4 Underrated Bob Dylan Covers That Are Better Than the Originals

Alright, that’s a bold statement. I fully recognize that. These four underrated Bob Dylan covers might not be better than the originals to every listener. That’s the beauty of music; some love certain songs, and others don’t resonate with them. For me, though, the following four covers improve on already perfect songs by the Bard and deserve some praise. Let’s dive in, shall we?

“It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” by 13th Floor Elevators

Psychedelic rock fans likely already know about this underrated outfit, but I think 13th Floor Elevators deserve way more love than they get. Not only were their original psych-rock tunes on a particularly inspired level, but they had a knack for turning covers into songs that sound wholly original. The band took Bob Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” and turned it into an electric, almost proto-noise tune. It’s about as far removed from folk as you can get.

“If Not For You” by George Harrison

George Harrison proved himself to be a talented songwriter toward the end of his tenure with The Beatles. However, songwriting wasn’t his only talent. He was a solid musician in his own right, and his cover of “If Not For You” by Bob Dylan is just one example of his talents. You can tell that the two icons were friends; Harrison covers this song with a level of reverence and lightheartedness that only a good friend could muster.

“Blowin’ In The Wind” by Sam Cooke

Nobody sang like Sam Cooke, and he was a brave and culture-changing figure when it came to protest music. Cooke was an enormous fan of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind”. He famously said that he only wished that a black artist had penned it. His live cover is incredibly powerful. Fun fact: “Blowin’ In The Wind” inspired Cooke to write his own civil rights protest song, “A Change Is Gonna Come”.

“Masters Of War” by The Staple Singers

This is one of the most underrated Bob Dylan covers, and it hit the airwaves not long after the original song was released. The Staple Singers covered “Masters Of War” just a few years after Dylan debuted the song. In fact, this soulful group of singers and guitarists covered a few Dylan protest songs. But I have to say, “Masters Of War” is their finest rendition.

Photo by Brian Moody/Shutterstock

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