Favorite covers of a Bob Dylan song

[Jot the Dot Dot]

As a singer, the problem with Bob Dylan is that he sounds too much like....well, Bob Dylan! On some of his songs (like 'Jokerman'), he sounds like he's trying to channel John Byner's parody of him! But his talents as a songwriter cannot be denied. What are your favorite covers of his works? Here's mine:

The Mighty Quinn by Manfred Mann: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STV9u3b-g7k. Originally titled "Quinn The Eskimo", this became a hit for the group.

All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2bYJQFQMs8. When Jimi first heard this, he said rather excitedly "I gotta record this, I gotta record this!". Result received accolades from Dylan himself.

I Shall Be Released by Sting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3MDO3xS584

If Not For You by George Harrison:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxO0t9ClfrI. From Harrison's All Things Must Pass album, which also featured a song the two co-wrote, "I'd Have You Anytime"

This Wheel's On Fire by Julie Driscoll & The Trinity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7sQvBkcJdY Released in 1968, this song got a new life when it became the theme song for the BritCom "Absolutely Fabulous"

Like A Rolling Stone by, of course, The Rolling Stones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT9Qy4gy4Ro. Inevitable that Mick & Keef would cover this.

Knockin' On Heaven's Door by Dolly Parton & Ladysmith Black Mambazo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNMI4wMv3lM Dolly Parton covering a Dylan song one would expect. Her turning it into a reggae number with this as a backing band at first sounds so out of left field, but for me, this was enjoyable.

[falling_dance]

The Byrds, "My Back Pages"

Bryan Ferry, "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall"

[cygnus]

Of course there's "Mr Tambourine Man" by the Byrds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06rGW0AQGiY , which may be his best selling cover song ever.

But I rather prefer the less polished original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE_hDWMftgc


And then Peter Paul and Mary's "Blowing in the Wind" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t4g_1VoGw4

[Artemis@BC]

Of course there's "Mr Tambourine Man" by the Byrds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06rGW0AQGiY , which may be his best selling cover song ever.

This. Often hard to remember it's not the original.

But my favourite is probably Indigo Girls, "Tangled Up in Blue".

(The KT Tunstall version is pretty awesome too.)

And Joan Baez, "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" is just beautiful.

(hmm, sensing a theme here?)

[PeterG]

Wikipedia list of Bob Dylan songs covered by other artists

This is from Bette Midler's concert film "Divine Madness". It's a medly of the Rolling Stone's "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" (and it KICKS ASS): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZR4rRbkTKs

[Cachoo]

http://youtu.be/9_hQit-3Vh0 Bruce Springsteen "Chimes of Freedom" Live in East Berlin (before the wall came down)

[overedge]

Bryan Ferry's A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall, if only because it makes Dylan fans cry in horror. On the YouTube comments for the video, there is a comment something along the lines of "what did Dylan ever do to Ferry to piss him off enough to ruin his song"

Tim Curry's Simple Twist of Fate (not on the Wikipedia list, hmm) is excellent. He actually gets the story and the dynamics out of the lyrics, instead of just mumbling and howling it.

[Jenny]

Wikipedia list of Bob Dylan songs covered by other artists

Interesting that my favourite Dylan song, Hurricane, has rarely been covered.

[cygnus]

I'm sure nobody is going to say this is their favourite!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo522Wb40bU

[snoopysnake]

Rod Stewart's Only a Hobo, Tomorrow is a Long Time, Mama You've Been On My Mind, and Girl From the North Country

[VALuvsMKwan]

Love Is Just a Four Letter Word by Joan Baez.

I like ON-J's If Not for You also.

[Reuven]

"Highway 61 Revisited" covered by Johnny Winter.

[susan6]

I actually really like Ministry's version of "Lay Lady Lay". That combination shouldn't work, but it does.

[Reuven]

http://youtu.be/9_hQit-3Vh0 Bruce Springsteen "Chimes of Freedom" Live in East Berlin (before the wall came down)

The Byrds did a good cover, too.

[PrincessLeppard]

My Chemical Romance does a cover of Desolation Row

And I like Guns and Roses version of Knockin' on Heaven's Door

[my little pony]

I'm sure nobody is going to say this is their favourite!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo522Wb40bU

LOL! it's the most memorable thing in the thread, go on mr french w your bad self!

[PeterG]

Rosanne Cash - Girl From The North Country

Randy Crawford - Knocking On Heaven's Door

Shawn Colvin - You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go

Natasha Bedingfield - Ring Them Bells

Nanci Griffith - Boots Of Spanish Leather

[leesaleesa]

And I like Guns and Roses version of Knockin' on Heaven's Door

It's a great cover. As a matter of fact, I'm going to listen to it now.

[Karina1974]

Sorry, at work so can't do YouTube, but here are some of my favorites:

"I Shall Be Released" - Nina Simone

"Sweetheart Like You" - Judy Collins

"Quit Your Lowdown Ways" - Pater, Paul & Mary

"Tomorrow is a Long Time" - The Kingston Trio

[leesaleesa]

Thanks. I really like those, especially the Peter, Paul, and Mary performance.

Not covers, not Dylan, but here are a few I listen to constantly:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhedKAhHqK8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBB2OS4IoTs

And just to dispell the rumor that punk rock was created in England in the '70's:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLka7gxpivw