Cover versions of all the songs on the album, split on to two sides.
It is not hard to find other artists covering Bob Dylan’s songs, but it is not so easy to find interesting and good interpretations. The originals are so strong that I wouldn’t expect anyone to top them, and noone does. Even if that is the case, I think I’ve found some of the best out there.
Highway 61 Revisited is one of the best albums in Rock’n Roll history, if you don’t have it, go buy it or buy it online or something…just get it, it’s a life changer!
Side 1:
1. Like a Rolling Stone – Jimi Hendrix
I love this version from The Monterey festival (I think…):
2. Tombstone Blues – Boris Buggerov Band
This was recorded on April 8 2004 in the 1968 movie theater in Tavira, Southern Portugal, where Boris Buggerov Band is based. It has a great piano and a bit of a tex-mex flavour.
3. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry – Grateful Dead
The Dead has done this song a lot of times, this is one of the best versions I’ve heard from them:
4. From a Buick 6 – She hates me
Naked and raw cover.
5. Ballad of a thin man – Triggerfinger
Different and performed with an anger befitting the lyrics.
Let us flip this record over and move on to the second side:
1. Queen Jane Approximately – David Rawlings and Gillian Welch
Very nice as always from this wonderful duo.
2. Highway 61 Revisited – PJ Harvey
Polly Jean is so good, she rips into it and does a very good version, an angry version:
3. Just like Tom Thumb’s blues – Brian Ferry
4. Grateful Dead – Desolation Row 1989
It was hard to find a representable cover of this masterpiece, but I think this interpretation from Grateful Dead is really good!
See also our post Bob Dylan’s Blood on the tracks covered.
– Hallgeir
Of the period: Wilko Johnson’s (of Dr. Feelgood) fabulous cover of Please Crawl Out Your Window. Audio only. 1980. He did a recent cover (this year) with Roger Daltrey singing. They recorded a terrific album together, Going Back Home. Unfortunately that version of tune I wasn’t able to find online.
Thanks, I hadn’t heard any of those, need to search around a bit…
– Hallgeir
re desolation row, i’d put Chris smither’s interpretation above what you posted here. there’s at least two performances available in youtube, one in 2003 and a recent one in nov 2011.
Thanks for the tip, I will check it out
Edit: here is the link to the 2011 version by Chris Smithers, and yes it I liked it very much!
http://youtu.be/E1TTfWsCMIA
– Hallgeir