Musical Monday: Cover songs #6

Posted on 06/02/2023 by Sheree

I’m kicking off 2023 with a series of my favourite cover songs. It’s quite amazing how many artists cover one another’s songs. Sometimes they’re not artists you might expect, sometimes they are and often we’re more familiar with the cover than the original. Like, this one.

Jimi Hendrix’s rowdier, louder, punchier, and electrified version of Bob Dylan’s classic song, All Along the Watchtower released in 1968, blew even the original songwriter away.

Dylan’s reported as saying:

It overwhelmed me, really. He had such talent, he could find things inside a song and vigorously develop them. He found things that other people wouldn’t think of finding in there. He probably improved upon it by the spaces he was using. I took license with the song from his version, actually, and continue to do it to this day. Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it’s a tribute to him in some kind of way.

Hendrix’s version hit Number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the biggest hit of his career.

I confess I much prefer Hendrix’s copy as I’m not a fan of Dylan’s voice but it’s surprising how many of his tracks have been copied (and IMHO improved upon) by other artists.

Which of the three versions do you prefer? Let me know below.

Category: Favourites, MusicTags: All Along the Watchtower, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Lenny Kravitz

12 Comments on “Musical Monday: Cover songs #6”

Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen
06/02/2023

I love them all! Thanks Sheree!

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- Sheree
  06/02/2023
  
  Thanks
  
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bushboy
06/02/2023

Of course being a devoted Hendrix fan, there is no comparison. The mixed one from around the world was OK. Lenny Kravitz version was helped considerably by Eric Clapton

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- Sheree
  07/02/2023
  
  Thanks for dropping by and commenting. Hendrix is understandably winning hands down
  
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Mike Hartley
06/02/2023

Enjoyed them all but I’ll also stick to Jimi as my favorite.

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- Sheree
  07/02/2023
  
  Wholly understandable
  
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Yernasia Quorelios
06/02/2023

💜 It’s called collaboration and co-operation Control Freak; well worth it but being a Control Freak is well worth it too 😉 😜 😀

…💛💚💙…

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- Sheree
  07/02/2023
  
  Exactly
  
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Monkey's Tale
06/02/2023

I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t know Dylan sang this song!! Or maybe the Hendrix version just pushed it our of my memory!

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- Sheree
  07/02/2023
  
  I think that’s the case
  
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ghostmmnc
08/02/2023

Hendrix is of course the best, but I liked that 2nd one with people from all over the world singing the same song a lot, too. 🙂

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- Sheree
  08/02/2023
  
  Thanks for listening
  
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