Dylanisms | Podcast Mixes Showcasing Bob Dylan Songs | ‘Dylanisms’ is my 10-song mix podcast project, building an extensive archive of (mostly) 1960s recordings of Bob Dylan songs as recorded by various solo performers and groups many years ago.
I will zoom in on the well known and the very obscure outfits who covered Dylan’s numbers, in particular those unknown teenage garage bands from USA. There are many but this list on Wikipedia doesn’t even acknowledge them.
My ‘Dylanisms’ project will be regular and will uncover everything worth hearing. It will last for a one-year paid subscription with my hosting platform RSS.com. By then, my mission will have been accomplished and the Gods shall anoint my feet with patchouli oil . . .
Episode 02
Tracks in order of appearance:
01 Dion – “Farewell”
taken from the LP ‘Wonder Where I’m Bound’ (Columbia) 1969
Boby Dylan’s ‘Farewell’ was first demoed by the writer in March 1963 under the title ‘Fare Thee Well’.
Dylan updated the song for his 1964 album, ‘The Times Are A-Changin’, but that version was unissued when Tom Wilson produced Dion’s recording with The Wanderers on October 4, 1965.
02 The Bold – “All I Really Want To Do”
taken from the CD ‘Lullaby Opus Four’ (Misty Lane Records) track originally released on ABC LP 1969
03 The Bold – “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”
taken from the CD ‘Lullaby Opus Four’ (Misty Lane Records) track originally released on ABC LP 1969
Dylanisms | Podcast Mixes Showcasing Bob Dylan Songs
04 The Flamin’ Groovies – “Absolutely Sweet Marie”
taken from the LP ‘Jumpin’ In The Night’ (Sire) 1979 and available on the CD ‘Groovies Greatest Grooves’.
05 Roger McGuinn – “It’s Alright Ma, (I’m Only Bleeding)”
taken from the ‘Easy Rider’ soundtrack (Stateside) 1969
A widely known cover of “It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” is that performed by Roger McGuinn for the soundtrack of the 1969 film, Easy Rider. One of the film’s scriptwriters, the star, Peter Fonda, had originally intended to use Dylan’s version of the song in the film but after failing to secure the appropriate licensing he asked McGuinn to record a cover of it instead.
McGuinn’s version of the song included on the Easy Rider soundtrack album, features McGuinn on guitar and vocals, accompanied by his bandmate from The Byrds, Gene Parsons, on harmonica.
06 The Yankee Dollar – “The Times, They Are A-Changing”
taken from the LP ‘The Yankee Dollar’ (Dot) 1968
07 The Rose Garden – “She Belongs To Me”
taken from the LP ‘The Rose Garden’ (Atco) 1968
The band members were sent to the Haunted House club where, between sets, Pat Vegas (who, with brother Lolly, would later form Redbone) played them several songs for consideration.
They chose “I’m Only Second” and “Coins Of Fun,” both with Diana in mind as lead voice. “February Sunshine” and “Flower Town” were obvious choices for inclusion, as was “Rider,” a song originally in The Byrds‘ live sets but not released at that point.
L.A. Flower Power
The latter was a traditional folk song with no authorship, and the five band members claimed credit for arranging the track despite its being based on The Byrds’ version. Jim suggested also recording Bob Dylan’s “She Belongs To Me.”
“We arranged it ourselves,” he recalls. “I liked what we came up with. A year or two later, Ricky Nelson came out with a very similar version to ours. I flatter myself in thinking he was influenced by our original interpretation.”
08 The Tremeloes – “I Shall Be Released”
UK single (CBS) November 1968
According to the liners of the The Tremeloes, The Definitive Collection’ CD this Dylan cover version, released as a single only reached #29 in the Charts.
The Tremeloes were also disappointed by the chart placing but explained that the CBS pressing plant was on strike and so there were few copies of the single available to meet the demand.
That was a shame as the Trems had realised the potential of this great composition, which is now the theme song for Amnesty International.
09 Marmalade – “Mr Tambourine Man”
taken from the LP ‘There’s A Lot Of It About’ (CBS) 1968
10 Judy Collins – “Tomorrow Is A Long Time”
taken from the LP ‘Fifth Album’ (Elektra) 1964
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