DeadSplinter Up All Night: Got it Covered

24/5/22 Lymond 22

In honor of Bob Dylan’s birthday today – let’s look at amazing covers. Bob Dylan released All Along the Watchtower on his 1967 album John Wesley Harding. A couple of months later, Jimi Hendrix heard the song and started working on his own version which has become the more popular of the two. Dylan liked Hendrix’s version so much that he started playing the song closer to how Hendrix played it.

In 1995, Dylan has described his reaction to hearing Hendrix’s version: “It overwhelmed me, really. He had such talent, he could find things inside a song and vigorously develop them. He found things that other people wouldn’t think of finding in there. He probably improved upon it by the spaces he was using. I took license with the song from his version, actually, and continue to do it to this day.”[39] In the booklet accompanying his Biograph album, Dylan said: “I liked Jimi Hendrix’s record of this and ever since he died I’ve been doing it that way … Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it’s a tribute to him in some kind of way.” Wikipedia

So, jokers and thieves, what are some of your favorite covers? As always, thanks for your support.

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22 Comments

    • That was great. I wonder if they do wedding receptions? I’m still determined to have one at some point, even though I never had a wedding, just a dreary passing of papers in front of a municipal clerk who, you could just tell, focused her mind solely and at all times on her eventual retirement. “12 years, 14 days, 16 hours, 23 minutes. 12 years, 14 days, 16 hours, 22 minutes. 12 years [etc.]” We didn’t blame her. If I could have retired at 45 with an inflation-indexed pension and free health care for life that would focus my mind too. Not that I’m bitter or anything.

  4. I love Talking Heads cover of the great Al Green’s Take Me To The River. It was both original and respectful of the source material.

     

    Likewise, Angelique Kidjo’s version of  Talking Heads Once In A Lifetime.

     

     

  5. oh wait its twofer tuesday!

    (have i ever mentioned ive spent an unreasonable amount of time in my life collecting covers…..i could keep going all night)

  9. I love rockabilly covers of very non-rockabilly songs…

    and speaking of Jimi, I have a great album of all covers of Jimi songs, this one is a highlight with Seal & Jeff Beck!

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