122 outstandingly wonderful covers of Bob Dylan songs

Compiled by Tony Attwood

Throughout the articles on this site you will find not just links to Dylan’s own versions of songs, but those of many other artists.   And time and again I find myself, in writing or editing a piece for this site, wanting to find, by way of illustration, a cover version that I know we’ve used somewhere before… but I just can’t remember who it is by or where we put it.

So I’ve started to make a list of covers we have featured and have added it the list we made when we asked readers if they wanted to submit a cover version to add to our list.  So the list has been growing ever since.

Now I have started to pull it together.  It is still messy, and represents only a fraction of the recordings we have featured over the years,  but I’m working on it.   So here is version one of the greatest cover versions ever.

Where I still have the notes of who suggested what I’ve included that – if you’ve nominated a version and I’ve missed your name, and you tell me, I’ll add you in.

The few samples I’ve actually included within this text are just to give you something to listen to as you flip through the list.

If you would like to nominate a version of a Dylan song, please just write in the comment box at the end simply saying the name of the artist and the name of the song and your name if you want to be recognised as the nominator.   If I can find a copy I’ll add it to the list, and then when I’ve enough new entries I’ll publish the list afresh.

A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall by Jason Mraz .  Suggested by Jim

A Hard Rain’s a gonna fall from the TV series Peaky Blinders.  By Laura Marling, included by Jochen

Abandoned Love – Chuck Profit.  Reviewed by Tony in All Directions “the build up to religion”

Abandoned Love – unknown solo artist.  Reviewed in All Directions by Tony

Absolutely Sweet Marie by Jason and the Scorchers, suggested by Dave Miatt.

Absolutely Sweet Marie by George Harrison, suggested by Imam Alfa Abdulkareem.

Absolutely Sweet Marie by Stephen Inglis in The Bob Dylan Twist by Larry

All along the watchtower – Brian Ferry.  Suggested by Diego D’Agostino

All Around the Watchtower: Yul Anderson.  Suggested by Fred Muller.

As I went out one morning;  Thea Gilmore.  Suggested by Ralph

Baby, I’m in the Mood for You – Odetta.  Suggested by Fred Muller.

Blind Willie McTell.  (Rick Danko) Six Cover versions selected in “Beautiful Obscurity”

Blood on the Tracks by Mary Lee’s Corvette.  Suggested by Jerry Strauss.   The whole album is not on the internet at large but “You’re a big girl now” is  on line.  As is “Idiot wind” from the Blood on the Tracks Concert.

Blowin’ in the wind by McCrary Sisters.   Suggested by Johannes.

Blowin’ in the Wind.  Peter Paul and Mary.  Suggested Mike

Bob Dylan’s Dream.  Peter Paul and Mary (selected by Tony for article by Larry)

Boots of Spanish Leather by Patti Smith, suggested by Matt Rude

Boots of Spanish Leather on Dylan på svenska suggested by Jesper Fynbo [Spotify] (This link will start the whole album – you have to move down to the track suggested to play it)

Changing of the Guard by Chris Whitley and Jeff Lang, suggested by Matt Rude

Country Pie by The Nice, suggested by Ken Willis.

Crash on the Levee by Tedeschi Trucks, suggested by Tony

De swalkers flecht (The Drifter’s Escape in Frisian).   Ernst Langhout & Johan Keus.  Suggested by Tony. The recording is on Spotify.

Desolation Row by Stan Denski.  Suggested by Stan Denski.

Dirge by Michael Moravek, suggested by Paul.  [On Spotify]

Dirge by Erik Truffaz.  Suggested by Ralph.

“Don’t Think Twice” by Eric Clapton, suggested by Rabbi Don Cashman.

“Don’t Think Twice it’s All Right”  Ramblin’ Jack Eliot suggested by Tom Felicetti.

De kweade boadskipper (The wicked messenger in Frisian) by Ernst Langhout & Johan Keus.     Suggested by Johannes

Emotionally Yours by The O-Jays suggested by Imam Alfa Abdulkareem

Every Grain of Sand: Emmylou Harris.  Suggested by Fred Muller.

Farewell (Leaving of Liverpool) by Marcus Mumford.  Reviewed by Jochen

Father of Night Trigger Finger.  Suggested in All Directions

Foot of Pride.  Lou Reed.  Suggested by Laura Leivick

Forever Young by Joan Baez.  Suggested by Mike

Girl from the North Country by Johnny Cash and Joni Mitchell.  Suggested by anonymous contributor.

Girl from the North Country by Walter Trout. Suggested by Darrin Ehil.

Going, Going, Gone – Richard Hell & The Voidoids.  Suggested by Fred Muller.

Highway 61 Revisited – Johnny Winter.  Suggested by Laura Leivick

I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight by Judy Rodman  suggested by Steve Perry.

I Believe in You by Sinead O’Conner,  suggested by Matt Rude.

I Believe in you by Alison Krauss

I dreamed I saw St Augustine by Thea Gilmore

I Threw It All Away – Yo La Tengo.  Suggested by Fred Muller.

I want you by Bruce Springsteen

Idiot Wind By Luke Elliot, suggested by Matt Rude.

Idiot Wind by Jeff Lee Johnson  Featured in All Directions

If not for you by George Harrison suggested by Larry Fyffe

I believe in you by Sinead O’Conner suggested in All Directions by Tony

It ain’t me babe by Joan Baez suggested by anonymous contributor

It Ain’t Me, Babe by Jesse Cook.  Suggested by Fred Muller.

It’s alright Ma (I’m only bleeding) by Bettina Jonic [Spotify], suggested by David Alexander-Watts.

It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue by Graham Bonnet, suggested by Matt Rude

It’s all over now Baby Blue by Bonnie Raitt

It takes a lot to laugh by Chris Smither selected by Tony for Larry article

Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues – The Handsome Family.  Suggested by Fred Muller.

Just like Tom Thumb’s Blues by Nina Simone suggested by Paul and separately by David Alexander-Watts.Just like Tom Thumb’s Blues by The Tallest Man on Earth, suggested by Curtis Lovejoy.

Jokerman – Dylan.pl   Suggested by Anon.   Polish (“Arlekin”).  Available on Spotify.

Lay Down Your Weary Tune – Tim O’Brien.  Suggested by Fred Muller.

Le ciel est noir (A hard rain’s a-gonna fall) by Nana Mouskouri.  Suggested by Johannes

Let’s keep it between us by  Bonnie Raitt.  Suggested by Johannes

License to kill by Tom Petty (30th anniversary concert)

Like a Rolling Stone – Articolo 31.  Suggested by Fred Muller.

Like a Rolling Stone by Spirit suggested by Davy Allan.

Lily Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts by Tom Russell (and friends) selected by Tony in All Directions

Lo and Behold by Coulson, Dean, McGuiness, Flint suggested by Mike Mooney

Love Is Just a Four-Letter Word – Joan Baez.  Suggested by Tom Haber.  The link is to the Untold Dylan review, which includes within it a recording of the song.

Love is Just a Four Letter Word – Joy of Cooking.  Reviewed by Jochen

Love minus zero – The Walker Brothers.  Suggested by John Wyburn.

Maggie’s Farm by Solomon Burke, suggested by Ingemar Almeros Almeros.

Mama, You’ve Been On My Mind by Idiot Wind, suggested by Matt Rude

Mama You Been On My Mind.   Bettye Lavette.  Suggested by Laura Leivick

Man in the Long Black Coat – Mark Lanegan.   Suggested by Fred Muller.

Mississippi recorded live by Dixie Chicks, suggested by Tony

Moonshiner by Charlie Parr, suggested by Edward Thomas.

Mr Tambourine Man – Melanie Safka.  Suggested Ken Fletcher.

Mr Tambourine Man by The Helio Sequence suggested by Imam Alfa Abdulkareem

Mr Tambourine Man by the Byrds.  Suggested by Mike.

Moonshiner Cat Power

No Time to Think: suggested by Jochen, and ever since repeatedly by Tony

Not Dark Yet: Lucinda Williams

One more cup of coffee by Frazey Ford.

Queen Jane Approximately by The Daily Flash suggested by Bill Shute.

She Belongs To Me by Nice, suggested by Ken Willis

Tangled up in Blue by Indigo Girls.  Reviewed in All Directions.

To Ramona by Sinéad Lohan, suggested by Kurt-Åke Hammarstedt [Spotify – select track 9]

New Pony – The Dead Weather.  Suggested by Diego D’Agostino

One more cup of coffee – The White Stripes.  Suggested by Diego D’Agostino.

Please Mrs Henry – Manfred Mann

Positively 4th Street by Johnny Rivers suggested by Tom Haber.

Precious Angel by Sinead O’Connor, suggested by Matt Rude

Pressing On – Chicago Mass Choir with Regina McCrary.  Suggested by Johannes

Property of Jesus – Chrissie Hind. Reviewed in All Directions 47 by Tony

Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 by Old Crow Medicine Show.  Suggested by Vadim Slowoda.

Red River Shore by unknown duo, in Larry’s “The Bob Dylan Twist (continued).

Restless Farewell by Mark Knopfler, suggested by anonymous contributor

Seven days by Joe Cocker.  Suggested by Johannes.

She Belongs to me by Jerry, Phil and Bob, suggested by Edward Thomas.

Simple Twist of Fate by Sarah Jarosz, suggested by Matt Rude

Slow Train by Glasyngstrom.  Reviewed in All Directions. One of the very few covers.

 Spanish Harlem Incident by Chris Whitley, suggested by Matt Rude

Stepchild by Jerry Lee Lewis in “The Bob Dylan Twist” by Larry.

Tears of Rage by The Band in “Bob Dylan Approximately” by Larry

Tight Connection to My Heart by Sheila Atim (from Girl from the North Country) . Suggested by Tony Allen.

Time Passes Slowly: Judy Collins.  Repeatedly selected by Tony!

Tomorrow is a Long Time – Elvis Presley, suggested by Tom Haber

Tomorrow is a long time – Rod Stewart.  Suggested by Diego D’Agostino

Too Much of Nothing.  Peter Paul and Mary.  Suggested by Tony.

Up to me by Roger McGuinn.  In All Directions

Visions of Johanna recorded live by Old Crow Medicine Show, suggested by Tony [Spotify]

Wallflower – Buddy & Julie Miller. [Spotify] Suggested by Fred Muller.

Walls of Red Wing. Joan Baez.  Suggesfted by Laura Leivick

Wanted Man by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.  Suggested by Matt Rude

Watching the River Flow by Leon Russell.  The Beautiful Obscurity article has multiple cover versions detailed.

What Good am I? – Solomon Burke. [Spotify] Suggested by Fred Muller.

What Good Am I by Tom Jones, suggested by Pat Sludden

With God on our side: Buddy Miller.  Suggested by Fred Muller

When I Paint My Masterpiece by Chris Whitley and Jeff Lang, suggested by Matt Rude

When you gonna wake up by Lee Williams, in Bob Dylan Approximately by Larry