It is strange how well Dylan’s songs sound in these interpretations by African/American women. They are so different from the originals, yet they seem to convey the songs meaning in an even more direct way than Bob Dylan’s own versions. They might not be better, but they’re excitingly done and very good in a different kind of way.
1. Nina Simone – The Ballad of Hollis Brown
2. Odetta Holmes – Tomorrow is a long time:
It was supposed to be a list of 20 songs but I just couldn’t stop!
I walk the line:
Johnny Cash was known for his deep, distinctive voice, the boom-chick-a-boom train sound of his Tennessee Three backing band and his black clothes, which earned him the nickname “The Man in Black.” He began his concerts with the introduction “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.” Here is my Spotify play-list of the 39 greatest Johnny Cash Songs:
A boy named Sue (At San Quentin):
– Hallgeir
Rodney Crowell (born August 7, 1950) is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album Diamonds & Dirt. He has also written songs and produced for other artists. He was influenced by songwriters Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. Crowell played guitar and sang for three years in Emmylou Harris’ “Hot Band”.
He is one of my favourite artists, no matter what genre we’re talking about. I saw him with Emmylou Harris a few weeks ago, one of the best concerts I’ve seen this year! He doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, he is one of the finest songwriters around today.
From his album, The Outsider (2005) with Emmylou, Shelter from the storm:
Continue reading Rodney Crowell plays Bob Dylan – Happy Birthday Mr. Crowell!
No sacred cows in rock ’n’ roll!
“My Back Pages” written by Bob Dylan and included on his 1964 album Another Side of Bob Dylan. It is stylistically similar to his earlier folk protest songs and features Dylan’s voice with an acoustic guitar accompaniment. However, its lyrics—in particular the refrain”Ah, but I was so much older then/I’m younger than that now”—have been interpreted as a rejection of Dylan’s earlier personal and political idealism, illustrating his growing disillusionment with the 1960’s folk protest movement with which he was associated, and his desire to move in a new direction. Although Dylan wrote the song in 1964, he did not perform it live until 1978.
“…But this sped-up Ramones cover of one of Dylan’s finest is delivered without a hint of irony. Every bit as simultaneously nostalgic and forward-looking as the original, it does what most punk covers of non-punk songs fail to do—it pays genuine heartfelt tribute to the original.”
– Paste Magazine
The Ramones recorded My Back Pages for the album Acid Eaters:
“Tearing through a bunch of psychedelic and garage rock classics from the 1960s, the Ramones regain much of the fun and abandon of earlier records, making Acid Eaters easily their best record in a decade; the guest appearances of Pete Townshend (“Substitute”) and ex-porn star Traci Lords (“Somebody to Love”) help make the record a blast.”
– Allmusic
Punk and Bob Dylan is a match made in heaven, angry music to angry words!
Album version:
Continue reading The Best Dylan Covers: The Ramones – My Back Pages
The best way to remember Levon Helm is to enjoy his music.
Today we have searched the cellars of YouTube and found a shining gem: The Levon Helm Band at The Newport Folk Festival in 2008.
I think we got the full show (but not sure). Levon Helm and his band went on stage second to last on the final day of the festival. They gave a tremendous show that confirmed their influence from folk music and they were a fitting act to play at a folk music festival.
Levon Helm was one of the finest drummers and most soulful singers in music history! …and the set list has some traditional songs, some solo stuff and quite a few songs from The Band era. The Band songs are so fresh and fits this band so well, they sound amazing.
Highlights: Chest Fever, Got Me A Woman plus Anna Lee from my favorite Levon Helm album, Dirt Farmer, Long Black Veil and The Weight with guests, Jake Shimabukuro, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
We also get some very special guests:
Set list:
Ophelia
Deep Elem Blues
Ashes of Love
Anna Lee
Chest Fever
Love Played A Game
Long Black Veil
Got Me A Woman
Rag Mama Rag
Fannie Mae
The Same Thing (incomplete)
The Shape I’m In
The Weight
The Levon Helm Band live at The Newport Folk Festival 2008:
Continue reading August 03: The Levon Helm Band at The Newport Folk Festival in 2008