Dylan covers 1: top 100 Dylan cover songs
by Moondance 
This chart reveals/uncovers the incredibly rich and diverse realm of Bob Dylan cover songs. One estimate puts the number of Dylan cover songs to be over 105,000; however my own research suggests that the number of verified, publicly available number of Dylan cover songs is closer to 10,000! In any event, to make a chart of my top 100 Dylan cover songs is both hard & easy.
To fully acknowledge and represent this diversity and to cover Dylan's entire 60 year recording career, I set certain parameters:
* Limit any artist to only one cover song;
* Limit any Dylan tribute album to only one cover song ~ Note: the number/diversity of Dylan tribute albums discovered during the making of this chart has amazed me. Despite having listened to over 50 tribute album, including the 30 tribute albums listed in this chart, I have only scratched the surface {elsewhere on the BEA site I am aware of a user who has a 'top 100 chart of 100% Dylan cover albums'; and during my research, I stumbled across a website that listed over 400 albums comprising between 50% - 100% Dylan cover songs};
* For Dylan albums with only a small number of original songs (eg 'Bob Dylan'; 'Greatest Hits Vol II'; 'Self Portrait'; 'Masterpieces'; 'Knocked Out Loaded' etc), this chart includes at least one cover song to showcase those albums;
* For each of the 27 Dylan albums that contain all or mostly original songs, this chart includes between two - four cover songs with the exception of 'Under The Red Sky' ~ for which finding quality cover songs proved a challenge and thus only one cover song is included in this chart;
* In other words, every Dylan album that includes, in part or in full, original songs is referenced in this chart (at last count, that added up to 40 Dylan albums);
* Some songs written/co-written by Dylan but never recorded by Dylan have been included in this chart (eg Clapton, Goffin, O'Keefe);
* Dylan side projects (eg Traveling Wilbury's, movie soundtracks) have also been included in this chart, to give this chart the most comprehensive feel that I could put together.
The order of the chart listing will be chronological - based on the release date of the corresponding contemporaneous studio album or the recording date for those songs that were released much later on compilation albums (Greatest Hits VolII, Masterpieces), the 1975 Basement Tapes or the various Bootleg Series albums.
The only exception to the chronological order is the #1 entry by Linda Mason, which is recognised as the first album to be released that was 100% dedicated to covering the songs of Bob Dylan.
The data in this chart - eg number of times Dylan has performed a particular song in concert is as at June 2023.
- Chart updated: 02/01/2025 03:45
- (Created: 05/22/2022 06:40).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
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Dylan recorded "Farewell" in early 1963 as a Witmark & Sons demo and live recordings from the same period have been in circulation on various unofficial recordings (eg A Rare Batch Of Little White Wonder). The song was officially released almost 50 years later on Dylan's 2010 Bootleg Series Vol. 9 - The Witmark Demos 1962-1964.
Dylan performed 'Farewell' in concert on three occasions ~ for the first time at The Basement of Gerde's Folk City, NY on 8 February 1963; and for the final time Forest Hill Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY on 17 August 1963.
Despite the lyrical sentiment, I don't think a 21 year old Dylan would have ever imagined how far from reality his journey would contradict this line: "With my hands in my pockets and my coat collar high, I will travel unnoticed and unknown". [First added to this chart: 06/05/2022]
Dylan recorded "Song To Woody" on 20 November 1961 and it was released (side 2, track 5) on his debut March 1962 'Bob Dylan' album. Of the 13 songs on the album, only 2 were original songs - the other original song being "Talking New York".
Dylan has performed 'Song For Woody' on over 50 occasions ~ the first, at the Gaslight Cafe, NY on 6 September 1961; and the last time at Telewest Arena, Newcastle, England on 8 May 2002.
Despite its early genesis, the 20 year old Dylan's genius pokes up its head with a line reflecting on the state of the world (that is perhaps more true now than it was 60 years ago): "It looks like it's a-dyin' an' it's hardly been born". [First added to this chart: 05/23/2022]
Dylan recorded "Baby I'm In The Mood For You" at Columbia Studios on 9 July 1962 and the song appeared on unofficial recordings such as 'Talking Bear Mountain'. The song was officially released on the 1985 'Biograph' box set - which originally consisted of 5 LPs, with "Baby I'm In The Mood For You" landing at track 1 of side 2 on the 4th LP in the set.
Dylan has never performed this song in concert.
Lyrically, the song is a ramble of images where the rhyming scheme seems to dictate where the next line leads ~ however, it is interesting to note that the third line of verse 4 contains: "Sometimes I'm in the mood, I wanna fly like a cannonball". Very shortly after, Bob revisited the 'cannonball' image when in line 5 of verse 1 of 'Blowin' In The Wind' he wrote: "Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannonballs fly...". I'm guessing these are the only two instances where Dylan penned 'cannonball' in his songs. [First added to this chart: 05/26/2022]
Dylan recorded 'John Brown' in February 1963 for Broadside Ballads Vol 1 (an album showcasing the songs of NY based folk singers of the time - eg Seeger, La Farge, Turner, Traum, Spoelstra) - although the song is ascribed to Blind Boy Grunt (aka Bob Dylan attempting to avoid contractual issues with Columbia Records).
The song would not surface, officially, until a Witmark & Sons demo recorded in August 1963, that was eventually released (CD2, song 13) on the 2010 Bootleg Series Vol 9 - The Witmark Demos 1962-1964.
Dylan has performed "John Brown" close to 160 times in concert ~ for the first time at the Gaslight Cafe, NY on 15 October 1962. The importance of 'John Brown' to Dylan's early repertoire is the inclusion of the song in his first major concert - Town Hall, NY on 12 April 1963. The last performance of the song is from 1st Bank Center, Broomfield, CO on 30 October 2012.
Dylan's reflections on war can be viewed through these lines: "And I couldn't help to think, through the thunder rolling and stink, that I was just a puppet in a play"; "But the thing that scared me most was when my enemy came close, and I saw that his face looked just like mine". [First added to this chart: 05/22/2022]
There is a home recording of Dylan singing 'Tomorrow Is A Long Time' at the Minneapolis home of Dave Whittaker from August 1962, but the publicly available 'live' recording took place on 12 April 1963 at Dylan's first public concert (Town Hall, NY). This 'live' version was released on Dylan's November 1971 'Greatest Hits Vol II' double album at side 4, track 3. In fact, tracks 3-7 on side 4 were all previously unreleased songs - which remains an interesting Dylan trademarks for 'greatest hits/compilation albums'.
Dylan did a studio recording of 'Tomorrow Is A Long Time' for the Witmark & Sons Demos in December 1962, however this version was not released until the October 2010 'Bootleg Series Vol 9 - The Witmark Demos 1962-64'.
Dylan has performed 'Tomorrow Is A Long Time' less than 60 times in concert ~ 4 times in 1962/3 and the balance between 20 February 1978 (Nippon Budokan, Tokyo) and 21 November 2009 (United Palace Theatre, New York).
'Only if she was lyin' by me, then I'd lie in my bed once again' [First added to this chart: 05/23/2022]
It has been estimated that 'Blowin' In The Wind' has been covered by over 375 artists.
Dylan wrote 'Blowin' In The Wind' in early 1962 and it was recorded on 9 July 1962 and released as the opening track on his May 1963 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan' album ~ his 2nd studio album.
The first live recording of 'Blowin' In The Wind' dates from May 1962 (WBAI-FM Radio; Gerde's Folk City). The song has been performed over 1570 times in concert, including the 1 August 1971 'Concert For Bangla Desh' ~ making it the 5th most played Dylan song in concert. The last performance of the song was on 14 July 2019 at Nowlan Park, KIlkenny, Ireland.
'How many sees must a white dove sail' ~ a line from the song and also the title of the album listed at #1 on this chart. [First added to this chart: 05/23/2022]
Dylan recorded 'Girl From The North Country' on 24 April 1963 and it was released one month later (side 1, track 2) on his May 1963 'Freewheelin' Bob Dylan' album. The song was re-recorded in February 1969 ~ this time with Johnny Cash duetting with Dylan ~ and the version opens up Dylan's April 1969 'Nashville Skyline' album.
Dylan has performed 'Girl From The North Country' over 580 times including on the Canadian "Quest" TV program - aired on 10 March 1964 - and the Johnny Cash Show on 1 May 1969. The first concert performance was at Lisner Auditorium, Washington, DC on 14 December 1963; and the last performance was at The Anthem, Washington, DC on 8 December 2019. This latter concert marked the end of Dylan concert performances until he hit the road again with the 'Rough & Rowdy Ways tour' in November 2021 - with a new set list, dominated by the songs off his 'Rough & Rowdy ways' album.
"Remember me to one who lives there, she was once a true love of mine" [First added to this chart: 06/15/2022]
As a side note: Eddie Vedder (solo) and with Pearl Jam have performed 'Masters Of War' some 50 times in concert.
'Masters of War' was first recorded by Dylan for the Witmark & Sons Demos in early 1963 and a 'live' version from this time also circulated on unofficial recordings.
Dylan recorded the official studio version on 24 April 1963 and it was released (side 1, track 3) on his May 1963 "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan' album. The tune was 'borrrowed' from a song written by Jean Ritchie ~ Nottamun Town ~ and for which she was paid $5000 to settle the matter.
Dylan has performed 'Masters Of War' over 900 times in concert (of which almost 60 are credited to Dylan/Petty) ~ placing it in the top 20 songs performed live during Dylan's career. The first occasion was at the Pindar of Wakefield London (22 December 1962) and for the final time at Empire Polo Club, Indio, CA on 7 October 2016.
(Note: This year ~ 2022 ~ marks Dylan's 60th year as a singer/songwriter/recording artist/performer ~ it will be interesting to see if there is a 60th anniversary concert celebration)
Among a host of memorable couplets/images, my favourite line: 'All the money you made will never buy back your soul'. [First added to this chart: 05/25/2022]
Dylan recorded 'A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall' on 6 December 1962 and it was released (side 1, track 6) on his May 1963 "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan".
The first known performances by Dylan of 'A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall' can be traced to Carnegie Hall, NY on 22 September 1962 as part of a '3 song per performer all star hootenanny'. The song has subsequently been performed by Dylan around 450 times, including 'The Concert for Bangla Desh' at Madison Square Gardens, NY on 1 August 1971 ~ placing it as one of the top 40 songs Dylan has performed in his 60 year/3800+ concerts career. The last performance on the song was at the Firefly Music Festival, Dover, DE on 17 June 2017.
Patti Smith sang 'A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall' at Dylan's 2016 Nobel Prize Award ceremony on 10 December 2016.
So many stark & vivid images in this one song, and so I will simply settle on this one: 'I heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley'. [First added to this chart: 05/22/2022]
'Walls Of Red Wing' was first performed live by Dylan at his first Town Hall, NY concert on 12 April 1963, with a studio recording talking place 12 days later (24 April 1963) as part of 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan' sessions, although the recording was not included on final studio album. The studio recording was finally released on the 1991 'Bootleg Series Vol 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased)' 3 CD boxset, on CD1, track 14.
Dylan has performed 'Walls Of Red Wing' on 7 occasions; the first time at his Town Hall, NY concert on 12 April 1963; at a handful of concerts between October 1963 - May 1964; and finally at Municipal Auditorium, Austin, TX on 12 May 1976.
"The night aimed shadows through the crossbar windows" [First added to this chart: 06/05/2022]
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Dylan covers 1: top 100 Dylan cover songs composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 15 | 15% | |
| 1970s | 14 | 14% | |
| 1980s | 4 | 4% | |
| 1990s | 14 | 14% | |
| 2000s | 28 | 28% | |
| 2010s | 14 | 14% | |
| 2020s | 11 | 11% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Various Artists | 9 | 9% | |
| Steve Harley | 1 | 1% | |
| Dave Van Ronk | 1 | 1% | |
| Maria Muldaur | 1 | 1% | |
| Old Crow Medicine Show | 1 | 1% | |
| Third Day | 1 | 1% | |
| Ramblin' Jack Elliott | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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50 | 50% | |
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24 | 24% | |
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10 | 10% | |
|
7 | 7% | |
|
3 | 3% | |
|
2 | 2% | |
|
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Dylan covers 1: top 100 Dylan cover songs chart changes
| New entries |
|---|
Classic John Martynby John Martyn |
| Leavers |
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Piece By Pieceby John Martyn |
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