In December Bob Dylan will travel to Stockholm to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. (Update: Actually, looks like he will *not* be in attendance for the ceremony) This is unprecedented in awarding the prize to a musical composer, much less a popular music figure. Bob Dylan obviously is no ordinary musician. He is a poet who composes music which features his verse. If Bob had to make his reputation by his music alone we probably would not still be listening after fifty plus years. This week we’ll listen to some of my favorite Bob Dylan songs in cover versions and we’ll also include a couple of selections sung by Bob referencing two earlier awards he has won.

LISTEN:

Artist / “Title” / CD / Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways
J.D. Crowe & The New South / “Nashville Skyline Rag” / Flashback / Rounder
Bob Dylan / “As I Went Out One Morning” / John Wesley Harding / Columbia
Bob Dylan / “Day of the Locusts” / New Morning / Columbia
Bob Dylan / “My Back Pages” / Another Side of Bob Dylan / Columbia

New World Singers / “Blowin’ in the Wind” / Classic Protest Songs / Smithsonian Folkways
The Clancy Brothers & Robbie O’Connell / “When the Ship Comes In” / Older But No Wiser / Vanguard
Pops Staples / “Gotta Serve Somebody” / Don’t Lose This / Anti
Joan Baez with The Indigo Girls / “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” / 75th Birthday Celebration / Razor & Tie
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / “Nashville Skyline Rag” / A Boy Named Sue / Columbia

The Band / “When I Paint My Masterpiece”/ Cahoots / Capitol
The Byrds / “You Ain’t Going Anywhere” / Sweetheart of the Rodeo / Columbia
Judy Collins / “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” / In My Life / Elektra
Peter Keane / “I Want You” / Walkin’ Around / Flying Fish
The Rolling Stones / “Like a Rolling Stone” / Stripped / Virgin
Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways