The flawless singer Bob Dylan called one of the greatest in “recorded history”
There isn’t much in the world of songwriting that Bob Dylan hasn’t achieved. The unstoppably gifted lyricist has rightly been recognised as not only one of the best in the modern era but one of musical history’s finest-ever writers. It’s a notion that has seen him covered by countless impressive artists and even get himself the odd motion picture made in his name.
While Dylan’s gargantuan figure can be revered for his handiwork with a pen, what he does behind the mic has always divided opinion. For some, Dylan’s nasal drawl, which meandered into country crooner then back toward the gravel pit, is part of what makes his legacy so rich — defeating the idea that all singers need to be note-perfect if they are to be successful in their career. For others, Dylan’s vocal deserves only to be forgotten as quickly as possible.
Perhaps owing to his view on the world, championing realism even if portraying it through a poetic lens, Dylan has also been very clear on his comparatively lowly singing voice. But that view has also made him effusive about the talents of other singers who take on his work. And there have been some gigantic talents that have done so.
Vocalists such as Nina Simone, Adele, Robert Flack, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Axl Rose can be considered some of the best singers in their fields, and all contributed wonderful covers to Dylan’s extensive canon. Though, in fairness, the less said about Guns N’ Roses’ cover of ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’, as Dylan described it: “There’s something about their version of that song that reminds me of the movie Invasion Of The Body Snatchers. I always wonder who’s been transformed into some sort of a clone, and who’s stayed true to himself. And I never seem to have an answer.”
However, one set of covers came from a singer that Dylan was pleased with. In fact, he went on to label him one of the greatest vocalists of all time, celebrating his flawless style. The gifted soul singer Aaron Neville has taken on many Dylan covers over the years, and there is good cause to think that he may well be the most treasured by Dylan of the singers who have done so.
When Neville covered Dylan’s track ‘Shooting Star’, the songwriter was particularly enthusiastic: “I could always hear him singing that song. He’s recorded other songs of mine, all great performances, but for some reason, I kept thinking about ‘Shooting Star,’ something he’s never recorded, but I knew that he could.” Neville also occupied the space of the icon’s mind when writing a tune: “I could always hear him singing it for some reason, even when I wrote it.”
When asked specifically about the cover by Bill Flanagan in 2015, Dylan couldn’t hold back his admiration for Neville: “I mean, what can you say? He’s the most soulful of singers, maybe in all of recorded history. If angels sing, they must sing in that voice. I just think his gift is so great. The man has no flaws, never has. He’s always been one of my favourite singers right from the beginning.”
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