One of the most audacious covers ever and a surprise hit that I think everyone can probably get behind in one way or another. (The only comparable moments might be the Pet Shop Boys covering U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name," but in that case it was the original that scored the hit, or maybe Matt "Cloverfield" Reeves covering Let the Right One In, but that's the movies, so no, neither one is even close.) Bob Dylan, still retrenching from his mid-'60s years on the road buffeted between the forces of loud electric rock and those of his would-be acoustic masters, released one of his quietest albums in years early in 1968, John Wesley Harding. It was uneven, though it carried some of his best material, and it featured a subdued little song with some inspired strumming called "All Along the Watchtower," which barely clocks in at two and a half minutes. Along came Jimi Hendrix, who plucked it as the standard-bearer (in terms of chart action anyway) for his magnum opus, Electric Ladyland. As a young 'un at the time I didn't even know Bob Dylan had anything to do with it. All I knew was the knack Hendrix immediately evinced for making a song soar, with his guitar playing, his singing, and his uncanny sense for dynamics and the textures of sound—most of which he figured out how to produce on an electric guitar. This drops into place with a mighty kick and walloping chords, reaching altitude fast and floating there, Dylan's melody alternating with spooky, thrilling noises and lyrical, thrilling guitar play. That I came to know it on an AM radio still seems beyond comprehension to me. Anyone who dared to wonder what's with that Hendrix guy, I could always point to this.
I remember loving Electric Ladyland, as a young 'un too [!] for its psychedelia, but the memorable track was 'All Along....' which with the guitar is psychedelic too but it's also a 'pop' song with its sustained melody. I don't believe I was aware of the Dylan either at the time, and couldn't today hear it in my head if I tried. In recently playing around with other covers of this song it occured to me - hardly an apocalypse - that all versions are covers of Hendrix not Dylan and surely that is unique?
ReplyDeleteYes, I think you're on to something there, certainly for many of the various '60s/'70s versions (and of course all within a post-Beatles context when songwriters and performers had become more fused) -- Hendrix didn't just put his stamp on this but made it almost entirely his own. That said, some of the covers I'm sifting through on my hard drive are decidedly strange creatures that could derive from either -- by Lisa Gerrard, Bryan Ferry (from an album specifically honoring Dylan), Tony Mentzer (a lounge novelty), Dream Syndicate (almost surely from the Hendrix, all things considered), T.S.O.L. (a hardcore band, I believe, and sounding more like the Dylan), Michael de Jong, Jenn Adams, and Cary August (a techno version).
ReplyDeleteI have persued a few more versions and think it's amazing that mine are still different to yours [the brilliance of this music and its range!]. I've just made reference to this on my blog as well as referencing your site, which I hope you won't mind. I have refused to listen to the Ferry because of his politics [!] but perhaps I shouldn't be so picky [I've colledted RM on vinyl after all]. I look forward to checking out the covers you mention, thanks.
ReplyDeleteUff da, not sure I wanted to know that about Ferry -- another hero with clay feet, it appears. Thanks for stopping by to comment, and for your link.
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