Monday, October 13, 2014

Bob Dylan Cover #159 Taj Mahal & the Phantom Blues Band "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band playing "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream"
Thoughts on Original:
Showing up on one of Bob's greatest accomplishments Bringin' It All Back Home, "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" always feels like a breather in the albums context. It is silly, the playful Dylan, a Dylan that still exists and can be forgotten about especially when getting "deep" into his serious songs. A vital part of Bob is his playful charm, and amongst the silliness and simple word play on this track he still manages to drop some bombs, " I said, 'You know they refused Jesus, too'/He said, 'You're not him'". A great example of a level of Bob's genius not often exhibit in this series, his playfulness. 
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Taj Mahal has had a long distinguished career, but I have yet to hear him play with The Phantom Blues Band until today's holiday cover of Bob Dylan. Apparently they formed to back Taj up on his 1993 album Dancing The Blues and still play together today, releasing albums.
Thoughts on Cover:
This is excellent, one of the few covers in this series that probably by passes the original with its style and substance. A song that always felt like a throw away with a few great lines from Dylan, really gets improved in the hands on Taj and the players. Oh and we picked this for today because of the closing phrase, Happy Columbus Day:
I saw three ships a-sailin’
They were all heading my way
I asked the captain what his name was
And how come he didn’t drive a truck
He said his name was Columbus
I just said, “Good luck”

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