Yes, it was originally Bob Dylan

By Broadside Staff Reporter Andy Minor

10. Cat Power, “Moonshiner”
Okay, so it's not a song composed by Bob Dylan. But this traditional folk song was made slightly more famous by Dylan's recording it in his bootleg sessions in the early 1960s. As somber as Dylan's version is, Cat Power's smooth voice is a breath of fresh air into this song. Her slowed tempo also helps, making it a melancholy ballade about spending all your money on whiskey and beer. Dylan's style shouldn't be refuted, but Cat Power does equal justice to the song.

9. Eric Clapton, “Knockin' on Heaven's Door”
Even though the Guns N' Roses version is much more famous, I put the Clapton version on here because it's better. It doesn't have a phone-call interlude and Clapton sings more from the heart than Axl Rose ever could. At the same time Clapton's version seems similar to Dylan's original in terms of tone and tempo, which sets the lyrical message in place a lot better than screeching guitar riffs from Slash.

8. Johnny Cash, “Don't Think Twice, It's Alright”
Johnny Cash shows up on this list more than once, and I credit that to how closely in tune with folk music both Cash and Dylan were. Both musicians had deep roots in American folk music traditions and carried that into their own genres. Cash throws a country twang and a deep voice to this classic and makes it his own, which is the clear goal of any cover. Even through the country filter the song stays true to the original, and I believe it's because of the deep folk connections the two musicians shared.

7. Joe Cocker, “I Shall Be Released”
Joe Cocker always managed to throw a Dylan cover on to his albums and it's always a treat to hear just what he can do with an already amazing song. Cocker takes this Dylan ditty and builds it up, slowing it down and making room for full rock band orchestration and lots of room to grunt and groan. Cocker's drunken crackle is a whole new way to hear this song; way different from the original Dylan/Guitar/Harmonica ensemble we are used to.

6. Peter, Paul and Mary, “Blowin' in the Wind”
This is actually a song where I prefer the Dylan version, but this track makes it on the list simply because of how big a hit Peter, Paul and Mary had with it. This song was the anthem for late 1960s folk rock, protesting and social change. No matter what person or band sings it, this song carries special meaning for anyone who has wanted to stick it to the man. I don't mean to discredit Peter, Paul and Mary, they were a solid folk trio in a time when folk trios were king.

5. Jimi Hendrix, “Like a Rolling Stone”
Just as Johnny Cash connected with Bob Dylan on a folk song level, I think Hendrix had just as strong a connection with him on the electric level. Hendrix also possessed the ability to sing lyrics with the force and feeling of a real southern blues man. When you couple that with Dylan's deep lyrics you get something that is truly remarkable.

4. Manfred Mann, “Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)”
This song is pretty bizarre to begin with, and Dylan's original sounds like it had been recorded in a noisy bar, so this song probably isn't for everyone. But leave it to Manfred Mann to get something going on this classic that turned it into a catchy pop single that topped the charts in the U.K. I didn't even think people needed to anticipate a mighty Eskimo so heavily, but I guess the mysteries of Bob Dylan are better left unanswered. Listen to the song, both versions, and you'll see what I mean.

3. The Byrds, “Mr. Tambourine Man”
My favorite part of this song is probably how the lyrics ended up in the poetry section of the ninth edition of the Norton Introduction to Literature. It's probably just a testament to how big this song was, both for the Byrds and for Dylan himself. It's another popped up version of a folk driven Dylan song, which just goes to show that it seems almost anyone can take a Dylan song and become successful. I don't know about you, but for me that solidifies Dylan as one hell of a songwriter.

2. Johnny Cash, “It Ain't Me, Babe”
Thanks to the soundtrack recording of Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, this song became popular a couple years back when Walk the Line was in theaters. But long before this movie, there was the great recording of Johnny Cash and June Carter singing this song together and it is simply stunning. They play off each other so well and it's just a fun song to listen to. Dylan's version uses the somewhat somber lyrics to a different effect with his guitar and his harmonica, and the original comes off at a different speed than the Cash cover. Both versions have their merits and really are excellent.

1. Jimi Hendrix, “All Along the Watchtower”
I'll never forget buying “Electric Ladyland” at my local Tower Records and letting this first track on an amazing album fill my 14-year-old ears. I had no idea that I was listening to a cover of a Bob Dylan song, all I knew was that the song was great and the guitar playing was amazing. When I finally found out the song's author I wasn't surprised at all. Bob Dylan is an amazing musician for coming up with such smart lyrics and putting music behind them and Jimi Hendrix is an amazing musician for taking such a song within his own style. The collaboration of the two is simply stunning.