Monday, July 20, 2020

Dylan Cover #437 The Black Crowes "When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by The Black Crowes playing "When Night Comes Falling From the Sky"

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
In the fog and haze of 80's Dylan comes one of his most perplexing songs, "When Night Comes Falling From The Sky". The lyrics are some of his best from this period, but holy god of your choice...the production was the cheesiest of his career. Empire Burlesque had a few flops on it, and it is hard not to say this track is one of them, just check out the original video for it.

What saves this song from the scrap heap is the balls out awesome version on the amazing Bootlegs Series 1-3 which was recorded with Steven Van Zandt and Roy Bitton from The E-Street Band. This yet again shows that Dylan could not pick out his best work when it came time to release it officially from the studio sessions. While the Bootleg version isn't perfect, the vocals in particular are recorded low but sung so strongly it is exciting, it makes the listener examine the tune without the "Disco Dylan" cheese playing in their ear. A song which is perfect for interpretation, and one that should probably get a definitive version at some point as it it is one of Dylan true hidden gems.

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE dig on The Black Crowes. We are in the minority though as we think Before the Frost...After The Freeze was their best album and they were reaching new levels when they broke up in 2011 with the lineup we have pictured up on this post (Luther Dickinson fit the band amazingly). The brothers are back, strictly for a money grab, and even knowing that, we will catch them when they return to the road post Covid.

Thoughts on Cover:
Full on over top production smacks you in the ear when this cover starts as the Crowes complete with backing vocals come roaring out of the gate. Then the track has a stop/start blues groove to it before some ripping guitar work and very lively piano action. Chris Robinson truly digs into the vocals (while cutting out some) as drums slam powerfully. A very unique take that is pretty interesting in every aspect. 

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