The covers Bob Dylan thinks are better than his own songs: “One recording I treasure the most”
In the humorous depths of internet meme culture, even Bob Dylan isn’t safe. Perhaps one of the funniest clips I’ve seen doing the rounds recently is one of Dylan, equipped with headphones and apprehensively swaying to the 1985 charity hit ‘We Are The World’.
Alongside Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, and Diana Ross, Dylan assembled an ensemble of stars to make a song with one sole aim: to raise money. Although it was for charity, its general financial intent goes against everything Dylan stood for, and seeing his face register the experience in real-time is one of the internet’s truly great nuggets of content.
He has a general disdain for watching art performed without complete authenticity. So, if a room of the most talented musicians in the world at that time could provoke the most furrowed of all brows, you have to wonder what Dylan does when he’s confronted with a cover song.
Of course, he cut his teeth as a musician covering the works of his great hero Woody Guthrie, but ultimately, Dylan’s legacy is cemented in his trailblazing pursuit of original work. Work that if any artist dare step forward to replicate, should be done with complete authenticity and some level of artistic nuance.
Anything but is dealt with a scathing appraisal, as Guns N’ Roses once found out. When they decided it was a good idea to cover ‘Knockin’ On Heavens Door’, Dylan gave an obscure but cutting analysis, saying: “Guns N’ Roses is okay, Slash is okay, but there’s something about their version of the song that reminds me of the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers.”
Conversely, Bruce Springsteen’s take on the same song garnered a much warmer reception, proving it isn’t the attempt that bothers Dylan, rather than the execution. Speaking of The Boss’ take on his classic, he said: “Incredible! He did that song like the record, something I myself have never tried. I never even thought it was worth it. Maybe never had the manpower in one band to pull it off. I don’t know, but I never thought about it.”
He continued, “Bruce pulled all the power and spirituality and beauty out of it like no one has ever done. He was faithful, truly faithful to the version on the record”, before adding, “Bruce is a deep conscientious cat and the evidence of that was in the performance. He can get to your heart, my heart anyway.”
Jimi Hendrix’s take on ‘All Along The Watchtower’ is perhaps the finest example of how a cover can exist outside of its original, with many a music fan attributing the genesis of such an iconic song to Hendrix himself, for his take was so original. And despite the oversight of credit Dylan may have received at the hands of Hendrix, he still holds high praise for the recording.
“I liked Jimi Hendrix’s record of this, and ever since he died, I’ve been doing it that way,” Dylan once said of the cover. “Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it’s a tribute to him in some kind of way.”
But Dylan’s highest praise was reserved for the man rightly dubbed The King. “When I first heard Elvis Presley’s voice I just knew that I wasn’t going to work for anybody and nobody was going to be my boss. The highlight of my career… that’s easy, Elvis recording one of my songs.” he once said.
“That’s the one recording I treasure the most… It was called ‘Tomorrow Is A Long Time.’ I wrote it but never recorded it,” Dylan told Rolling Stone in a 1969 interview.
Of course, now the demo take he recorded is available to listen to, showcasing a signature finger-picked melody but with a somewhat trepidatious vocal take. Elvis turned it into a soft blues rock record with a light percussion section and stunning vocal take.
Never Miss A Tale
The Far Out Bob Dylan Newsletter
All the latest stories about Bob Dylan from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.