Steve Earle: “Was Townes Van Zandt Better Than Bob Dylan?
…I’m kinda famous for something I said…I was asked for a sticker for a Townes record that came out in the 80s, I said, Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the world and I’ll stand on Bob Dylan’s coffee table in my cowboy-boots and say that. 
…
It wasn’t that I thought that Townes was better than Bob Dylan. I just knew that Townes really needed the help.”

Well, I love both Van Zandt and Dylan, and so does Steve Earle. He has done songs by both on several occasions, and he did an entire album with Townes Van Zandt songs.

In this post we pick the best interpretations we can find of Steve Earle singing Bob Dylan’s songs.

Steve Earle – Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright  at Johnny Brenda’s Philadelphia,27 Feb 2011:

Steve Earle -Baby Let Me Follow You Down  @ Woodyfest – The City Winery 7-12-2012:

I know that Dylan didn’t write it, but the song is best known from its appearance on Bob Dylan’s debut album Bob Dylan.

Fantastic end to the 1996 live MTV show called “To Hell and Back” of Steve Earle performing with the best Dukes line up and the awesome Custer on drums. Its all great!

Steve Earle – It Takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry:

Steve Earle & Lucia Micarelli – One More Cup of Coffee(audio):

The Allman Brothers open their 2nd set at The Beacon Theater – New York, NY. 12 March 2013 they were joined by Steve Earle and Bruce Katz to cover a Bob Dylan classic.

Knocking on Heaven’s Door:

 Steve Earle – Master’s of war. Part of a reading from Voices of a People’s History of the United States (Howard Zinn
and Anthony Arnove,) Berkeley, California on November 11, 2006:

– Hallgeir