I heard this “Soft, Safe & Sanitized” version of LARS by The Living Voices earlier today. It’s both terrible and brilliant at the same time. What other corny, cheesy or downright weird Dylan cover versions do you know of?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjk7ivL3l5Q
minibreakfast says
Also, you’ll be massively surprised to learn that I bought “Strings For Pleasure Play The Best Of Dylan” at a car boot sale this year. It may well have cost a whole pound. Here’s a, um… highlight. Make sure you stick with it past the one-minute mark.
Sniffity says
Past the one minute mark, it becomes a case of who did it first, them or B. Ferry?
Gary says
Only one thing worse than a Roger Water’s covering Dylan in an overwrought bleeding-heart stylee:
Gary says
And that’s David Gilmour covering Dylan in a cod-reggae stylee:
minibreakfast says
I made it to the chorus then bailed. To quote our dear Mr Blast: “‘Orrible!”
minibreakfast says
Overwrought yes, but it also nearly sent me to sleep.
Gary says
Is that a good thing?
Ps. How’d you get on with Obscured By Clouds, MiniB? Wot’s… Uh, The Deal is my fave Floyd song. Gorgeous piano. And I think Mudmen is pretty darn groovy too.
minibreakfast says
S’good, innit? Something I may not have bothered with, if I’d not stumbled across it for pennies. Really enjoyable, especially under headphones.
Tiggerlion says
Ah. My favourite Floyd album since Pink left. Although Saucey’s adjustment of Echoes is even better.
minibreakfast says
This clip of Cliff Richard and the Nolans appeared recently on BBC4’s …Sings Dylan II. Click it if you dare…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNrdeOOefGU
Kaisfatdad says
This doesn’t belong here really, as it’s quite good. But certainly a little different.
From the reggae tribute to Bob Dylan: Is it rolling Bob?
Toots Hibbert – Maggie’s Farm
minibreakfast says
I see what you mean, it is a little different. But have you got anything, you know… worse?
Lodestone of Wrongness says
There’s a tiny part of me rather likes James Blunt but quite why he decided to skin his cat along to “I Want You” remains one of the mysteries of life
https://youtu.be/TFQPUQgssd4
minibreakfast says
URRGHH!!!
That’s more like it!
Beany says
I don’t do cheesy as you know. I may own those first 2 recordings you mention but….
Have a prog version instead.
Beany says
Proper prog.
minibreakfast says
You sure that’s prog? ‘Cos I liked it!
Beany says
Come over to the dark side.
Mousey says
It’s brilliant! It’s The Nice!
Beany says
Definitely not cheesy.
minibreakfast says
“How does it feel?”
Irritating, Mr Cabot, irritating.
Seamus says
The Soup Greens: Like A Rolling Stone
minibreakfast says
That’s far too good for this thread.
Sling yer wonderful, groovy hook!
JQW says
Not at all cheesy:
minibreakfast says
That’s fabulous.
GET OUT!
JQW says
I’ve not got the compilation it came from to hand, but I believe it was recorded specifically for the UK Northern Soul market, but for whatever reason it remained un-issued for decades. Eddie & Ernie were a US soul duo who had a lot of talent but little success.
Kaisfatdad says
How about All along the Intergalactic Watchtower?
minibreakfast says
Once again KFD, way, way too good for this sorry thread.
Où est le fromage?
The Actual North says
Cockney cheese?
minibreakfast says
Ah, a Beany favourite I believe. Now we’re getting somewhere.
minibreakfast says
I’m afraid I may have to cancel this thread unless it quickly begins to attract some really odd, cheesy or corny Dylan covers. The standard so far has been WAY too high; even the arrival of Beany failed to deliver the level of crapness I thought I’d illustrated well with my own examples. If things don’t improve/deteriorate soon, I will have to ask KFD to start a thread on songs about shoelaces, just to push this one further down the blog list to cover the embarrassment.
COME ON, PEOPLE! GET IT TOGETHER!
Kaisfatdad says
No please no! Not the Shoelace Thread! That really is the ultimate deterrent. I will try much harder.
Sadly this isn’t awful. But it’s not every day the AW listens to a military wives choir. And I love the start-
“Hallo Barnstable!” Very rock n roll.
minibreakfast says
No, it’s not awful. But it did make me cringe a bit.
Thanks!
Kaisfatdad says
This is a tiny bit more like it.
minibreakfast says
A tiny bit’s not good enough, Kaisfatdaddio. You’re running out of chances.
Kaisfatdad says
Or this one perhaps?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XLZJL1MvdU
minibreakfast says
http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p773/minibreakfast/shoelaces_zpslbhksuw0.jpg
Kaisfatdad says
“There must be some kind of way out of here!” Rarely have I seen a pair of boobs so uncomfortably restrained.
All along the watchtower.
minibreakfast says
You should have seen mine during the summer. Luckily now the weather’s cooled I’m a lot more comfortable.
Sadly, this cover version doesn’t come anywhere near the low standard expected of this thread.
Kaisfatdad says
Madagascar Metal! Not too high a score on the Cheeseometer. But it’s not every day you hear a heavy metal cover of Dylan in Malagasy.
minibreakfast says
” Not too high a score on the Cheeseometer.”
That’s it, I’m going to bed. You’d better start googling for shoelace songs, KFD.
Kaisfatdad says
Bossa Nova Bob!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfrrUvGNreA
The truly gross album cover must give this a few extra points.
minibreakfast says
A stay of execution for the shoelace thread, but only by the skin of your teeth, young man.
Gatz says
Michael Moore insists that The Times They Are A’Changing.
minibreakfast says
Excellent!
I even gagged a little.
Rigid Digit says
The Hollies – Blowin In The Wind
and theres a whole album full:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollies_Sing_Dylan
minibreakfast says
This one’s walking the fine line between good and bad. It has the whiff of cheese, but I’m digging the horns ‘n’ harmonies. I’m torn.
Junior Wells says
When it comes to cheesiness -Mantovani can be relied on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xph9zlxoI5o
minibreakfast says
Yes! That’s fondue-licious!
Is anyone getting a bit sick of Blowin’ In The Wind, though?
Junior Wells says
errr and Ray Conniff too!
EDIT FUNCTION !
rocker49 says
Sorry if I’m breaking the rules. I rather like this Nanci Griffith version of “Boots of Spanish Leather”, though I can quite understand if others disagree and consign it to the cheddar and stilton shelf.
minibreakfast says
Lovely. Just lovely.
Get out.
JQW says
The Four Seasons recorded this under the pseudonym “The Wonder Who”
minibreakfast says
I know this one, it’s wonderfully squeaky. And on “vinly” too!
rocker49 says
oops, breaking the rules again. just found this on YouTube. Never knew it existed.
minibreakfast says
*thwack*
rocker49 says
I’ve just found a cracking live version of “Boots of Spanish Leather” sung by the Man himself, but I won’t be posting it here because it’s too damn good.
so there..:)
minibreakfast says
Time for an opposing thread?
Knowing this lot, they’ll probably fill it with brilliantly cheesy covers instead…
Rigid Digit says
May not be cheesy, but it is damn-near full on Diva
Randy Crawford – Knockin On Heavens Door
Rigid Digit says
More Knockin On Heavens Door, this time calypso-stylee from the magnifiently sideburned Ray Dorset
minibreakfast says
Your description was promising, but the cover wasn’t bad.
Rigid Digit says
William Shatner – Mr Tambourine Man
(Maybe more “Groovy” than “Cheesy”)
Rec Room says
great minds eh?
minibreakfast says
Ahh, The Shat can always be relied upon.
Rec Room says
Well there’s William Shatner of course.
minibreakfast says
It’s OK, I’ve loosely synced them up and they’re playing simultaneously. It’s far out, man.
Rec Room says
Some lovely strings accompany Mr Cabbot.
minibreakfast says
Him again. Terrifically terrible!
Rigid Digit says
Burl Ives – The Times They Are A Changing
minibreakfast says
Fairly awful. Well done!
Rec Room says
Sorry…
minibreakfast says
Now that really was shit. I barely made it halfway through. We’re making progress!
Rec Room says
Mmm…you might want to revisit it once you’v got your wind back. At the 2min mark they do an epic break down thingy over the chorus. Worth the wait!
minibreakfast says
Maybe later 🙂
ganglesprocket says
Boo. I was going to post that!
First actual Bob Dylan tune I heard folks. It might be terrible but I bought Bringing It All Back Home after I heard that. So it was good enough to make me curious about Bob Dylan.
So is it ACTUALLY CRAP AT ALL?
So here’s U2 inviting some twat onstage to do Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door….
Rigid Digit says
The Seekers – Don’t Think Twice Its Alright
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XEX-dh4n6s
(I am now plundering the lower reaches of the music collection – particularly searching in the “where did I get that from? section)
minibreakfast says
Ah, The Seekers. Their albums are staples of the car boot genre. I’ve never been even slightly tempted to pick one up – until now.
Declan says
How nice to see them 50-ish years after their heyday. Wholesome lot, Judith still in good voice.
Declan says
Referring in fact to another video of them doing the interval entertainment at an Aussie football match.
Locust says
I’m not sure if this can be called a “cover version”, since some buffoon has taken Dylan’s lyrics and set them to his own, pretentious, modern opera music…but it’s definitely cheese of the stinky Gorgonzola variety!
Do hang on until you reach the “chorus”…the singer provides some prime ham to go with the cheese as well:
minibreakfast says
Oh good lord, you weren’t kidding!
Judging by the look on her face, I’ve an idea that just before the chorus someone hidden behind the curtain deftly reached through and erm, tinkled her tambourine.
minibreakfast says
I’ve just realised that the video goes on for forty minutes, and includes yet another cover of Blowin’ In The Ruddy Wind.
Locust says
Yes, I just saw that as well, I didn’t spot it because I only lasted a few minutes…
mikethep says
Bob Dylan singing about cheese! What could be more meta than that?
minibreakfast says
Superb.
rocker49 says
Is this available on Bootleg Series 13?
mikethep says
Crap cover from a self-admitted Dylan hater.
minibreakfast says
Suitably horrid (speaking as a brand new Ty Cerda hater).
Tiggerlion says
Just don’t ask me how I know this exists.
Ke$ha – Don’t Think Twice
minibreakfast says
It definitely got better as it went along. Someone should pass the girl a hankie, though. Talk about snotty.
Tiggerlion says
What is there to like about The Watchmen’s Desolation Row? It’s shorter than the original. That’s it.
JQW says
A Canadian DJ parodying Bob. Actually made the Canadian singles charts for a few weeks.
Tiggerlion says
Robert Palmer and Seal are great singers. But, when they team up with John Bon Jovi, even the best rock song ever sounds dreadful.
minibreakfast says
I can’t believe I just sat through the whole 5:45 mins of that, waiting for it to get truly terrible. I thought that the arrival on Jon Bongiovi would turn it into a stinky cheese-fest, but it was merely an adequate, if pedestrian, cover of an apparently un-ruinable song. And the Watchmen one you posted above wasn’t that bad either.
Pah.
Tiggerlion says
Are you feeling alright, mini? Your musical taste buds are on the blink.
Beany says
Sneaking this one in.
minibreakfast says
*rolls eyes*
Tiggerlion says
I’m sure you’ll agree this is absolutely awful, mini.
http://youtu.be/vcWTTs8QVRc
Kaisfatdad says
I was walking through the crowd at the main stage at Roskilde when Axl Rose was performing that song. It went on for at least 30 minutes, or so it seemed. We were screaming: “Open that bloody door and put us out of our misery!”
minibreakfast says
*thwackety-thwack!*
Beany says
Bet you’ve not got this one.
Look…some of us are busy finalising their Green Christmas CD. It’s all go at this time of year y’know…
minibreakfast says
Genius.
minibreakfast says
This time last year I was in the middle of planning the bumper Car Boot Vinyl Christmas cloudcast and accompanying blog posts. I’ve not yet even listened to any of the festive LPs I bought this year, let alone done anything with them. Maybe next Christmas.
Beany says
I don’t know you.
Besides I have to mail my CD all over the world and need to catch the last post. I can’t hold the pressing plants much longer. Almost done. It was road tested today. Sadly no cheesy Dylan covers this year. Here’s one from an earlier edition.
JQW says
Duke Ellington put this out in 1965. I believe it’s his only Dylan cover.
minibreakfast says
Groovy, with the mildest hint of Cheddar. Not a bad effort.
Beany says
Such an easy target.
Beany says
NSFW
Gatz says
More parody
://youtu.be/JGarNIXpWm4
Gatz says
retropath2 says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p73pjie92EQ
I love choir, me
minibreakfast says
Yuk. 🙂
Beany says
THIS HAS EVERYTHING!
Prog! Irish Wolfhounds! Mediaeval babe dancing! Lutes! Lashings of cheese!
minibreakfast says
Hmm. It could use some twin trumpets.
Beany says
AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!
Don’t tell @james-blast …..WHATEVER YOU DO
James Blast says
@beany You’re a bad bastard, but I love ya! 😀
Beany says
I’m bloody exhausted now. You can thank me later. I need to lie down in a dark room with my Boney M Christmas CD playing softly in the background.
minibreakfast says
This version is so good it needs its own “Brilliant Dylan Covers” thread.
Declan says
You might like a little “as if” Bob, then jump to 1.20, Mini. So not cheesy and not a cover. Do I get a damn good thwacking?
Good little thread actually.
https://youtu.be/AgyeUHH_V0g
Johnny Concheroo says
Can I just say that doing the Dylan voice there is Adrian Belew, later to work with Talking Heads, Bowie and King Crimson.
minibreakfast says
“Good little thread actually.”
Thanks for the faint praise, Dec, and your contribution, but you’ll have to do worse/better than that to deserve a stroke from the Thwackme™.
Declan says
Not faint at all, we just want different things, that’s all. You want so bad it’s good, I’m grand with good. Plenty of good stuff here, no question.
Here’s the Faces
Declan says
Ah, but this is well whiffy…
minibreakfast says
I love that he’s singing over a Bontempi preset.
It’s stunk up the thread good and proper.
Pajp says
A brace from Barbara Dickson
Don’t Think Twice
Blowin’ In The Wind
There’s a whole CD (“Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”) if you like this stuff. I have it (bought out of curiosity only) but have only skipped through it once. Ugh!
minibreakfast says
Well, they both fall into the ‘dreary’ category, that’s for sure.
mikethep says
Here’s a subthread: Dylan covers in foreign. Italian:
Hebrew:
and Dutch:
rocker49 says
BE WARNED. This is so bloody awful it will make you cry.
mikethep says
That’s just so WRONG.
minibreakfast says
I lost my Crunchy Nut Cornflakes the second he started singing.
mikethep says
Oddly enough, my Spotify recommended playlist had no less than 5 Dylan covers in it this week. Four of them are ok (though Marianne Faithfull’s It’s All Over Now Baby Blue is a bit wobbly). But Link Wray’s Girl from the North Country is truly, truly awful. Stick to playing the guitar, Link. Luckily for you, it’s not on YouTube. Unluckily for some, it’s on Spotify.
mikethep says
spotify:track:3Ua91N8mhJc1VCmDfbLWYW
mikethep says
FFS!
mikethep says
I give up. If you’re feeling masochistic enough, look it up on Spotify.
Beany says
Is it that time already?
Hello? Hello? Is this thing working?
minibreakfast says
I knew I could rely on you, Beanster.
Beany says
Inevitable
https://youtu.be/eoViBkWxBvQ
minibreakfast says
A terrible cover from a truly terrible album of them.
Kaisfatdad says
Please welcome ….Jeremy Irons!
To make you feel my love.
Fairly high score on my Naffometer. The spoken bits are really cringeworthy.
I found it here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_artists_who_have_covered_Bob_Dylan_songs
Hours of merry distraction to be had browsing through that.
In the hope of cheese, I have been looking hard for Dylan songs in Spanish and Portuguese but get the impression that, despite being very popular in Spain, Brazil etc, few have attempted covers.
I would be very happy if Alias or Ivylander could prove me wrong on that.
minibreakfast says
“There. Now she’s asleep.”
Cringe-orama!
Kaisfatdad says
Another one from that list. Johny is the Man!
The Johny Mann Singers lay on some serious brie and camembert.
minibreakfast says
Perfect! Just the sort of thing I was hoping for. Earnest, dorky and missing the point entirely.
Kaisfatdad says
Swedish dansband Wizex have a crack at It’s all over now Baby Blue. Sadly it’s not on YT.
Strings, guitar solo, panpipes: the Full Swedish Monty.
The Actual North says
Feck Off Amadeus…
http://youtu.be/zjE9knInIV8
minibreakfast says
I did a fart earlier that smelled better than that.
Blue Boy says
Nana Mouskouri has form here, but I kinda like this so not sure it qualifies (*invites thwackery*). And she gets bonus points for not just doing the obvious stuff (she’s even covered Tweedledee and Tweedledum for goodness are)
http://youtu.be/VisN4vhgmQU
Blue Boy says
Sake. for goodness sake….
minibreakfast says
A couple of weeks ago I found Nana’s Christmas album. It’s now all cleaned, buffed and lurking in one of the festive record boxes. #comeonDecember1st
Beany says
I HAVE FOUND IT!
The cheesiest cover of an already cheesy cover with the ultimate cheesy video to accompany the cheesy version. Just smell the camembert.
Gatz says
I did wonder what Reg had to do with a TOTP album version of a Fairport version of a Dyland song in French. A little digging found a claim that he sang backing vocals on it.
Beany says
An album’s worth of such covers, with Reg singing the lead vocals, was released years ago. No Dylan songs on the album though.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4410E20E544869CD
bang em in bingham says
minibreakfast says
If you’re referring to the above song posted by Beany, it left me speechless too.
Campo says
a young woman Dad Dancing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMg5nPbluo0
minibreakfast says
This was brought to my attention when I got up to New Morning in the BobBox. I’ve not yet had the courage to listen to it. Now might finally be the time*.
*it’s not
JQW says
What, nothing from Herr Last?
minibreakfast says
THANK YOU!
Walter Rego says
Ministry – Lay Lady Lay
https://youtu.be/Ms7hd4e_EFg
minibreakfast says
I didn’t like the vocal at all, but the rest of it wasn’t too bad really.