Chimes of Freedom - The Songs of Bob Dylan

It’s been 50 years since Bob Dylan released his first album.  It’s also the 50^th anniversary of Amnesty International.  This isn’t necessarily a coincidence, but it is an act of serendipity.  Many of Bob Dylan’s early songs addressed the injustices of groups of people [or in some cases, specific individuals] suffered at the hands of others.  Other songs addressed, to steal a phrase, hope and changes that were coming.  Amnesty International is all about fighting injustice wherever they see it.  To commemorate the anniversary, Bob Dylan gave the ok to donate proceeds from any songs on this collection to be donated to Amnesty.  Out of the 73 songs on this collection, there are lots of good renderings of Dylan’s work.  Some are just ‘ok,’ others are cures for insomnia.  There are some versions that are interesting because they just seem to come out of left field,  while a few should never have seen the light of day.  All ratings are subjective of course…

The REALLY Good Stuff

Drifter’s Escape – Patti Smith

Ballad of Hollis Brown – Rise Against

Love Sick – Mariachi El Bronx

Blowin’ in the Wind – Ziggy Marley

Outlaw Blues – Queens of the Stone Age

One More Cup of Coffee (To the Valley Below) – Lucia Micarelli/Steve Earle

No Time to Think – The Belle Brigade

The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Flogging Molly

Abandoned Love – Paul Rodgers/Nils Lofgren

Señor (Tales of Yankee Power) – Dierks Bentley

Chimes of Freedom – Bob Dylan [Duh!]

The Good Stuff

Blind Willie McTell – Tom Morello

This Wheel’s On Fire – Charlie Winston

You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go – Miley Cyrus [Surprise!]

Lay Down Your Weary Tune – Billy Bragg

Love Minus Zero/No Limit – Jackson Browne

Seven Curses – Joan Baez

Make You Feel My Love – Adele

She Belongs to Me – Neil Finn/Pajama Club

Buckets of Rain – Fistful of Mercy

Property of Jesus – Sinéad O’Connor

Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right [Instrumental] – Kronos Quartet

Political World – Carolina Chocolate Drops

Bob Dylan’s 115^th Dream – Taj Mahal & the Phantom Blues Band

One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) – Mick Hucknall

Tryin’ to Get to Heaven – Lucinda Williams

Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) – Kris Kristofferson

Gotta Serve Somebody – Eric Burdon

John Brown – State Radio

Heart of Mine – Blake Mills

4th Time Around – Oren Lavie

I Shall Be Released – Maroon 5

Somewhat Interesting

Subterranean Homesick Blues – Michael Franti

Mr. Tambourine Man – Jack’s Mannequin

All I Really Want To Do – Sussan Deyhim

It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue – Bad Religion

Desolation Row – My Chemical Romance

Shelter From the Storm – Ed Roland/The Sweet Tea Project

Forever Young – Pete Seeger [Just because a 90-year old dude is singing it…]

Zzzzz….. [Not terrible, just incredibly dull…]

Corrina, Corrina – Pete Townshend

Most of the Time – Bettye LaVette

Simple Twist of Fate – Diana Krall

Girl From the North Country – Sting

Restless Farewell – Mark Knopfler

Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 – Lenny Kravitz

License to Kill – Elvis Costello

Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You – Sugarland

Just Like a Woman – Carly Simon

Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – RedOne

It Aint Me, Babe – Band of Skulls

Like a Rolling Stone – Jeff Beck/Seal

Bob Dylan’s Dream – Bryan Ferry

I’ll Remember You – Thea Gilmore

Mama, You Been On My Mind – We Are Augustines

Meh…[I could have gone my entire life without hearing these versions…]

Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat – Raphael Saadiq

You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere – Brett Dennen

Changing of the Guards – The Gaslight Anthem

Not Dark Yet – Silversun Pickups

You’re a Big Girl Now – My Morning Jacket

Boots of Spanish Leather – The Airborne Toxic Event

Lay Lady Lay – Angelique Kidjo

Ring Them Bells – Natasha Bedingfield

With God on Our Side – K’NAAN

I Want You – Ximema Sariñana

Tomorrow Is a Long Time - Zee Avi

New Morning – Darren Criss

The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll - Cage the Elephant

Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right – Ke$ha

All Along the Watchtower – Dave Matthews Band

Man of Peace – Joe Perry

What Were They Thinking?

One Too Many Mornings – Johnny Cash & the Avett Brothers

I’d Have You Anytime – Evan Rachel Wood

Baby Let Me Follow You Down – Marianne Faithfull