In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's artists, Paul Weinfeld performing a cover of "Visions of Johanna"
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
One of the clear high points in Dylan's poetic songwriting, "Visions of Johanna" is a complete stunner, especially the first time you encounter it. Now (on a personal note) if that first encounter just happens to be a hot sweaty night, in the heart of the urban village which Dylan roamed about 30 years before and you happened to be doing the same god damn thing, then so be it. Even if your personal take is different it is hard to wrap your brain around the lyrics and the more you listen the more the mystery deepens. It is elusive, bright, cunning, dismissive, iconic, ironic and tossed off all at once. It is mega and it is nothing...and I can't be more vague than that. Musically he couldn't get it right until he went down to Nashville and it says something that he stuck with this song (unlike say..."She's Your Lover Now") and got a version that is magical musically as well, just listen to that bass line throughout from Joe South...a crowning success all around.
The closest I ever got to the sound I hear in my mind was on individual bands in the Blonde on Blonde album. It's that thin, that wild mercury sound. It's metallic and bright gold, with whatever that conjures up.Cover:
Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE is new to Paul Weinfeld, having never heard him before this cover version. He has played in a bunch of bands, but says Dylan has always been his inspiration.
Thoughts on Cover:
A fairly straight ahead acoustic cover version of the song that dips a bit into overly dramatic singing at times. Not much to it, just voice, guitar and amazing lyrics.
A fairly straight ahead acoustic cover version of the song that dips a bit into overly dramatic singing at times. Not much to it, just voice, guitar and amazing lyrics.
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