Following up on Similost's ongoing (and active) thread on covers that are better than the original, let's narrow the scope a bit. How about covers of Dylan songs that are better than Bob's original version. Of the top of my head, a few nominees are:

All Along the Watchtower (Hendrix)
Tambourine Man (Byrds)
Forever Young (Baez)
Masters of War (Eddie Vedder)

Your thoughts?

"I'd have you anytime" covered by George Harrison is mighty fine....

Can't think of a one.

Can't think of a one.

Me either.

Robin Hitchcock tried,Bryan Ferry tried, just can't be done.

"I'd have you anytime" covered by George Harrison is mighty fine....

They wrote that together, there is not another version to compare it to.


---------------------------

Perhaps a better thread would have been cover songs done by Bob Dylan that are better than the original!!

However, if I was forced at gunpoint to answer, I can safely say, 'I Shall Be Released' sung by Richard Manuel/The Band. And Doug Sahm's version of 'Wallflower' on Doug Sahm and Band LP, but Bob is on that track!

Me either.

Robin Hitchcock tried,Bryan Ferry tried, just can't be done.

And a bunch more....for me, it's like trying to redefine the color orange.

Me either.

Robin Hitchcock tried,Bryan Ferry tried, just can't be done.

I'm a Dylan freak from way back and generally skeptical of Dylan covers, but there are a few good ones. Give this a try and report back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8GHBk_HSXg

Does "The Might Quinn" qualify? I like the Manfred Mann version.

The Byrds. If just for You Aint Goin Nowhere and Mr. Tamborine Man. But sometimes they were not so good, like their version of The Times They Are A Changin.

Baez's cover of "Lily, Rosemary and The Jack Of Hearts"

The Byrds. If just for You Aint Goin Nowhere and Mr. Tamborine Man. But sometimes they were not so good, like their version of The Times They Are A Changin.

That's crazy talk! Certainly, that's one example in which the cover eclipsed the original.

[Edit: Nevermind.... I thought this was the "Worst Dylan Covers" thread and you were nominating it as a dud.]

I don't know about better, but I really like:

The Mighty Quinn as essayed by Manfred Mann
Time Passes Slowly covered by Judy Collins on Whales and Nightingales
To Ramona, Sinead Lohan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nHwILs8bdo
My Back Pages, the Byrds
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue, Joan Baez
If not for You, George Harrison (actually... I liked Olivia Neutron-Bomb's version, too)

I'd have to say that most of the Joan Baez covers are pretty darn good. It's quite difficult to criticize her angelic voice.

I'd have to say that most of the Joan Baez covers are pretty darn good. It's quite difficult to criticize her angelic voice.

Not only that, she sings "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands", which is about her. At least she is familiar with the topic.....

Not only that, she sings "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands", which is about her. At least she is familiar with the topic.....

While many covers can often sound like rip-offs, any Dylan song by Baez just somehow seems "right." Given their history together, I guess it only makes sense.

Ugh The Hollies Words and Music by Bob Dylan album comes to mind...besides the Byrds...However I can't stand their version of Blowin In The Wind...sounds like as a friend said The Beach Boys meet Lawrence Welk...LOL

"Tomorrow is a Long Time" on Rod Stewart's Every Picture Tells a Story.

I tend to think any Dylan song is a masterpiece, and an artist can do his own version, it can be amazing, but all glory goes to Bob. He is the greatest songwriter of his generation. Don't get me wrong, I love Dylan covers. There is a local roots band that always plays a few Dylan covers when I walk in, they know I am that crazy about his music. That said, I do find some covers more entertaining, like Watchtower, but to say better would be blasphemy.
Same goes for some other artists. (i.e. Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Holly, Hank Williams) You may like the cover better, but to say it IS better, well, you are just freakin' wrong.
Just my opinion, of course.
I may have a bit of an attitude from Similost's thread, saying the Flying Lizards beat out an Eddie Cochran original- that is just beyond my comprehension. To each their own I guess.

"Tomorrow is a Long Time" on Rod Stewart's Every Picture Tells a Story.

Stewart's 'Only A Hobo' isn't bad either.

I've always been a big Dylan fan and I gotta agree with Tentoze. I can't think of 1 cover of his song that is better than the original and that includes 'All Along The Watchtower" which was covered by Jimi. Don't get me wrong I LOVE his version but not better than the original. Especially when you hear it on "John Wesley Harding" Those songs on that record just have a certain fluidity and feeling.

I like the Dave Matthews Band extended version of "Watchtower", with the long bass intro.

The Dead have done numerous covers of Dylan songs, too many to remember. They even toured with Dylan in the 80's, and served as his band while he did his set.

Ever hear the Roots do "Masters of War"? Yeah those guys that are the "house" band on the new Jimmy Fallon show.

I need to add that I am a Dylan fan. I can't say these takes are better than Dylans, but I like the twists other artists put on his songs.

You may like the cover better, but to say it IS better, well, you are just freakin' wrong.

QFT.

I like the Faces "Wicked Messenger" better, but it is NOT better.

Ken

...saying the Flying Lizards beat out an Eddie Cochran original (is) beyond my comprehension.



Mine, too.

Johnny Winter covered "Highway 61" a long time ago.
Bob may have done the lyrincs but JW nailed the tune.

I like the Byrds' version of Tambourine Man a bit more than Dylan's. I can go either way on If not For You- Harrison or Dylan.

Its not better, but I recently heard Tangled Up in Blue done by the Jerry Garcia Band in the 80s and I was impressed.

Quote:
Originally Posted by grillebilly

...saying the Flying Lizards beat out an Eddie Cochran original (is) beyond my comprehension.

Mine, too.

OK, I give! Maybe it does not beat it. But in light of all the covers of that song perhaps it is the definitve cover of a cover, or a recontsruction of a classic.

As uncool as it may seem, I also have to mention how Eddie's version was used in the movie Caddy Shack, perfect!

When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky...

I don't think I'd want to hear any of the early stuff covered.

Quote:

OK, I give! Maybe it does not beat it. But in light of all the covers of that song perhaps it is the definitve cover of a cover, or a recontsruction of a classic.



To be fair, the other thread was covers you like better, not are better, and I should of learned long ago not to judge a persons taste.
We're cool !!

;2770853']When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky...



Surely the dance version on 'Empire Burlesque' is crap but the alternate take with Little Steven and Roy Bittan is untouchable. Epic even! Definetly a lapse in judgement by whomever not to put that version on the record.

I haven't heard that one...on the Bootleg series stuff?

Yes its on that first bootleg series boxset, check it out... its night and day.

I read somewhere, that (nils lofgren <sp>) a guy said, you can't hurt a song that good. I feel that way about dylan. he put a tremendous amount of himself in his songs, but the songs themselves are so good they lend themselves to others easily.

Go here to get your senses stripped:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0hTtsqiFCc

Off the top of my head:
Buddy Miller ~ With God On Our Side
Johnny Cash ~ Wanted Man
Jason & The Scorchers ~ Absolutely Sweet Marie

I guess I like my Dylan covers countrified.

Off the top of my head:
Buddy Miller ~ With God On Our Side
Johnny Cash ~ Wanted Man
Jason & The Scorchers ~ Absolutely Sweet Marie



you picked a few good ones.

then theres this guy who goes by the name "Renaldo" that wore a Dylan mask and sang spot on....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Lx-QpIQsv8