Hear Bob Dylan deliver a perfect Dean Martin cover for ‘The Sopranos’
Although folk music propelled Bob Dylan to global acclaim in the early 1960s, his initial passion lay in rock ‘n’ roll. From a young age, Dylan cultivated his musical roots, learning the piano as his first instrument. During his teenage years, he merged with a school band called The Golden Chords, endeavouring to mirror the styles of his early rock idols, including Little Richard and Elvis Presley.
Dylan also found himself captivated by the solitary folk renditions of Woody Guthrie, navigating his trajectory to notoriety amid the bustling avenues of New York City. However, in the mid-1960s, he reconnected with his rock origins, infusing electric guitar melodies into one facet of the March 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home.
From 1965 to 1966, Dylan embarked on an exhaustive tour supported by Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, and other members of the Hawks, later known as The Band. Initially, these early performances were met with near-constant jeers from the audience. Fortunately, as the tour unfolded, crowds began embracing the musician’s novel sound.
During 1966, Dylan crafted some of his most exceptional compositions, while the 1970s saw Dylan persisting in recording and touring. Throughout his career, therefore, Dylan’s influence on pop culture remained strong. For instance, season three of The Sopranos included Dylan’s own rendition of Dean Martin’s ‘Return to Me’, which he recorded especially for the show’s soundtrack.
The song was initially crafted in the late 1950s by Carmen Lombardo, who wrote the music, and Danny Di Minno, who penned the lyrics. Numerous artists have covered it throughout the years, but Martin’s rendition of the song is the quintessential interpretation of its words and melody. By comparison, Dylan’s version showcases a jazzy guitar leading the arrangement, complemented by an accordion.
Over time, The Sopranos curated a collection of timeless tracks for their episode soundtracks, even securing a Led Zeppelin song for a scene in the crew’s local pizza parlour. However, only some artists were willing to have their music featured on the show. Prince, for instance, once turned down a request from the show’s producers. In contrast, Dylan had no qualms about his music being used in the mob series.
Dylan’s music also plays in the second season’s episode ‘House Arrest’, which features his own track, ‘Gotta Serve Somebody’. Then, in the series finale, he performs his classic ‘It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)’. However, one of Dylan’s most memorable moments on the show has to be his rendition of ‘Return to Me’.
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