Of the hundreds (thousands!) to choose from, my fave is Van Morrison’s bravura version of Just Like a Woman from 1971’s oft-bootlegged (and really rather splendid) Pacific Heigh’s radio broadcast.
While VTM has continued to occasionally dust off and preform the song over the years (there’s a shorter version on YT from 2004), pretty sure it’s never appeared on an official release. Which is a shame as given how strong the performance here was, it would have been a perfect addition to Too Late to Stop Now from a couple of years later
John Lennon: “Elvis died when he joined the army”
Me: “Shurrup and listen to this”
That is magnificent.
It really is. What a warm, pure, beautifully controlled voice he had. Elvis, obviously, not Bob.
Contest ended.
yep
Manfred Manns Earth Band – Quuinn The Eskimo
Bryan Ferry has done loads of great Dylan covers (sorry, Twang). Rather than choosing one of the earlier ‘usual suspects’, I offer this for your delectation.
Indeed, Dylanesque is, some opine(ok, me) the best single body of Dylan cover projects out there, and Positively is the star in that firmament.
A Dylan-obsessed friend of mine liked this. Sorry about this but the clip shows Steve Wright AND Gary Davies.
Wlko Johnson and Roger Daltrey – Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window
The Bob Dylan will not be televised, he’ll be Television-ised. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door, garage band style. And you can stick your G’n’R.
Some know I contribute to http://www.covermesongs.com who deal with covers. On Monday comes the teams opinion as to these 100 Dylan covers. I hope it is felt worth a read.
If ever a band was ahead of its time it was J&TS – Americana about 15 years before the term was invented.
First song of the first album a Bob Dylan composition; not even Bob Dylan did that.
I don’t understand why that album isn’t better thought of. It’s ace.
This.
Brilliant record IMHO, & arguably the best ever Dylan cover version.
2nd best maybe
Not really that keen on it, tbh. Ferry is ok and everything, but his already mannered vocal delivery is turned up to hyper-mannered on that.
I’m always puzzled that so many people point the finger at Ferry (and Bowie, for that matter) for having a ‘mannered delivery’ – as though that’s a bad thing – whilst passing over Dylan as the most obvious example of the very same thing.
I’m not suggesting it is necessarily a bad thing to have a mannered vocal, merely that Bryan Ferry’s particular vocal mannerisms don’t much appeal to me when he over-indulges himself.
Loads of people go along with accepted line that Dylan can’t sing for toffee, so to also
suggest he is mannered seems unnecessary. If he can’t sing anyway, it sort of stands to reason he’ll be mannered.
He can’t sing now for sure, but his voice has had several iterations which suggest a certain calculation eg from hobo early Bob to crooner late 70s Bob.
I’d agree. There’s nothing wrong with a mannered delivery, my point is it works well with their own material but invariably sounds wrong with covers.
Reinvents the song which is (mainly) the reason to do a cover surely? See Jimi above too
Agree. It’s dire. OOAA
Saw Van and Bob together couple of times in the 90s, Bob came on first then Van appeared and did Just Like a Woman, was (probably) superior to anything in the Dylan set.
Bloke who can sing better than bloke who can’t* shocker.
*or rather won’t
Warren Zevon recorded this when he knew he was dying of cancer. It’s heartbreaking
I’d never heard that Van Just Like a Woman before, and it is indeed superb – thanks for posting it.
Has there been another songwriter who has such a range of his songs covered superbly by such a range of artists? It sounds ridiculous to say it but I sometimes think his skill as a craftsman songwriter is underestimated, because of the obsession we all have with the lyrics as opposed to the whole song.
And he’s still doing it. This is the Cowboy Junkies’ cover of a song on Rough and Rowdy Ways, as heard on the really very good covers CD with this months Uncut Magazine. It’s a song which I suspect will have many more versions in the future.
@Blue-Boy
If you’ve never heard the Pacific Heights show, you should really give it a go as it’s up there with TLTSN.
Pretty sure you can download here
https://archive.org/details/van-morrison-pacific-high-studios-1971-ksan
If not, give Wolfgang’s Vault a go.
If all else fails, PM me And I’ll burn and send you a copy
Thanks for the tip and the kind offer @Jaygee. I’ll check it out
Probably not a very popular or obvious choice, but I have always loved the version of “Masters Of War” by Queen drummer Roger Taylor…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHPkyJG4QHg
Obviously the selection to choose from is massive and impossible but I’ve gone for this little gem just because… well, Levon’s singing it for a kickoff.
There’s a piano/vocal demo of this song that appeared on the Self-Portrait Bootleg series a few years ago, and I find it stunning. The sparse instrumentation really suits the song, and Dylan does his plaintive but defiant thing to perfection.
I came across this on an album of Dylan covers and loved it from the off. I reckon it really swings.
Tomorrow Is A Long Time by Elvis.
I’m Not There, clearly…
Ahead of your time as always, M
Sorry @moose-the-mooche
For one thing I was in a hurry, so scrolled to the end as soon as I saw the OP. Didn’t want to do my usual Johnny Come Lately act.
Second, your posted video is unavailable in my country. I only twigged when I came back to the post just now and saw your mention of Elvis.
Great minds….
….fools seldom differ.
Although they also rush in 😉
Suspicious that…
I love George Harrison – If Not For You
But mostly I’m a sucker for women singing Dylan (see also Leonard Cohen).
Norah Jones – I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight
Wendy Bucklew – Buckets Of Rain
Emmylou Harris – Every Grain Of Sand
All the best covers are gender swaps
This one included?
I never claimed that all gender swap covers were good
Fairport Convention’s Si tu dois partir is a hoot and a scoot:
Did any band do more Dylan covers than the Grateful Dead? Forget the ropey Dylan & The Dead album and try the Postcards of the Hanging set
Um, yes…. the Hollies, Fairport Convention and the various iterations of Manfred Mann for three…
The Byrds. At least ten Dylan covers.
The aforementioned Mr Ferry. 16, off the top of my head
The Dead – 35.
Can’t say I’m grateful.
The Jerry Garcia Band did a lot of Dylan covers, too.
This thread would not be complete without a blast from Unhalfbricking.
Odetta – Baby, I’m In The Mood For You
I always loved this. Susanna Hoffs side project called Rainy Day. I’ll Keep it WIth MIne
This should be added to the list of great covers of Hard Rain. Today’s selection Leon Russell
This is sublime.
Steve Earle gets to the limit of his register, to stunning effect.
But this is my fave Dylan cover.
I think this is wonderful:
Wonderful version…….
So this is Les Shelleys version of the Lonesome death of Hattie Carroll. I heard this version before I heard the original, it doesn’t have the refrain (I don’t think it needs it as it is implied all the way through).
https://m.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEA&search_query=les+shelleys+hattie+carroll
And does this count? Beck’s song Jackass samples Van Morrison’s version of ‘its all over now baby blue.’
You mean this one, by Them?
Aye, that’s the one. Oops.
That’s my favourite.
Was at this show, I dare say a few others here were too (Wembley 1984)
Have we seriously reached 60 comments and no-one has posted this?!
https://youtu.be/f7eJSdpMEnI
Or this:
I’m holding my steam….
My favourite singer doing one of my favourite Dylan songs
My favourite singer doing one of my favourite Dylan songs (with his ‘brothers’).
Also from I’m Not There , this is a cracker.
Roll a fat one, turn it up loud and wallow in the brilliance of this:
I loved this back in the day and my band did a histrionic version. Hasn’t aged well but here it is. Sensitive souls move on.
Just found this – never saw it before. Made my Sunday!
Always been a bit partial to this.
And this is peerless.
You don’t even have to sing in English.
https://www.srf.ch/play/tv/kultur-extras/video/polo-hofer—maa-im-schwarze-chleid?urn=urn:srf:video:d5c33b92-ed17-44b3-9d18-79f6dc5c0a8a
Looks like the cat litter will have to wait… there’s another Uncut Special on the “I Want You” hitmaker coming out tomorrow.
It probably doubles up on previous stuff but, hey, it’s got a great cover!
Also, The Big Issue had the “Maggie Farm” hitmaker on their cover this week.
….for the last The “I Am a Lonesome Hobo” hitmaker might have been more appropriate.
When reading Chronicles I was pleased to find that Dylan was a fan of one of my favourite singers, Rick Nelson. Nelson covered quite a few of his songs and I think this is my favourite.
More Leon
From “Leon Russell and the Shelter People” which contains several Dylan covers. This has one of those false starts that somehow you never tire of, like David Crosby proceeding to entangle the entire area…
Shelby and Allison.
(Woah, that spooky blood harmony……)
*shivers*
Few more to choose from here.
Dave Alvin: Highway 61 – https://youtu.be/0uFLQFyIYLg
Or
Ann Peebles: Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You – https://youtu.be/bmPN6SjFt6w
I can’t decide.
Johnny Winter did a storming Highway 61.
Which reminded me of this-
PJ Harvey
https://www.covermesongs.com/2021/05/the-100-best-bob-dylan-covers-ever.html
Here’s a 100 to consider.
I think I found this via a Word CD, maybe Uncut. Either way, its brilliant, as is the name of the band
Why even bother with those pesky lyrics? Ramsay Lewis turning The Mighty Quinn into a thumping New Orleans piano workout. Love the drums on this as well.
I’ve always been very fond of Bruce’s take on ‘I Want You’ which he performed a few times in ’74 and ’75 and never again.
Turning this thread on its head, is this the best cover that Dylan did of someone else’s song…..
Wonderful idea, chris! He’s been doing a lot of covers in the last few years.
I always liked the Bobster’s Blue Moon on Self Portrait.
Obligatory:
It’s time.
Nice one, Mike. Thanks!
What a witty magazine!
He also did a lot of warren Zevon songs after WZ was diagnosed with the mesothalioma that eventually killed him.
Here’s Accidentally like a Martyr
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NpxvAtK9ErU
And here’s Mutineer
I’ve mentioned Villagers more than a couple of times on here and here we are again – a nice arrangement…
Very nice indeed, Max.
But who are they? A German band, perchance?
Here are a few more songs from that German TV session.
https://tvnoir.de/villagers/
Googled. Not German at all! They’re Irish
Very promising, anyway.
.https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/villagers-the-art-of-pretending-to-swim-review-no-pretence-just-perfection-1.3625527