Most artists get round to doing a Dylan cover eventually. There are thousands of them out there. Some artists even get round to recording a whole album of Dylan covers. A quick Google search identifies hundreds of ‘em. So how to know which are the ones worth listening to? There are some obvious ones which have been around for a while – Joan Baez’s Any Day Now, the excellent Byrds Play Dylan compilation, the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert (a mixed bag, but worth the entrance fee for Neil Young’s predictably blistering versions of ‘Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues’ and ‘All Along the Watchtower’). Even Chrissie Hynde’s recent lacklustre Standing in the Doorway has its moments, principally Chrissie’s voice. My personal favourites include A Nod to Bob, a 60th birthday tribute album, Thea Gilmore’s recording of the whole John Wesley Harding album, and especially Bryan Ferry’s Dylanesque.
So share your best Dylan covers, either whole albums or individual songs. You can’t have too much Bob.
Desolation Ron says
Twang says
My immediate thought.
Desolation Ron says
Yes, good choice.
fentonsteve says
My fave version is by Helen and The Neighbourhood Dogs. I know I recorded it at least once, but it isn’t on their Bandcamp page, so remains in the can.
retropath2 says
(Cough)
https://www.covermesongs.com/2021/05/the-100-best-bob-dylan-covers-ever.html
and
https://www.covermesongs.com/2021/05/cover-classics-bob-dylan-tribute-albums.html
(OK, I appreciate there have been a zillion further covers, but there is a fair amount to chew on there. For the purposes of my opinion, one of my other names is Seuras Og.)
Desolation Ron says
Ooh, good lists! Nena doing ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ – crikey, who knew?
Lodestone of Wrongness says
It’s this kind of writing that makes covermesongs one of the finest places on the internet…
“Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings’s music contains multitudes. Like Dylan, the two have a unique alchemy that feels both traditional and cutting-edge, small and expansive — blending American primitivism, ’90s indie rock, freewheeling folk, and reams more into something pure and remarkable. In a pair of reverential, sepia-toned Bob covers (a lost cut from Desire and a number from the Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid soundtrack, respectively), Welch and Rawlings reveal full spheres of life inside deceptively plain song frames, like uncovering a colony of ants churning within a hollow log. Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings are no doubt Dylan’s kindred spirits, roving troubadours and kaleidoscopic explorers all in one”
noisecandy says
A great version I think.
Podicle says
I know Steamboat Micky is now out of copyright but it’s still too early for this.
Colin H says
I don’t care for Bob’s music, personally, but this cover by Arlo Guthrie is a masterpiece in my view:
Rigid Digit says
Manfred Mann did a couple in the 60s, but saved their best reading of Quinn The Eskimo for the later Earth Band
nigelthebald says
Moose the Mooche says
I’ve posted this about fifteen times. I make no apology. Can you fkin imagine how chuffed Dylan must have been when he heard this?
Johnb says
Agreed.perfection.also his version of John Hartford’s gentle on my mind.
grac says
This one. Always this one.
Gary says
Both Roger Waters and David Gilmour have beyond awful Bob covers on YouTube. I remember Tom Robinson’s cover of I Shall Be Released fondly. But my mention has to go to Ben Watt’s take on You’re Gonna Make Me lonesome When You Go. Lovely, ’tis.
Moose the Mooche says
Once heard a DG cover of Like a Rolling Stone, complete with jaunty Frank Sidebottom-style keyboard and drum machine. It wasn’t bad – the singing, anyway. Bowie and Ronno’s version is possibly the worst thing either of them ever did.
Gary says
Yes.
Here’s a thing. I came across this photo today and it caught my eye:
Then I saw this comment underneath it:
“worst photoshop job ever. I can literally see the cut and paste points on every silhouette but yes, let’s rack up 900+ comments and debate about it. The human race is doomed.”
That made me think “I’m such an easily fooled dimwit, I would never have noticed that. Gotta be careful what you believe these days.”
Then Susan Gabrels (wife of Reeves) replied to that comment:
“Real photograph, from Jan 1997. By professional photographer Kevin Mazur and taken backstage at Madison Square Garden where Bowie’s 50th Birthday show was held. All those pictured, except the child, performed. Lou Reed also performed, but missed the group photo.”
And that got me thinking, it’s probably best just not to believe anything anyone says about anything unless you were there.
Moose the Mooche says
Those who see photoshop everywhere tend to make the mistake of expecting people in photographs to look real.
Gary says
Bit like those who hear autotune in every song. Sort of.
Rigid Digit says
Is this a cover or a re-invention?
XTC – All Along The Watchtower
Rigid Digit says
With added poignancy, because he was at the time
Warren Zevon – Knockin On Heavens Door
Moose the Mooche says
Knock Knock
Who’s there?
Wah
…etc…
Desolation Ron says
Yes. Dylan’s own version with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers takes some beating.
Kid Dynamite says
love love love this
dai says
Has to be Wilco from their legendary all covers set at Solid Sound 2013
Junior Wells says
RayX says
The Beatles cover of Dylan’s Fourth Time Around or not
Pessoa says
13th Floor Elevators put the fairy dust on this:
I also like this unlikely one (this is from the enjoyable Ace Records comp Take What You Need: UK Covers of Bob Dylan)
Mousey says
The Nice – She Belongs To Me. This version was recorded live for Norwegian TV. Starts at 17.15
It’s also on their album “Nice”, recorded at Fillmore East NYC
Only if you don’t mind a bit of Bach with your Bob…
seanioio says
Your man out of Interpol with his side project Muzz
tropdevin says
murkey says
Kid Dynamite says
Junior Wells says
Nice one
grac says
This album by Bettye LaVette is well worth checking out.
Vulpes Vulpes says
I haven’t checked, but I’m guessing that I’ve posted this here on at least one of our previous Bob Cover threads. It doesn’t matter if I have or haven’t; this exquisite, ethereal, diaphanous live version of Like A Rolling Stone stands unchallenged in my book as the definitive alt-version of one of Bob’s absolute belters.
Best heard loud, reclined in a darkened room on a good stereo. Prior bifter possibly advantageous, but in the end unessential – it’s just glorious rock genius.
Mr__Hump says
There are currently at least 40 volumes of the fan-made Nobody Sings Dylan Like Dylan live compilations. Some are better than others, but all are interesting and should be available on the high seas (ignore the Cherry Red album of the same name).
This is one of my faves from it:
NigelT says
Fairport’s ‘Tree With Roots’ is a great collection of their covers…
Iainiain says
Here’s an unusual cover, but I think it works very well (Robbie Fulks):-