Rolling Stone vs. Variety: The 80 greatest Dylan covers ever

In honour of Zimmy's 80th both outlets present lists of the 80 best Dylan covers. Lot of overlap, obviously, but plenty of omissions on both lists. No sign of Johnny Winter's roaring take on "Highway 61 Revisited"? Nothing from Leon Russell, for me one of the best Dylan interpreters? Fortunately two of my faves, Jason and the Scorchers' awesome version of "Absolutely Sweet Marie" (which apparently got the seal of approval from the man himself) and Shawn Colvin's great "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go", find a home on one of these lists.

Have at it.

The 80 Greatest Dylan Covers of All Time

The 80 Best Bob Dylan Covers - Variety

 

I posted the Scorchers the other day in the Listening thread. It’s a banger.

 

I admit I was clueless about the magnitude of the covers made of his songs; just WOW! No wonder he’s living greatness.

 

I’ve never been into Dylan. In fact, I’ve never listened to an album all the way though. I have an hour drive ahead of me. I’ll give him a shot.

 

The Dylan Anniversary concert at MSG in 1992 or so had some great performances. Neil Young, The Band (no RR), The Chieftains and Colvin/R Cash/Mary CC were so.e of my favourites.

 

OK, his lyrics are great. The music quality... well, I think the covers are much better than the originals.

 

"Well God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe says, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God say, "No." Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin' you better run"
Well Abe says, "Where do you want this killin' done?"
God says, "Out on Highway 61."

 

My Dylan take:

Being a good Dylan fan is like how in a perfect world religion would be treated. Accept that some will never see the light and be okay with that. Don’t try to evangelize. There are strange elements that to the outside make no sense, that seem harsh. Don’t force a person to sit down and listen. Either they will get it eventually or they won’t. And that’s okay. When someone says he sounds like a dog in heat, just smile politely.

 

Sometimes he sounds like dogshit, and that is a particular risk if you see him live. Still, there are so many genius songs, such poetry and skill as a songwriter, that that can be allowed to go by.

The other thing to remember is that his recording process is to rehearse the song a couple of times and then cut it. Much of what goes on record got three or four takes in the studio and then he moved on. There's no weeks of overdubs and sweetening, no studio gunslingers coming in to punch it up. It's cut, it's mixed, it's done.

 

Ronnie Wood’s take on “Seven Days” was outstanding as was the fantastic cover of “Boots of Spanish Leather” by Nanci Griffith with Carolyn Hester, a long time Dylan collaborator, and the best redo of “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” by Colvin, Cash and Chaplin Carpenter that I’ve ever heard. Unbelievable concert. I still watch it a few times a year. Almost forgot “Just Like A Woman” by Richie Havens....brilliant.

 

Also forgot “Masters of War” by Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready. Nobody on the planet will beat that.

 

Rolling Stone always seems to force some real "relevant to the kids" twaddle onto lists like this. I mean, that Ke$ha cover of "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" is absolutely unlistenable. And while I love "Sweetheart Like You," Craig Finn can't sing it. At all.