Monday, October 26, 2020

Dylan Cover #451 Tom Russell - Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts

 In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is from Tom Russell covering "Lily, Rosemary & The Jack of Hearts".


Thoughts on Original
From the first time we tackled a cover of this song
A "Mr Toad's Wild Ride" of a tune, that organ twists and whirls itself around with delight.  A fully flushed out script that Dylan decided to put to tunes...in fact I am shocked their hasn't been a movie made based on this song.  Turns out there have been two screenplays written but nothing has come to fruition. 

He only played this song live once according to his official website, but this is news to me as I thought it had never been attempted...now I have to track that down....Well after some more research there is a lot of discrepancy as to whether this was ever played live, I am voting no, but who knows. Any which way it is one of the most unique story songs of his career and really would sound more at place on Desire, but as it stands it breaks up Blood On the Tracks with a transporting feel.   

Cover

Thoughts on Cover Artist
This is RtBE's first time hearing Tom Russell's music.

Thoughts on Cover:
Musically it is a straight ahead acoustic version, but the key to this cover is the multiple vocals as Tom Russell, Eliza Gilkyson, and Joe Ely work their magic on different verses. The cross vocals, especially the male/female dynamic, add a news sense to the original song. An interesting attack on an interesting song. 

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