Nobody Sings Dylan Like… The Byrds

Inspired by Bryan Ferry’s Dylanesque covers album, I dug out a fondly remembered tape of the first (vinyl) compilation of The Byrds’ Dylan covers, for a long car journey.

It turned out to be perfect driving music. The Byrds’ covers have worn remarkably well. Standouts in a strong list? All I Really Want To Do, Chimes Of Freedom, My Back Pages and, especially, Lay Down Your Weary Tune. The keening vocal harmonies and interweaving guitars throw a completely different light on some classic period Dylan songs.

Deeply impressed, I decided to replace the historic tape with the 2001 Sony compilation, The Byrds Play the Songs of Bob Dylan – especially while it’s available via amazon.co.uk at £4!

Tracklist:

1. Mr. Tamborine Man
2. It's All Over Now
3. The Times They Are A-Changin'
4. You Ain't Going Nowhere
5. Lay Lady Lay
6. All I Really Want To Do
7. Chimes Of Freedom
8. My Back Pages
9. Just Like A Woman
10. This Wheel's On Fire
11. Nothing Was Delivered
12. Positively 4th Street
13. Spanish Harlem Incident
14. Lay Down Your Weary Tune
15. It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - Live
16. Lay Lady Lay - Alt. Version
17. The Times They Are A-Changin' - Live
18. Mr. Tamborine Man - Live
19. Chimes Of Freedom - Live
20. Paths Of Victory

The Byrds’ Dylan covers are strong because top poprock musicians gave a distinguished songbook their best shot. But, re-listening to The Byrds’ own songbook afterwards, I was underwhelmed: compared to the gravitas of the Dylan material, the Byrds’ own songs sound irredeemably lightweight.


Gerry Smith