A Dylan Cover a Day: Went to see the Gypsy.

By Tony Attwood

I started writing this series (A Dylan Cover A Day) two and a half years ago, and for quite a while it was something I put up each day, but then the pandemic ended, other events happened, and it became a once every few days affair. But I have really grown rather fond of it, not because I like my own writing or opinions (often the reverse) but because I have discovered so many new cover versions as I’ve done the basic research.

As with the two versions below. Going back to the earlier days of this site I wrote quite a long review of the song which is still there if you want to take a look, but didn’t include any cover versions, probably because I couldn’t find any.

And they are indeed thin on the ground. I won’t include the Girl from the North Country versions, as they always seem to me “show versions” rather than “cover versions” – show versions not really being intended to stand alone, but to be part of the complete theatrical performance from which they come.

Which leaves me with just two covers. And how amazingly different they are.

Martha Scanlan’s version has a few seconds of guitar before the percussion comes in, which until that moment is a perfect musical accompaniment to the picture on the cover of the album (below). But fortunately (as far as I am concerned) the prominence of the percussion is reduced (although I would have liked to have it reduced even further – and that is because the vocals here are exquisite. In fact I would have taken the bass guitar down as well.

Actually, I am not sure I know another recorded version of any Dylan song where I would pay to lay my hands on the studio recording and produce a version in which those two instruments are taken further and further back.

The harmonies, the strings, the piano, and of course Martha’s voice, are just so wonderful for this song, I could cry at the way the rest of the instrumentation is added. But still, it remains worth hearing and appreciating. It turns what was for me another Dylan song from a not overwhelmingly inspired moment into something beautiful – but then has it removed by the arrangement. Ah well, so it goes.

And now by way of absolute contradiction, Al Kooper, who basically takes the view that if you going to play rock n roll, then damn well play rock n roll and don’t mess about in any halfway house.

I’m not sure it works as a piece of music, but it really makes me smile – especially the female vocals. It is not a version I come back to for the fun of it, but I have been known to torment a few Dylan purist friends with it too.

The middle 8 particularly is a scream. I don’t really like this, but I’m pleased to have a copy. Not least because then I can go back to Martha.

Bob has never played the song in public. I wonder what he would have made of it?

Indeed, in the ludicrous concept that somehow I was transported into being Bob Dylan, I think I would go through all the songs that I had never ever played on stage and introduce one of them into each concert. Just for the fun of it.

Now wouldn’t that be something?

Previously in the series

Leave a Reply