Monday, April 9, 2018

Dylan Cover #320 Toots and the Maytals "Maggie's Farm"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune comes is a cover of "Maggie's Farm" from Toots and the Maytals

This month we have a special focus on Artists who will be playing the 2018 Jazzfest in New Orleans. Today we highlight, Toots and The Maytals who headline the Congo Square Stage, Thursday May 3rd. 

Thoughts on Dylan's Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
"Maggie's Farm" is classic Dylan, everyone thinks they know what it's about and they are sure they are right, but they all think different things. I will confess I like the sped up Electric version from Newport Folk Festival that caused the end of popular folk music (in theory) and really solidified Dylan's pop music career. It is a great tune and really flows in lots of forms making it perfect to cover.
Cover


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE love Toots and the Maytals. They were the first Jamaican artists we truly enjoyed (yes, before Marley) because of their up beat mix of ska reggae and soul. Having caught them years ago at Wetlands we were amazed at the tight playing and the way Toots handled the crowd with confidence. He was royalty and he knew it.

Thoughts on Cover:
A really great combo of style and substance. Toots weathered vocals and more lackadaisical style presented here works. Before listening we thought it would be more upbeat protest music (which would have ruled) but we will take this laid back rollin' version. A reggae tribute album huh? We will have to come back to this in exactly 100 more cover versions.....

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