Dylan Cover #365 Taj Mahal "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry"

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 playing "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry"

This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series. In the past we have highlighted The Byrds, Coulson-Dean-McGuiness-Flint, The Hollies, Joan Osbourne, Mountain and more. Now the spotlight shines on The Blues for our Masters series with a focus on the Tangled Up In Blues Songs: Songs of Bob Dylan release

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this song:
One of my favorite titled songs in the Dylan catalog, for some reason the title just nails an elusive feeling and perfectly works with the tune. Also contains multiple epic lines, my favorite being "I wanna be your lover babe/I don't wanna be your boss", AMEN brother Bob.  A pretty straight forward blues number musically that lends itself to cover attempts, leading to...

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
From the first time we covered a Dylan Cover Covered by Taj (woof):
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:
A really good take on the tune without re-doing much about it. Taj just lets the feeling roll and rides that mail train into the station. With killer harmonica, strutting guitar and a fun vocal to fade out. A fun cover and a joyful shade of the Blues for this Month.