Monday, August 12, 2013

Dylan Cover #99 Jerry Garcia Band "Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by the Jerry Garcia Band of the Dylan tune "Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)"

August brings us up to and over 100 Dylan Covers talked about so far, so we are only picking great ones for this summer month, enjoy.

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we talked about this tune:
A layered and moving song, the real highlight on a mixed up Dylan album (Street Legal), "Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)" is musically riveting and lyrically haunting.  Acoustic plucking, rolling drums and a forlorn trumpet color the tune musically while some straight ahead lyrics mix with the surreal and backup singers add "Oooh and Aaaah" behind the nasal delivery of the Bard.  Looking at the "Painted Wagon" and smelling the "Tail of the Dragon" are just two examples of bizarre lyrics that could pertain to nuclear war or something else entirely making it all even more enchanting.  A gorgeous music background with perplexing lyrics and a strong vocal performance...yup, I dig this one a ton.   
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Who is this old guy anyway? Oh yeah, someone we have written extensively about here already.
Thoughts on Cover:
Wow, live magic. Garcia and crew get the pain, somber mood and emotional playing nailed in this live version of the song. It was originally released on the Jerry Garcia Band 1991 live disk, which was taken from their Spring 1990 shows. My complaint for most JGB stuff has always been how slooooow the group would become, but there is a fantastic pace to this track. It is a steamer and one that should be enjoyed by all on this hot day.  
Grade A+

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