The Second Best Bob Cover?
Most of the civilized world agrees that Jimi Hendrix’s electrified version of “All Along The Watchtower” is probably the best BD cover to date, largely for its complete re-invention of Bob’s original acoustic composition. But… what might be the second best Bob cover? Submitted for your approval is Jason And The Scorchers’ “Absolutely Sweet Marie,” a rave-up of hillbilly testosterone that reshapes BD’s original into an all new, catchier-than-all-get-out barn burner. Besides its energy, the cover’s simple brilliance is in turning the phrase “Where are you tonight?” into a repeated chorus. Of course, it may only be the 148th best Bob cover, but pop it into your player for a few days and you won’t be able to shake it. From the band’s 1983 debut EP, Fervor.
17 Comments
Jason beats Hendrix mate!
Hendrix is ok…but these guys have more energy in one song than Hendrix has in an album.
I was lucky enough to once see these guys open for Dylan, and this cover brought down the house. I'm sure Bob was pleased…. it's probably the only reason they were there.
It's how my blog was named. I once saw the Scorchers upstairs in a pub in Brighton, UK – the gig was called off after four songs or so as the downstairs bar ceiling was falling in. Country pogoing!
Hate to be the contrarian but this cover leaves me cold (always did).
Jason and the Scorchers seem to wring every ounce of irony out of the song and deliver it "straight," whereas, coming from Dylan, we get a shitkicker song from the mouth of a cerebral, which charges the song with anticipation and layered meaning. Coming from Jason et.al., the song sounds like a meaningless vehicle for a somewhat mediocre band seeking attention.
"Somewhat mediocre"?…..
…they don't come anymore mediocre than Dylan!
…Bloke sends me to sleep!
Blame it on attention span. The previous comment was saying that the Scorchers were mediocre, not Dylan.
And I'm saying Dylan is.
"Mediocre"… I don't think that word means what you think it means.
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mediocre bloke? i expect nothing less from a rotten toothed, panty wearing limey about the most prolific poet of the 20th century. good music from britan is all stolen blues from here anyway.
Here’s some other great ones:
Them – It’s All Over Now Baby Blue
Jimi Hendrix – Like A Rolling Stone
Fairport Convention – Percy’s Song
Fairport Convention – Million Dollar Bash
The Byrds – My Back Pages
The Byrds – You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere
Wire Train – God On Our Side
Leon Russell – A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall
Emmylou Harris – Every Grain of Sand
Ian & Sylvia – This Wheel’s On Fire
Linda Ronstadt – Baby You’ve Been On My Mind
Sam Cooke – Blowin’ In The Wind
I submit Youssou N’Dour’s version of Chimes of Freedom as a great, virtually unknown, Dylan cover.
Thanks for the slew of other greats being mentioned here.
Best/Most Unlikely: Cheap Trick’s manic “Please, Mrs. Henry,” which they used to tear up for 9-10 minutes in their ’77-era live act.
Try the Van Morrison live version of Just Like a Woman (from Pacific High) ca. 1971 (?). That’s the best Dylan cover, period. Better than the Hendrix too.
I’ve always liked Frank Black’s version of Changing of the Guard. But Cheap Tricks version of Please Mrs. Henry is pretty damn cool–thanks for that video!
Very possibly, Harrison was familiar with this version before he sang the song at the “Dylan-Fest” at the garden in the early 90′s. It has the same energy. (George’s was a bit slower)