One of my rules for Friday Night Music (and all rules are for breaking) is non-repetition. I’ve tried not to repeat the same artists twice, even the sacred Beatles. Another rule is that the video has to actually be a video-no still pictures with the music in the background. Today I’m going to bend those rules a bit.
I actually started out looking for a Hollies’ song, but quickly concluded that there wasn’t much worth posting, and then got sidetracked looking for versions of a song that’s been running through my head lately: I Shall be Released, written by Bob Dylan, first sung by The Band. It’s a great song, and there a wide variety of versions out there, so I decided to post a smattering. These aren’t necessarily the best. Some were nixed due to bad sound quality (every Allman Brothers version I checked out) and some because they broke the second of the aforementioned rules (Nina Simone and Joe Cocker, two of the best). And then there’s the version that, so far as I know, was never recorded. How is it that Ray Charles never took a crack at this song? I really believe he could have owned this song. I guess the closest we’ll come to that is the Joe Cocker version.
Anyway, here are the versions that made the cut. Pride of place has to go The Band:
It’s Dylan’s song, so he has to make an appearance. In my humble opinion this pairing is sort of odd. Bob Dylan and Norah Jones? Does it work?
Joan Baez named a whole album after a line from the song. Here she is with the Smothers Brothers. I must have listened to 15 versions of this song, and I found it refreshing to come to one where the singer could actually sing. Say what you want about her, she has a great voice, and the Smothers remain discreet throughout.
Speaking of great voices, I’m going to break the rules again for this short piece. I’ve never been a fan of Elvis, but the guy could sing for sure. It’s a shame he never recorded the song for release.
The Heptones. Live at a Swedish Reggae Festival.
Finally, everyone in god’s creation. See how many you can identify.
No time nor room for Sting, Motherf*cking Sh!ts, U2, Wilco, Freddie McGregor….
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