Bob's Not There

The other night I was lucky enough to see the Dylan tribute concert at the Beacon Theater, a benefit/tribute thing that was as formless as Todd Haynes' much ballyhooed and forthcoming film I'm Not There promises to be. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to see the film, I'm just not expecting much. The concert was kinda a big mess, but sprinkled with some outstanding performances by John Doe, Jim James, Dan Hicks, J. Mascis, Al Kooper, Calexico, and others. After a while, I was overcome by the feeling that I'd rather hear Dylan do these songs than the steady stream of performers that took the stage. Anyway, I've compiled a little playlist of recordings of Dylan covers: more versions of Bob Dylan done by others, I know. Somehow it's easier to take it at home. There's an endless well to choose from - literally thousands - here's a few interesting ones.

Have a good weekend.

Download:

"Like A Rolling Stone" mp3
by The Soup Greens, 1965.
available on Pebbles Volume 1

"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" mp3
by Chris Farlowe, 1966.
available on Out Of Time

"Wallflower" mp3
by Doug Sahm with Bob Dylan, 1973.
available on The Best of Doug Sahm & Friends

"I Threw It All Away" mp3
by Yo La Tengo, 1987.
available on President Yo La Tengo/New Wave Hot Dogs

"Girl From North Country" mp3
by Link Wray, 1965.
available on The Swan Singles Collection

"Baby, I'm In The Mood For You" mp3
by Dion DiMucci, 1965.
available on King Of The New York Streets

"Going Going Gone" mp3
by Richard Hell and the Voidoids, 1982.
available on Destiny Street

"If You Gotta Go" mp3
by The Flying Burrito Brothers, 1970.
available on Burrito Deluxe

"I'll Keep It With Mine" mp3
by Fairport Convention, 1969.
available on Meet Me On The Ledge

"Kingsport Town" mp3
by Cat Power, 2000.
available on The Covers Record

"I Shall Be Released" mp3
by Nina Simone, 1969.
available on Sugar In My Bowl

"Mama You've Been On My Mind"
by Rod Stewart, 1972.
available on Never A Dull Moment

"Wallflower" mp3
by Buddy & Julie Miller, 2001
available on Buddy & Julie Miller

"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" mp3
by The 13th Floor Elevators, 1967.
available on Easter Everywhere

"Like A Rolling Pin" mp3
by The Replacements, 1990.
available on Don't Sell Or Buy, It's Crap
(out of print)

***********************************
BONUS
***********************************
"Baby, I'm In The Mood" mp3
"Dylan Story" mp3
by Dion, 2007
available on Son of Skip James

George Jones on Musicor

Will the real George Jones please stand up?

Alright, well we heard a young and most likely drunk George Jones doing his best Elvis impersonation in the last post. The things that a young artist must do for a few bucks are sometimes a little degrading. Anyway, George Jones is arguably the greatest country singer of all time. His voice is as unique and soulful as Al Green or Van Morrison. He has many imitators himself, but "Possum" is the real deal. There are hundreds of CD's available by him and few box sets, but my favorite period of George's is not as well represented as others. After cutting rockabilly and honky tonk sides for Starday, Mercury, and United Artists in the fifties and early sixties, and before he moved to Epic to record his signature overblown masterpieces of hurt with Billy Sherrill, George recorded for a label called Musicor (1965-1971), which was partially owned by his longtime manager and producer "Pappy" Daily. These are, I think, his best recordings and have yet to see a proper comprehensive collection. The first of todays mp3s come from an out of print Rounder LP from 1983. My favorite song, "Burn The Honky Tonk Down," written by his guitar player Wayne Kemp, has never been released on any CD. It's a killer 3/4 tale with sawing fiddles about a guy who works in a sawmill cutting timber to " build another honky-tonk wall", while his wife spends his his money in town carousing with the customers between those very honky tonk walls. This is the kind of song that George Jones sings better than anyone. Also, a few more tracks where that came from, a couple of my favorite Musicor singles, and some cover versions of these songs.

Please enjoy...




Download:

"Burn The Honky Tonk Down" mp3

"Where Grass Won't Grow" mp3

"Your Angel Steps Out Of Heaven" mp3

"Feeling Single-Seeing Double" mp3

From Burn The Honky Tonk Down, Rounder Records, 1983.
Out of Print





Download: "Heartaches And Hangovers" mp3























Download: "Ship Of Love" mp3


********************* BONUS *********************

"Your Angel Steps Out Of Heaven" mp3
by The Flying Burrito Brothers, 1970.
available on Sleepless Nights

"Burn The Honky Tonk Down" mp3
by The Meat Puppets, 1986.
available on Out My Way

"Feeling Single Seeing Double" mp3
by Emmylou Harris And The Hot Band, 1975
live recording not commercially available

Buy George Jones music at Amazon
or at your local independently owned record store.

George Jones photograph by Lee Friedlander
from American Musicians, D.A.P. © 1998.