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 '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]
On this 12 track celebration of the 'music is love' era, Richard offers seven tracks from the combined & individual efforts of CSN&Y and closes the album with an excellent version of Dylan's 'I Shall Be Released'.
Dylan recorded two versions of 'I Shall Be Released': the first between April-October 1967 during his self imposed exile at Woodstock with The Band; the second on 24 September 1971 at Columbia Studios NY, with Happy Traum providing banjo, bass, guitar and back up vocal. It is this latter version that was released (side 4, track 5) on his November 1971 'Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol II' double album. The 'Woodstock' version was belatedly released (CD2, track 13) on the 3CD 'The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased)' boxset.
Dylan first performed 'I Shall Be Released' in concert at the opening of his Rolling Thunder Review 1 tour ~ War Memorial Auditorium, Plymouth, MA on 30 October 1975 ~ and it remained a set list regular until a final performance on 7 June 2008 at Klub Stadola, Warsaw ~ being performed over 500 times during that period.
'I see my light come shining/from the west unto the east' [First added to this chart: 07/18/2022]
Dylan recorded 'Gotta Serve Somebody' on 4 May 1979 (featuring Mark Knopfler on guitar) and it was released as the opening track on his August 1979 'Slow Train Coming' album - signaling what has been referred to as the beginning of his 'religious period'. The song was also released as a single (charting at #23 Canada, #24 USA & #96 Australia), for which Dylan received the Grammy Award for the Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Male at the 1980 ceremony.
After an hiatus of almost one year, Dylan returned to 'live' concert performance on 1 November 1979 (Fox Warfield Theatre, San Francisco) ~ and for the next 2 years, 'Gotta Serve Somebody' opened up each concert. The song has been performed over 660 times in concert, including the current Rough & Rowdy Ways world-wide concert tour. The latest performance has been on 20 April 2023 at Nagoya, Japan.
'Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord/But you're gonna have to serve somebody' [First added to this chart: 08/08/2022]
Dylan recorded 'Standing In The Doorway' in January 1997 and it was released (track 3) on his September 1997 'Time Out Of Mind' album. Like 'Oh Mercy', this album was produced by Daniel Lanois & marked a return to studio albums of original material after a seven year hiatus. Despite only reaching #10 in the UK & US, the album won 3 Grammy Awards at the 1998 ceremony, including 'Album of the Year'.
Dylan has performed 'Standing In The Doorway' on occasions between 2000 - 2017. The first live performance was on 15 June 2000 at Rosebud Theatre, Portland, OR; the final performance on 1 April 2017 at Stockholm Waterfront, Stockholm.
'I see nothing to be gained from any explanation/There are no words that need to be said' [First added to this chart: 05/26/2022]
Dylan recorded 'Not Dark Yet' in January 1997 and it was released (track 7) on his September 1997 'Time Out Of Mind' album. The song was also released as a single on 28 August 1997, although it seems to have not made a dent on any international chart.
Dylan has taken a liking to performing this song live ~ with 191 performances between 1997 - 2019. The first performance was on 30 October 1997 at Columbus Civic Centre, Columbus, Georgia; the final performance (as at August 2022) was on 8 December 2019 at The Anthem, Washington, DC.
'I was born here and I'll die here against my will/I know it looks like I am moving, but I'm standing still' [First added to this chart: 08/23/2022]
Dylan recorded 'Beyond Here Lies Nothing' in December 2008 and it was released as the opening track on his April 2009 'Together Through Life' album. The song, also released as a single ~ reaching #10 on the US Billboard Adult Alternative chart ~ was co-written with Robert Hunter (who is best known as lyricist for the Grateful Dead).
At over 450 live performances, 'Beyond Here Lies Nothing' is the most performed song from 'Together Through Life'. It was first performed on 10 July 2009 at Fifth Third Field, Dayton, OH and for the final time on 23 October 2019 at Iowa State University, Ames, IO.
'Beyond here lies nothin'/Nothin' done and nothin' said' [First added to this chart: 05/31/2022]
Dylan co-wrote 'Life Is Hard' with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. The song was written for the Olivier Dahan directed movie 'My Own Love Story', which features Renee Zellweger ~ and Renee sings the song in the movie.
Dylan recorded 'Life Is Hard' in December 2008, and as well as featuring in the movie, it was also released (track 2) on his April 2009 'Together Through Life' album. The album charted at #1 in the US & UK and (at the time) gave Dylan (aged 67yrs, 11mths) the distinction of being the oldest living artist to do so ~ nudging out Neil Diamond, who reached #1 in the US & UK with his May 2008 'Home After Dark' album, when Neil was 67yrs, 3mths.
Dylan has never performed 'Life Is Hard' in concert.
'The sun is sinking low/I guess it's time to go/I feel a chilly breeze/In place of memories' [First added to this chart: 06/01/2022]
Dylan co-wrote 'Duquesne Whistle' with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter ~ in what may well be a left over from their collaborative efforts for the 2009n 'Together Through Life' album.
Dylan recorded 'Duquesne Whistle' between January - March 2012 and it was released as the opening track to his September 2012 'Tempest' album ~ an album that peaked at #3 on the US Billboard & UK charts. The song was also released as a single in August 2012, reaching a modest #60 in the US.
Dylan has performed 'Duquesne Whistle' almost 380 times in concert between its premiere on 26 June 2013 at Cruzan Ampitheatre, West palm Beach, FL and its swansong on 22 August 2018 at Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, Australia.
'Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing/Blowing like she's blowing right on time' [First added to this chart: 05/24/2022]
Dylan recorded 'early Roman Kings' between January - March 2012 and it was released (track 7) on his September 2012 'Tempest' album.
It what seems to be a concert favourite, Dylan has performed 'Early Roman Kings' a staggering 590 times in the 9 year period ~ 7 November 2012 (at Xcel Energy center, St Paul, MI) and 2 December 2021 (The Anthem, Washington, DC) - making it the 27th most performed song in Dylan's 60 year career.
'I ain't dead yet/My bell still rings/I keep my fingers crossed/Like them early Roman kings' [First added to this chart: 06/01/2022]
As a side note, Emma's partner is Robyn Hitchcock who is also featured in this chart at entry #32 for his cover of 'Visions Of Johanna'.
Dylan recorded 'I Contain Multitudes' in January-February 2020 and it was released as the opening track on his June 2020 'Rough & Rowdy Ways' ~ an album that peaked at #1 in the UK and #2 in the US & Australia. The song was also released as a single on 17 April 2020, reaching #5 on the Billboard Rock Digital Song Sales chart.
Dylan has performed 'I Contain Multitudes' 114 times to date during his 'Rough & Rowdy Ways' world tour, beginning with the opening concert of the tour on 2 November 2021 at Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI ~ and concluding (so far) on 20 April 2023 with the final Nagoya, Japan concert.
'Today and tomorrow, and yesterday, too/The flowers are dyin' like all things do' [First added to this chart: 05/23/2022]
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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% | |
| Graham Bonnet | 1 | 1% | |
| Ani DiFranco | 1 | 1% | |
| Bettye LaVette | 1 | 1% | |
| Linda Mason | 1 | 1% | |
| Counting Crows | 1 | 1% | |
| Elkie Brooks | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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|
|
50 | 50% | |
|
24 | 24% | |
|
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 |
|---|
Piece By Pieceby John Martyn |
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