands have nothing much to cover.
Wow. Yeah, those three. It’s scary how you and I are sometimes on the same Kinks wavelength. Get out of my brain.
There is one Kinks tribute album I’m curious to hear: http://www.kindakinks.net/discography/showimage.php?imgnum=586
Jim Dickinson’s recording of “John Brown” is a motherfucker (I mean, it’s “great”).
I can get behind that, Pete!
Jerry Wexler on that Dickinson album Dixie Fried: “If Dylan had recorded this, they would have called him the ressurected Christ!”
TB
I agree that there are certain Kinks songs that you’d have to a fool to cover. Don’t even try “Waterloo Sunset”, you’ll just end up making yourself look bad.
But that’s only half the story. There are a lot Kinks songs– the heavy stuff– that most decent rock bands can handle quite well. Really it’s not that hard to improve on the classic Kinks rhythm section of Quaife / Avory.
And I love the Kinks. But let’s be honest. It’s only Ray Davies’ songwriting and singing that are hard to impossible to top.
Good stuff, butcher pete!
No, Oats, get outta my brain! 😉
Mr. Mod, I agree w/you on the Pretties’ version of House in the Country.
“I’m Not Like Everyone Else” was originally written for Eric Burdon & The Animals, who actually rejected it. It would have been interesting to hear Eric sing it. Also, I feel that if Kate Bush ever covered “The Way Love Used To Be”, she would get a big UK hit out it, as the original version sounds like her to me.
I’m getting a ton of offshoot thread ideas out of this discussion. Stay tuned. Thanks!
Later today I’ll see if I can compile a list of Definitive Dylan Covers that we have approved of for presentation to the public…once and for all.
Did Ray mind getting the royalties from Van Halen’s hit with You Really Got Me? I think the Kinks first few singles were staple covers for raw American bands of the mid-60s, at least, moreso than the Beatles or Stones. You’d doubtless see the all those Nuggetty bands doing them.
13th Floor Elevators’ “Baby Blue.” Just gorgeous.
Also, I nominate every single song on the Coulson, Dean, McGuinness, Flint album.
Regarding:
“It’s only Ray Davies’ songwriting and singing that are hard to impossible to top.”
AND
“Without that wistful/wisecracking Ray Davies mood, bands have nothing much to cover.”
That cover of Victoria by the Fall is like a third nipple. What’s the point?
Gorgeous or not (and the same thing goes for Them’s version), Dylan’s original “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” is the definitive version. No one else could have written that song. He needs no devices to make it so mysterious. Townspeople, I urge you to second my objection to ANY cover. Thanks.
As much as I like the various Byrds versions of this, I’ll have to agree on “Baby Blue”. Hell, I even covered that song with no success. It all goes back to what is definitive and what is even a cover (Dickinson’s “John Brown” or Sahm’s “Wallflower”).
TB
I don’t think any version of This Wheel’s On Fire tops the one on the Basement Tapes. The Driscoll/Auger version (and its cousin the Absolutely Fabulous version) and the one on Big Pink are good, but the original is deep.
How about the Byrds’ version of All I Really Want To Do? Adding that middle eight that’s not in the original really makes it work.
I’d agree with the Band’s version of “I Shall Be Released”. That’s Richard Manuel’s song as far as I’m concerned.
And as far as “All Along the Watchtower” goes…. even Dylan himself uses Hendrix’s arrangement.
Just looking on coverproject.com to see if I have a favorite…is that cheating? Oh well…a few surprises there…
Richard Hell covers “Going Going Gone”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPuFM7GDDZ8
White Stripes cover “Isis” :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuGXmHTDwXs
Falco (?!) covers “It’s all over now baby blue” :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiIaEOwkirw
Robyn Hitchcock, apparently, buys the new Dylan record, covers the entire thing, then waits around for the next one:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=robyn+hitchcock+dylan&aq=f
I’m with you, butcher pete, on Manuel owning “I Shall Be Released.”
I retract my statement that no cover of “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue” could match Dylan’s original. Falco NAILS that sucker in the video our Townsman from the Great White North has provided! Bravo!
Off topic: I LOVE “Der Komissar”. Didn’t Falco die?
Do we need three aye’s without a nay to declare definitive? I brought up the Band’s “I Shall be Released”, Butcher Pete seconds and Mr Mod puts it over the top.
Quick declare it definitive before E Pluribus gets on here and pisses all over our good taste.
I missed a lot not checking in for a day.
Let me state up front that I believe that the old marketing line that “Nobody Sings Dylan Like Dylan” is damn near gospel.
Sorry, no one’s “Tomorrow Is A Long Time” touches Dylan’s.
“Mr. Tambourine Man” by the Byrds? C’mon! Ditto all the other Byrds covers of Dylan. Exactly what undoubtedly made them palatable to the masses it why they can’t be definitive. All the grit, all the edges are filed off, leaving…not enough.
Which is the same reason Harrison’s “If Not For You” isn’t definitive.
Manfred Mann’s Quinn is better than Manfred Mann’s “Spirit In The Night” but that’s about all you can say for it.
Geo, you never heard Dylan’s “Love Is A Four Letter Word” because there is no known circulating version. It’s the Holy Grail of Dylan Want Lists. Baez does do a great job on it.
I’ll take Arlo Guthrie’s cover of “Percy’s Song” before Fairport’s but neither are as good as Bob’s.
I can’t disagree with The Band’s version of “I Shall Be Released”. That may be a match for Hendrix’s “Watchtower”.
Rick Nelson’s “She Belongs To Me” comes within shouting distance.
A few Dylan covers I especially like, if not necessarily definitive:
Robyn Hitchcock – “Not Dark Yet”
Buddy & Julie Miller – “Wallflower”
Buddy Miller – “With God On Our Side” – a nine minute version that doesn’t seem as second too long and could be definitive
I forgot about that Buddy Miller cut! I can get behind that one. It’s pretty special.
TB
“With God On Our Side”. That’s the Miller I was referring.
TB
OK, here’s what I’m seeing so far in contention for DEFINITIVE DYLAN COVERS (ie, covers that not even Dylan’s original can touch). It’s important that we come to consensus on these selections…once and for all.
DEFINITEY DEFINITIVE:
“All Along the Watchtower,” Jimi Hendrix
“I Shall Be Released,” The Band
IN NEED OF FINAL VERIFICATION:
“My Back Pages,” The Byrds
“Tomorrow Is a Long Time,” Elvis Presley
“Highway 61 Revisited,” Johnny Winter
“She Belongs to Me,” Rick Nelson
“John Brown,” Jim Dickinson
I’ll have to say, I would have chosen “over 10” in the over/under speculation leading up to this. I’m still shocked that Manfred Mann’s “The Mighty Quinn” did not gain unanimous approval alongside Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower,” but that’s what makes the Halls of Rock such a fascinating place sometimes.
Wow. I would have figured on more cuts than that.
I was having this conversation with my bandmate yesterday on what constitues a “cover”. I have a hard time saying that Dickinson is “covering” Dylan with his version of “John Brown”. It’s a fantastic cut, but the fact that the song was unreleased and Dickinson put it out. Then again, it’s not as though Dylan gave the song to Dickinson and said, “Here you go”. Almost the same thing could said of that endless mine of Basement Tapes material that every Tom, Dick, and Harry were mining for years before they were officially released. Didn’t even The Byrds beat Dylan with “Tambourine Man”?
Another example (and perhaps a better one) would be this: Are The Bangles covering Prince with “Manic Monday”? Or are The Turtles covering The Byrds with “You Showed Me”? I don’t know if Prince recorded “Manic Monday” or if he simply provided the band with a song that he wrote. Badfinger covered McCartney with “Come and Get It”. The versions are identical, although McCartney’s is just a demo. What IS a cover?
On the other hand, if Dylan were to give a sheet of paper with some words on it that he had written and I take that sheet and throw a melody and some music on top, then I’ve just cowritten a song with Bob Dylan a la The Byrds with “Ballad of Easy Rider”. Definitely NOT a cover.
Sorry to digress here and I know that I’m giving this more though than I should…
TB
I’ve been thinking about Johnny Winter and his version of “Highway 61.” It’s easy to dismiss the chooglin’ blooz take on the tune, or laugh at all the tweedly-tweedly slide guitar in there. But, by golly, if ever there was a Dylan song that merited conversion into a biker-rock anthem, it’s that one. It’s not precious, it’s lyrically direct — it’s about gangsters, it’s about killing people… on a highway!
I sustain the motion.
Not to mention, Hrrundi, it doesn’t have that goofy whistle.
It’s not definitive, but I’ve always liked Jerry and the Grateful Dead’s version of It’s all over now, Baby Blue. Especially 2/24/74. I had it on cassette for years… couldn’t find it on archive.org.
Welcome aboard, banjoturtle (love that handle)! It’s possible that one of the Deadheads here in the Halls of Rock will have that performance in their archive. Maybe we can post it here if anyone finds it. To me, that’s the most fascinating Dylan song. Most covers I’ve heard of it work, but for me the lyrics really suit Dylan’s persona best.
I’m rejecting “Highway 61 Revisited” by Johnny Winter. I don’t see how this betters Dylan or even PJ Harvey’s version. It’s just a platform for a lot of white boy blues solos. Any decent bar band could play this song as well as Winter could.
How about “Tears of Rage” by Gene Clark?
In the Scorcese documentary, Joan Baez said that one day she was playing “Love is Just a Four Letter Word” while sitting around with Bob and he remarked that it was a very nice song and asked who wrote it. Her version was so definitive he forgot he wrote it. Baez annoyed me for years, but over time I’ve really had my mind changed by her sense of humor and surprisingly down to earth take on things.
I’m also surprised at the rejection of Manfred Mann’s Mighty Quinn. I think it nicely exploits the goofiness of the Basement Tape song in a really appropriate way. I know some versions of those songs stripped a dark mystery that might have been in the original, but if this one did that, I think the dark mystery of the original wasn’t that crucial.
Now that I consider to definitively be Richard Manual’s song. Dylan’s Basement Tapes version does almost nothing for me.
I’ve never heard the Gene Clark version. I too prefer The Band’s version of the ones I know.
Here’s the Dead doing “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue” (last song of the show):
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1974-02-24.sbd.serafin.hollister.200.shnf
I think I’ve got this version somewhere…
…yep…The Masked and Anonymous soundtrack…
Another good source for Dylan covers is the double-disc I’m Not There soundtrack. The Jim James and Calexico version of “Goin’ To Acapulco” is gorgeous. I wouldn’t call it “definitive”, but it is a really GREAT reading. There’s several really good cuts on this set.
TB
To be fair, the guitar wankery and bar band-isms of Johnny Winter’s version of “Highway 61 Revisited” have already been discounted.
To turn the song, however, into a “biker rock anthem” that celebrates killing and violence, that which Dylan is so obviously against, bothers me.
It’s like when Reagan used “Born in the USA” in his campaign.
“Shelter From The Storm” by Rodney Crowell and Emmylou Harris!
Dylan himself is/was a bit of a biker. And what evidence do you have, dr. j, that Dylan is against killing and violence?
The scene where Going to Acapulco is heard in I’m Not There stopped me in my tracks. I only vaguely knew who Jim James was, but that voice … I told myself I needed to find out more about this guy.
Joan Baez does seem like a cool person. But she really, seriously should not be allowed to sing.
Yeah, it’s a wonderful scene. I like that film more and more each time I think about it. There some choice cuts on that collection and I’m usually not one for tributes and covers.
I have not heard My Morning Jacket, but I am certainly interested after hearing that song…
TB
I’m with BigSteve re: Joan Baez. I don’t care if she can give eyesight to the blind, that voice is to go deaf for.
While ’60s-era Baez bothers me to no end, I’m cool with the duets she did with Dylan on the Rolling Thunder tour. By then, she had toned down the shrill soprano and wild vibrato some.
I always thought Dylan sang the song ironically: as if to say, yeah, of course, mindless violence and killing solves everything.
You want to celebrate that, go ahead. But that sort of logic leads to agreeing with Randy Newman’s slaveholder in “Sail Away.”
You mean Randy was making fun of slave trading? Randy Newman? I never knew him to joke around like that…wow…
TB
I’m just saying I don’t think Highway 61 is a song where Dylan is especially judgmental. After the protest period he cut way back on the moralistic approach. So you might say that Highway 61 represents a where anything goes, but the POV is neither celebratory of condemnatory. Johnny Winter may amp up the mayhem a bit, but I don’t think either version promotes violence or even amorality. And Sail Away is not as simplistic as you’re making it out to be.
What about Joan Baez’s version of Lily, Rosemary & the Jack of Hearts??
Probably not definitive, but she’s got to get some credit for singing all 15,000 verses..
I saw Baez in concert a few years ago at Tipitina’s and somebody called out for this song. She said no way because she couldn’t remember all of the verses.
BigSteve, I guess I just don’t buy the idea that Dylan is being nihilistic here, which is the only way that logically you can read the song as a biker anthem.
And I know “Sail Away” is complex, yet the inital premise is a guy trying to recruit slaves by telling them what a great life is in store for them.
I gotcha, dr john. It’s just hard to write sarcasm sometimes. Randy’s great, but he’s a sharp sense of humor. I like him.
“Lady’s gonna bite the apple…now she’s gonna walk away…one foot in front of the other…the the other foot…”
TB
Please don’t get me started on how much I dislike “Family Guy.”
Dr. John, re: “The Family Guy” —
We reach! I think that show is Exhibit A in the case for the existence of an ongoing American cultural apocalypse. It’s the 21st century’s “Married With Children.”
HVB
Hey, Dr. John and I are in complete agreement on something – a rarity for us! – when it comes to Family Guy!
The Band: “When I Paint My Masterpiece.” (I don’t know if this counts as a “cover” or not–whether Bob’s version on Greatest Hits II allows The Band’s version to be deemed a “cover.” But it’s certainly definitive.)
Two others: Thea Gilmore’s “I Dreamed I Saw St Augustine”. The only decent cover of it I know, and it’s a beaut.
And Eliza Gilkyson’s “Love Minus Zero/No Limit.” Favorite of the ones I’ve heard.
Yeah, the moments where it’s funny are far, far outweighed by the embarassing crap that goes on most of the time. I would liken it to the Howard Stern show of tv.
the hendrix version of “crawl out your window” ROCKS.
can some of you elaborate on your distaste of Family Guy?
Gotta chime in with my support for Family Guy. I hated the show when it came out as a Walmart Simpsons. Over the years friends would tell me how great it is. Didn’t listen. Said it sucked.
Over the past two years my oldest son has been way into Family Guy. Slowly I hear a bit, a bit seeps in…next thing I know I’m watching full episodes.
I don’t know if the show has gotten funnier or tighter (I do know that Mila Kunis is a much better Meg than the original) but I’m going to go on record here and say I laugh more and harder during a 22 minute episode of FG than I have for any other show ever.
I won’t say that it is the best comedy ever on TV because it doesn’t really break new ground or take an interesting approach…Things that I think some folks around here require for music appreciation. It just makes me laugh, hard.
Family Guy is like Joan Baez’s voice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Family_Guy#Criticism_by_other_cartoonists
Saturnismine:
Here is an interview with the creators of SouthPark on why they hate Family Guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADVyJJsFSiI
Dr. John sez:
That’s not true at all.
I said there was nothing in the song that was explicitly moralistic or that directly condemned violence, or glorified it for that matter. That’s a long was from saying that Dylan believes life is meaningless.
And btw slave traders did not acquire slaves by recruiting volunteers.
We do, however, agree about Family Guy.
There’s another thing. I’m a big Randy Newman fan and when the Family Guy parody came out everyone was singing it to me as though it was some cutting parody.
I read an interview with Randy after that and he said, basically, “Hey i can take a joke, but it just wasn’t accurate, i don’t do observational stuff…”
If Family Guy nailed Randy Newman and burned him bad I would have laughed more than anyone. There are no sacred cows to me. But that show reminds me of a guy who walks onstage in a dress and expects them to be rolling in the aisles. “Hey, I’m in a dress here people, and I’m A GUY!!!
…anyway the Randy Newman thing kinda brings the topic back around to music. Uh, what are the definitive covers of Randy Newman songs, anyway?
Nickster and Chipster (any other -sters out there?), welcome to the Halls of Rock. I’ve got to check out that cover of “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine.” I love that song. I’ve never heard anyone cover it.
Banjoturtle and Dr. John, thanks for bringing that cover of “…Baby Blue” to my attention. I just listened to it and, as someone who typically doesn’t like the Dead, it was good and much more focused than I would have expected by them.
I didn’t ask for South Park’s opinions on Family guy, but thanks for the link.
when i first saw family guy, i thought it was a debased version of the early, laugh-a-minute version of the Simpsons. They use several devices developed on that show (especially the flashback and the thought bubble).
I was annoyed when friends would point to Family Guy as the show that was funny, *instead of* the Simpsons.
But I kept watching, and have gotten alot of laughs out of it. I don’t know if I”m used to it now, or the writing is better, but I like it now.
If it makes me laugh, I tend not to want to get inside it and figure out why.
I have enough to think about that’s un-funny in my life and at work (seriously, you people don’t want my life right now). Far be it from me to pick apart a show that allows me some laughs without even having to think about it.
and by the way, the South Park guys definitely sound like they take themselves too seriously in that interview.
Criminey, it’s only comedy.
I know it won’t carry any weight with the crowd, here, but in my house, “I’ll Keep It With Mine” is sung by Nico.
But I will add that of several very nice versions of “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You” (Jeff Beck, Ann Peebles) the fave for me is Esther Phillips. These versions start to suggest an Indestructible Song®.
i LOVE nico’s version of that song. in fact, i love Nico.
slocum, i’ve never heard the jeff beck version, but you’re right about ann peebles and Esther Phillips. and if someone with Moe’s limitations can pull off “tonight I’ll be staying here with you”, then yes, I think it does approach Indestructible Song® status.
the other song of his that i think approaches Indestructibility like that is “I Shall Be Released,” (and I agree that Manuel’s version is definitive).
Nice to hear Ester Phillips name bandied about here. She does a stellar cover of Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love” as well…
Wow. Didn’t mean to steer the topic so far off course with Family Guy talk, I was just making a useless Randy Newman reference (sort of like they did).
I got to thinking about this last night (as is my wont). Are we looking for THE definitive Dylan covers or DEFINITIVE Dylan covers? There may be no difference, but I would like to know what they may be. Plus, I want to keep talking Dylan instead of Family Guy.
So, what have we got on the list, Mod?
TB
I do love the sound of Manuel singing I Shall Be Released, but his take, all spiritual yearning, does miss a lot of what’s going on in the song. Dylan’s more rakish version, the one on Greatest Hits vol. 2 and sometimes in concert, suggests an alternate view.
After all the guy is in prison, and probably for good reason, since he talks about needing protection and explains that everything (like what he stole?) can be replaced anyway. He’s bitter about the people who put him behind bars, and he’s tired of hearing the guy next to him whine about being framed. Sure he wants to be released, but he’s not as dreamy as Manuel makes him sound. The song is not really a hymn to innocence, so find it hard to get behind the Band’s version as definitive, though I don’t expect everyone to agree with me.
good points, BigSteve.
I think that there’s something *BIG* about the word “definitive” that had me opting for the grand sweep of Manuel’s version while dismissing the humbler nature of Dylan’s “greatest hits v. 2” version.
still, while Manuel’s version may be more about the voice than it is the lyrics, hearing him sing that chorus is incredibly moving to me.
Dr. John, thanks for finding that Baby Blue from the Winterland… it was as i remember it… to me almost achingly beautiful…
does the group know if there were any covers that bob publically acknowledged?
Didn’t Dylan acknowledge a cover of one of his songs outdoing his own version on Chronicles? I’m blanking on who it was, but I thought it was some fairly obscure or surprising artist.
I remember many years ago Mary Travers (of Peter Paul &) had a radio show, and on it Dylan said he didn’t like most covers of Just Like a Woman, but he acknowledged Richie Havens’ version.
BigSteve, I did not say the song was nihilistic. I agree that the stance the song takes is akin to cultural relativism–but that does not mean “anything goes.”
And I know “Sail Away” is not historically accurate.
Here, in brief, is why I dislike “Family Guy”: it tries to pass off its sexist humor as cutting edge cultural commentary. And I really get tired of the show’s shameless and continuous pandering to the audience: assuring us how smart we are because we pick up on the obvious cultural references.
I’m no fan of THE FAMILY GUY either. I don’t need to reminded how much useless pop ephemera is in my head, I got this sight to vent all of that…
Late Entry:
“Knockin’ on Heaven’s” Door by Television. It is on the live recording released by ROIR titled “The Blow Up”. When I first saw them, about a year before the 1st record, this was the song that clued me in to how to hear them. Also, I think we can all agree to some extent that despite its easy appeal, this is a Dylan throw-off, song-wise and recording-wise. Television bring a modern drama to it that adds a whole new dimension. (Oh, and it does outdo the other contender, Guns’n’Roses.)