Monday, June 5, 2023

Dylan Cover #583 Blood on the Tracks Live "Workingman's Blues #2"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Blood on the Tracks Live playing "Workingman's Blues #2"


Thoughts on Original:
One of Dylan's late career highlights, "Workingman's Blues #2" first appeared on Modern Times and was a stunning reminder of how Dylan can just completely nail it sometimes. The ease with which the piano and song flows out reminds of Dylan's best work, as if the song has always been there and he is just breathing it into existence at this time and place. It owes a debt to Merle Haggard, the Civil War, poet Henry Timrod and thousands of others, but is perfectly Dylan when it comes to the lyrics which bounce all over. A folk song, mistitled a blues song, for the workingman that feels aloof, pure Dylan

I may have been a bit down on the music of Modern Times in my original review (I have softened my stance a bit), but I was right about "Workingman's Blues #2", it stands with the greatest songs he has ever produced.   

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE has never heard of Blood on the Tracks Live before and can't find much about them out online. If you have any info on the group feel free to comment below and we will update this post.

Thoughts on Cover:
A really dynamite cover, the pristine backing vocals and small touches like mandolin add to the already great tone set by the emotive vocals and ebb and flow of the band. Not an easy song to tackle at all and Blood on the Tracks Live do a damn good job of it.   

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