In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Heinz Notter playing "With God On Our Side"
Thoughts on Original From the first time we talked about a cover of this tune: Perhaps the most poignant and lasting song Dylan has written and that speaks volumes. Lyrically it is perfect; using history, the warping of religion and politics to get across the point that man will rationalize anything, even war. Only played live 30 times since it's debut at Dylan's historic Town Hall show the song has added weight and meaning when it is played.
Morality and War, Religion and Righteousness, all just words when it comes down to it, hold life inside those letters. Musically stark Dylan uses his impressive lyrics to express the confusion perfectly. Should be mandatory listing in every history classroom.
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's artists, Jo Karamazov performing a live cover of "Like A Rolling Stone"
Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover: The song that launched a true revolution, with an opening snare drum like a dead man's last pistol shot baby. "Like A Rolling Stone" is mega in all fashions, Dylan is accusatory, mad, feed up, zoned out, poetic, rambling and always moving with he sound as the track is large and in charge even today. One of the Bard's top 3 songs any which way you break them down, Like A Rolling Stone has been covered by a ton of people and it (usually) always kicks ass.
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Istoplaying "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go"
Arriving just after "Idiot Wind" the breezy "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" acts as a breather on Blood on the Tracks, but on it's own it is a gorgeous little number. A poetic love song that feels fresh every time it slips into the ear as the protagonist is in a world of bliss and doesn't want it to end, but knows it always will. Miles away from "Idiot Wind", but just as vital, showing off Dylan's easy charm and flowing word play/vocal style, I mean how cool is the "I’ll look for you in old Honolulu San Francisco or Ashtabula" run through?
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by John Wiseplaying "Scarlet Town"
Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune: While RtBE aren't huge fans of Tempest and "Scarlet Town" is dull on the album, repeating the musical phrases over and over again, it doesn't mean it is all bad, this is Bob Dylan after all. Bob and the band have revived the track somewhat on stage, injecting the song with life and have delivered some great live versions since it's release. This evolution also makes it ripe for artists to put their own stamp on the longer blues based tune with cryptic lyrics and a slow beat.
Cover:
Thoughts on Cover Artist: This is RtBE's first time hearing John Wise who posted a few covers like this on Youtube 10 years ago.
Thoughts on Cover:
A dark, solo piano take that adds more stark bleakness to the original.
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by David Broad singing "I Want You"
Thoughts on Original: (From the first time we tackled a cover of this song) A song that fits the Gemini Dylan like a glove; direct lyrical yearning chorus with verses that meander about introducing characters like roadblocks in the way of true love. It was the last tune written for the mega Blonde on Blonde and a song he and others (it was Al Kooper's favorite) admired so much he almost titled the album after it. Never a track that jumps to the top of peoples "favorites" or "best of" Dylan lists but one that really nails what the artist is all about in some of the simplest terms.
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Joe Reeves & Friends playing "The Man In Me"
Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune: Almost a forgotten throw away track from Bob, which proves how great he really is, this peach of a song originally appeared on New Morning. The famous La-la-la's are so unlike Bob it instantly stands out as unique in his back catalog. "The Man In Me" is playful, loving, sincere yet deceptive. It took on an added life after showing up in the cult classic The Big Lebowski and now has a whole new generation digging its quirky sounds.
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Dave Mason performing "All Along The Watchtower"
Thoughts on Original: From our first take on a cover of this: There are certain songs we are surprised we missed cover versions of in the Bard's back catalog...but "All Along The Watchtower" isn't one of them. There is a reason we haven't covered a cover version (confusing). As Wilson mentioned in his post back in cover #44 there is only one true version of this song...and that is Mr. Jimi's.
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune comes from the Levon Helm Band and is a live cover of "Simple Twist of Fate"
Thoughts On Original: From the first time we talked about a cover version of this song: Well the classics just keep coming in this series, now here is "Simple Twist of Fate" what a gem of a song. Impeccable lyrics, gorgeous phrasing, just a great great song that is hard not to enjoy even if people are not fans of Dylan.
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by the Bonker Brothers playing "When The Ship Comes In"
One of our favorite songs from the early days of Dylan. The purest Irish Folk we felt he ever got, Joan Baez was a fan of this one and told a cool story during No Direction Home, about him being pissed at a hotel attendant and then having this song just spiral out of him. Images of the sea, the salt, the song, raiding/pillaging; a pirate song at heart. When we are looking for pure folk Dylan this one usually finds it's way to our ears.
Cover:
Thoughts on Cover Artist:
This is RtBE's first time hearing the Bonker Brothers and there is not much online about them.
Thoughts on Cover:
A cover played with the quickness and as we have highlighted before, it has a Gaelic vibe that really works well with this song. A great pub tune played by this mysterious bunch of players.
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by So Much Faceplaying "Million Miles"
Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
From the barren blues of Time Out Of Mind comes "Million Miles". While not a standout on that album, the song was prophetic, hinting at the fantastic twelve bar blues variations that would dominate Dylan's next two releases. When first heard though it doesn't jump out, just feels like yet ANOTHER solid track from the bard that is ripe for covering.
Cover:
Thoughts on Cover Artist:
A New York based rock outfit, this is the first time we are hearing So Much Face.
Thoughts on Cover:
A gripping blues cover that drips with garage rocking passion. A really cool, slow burning, Dylan cover.
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Carson McKee of "My Back Pages"
The original has taken upon itself a cultural importance, and the chorus has simply become iconic. I doubt Dylan intended such, but it toes the line of out and out protest and illustrative questions. He puts down everyone from evangelists to girls, but the language snakes and flows so magically that it doesn't seem as harsh as "Positively 4th St" or "Ballad in Plain D". The sense of exhaling desperation or at least the realization that age confuses things even more seems to be what I take from this tune after each listen, but things can change...or can they? Cover:
Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE has featured Carson twice before in our Monday Dylan Cover series and dig his style.
Thoughts on Cover:
Mr. McKee is getting better with age, this song is relaxed, lived in and excellent. A great straight ahead cover to start off the week.
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by The Isley Brothers playing "Lay Lady Lay"
All April RtBE focuses our Monday Dylan Cover Series on artists who are playing this years New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Today is The Isley Brothers who played the festival Sunday April 26th
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Blind Boys of Alabama playing "Every Grain of Sand"
All April RtBE focuses our Monday Dylan Cover Series on artists who are playing this years New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Today is Blind Boys of Alabama who play the festival Thursday April 23rd
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Billy Iuso playing "Queen Jane Approximately"
All April RtBE focuses our Monday Dylan Cover Series on artists who are playing this years New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Today is Billy Iuso who plays the festival Friday April 24th
Thoughts on Original: When RtBE discussed Highway 61 Revisitedon it's 60th Anniversary we called "Queen Jane Approximately" 'poetic folk rock goodness'. Hard to disagree with that as the words and music enchant, mixing very well. It is a put down tune, but not as harsh as others, the soothing music helps with the more cutting turns of phrase. This tune came more into RtBE's ear through Bob Weir singing covers of it with The Grateful Dead, as the band, and Bobby in particular, did a great job with the tune. Apparently Dylan never played it live until he took the stage with the Dead, so there is a clear connection there.
Cover:
Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE became aware of Mr. Iuso back in 2023 and have enjoyed everything we have heard from him since. We dug him in the New Orleans Last Waltz we caught and most importantly, Billy is a Mets fan, so how can we not love him?!?
Thoughts on Cover:
This live cover from the Broadside in 2024 is a nice straight ahead rendition from a clear fan. Iuso digs on Bob, as this whole show was dedicated to him, and that comes across with his singing and playing. A great piano interlude spruces things up from Joe Ashlar on keys as the band works through the tune with grace and ease.
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Bruce Hornsby playing "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry"
All April RtBE focuses our Monday Dylan Cover Series on artists who are playing this years New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Today is Bruce Hornsby who plays the festival Saturday April 25th.
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:
We, like the majority of people, came to know Hornsby by his monster single, "The Way It Is" which is still a great song. Then we fell in love with his early 90's work with the Grateful Dead, who he shot new life into during tough times. He also was with The Other Ones in 1998 when we caught the guys playing a fun Dead set (which included "The Way It Is"). He s obviously still going strong, with a new record out in April, so stay tuned.
Thoughts on Cover:
This cover starts with "Sunflower Cat" Hornsby's own tune based on The Grateful Dead's "China Cat Sunflower" so this is almost like a two-fer this Monday. The opening song is a fun upbeat romp for over five and half minutes. The Dylan cover is sung by Hornsby with energy and passion while the band continues in the "Sunflower Cat" musical motif.
This pairing is interesting, and while we like both separately, together it is a bit odd. While not our favorite cover in this series, we would be stoke to catch it live at the Fairgrounds.
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Auriolus Culpaplaying "Heart of Mine"
In an interview taken in 1984, Dylan admitted that "Heart of Mine" was "done a bunch of different ways ... but I chose for some reason a particularly funky version of that—and it's really scattered. It's not as good as some of the other versions, but I chose it because Ringo and Ronnie Wood played on it, and we did it in like ten minutes."
Being that Dylan himself couldn't decide on how the song should actually be constructed, it makes it ripe for other artists to interpret, that is if they can get past the cheesy, "don't do the crime if you can't do the time" line...
Cover:
Thoughts on Cover Artist: This is our first time hearing Auriolus Culpa, and not much is known online about them. Any info? Feel free to drop it in the comments.
Thoughts on Cover:
A very artsy interpretation of the song. Odd timings and changes, aloof, pretty interesting all around. Why do I have a feeling Dylan would absolutely love it if he saw this video?
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Moses Wiggins playing "The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar"
Kept off the original Shot Of Love for reasons only Dylan knows, it was included later on CD releases of the album and stands as one of Dylan's most interesting and strongest songs from this period. Using religious imagery Dylan paints a vibrant picture of a division between narrator and "Claudette" singing incredibly powerfully over some fantastic musicianship. Having a ringing chorus adds to the joy as does one of the coolest couplets Dylan composed in the 80's: "What can I say about Claudette?/Ain't seen her since January,/She could be respectably married/or running a whorehouse in Buenos Aires."
Cover:
Thoughts on Cover Artist: Moses Wiggins is a British pop rock band (I think) as there doesn't seem to be a ton of information regarding them online. Feel free to drop any info regarding them in the comments.
Thoughts on Cover:
This is a snarling, blues rocking, sped up cover that really works well. The world Dylan is describing is burning around the narrator and Claudette, and this tempo and power really adds to the intensity. Great work.
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 Chieftains & The Decemberists playing "When The Ship Comes In"
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Tom Watt playing "Subterranean Homesick Blues"
Thoughts on Original: From the first time we posted a cover version of this tune: One of the most iconic songs from Dylan's most famous period and a very early showing of how powerful a music video could be. Dylan nods to beat poetry, current events, Chuck Berry's "No More Monkey Business", paranoia, and the Vietnam War all in around two minutes of linked lyrics over one of his earliest electric recordings. There is also the sly sense of humor which Dylan never gets enough credit for, while raging against the proverbial machine. A classic '60's tune in all respects and one non-Dylan fans usually love as well.
Cover:
Thoughts on Cover Artist: This is our first time hearing Tom Watt who is a successful British actor/writer, who someone apparently thought could be a teen pop star...Sorry Tom, they were wrong.
Thoughts on Cover:
Well in doing this series for over a decade plus now, we always try to focus on the better covers of Dylan. We come across a lot of non-professionals who upload their takes and while RtBE loves the enthusiasm of all of those, they won't all be showcased.
However, when something professional slips into our ears, and it is this bad, it needs to see the light of day. The fact that it hit #67 on the UK singles chart in 1985 tells you what an insane music year 1985 was and how weird British fans can be. Tom is not a singer, the music doesn't match, and overall it screams music biz cocaine decisions.
Previously, RtBE has said Tom Jones "Not Dark Yet" and Rod Stewart's "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" were the two worst covers we have come across. Now Tom Watt joins them and may jump to the front of the line, however, the other two are professionals and Watt seems to have been thrust into this by handlers, so I will cut him some slack. Seriously though, what is with the English and Dylan covers?!?! Special shout out to Alex for sending this our way.
Feel free to let us know which is best/worst in the comments.
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's artists,Rasmus Söderbergdoing a live cover of "Not Dark Yet"
Thoughts on Original: From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune: A excellent Dylan tune from any era but one that in particular screamed "I'm Still Alive And Kickin'!" on Time Out Of Mind at a phase when Dylan was simply an after thought on the current popular music scene. One of Dylan's most haunting tracks; it is hard not to feel his emotions and finality of the coming darkness as Dylan sings this lyric set. An all-time great that is mysterious, foreboding, honest and powerful. First class Bob.
Cover:
Thoughts on Cover Artist:
This is the first time RtBE has encountered Rasmus Söderberg a Stockholm Sweden based singer songwriter.
Thoughts on Cover:
An excellent rendition that has passionate singing strong playing and while the tune is a downer all around, Söderberg injects it with a touch of hope, which does work. Great cover.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)