A couple months ago Jeff Meyerson mentioned the Lucinda Williams series of cover albums. I immediately ordered them and as they arrived, I’ve been listening to them. The first CD I listened to was Bob’s Back Pages: a Night of Bob Dylan Songs: Lu’s Jukebox–The Studio Concert Series, Volume 3.
If you check out the Track List, you’ll see some familiar and some not so familiar Dylan songs. My favorite song on this album is “Not Dark Yet” (from Dylan’s 1997 Time Out of Mind CD). Lucinda Williams does a nice job singing “It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train to Cry” and “Queen Jane Approximately.” I’m less enthralled by the more obscure Dylan songs like “Meet Me in the Morning” and “Tryin’ to Get to Heaven.”
I’ll be listening and reviewing the rest of Lucinda’s cover CDs in the months ahead. Are you a Dylan fan? Do you know these songs? GRADE: B
TRACKLIST:
| A1 | It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry Written-By – Bob Dylan | 5:48 | |
| A2 | Everything Is Broken Written-By – Bob Dylan | 3:32 | |
| A3 | Political World Written-By – Bob Dylan | 8:21 | |
| B1 | Man Of Peace Written-By – Bob Dylan | 6:39 | |
| B2 | Not Dark Yet Written-By – Bob Dylan | 4:44 | |
| B3 | Meet Me In The Morning Written-By – Bob Dylan | 5:18 | |
| B4 | Blind Willie McTell Written-By – Bob Dylan | 5:23 | |
| C1 | Tryin’ To Get To Heaven Written-By – Bob Dylan | 5:07 | |
| C2 | Queen Jane Approximately Written-By – Bob Dylan | 5:09 | |
| C3 | Idiot Wind Written-By – Bob Dylan | 7:44 | |
| C4 | Make You Feel My Love Written-By – Bob Dylan | 4:26 |
I know most of these songs—I’ll have to give the album a listen. I like covers that take a new approach to the material, so I’m hoping that’s what I’ll hear here. By the way, if you’re looking for a great take on “Everything Is Broken”, check out Mississippi blues man, R. L. Burnside’s version:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jhKqqYuV9MU&pp=ygUgcmwgYnVybnNpZGUgZXZlcnl0aGluZyBpcyBicm9rZW4%3D
Deb, thanks for the link! Lucinda Williams and her group picked songs that appealed to their bluesy style.
“Queen Jane” is my one of my favorite Dylans… which is saying a lot for it!
Dan, I’m with you on “Queen Jane Approximately.” An underrated Dylan song!
I’m familiar with all but two or three and like all the ones I know, but haven’t heard cover versions of any of them. Nobody ever seems to mention what a genius Dylan is at naming songs. How could anyone resist listening to a song named “It Takes a Lot to Laugh, it takes a Train to Cry”? Or “Queen Jane Approximately”? Both great songs, by the way.
Michael, and “Positively Fourth Street” and album titles like Blonde On Blonde. Dylan’s a genius, no doubt about it.
And how many of these are his small revisions of others’/traditional songs? Lucinda Williams is certainly a better singer…I should check these out.
Todd, I have several more Lucinda Williams CDs to listen to. Reviews to follow.
As soon as I saw these, I knew you’d go for this one and the Stones covers. I like Lucinda a lot – we’re seeing her again next month – though I haven’t picked up this one yet. I do have her covers of ’60s Country Classics (Together Again, Make the World Go Away, Night Life, The End of the World, Funny How Time Slips Away), which suits her voice and style very well. Also Southern Soul (Games People Play, Ode to Billy Joe, I Can’t Stand the Rain, Rainy Night in Georgia, Take Me to the River). And The Stones (The Last Time, Get Off of My Cloud, Paint It, Black, Play WIth Fire, Street Fighting Man, Satisfaction).
I agree on the two best Dylan songs.
Jeff, thank you so much for bringing this Lucinda Williams series to my attention! It was under my radar until you mentioned it in a comment. The other CDs are in my Listen to Real Soon stack. I’m eager to hear Lucinda’s Tom Petty cover CD that’s on top right now!
I know all these songs. I am both a fan of Dylan and Lucinda. Not sure vhow strong Lucinda’s voice is since her stroke. Saw her on Austin City Limits and her voice sounded nearly gone. Hopefully it has improved since than.
Steve, I know Lucinda’s stroke affected her voice, but she sounds pretty good on this CD.