Bob Dylan cover versions - what do you love or hate?

[Clare Newsome]

Having something of an allergy to random harmonica-playing and nasal vocals - but a deep affinity for excellent songwriting - I typically choose to enjoy the genius of Bob Dylan via cover versions.

In fact I seem to have assembled a rather eclectic mix of Dylan do-overs, from the sublime...

Elvis Presley - Tomorrow is Long Time (Dylan's favourite cover-version, apparantly)

Jimi Hendrix - All along the watchtower

Nina Simone - I Shall be Released

...to the ridiculous:

Nancy Sinatra - It's ain't me babe

Sandie Shaw - Lay Lady Lay (though this is one of the most 60s-tastic recordings ever).

Anyone else got Dylan covers they love or hate?

 

[Anonymous]

I can highly recomend the 'I'm Not There' soundtrack. 2 CDs of Dylan covers (plus the first official release of the title track which should have been part of the Basement Tapes).

Cat Power does an great cover of 'Stuck Inside of Memphis...' and the Richie Havens version of 'Tombstone Blues' chugs along nicely. Also Antony & the Johnsons manage to do a fresh take on 'Knocking on Heavens Door'

If you're into Dylan then you need to see this film. I loved it, but my wife who's pretty impartial to ol' Bob found it a bit of a sprawling mess, so I guess it's an aquired taste.

Col

 

[John Duncan]

Shawn Colvin's You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go from Cover Girl. Which is full of covers, strangely.

My band do good versions of Knockin' and Watchtower as well, but I'm biased.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, in my humble opinion no one does 'em better than Bob........However, there are exceptions, or equals...

Joe Cocker - Just Like A Woman

Martin Simpson - Boots of Spanish Leather.

 

[Charlie Jefferson]

[quote user="Col."]I can highly recomend the 'I'm Not There' soundtrack[/quote]

Another fine addition to the burgeoning sub-genre of Bob covers. I must mention my favourite on that album is, Acapulco by Jim James & Calexico. What a voice, Mr. James

.[quote user="Col."]Also Antony & the Johnsons manage to do a fresh take on 'Knocking on Heavens Door'[/quote]

Yes, I agree. Somehow, against the prevaiing odds, this works. Even stranger for me was Stephen Malkmus' take on Ballad Of A Thin Man. What next? Mark E. Smith declaims The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll?

[quote user="Col."]If you're into Dylan then you need to see this film[/quote]

A young baby in our midst limits cinema outings, so I'm really looking forward to the DVD release of this.

 

[Andrew Everard]

The Tom Robinson Band's cover of I Shall Be Released used to be a favourite live singalong back in the day.

 

[Thaiman]

'Knocking on Heavens Door' done by Gun & Roses.

 

[Andrew Everard]

[quote user="Thaiman"]'Knocking on Heavens Door' done by Gun & Roses.[/quote]

You mean done over by Guns n Roses, surely...?

 

[Thaiman]

[quote user="Andrew Everard"]
[quote user="Thaiman"]'Knocking on Heavens Door' done by Gun & Roses.[/quote]

You mean done over by Guns n Roses, surely...?
[/quote]

Ah...yes that is what I mean. How do you like your new roll? (as in work, not cheese or ham roll that you are eating!)