Bob Lefsetz: Welcome To My World - "Dylan Covers"
BLOWIN' IN THE WIND
Peter, Paul & Mary
We had no idea who Bob Dylan was, but Peter, Paul & Mary were STARS!
If you were Jewish and went to summer camp...
No, scratch that, if you went to summer camp at all, I heard this at Boy Scout camp, you knew "Blowin' In The Wind."
The folk boom was in full bloom, everyone was playing a guitar, especially counselors and religious leaders, and the masses sang along. That's right, rather than rapping, believing they were going to be stars, the youth of yesterday sang along to songs with melodies, changes and meaningful lyrics, rejoicing in the pure pleasure of music.
The sound was just as important as the lyrics.
Credit their mutual manager, Albert Grossman, for placing this with Peter, Paul & Mary, kick-starting Dylan's career.
MR. TAMBOURINE MAN
The Byrds
It was FOLK ROCK!
That's right, the Beatles put a stake in the heart of folk music, before Jimi Hendrix put a stake in the heart of surf music, and the Byrds emerged with a sound that hearkened back to what had come before, but was positively today, well, yesterday, 1965.
This is the sound that paved the way for Tom Petty. With the twangy Rickenbacker.
It was a smoothed down iteration of the original, but the Byrds cover had magic nonetheless.
IT AIN'T ME BABE
The Turtles
Sincere and completely different from the Byrds' song, but also a huge smash. Howard Kaylan's vocal is impeccable. Both sincere and nasal and angry, you really felt it was his song, even though it wasn't.
A HARD RAIN'S A-GONNA FALL
Bryan Ferry
At this point, Roxy Music meant almost nothing in America, they'd had nothing resembling a hit, but the band was huge in the U.K. and in '73 Mr. Ferry stepped out and cut a solo album of covers. One can argue the most indelible cut is his cover of the recently departed Lesley Gore's "It's My Party," but it's this cover of Dylan's famous song that opens the album and sets the mood, tells you that this is not your father's covers album, not a Roxy Music LP, and that Ferry loves the material but has no reservation about making it his own.
IT'S ALRIGHT MA (I'M ONLY BLEEDING)
Roger McGuinn
You've got no idea how big the movie "Easy Rider" was. And upon its soundtrack was this cover of my favorite Dylan cut. You've just got to listen to the words, it's gem after gem.
Unfortunately, the "Easy Rider" soundtrack on Spotify is sans this take, but you can hear it on YouTube here.
However, there is a live version by the Byrds on Spotify, which I'm including.
McGuinn whittles off the burrs and makes the song more palatable, bringing people to the party, whereupon they can partake of the original recording which has so much edge and anger it'll revolutionize you.
As for "Easy Rider"... It was not an immediate hit, the film grew over time. But what's marked about it is its counterculture vibe and ethos. Today it's all about fitting in, or complaining when you don't. To have a major motion picture that was not part of the establishment emboldened the populace. But that was art in the sixties...
YOU AIN'T GOIN' NOWHERE
The Byrds
From the album that heralded country rock, that made the airwaves safe for Crosby, Stills & Nash and the Eagles.
At least that was the legend. You used to read all about how Gram Parsons joined the band and pulled it into country and Southern California followed.
But no one writes about that anymore.
Nothing on "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" was a hit, but those who heard it were influenced, the same way they say about Patti Smith's debut.
I first heard "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" played on guitar by my closest friend Marc. I got it immediately. Back when songs were songs and not records.
MY BACK PAGES
The Byrds
"I was so much older then
I'm younger than that now"
You've just got to grow up to know this is true.
And if you don't believe this, you haven't, not yet.
HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED
Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt
And here's a special treat, from the 1990 Christic Institute concert at the Shrine in L.A.
You'll immediately fall into the groove, just like they do, your knee will be pumping, you'll feel the electricity, you'll want nothing so much as to be there.
This is why we go to the live show, to have an experience like this.
Jackson's guitar is enough, just like it was with Dylan, you don't need a whole band to get everybody going.
And Bruce blows the harmonica, showing he listened to all those early Dylan records.
And Bonnie exudes a sexuality that no guy can, I'd say she holds her own with the boys, but you can argue strongly she owns it.
If you listen to one track from this playlist, if you don't even like this song, check this out. IT'LL MAKE YOU A BELIEVER IN EVERYBODY INVOLVED!
Needless to say, it's not on Spotify. Check it out here on YouTube.
IT TAKES A LOT TO LAUGH, IT TAKES A TRAIN TO CRY
"Super Session"
I know, I'm supposed to like the Bloomfield side better, but I've always preferred Stills's.
Sure, the centerpiece of side two was "Season Of The Witch," but this was the second cut that hooked me, a complete reworking of the original. It exudes such fearlessness, such intensity, such YOUTH, it's infectious!
JUST LIKE A WOMAN
Richie Havens
Pretty famous in its era, off the album "Mixed Bag," the album that contained "Handsome Johnny," that Havens played so aggressively at Woodstock, this was the album that sold in the wake of that film, every baby boomer knows it.
ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER
Jimi Hendrix
Gave him a hit, and despite all that fame, he didn't have one previously.
I believe "Are You Experienced" is the definitive statement, even if it does sound more dated than Jimi's other work, but I've come to recognize the magic of "Electric Ladyland," and believe me, "All Along The Watchtower" is not the best track on that record. Sure, I love "Crosstown Traffic" and "Voodoo Chile," but my favorite is "Burning of the Midnight Lamp."
WICKED MESSENGER
Faces
At this point, Rod Stewart is a joke.
But once upon a time he was iconic.
He was unknown, but then he hooked up with the remnants of Small Faces, bringing Ronnie Wood along with him, and this opened their initial LP together.
It stings, it rolls, Rod wails but so does Ronnie on his slide and Ian McLagan on the organ.
Great.
DEAR LANDLORD
Joe Cocker
A completely different arrangement from the original, but give Joe props for picking the song out. Joe reworks the lyric a bit, but I'm gonna quote the original, because you need to know it:
"Now, each of us has his own special gift
And you know this was meant to be true
And if you don't underestimate me
I won't underestimate you"
MIGHTY QUINN
Manfred Mann
Who expected Manfred Mann to have another hit? A seemingly unintelligible novelty song that most people had no idea was written by Dylan, because Bob hadn't released it yet.
IF NOT FOR YOU
George Harrison
Released shortly after Bob's take on "New Morning," it was part of the triple-album boxed set "All Things Must Pass," which was played incessantly, along with Stephen Stills's solo debut, in dorm rooms the winter of 1971.
IF NOT FOR YOU
Olivia Newton-John
Her initial hit, back before we realized she was a complete lightweight, before the acting, before the execrable "Have You Never Been Mellow."
FATHER OF DAY, FATHER OF NIGHT
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Have success once, why not try to replicate it?
One of my favorite cuts off "New Morning," Manfred Mann's new band got a good amount of airplay on this.
KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOOR
Warren Zevon
From his final LP, when he knew he was gonna die.
Oh, the gravitas.
Yup, famous songwriter makes someone else's song his own.
However, I prefer Zevon's cover of "Back In The High Life," which you think was done because of his imminent death, but was recorded years before this news.
MOST LIKELY YOU GO YOUR WAY (AND I'LL GO MINE)
Todd Rundgren
From the LP "Faithful," wherein the wizard tries on side one to replicate famous songs faithfully. Superfluous, but Todd fanatics bought it and know it.
HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED
Johnny Winter
The irony is the magic in this track is more in the recently departed Winter's vocal than his guitar playing.
YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ME LONESOME WHEN YOU GO
Shawn Colvin
Famous for her originals, Shawn is an incredible interpreter. This is from her covers album "Cover Girl" which was hurt by added instrumentation on too many tracks, but this is Shawn alone on the guitar. Gets you.
