Almanac Music: Dylan Cover Songs – International Style: The Top 10 Aussie Chart Top 100
Welcome to the first Dylan covers article with an ‘International’ focus. To ease ourselves into this ‘International’ series, this article will corral, in chronological order, the top 10 Dylan covers that began life overseas but dared to cross the vast oceans in order to permeate the Aussie radio airwaves and infiltrate the Aussie top 100 singles chart.
For those of us of the Baby Boomer generation, these covers will be quite familiar as they begin to soundtrack our own childhood/early teenage years and move through our early adulthood and finish as our own children enter their childhood/early teenage years.
Peter Paul & Mary (PP&M) released their cover of ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ in June 1963, three weeks after the original was released by Dylan on his Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan album. For most Aussies, the PP&M version would be our first taste of Dylan – although it would be a few more years until we actually realised who Bob Dylan was.
PP&M’s version of ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ entered the Aussie charts on 27 July 1963 and peaked at #11; although it may be of interest to note that their other 1963 hit song, ‘Puff (The Magic Dragon)’, peaked at #6 a few months earlier.
Trivia: In the US, PP&M’s cover of ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ peaked at #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and in 1964 the group received two Grammy Awards for the song – Best Folk Recording, and Best Performance By A Vocal Group. In 2003, PP&M’s version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
PP&M had further chart success in Australia with the following Dylan covers: ‘The Times They Are A-Changing’ (#17, May 1965); and ‘Too Much Of Nothing’ (#81, December 1967).
Dylan’s own single version of ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’, released in August 1963, failed to chart in the US or elsewhere, while Stevie Wonder’s cover of ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ fared better – peaking at #60 on the Aussie charts in August 1966.
The Byrds released their cover of ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ in April 1965, just two weeks after the original was released by Dylan on his Bringing It All Back Home album.
‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ entered the Aussie charts on 22 May 1965 and peaked at #3. This is the equal highest ranking of any Dylan song (original or cover) on the Australian Top 100 charts.
What I find most fascinating about The Byrds version is that they take Dylan’s folky 5m30s, 5 chorus/4 verse original and convert it into an electric 2m30s, 2 chorus/1 verse cover (with only verse 2 being used) and in the process create a new musical subgenre dubbed ‘folk rock’.
Trivia: ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ was The Byrds’ debut single and also the opening title track of their debut album. The song reached #1 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart. This is the first, but definitely not the last, occasion where a Dylan cover song has successfully launched the career of a band and/or singer.
Despite being accredited to The Byrds, their ‘Mr Tambourine Man’ version was performed by Roger McGuinn playing 12-string lead guitar and lead vocals and session musicians known as ‘The Wrecking Crew’ providing all other instrumentation. David Crosby and Gene Clark were only permitted to provide vocal harmony to the song; and the remaining two members of The Byrds (i.e. Chris Hillmen & Michael Clarke) played no role at all.
The Byrds had further chart success in Australia with the following Dylan covers: ‘All I Really Want To Do’ (#42, July 1965); and ‘You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere’ (#82, June 1968).
The Turtles released their cover of ‘It Ain’t Me Babe’ in August 1965 – some 12 months after the original was released by Dylan on his Another Side Of Bob Dylan album.
The Turtles version of ‘It Ain’t Me Babe’ entered the Aussie charts in September 1965 and peaked at #38.
Trivia: In scenes reminiscent to that of The Byrds, ‘It Ain’t Me Babe’ was The Turtles debut single and also the title of their debut album. However, unlike The Byrds, the lack of a distinctive sound and significant chart impact resulted in The Turtles disbanding by the end of 1969 – poignantly following the release of their Turtle Soup album.
In 1964, Johnny Cash (in duet with future wife June Carter) also released a cover of ‘It Ain’t Me Babe’ – a cover that barely rattled the Aussie charts, peaking at #85 in December 1964; although it did peak at #4 on the US Country chart.
Manfred Mann released their cover of ‘Mighty Quinn’ in February 1968. Manfred Mann’s version was the first version of the song to be released and pre-dates Dylan’s own release – a live version from the August 1969 Isle Of Wright concert that was included on Dylan’s June 1970 ‘Self Portrait’ album – by more than 2 years.
‘Mighty Quinn’ entered the Aussie charts in February 1968 and peaked at #8. This version is best noted for Klaus Voormann’s distinctive flute.
Trivia: Manfred Mann have successfully championed Dylan songs throughout their original 1964-68 incarnation and their subsequent 1971 – 2020’s manifestation as Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. Chart success in Australia beyond ‘Mighty Quinn’ includes: ‘With God On Our Side’ (#36, August 1965); ‘If You Gotta Go, Go Now’ (#4, October 1965); ‘Just Like A Woman’ (#24, August 1966); and ‘You Angel You’ (#50, April, 1979).
Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and the Trinity released their cover of ‘This Wheel’s On Fire’ in April 1968 – some three months prior to the official release of the song by The Band and seven years before Dylan’s own official release on the 1975 The Basement Tapes. ‘This Wheel’s On Fire’ was co-written by Dylan and Rick Danko during their collective hiatus at Woodstock in 1967.
The Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and the Trinity version was the first to be released worldwide and is best known for its use of distortion, phasing, evocative imagery and flamboyant dress, typically associated with the psychedelic era. ‘This Wheel’s On Fire’ entered the Aussie charts in July 1968 and peaked at #63.
Trivia: The song fared much better in its native UK, where it peaked at #5. Julie Driscoll recorded the song again in the early 1990’s, along with Adrian Edmonson, as the theme to the BBC series ‘Absolutely Fabulous’.
Aussie band Flake had a minor hit with ‘This Wheel’s On Fire’, when their cover version reached #20 on the Go Set Top 60 in July 1970, and stayed on the chart for 22 weeks.
Jimi Hendrix spent the best part of seven months (January – August 1968) getting his cover version of ‘All Along The Watchtower’ to the point where he was satisfied with the final version. The song was released in September 1968, some nine months after Dylan’s acoustic original on the December 1967 John Wesley Harding album.
Jimi’s version entered the Aussie charts in November 1968 and peaked at #6.
Trivia: In the booklet accompanying Dylan’s 1985 Biograph box set, Dylan states:
‘I liked Jimi Hendrix’s record of ‘All Along The Watchtower’ and ever since he died I’ve been doing it that way … Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it’s a tribute to him in some kind of way’.
In actual fact, Dylan has played ‘All Along The Watchtower’ in concert on over 2250 occasions – more than any other song from his anthology – and every one of those live performances, beginning in January 1974, have been done ‘Jimi’s way’. The net effect is that Dylan is covering a cover of his own song.
Jimi’s cover of ‘All Along The Watchtower’ was the first to be released worldwide and it is not surprising that the vast majority of the subsequent 220 cover versions of the song by other artists are done ‘Jimi’s way’.
Bryan Ferry released his cover of ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’ in September 1973. Of the five verses in Dylan’s original (released on his May 1963 Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan album), Bryan performs verses 1, 3 & 5 only. The song was also the opening track to Bryan’s debut solo album, These Foolish Things, which was launched in October 1973.
Bryan’s cover of ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’ entered the Aussie charts in April 1974 and peaked at #23.
Trivia: Bryan’s solo career, beginning with These Foolish Things in 1973, intersected with his distinguished Roxy Music career that ran from 1970-1982.
Bryan revealed his admiration for Dylan’s anthology when, in 2007, he released his own 11-track Dylan tribute album, titled Dylanesque.
In October 1971, Leon Russell also entered the Aussie charts with a cover of ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’ that peaked at #12.
Graham Bonnet released his cover of ‘It’s All Over Now Baby Blue’ in August 1977. This was followed by the release of his self-titled album in September 1977, where ‘It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue’ was the opening track.
The album and single both charted in Australia & New Zealand: with the album peaking at #7 & #11 respectively; and ‘It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue’ peaking at #3 on both sides of the Tasman Sea.
Trivia: Neither the album nor the single made any impression whatsoever elsewhere in the world.
Interestingly, Graham’s follow up single, 1978’s ‘Warm Ride’, also charted in Australia and NZ but nowhere else. Similarly, Graham’s 1978 No Bad Habits album only charted in Australian & NZ, at #6 & #21 respectively. This latter album included a cover of Dylan’s ‘I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight’ as the opening track.
Robert Palmer, ably backed by reggae band UB40, released a cover of ‘I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight’ in October 1990 as a precursor to the release of Palmer’s November 1990 Please Explain album.
The song entered the Aussie charts in December 1990 and peaked at #4.
Trivia: The Palmer/UB40 song proved to be an international hit, with NZ leading the way with a #1 hit. Top 10 rankings were also achieved in the UK and numerous European countries.
Way way back in June 1968, some seven months after the original song was released on Dylan’s December 1967 John Wesley Harding album, US actor and musician Burl Ives released his own version of the song. In what must be regarded as a surprising twist, Burl’s single achieved its highest chart success in Australia, when in peaked at #28. The only other chart ‘success’ for Burl’s cover was on the US Adult Contemporary chart (#35) and the US Billboard (#133).
Guns N’ Roses began performing their own version of ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ around 1987. Live and studio versions, including on the 1990 Days Of Thunder soundtrack, were released at that time and made an impact on US & Canadian music charts.
A modified studio recording of ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ was used for the band’s 1991 Use Your Illusion II album. In May 1992, the song was released as the second single from the album.
The song entered the Aussie charts in July 1992, where it peaked at #12.
Trivia: Elsewhere around the world, the song proved to be a chart-topping hit, peaking in the top 10 in NZ, UK and 14 other European countries.
Some 20 years earlier, in October 1973, Dylan’s original version of ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ (from his Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid soundtrack) became only the 3rd Dylan original song to peak in the top 10 on the Australian charts.
Final comments:
The Aussie Top 100 Singles database (1950-2024), reveals that there have been 28 Dylan cover versions released by overseas artists that have broken into the Aussie Top 100. Of those, 19 were released in the 60’s; 5 in the 70’s and 4 in the 90’s.
Perhaps reflective of Dylan’s own career highs & lows, there were no cover singles during the 80’s nor in the 2000’s.
For the record, the only other Dylan covers by overseas artists to make the top 100 that have not been referenced earlier in this article are:
Cher – All I Really Want To Do (August 1965, #68)
Beau Brummels – One Too Many Mornings (July 1966, #62)
Jonathan King – Just Like A Woman (September 1966, #21)
Turley Richards – Love Minus Zero/No Limit (May 1970, #96)
Billy Joel – To Make You Feel My Love (September 1997, #90)
Garth Brooks – To Make You Feel My Love (November 1998, #94)
I trust that this introductory ‘International-style’ Dylan covers article has whet the appetite and I look forward to exploring and sharing the Dylan anthology, as captured by others, in creative and unexpected ways.
More from Karl Dubravs can be read Here.
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About Karl Dubravs
I was born in 1956 to Latvian parents who migrated to Australia in the late 1940's following WWII. My career was mostly in Human Resources within University and Public Service settings & allowed me to work & live in Sydney, Cabramurra (Australia's highest township), Townsville, Bathurst, Canberra & Shellharbour. I have now left paid employment & settled in the Blue Mountains. My true passion, ever since I was 16, has been songwriting - and my anthology is creeping towards 400 songs. In 2019, I unexpectedly crossed paths with a talented music producer & musician, who helped to produce my one & only album - 'Life & Love'.
Some ripping classics here Karl.
Like many, my introduction to Bob was through the music of Peter Paul and Mary – loved them as a kid, still do.
One of my favourite PPM Bob covers is ‘When The Ship Comes In’, Tommy Makem & The Clancy Brothers also did a fab version of that song.
Thanks for your comment Col.
I am fairly confident the Clancy Brothers will feature in a future article – so stay tuned!
Great stuff as always Karl. I loved that Greame Bonnet version. Forgotten how good it is. Perhaps his relative big success in Australia and NZcan be put down to Countdown where Molly flogged that and Warm Ride?
Another excellent episode in this series, Karl.
For many reasons, my personal belief is that The Byrds’ “Tambourine Man” is the greatest ever Dylan cover.
It is so representative of its time, and remains iconic.
The worst? Guns N Roses butchering of “Heaven’s Door”. Just appalling, in my opinion.
Thanks again.
‘My Back Pages’ covered bt The Byrds is another classic Bob cover.
Thanks Karl for another great chapter in your ongoing series on Dylan covers. This is my kinda list to reflect on, argue about and wonder why Elvis’ Tomorrow is a Long Time (from my understanding Bob’s fave cover of his songs) didn’t feature in your top 10. Oh, and I’d take Sam Cooke’s BitW over the PPM anodyne cover every time. Sorry Col. Another thought, I have no idea about what Dylan covers cracked the Billboard Top 100 from the 60s until now but top shelf singers and artists have been covering Dylan the whole time. From Nina Simone to My Chemical Romance to Lucinda. But, looking at your stats re the Australian charts and thinking about the relatively low amount of covers by Aussies (which you covered superbly) the question hangs in the air, why have US and UK artists continued to draw from the well of Bob when their Aussie counterparts have been less inclined. Especially when you consider the critical success of Emma Swift’s efforts with Bob songs. I’m sure you have pondered this Karl, thoughts?
Sidenote, Flo & Eddie from The Turtles sing back up to Bruce on Hungry Heart.
Thank you Ian.
The Graham Bonnet ‘solo’ story has me very intrigued…I’m with you, I loved both IAONBB & Warm Ride back in the day,. Certainly Countdown launched many a musical career, for better or for worse….
Thank you once again Smokie for your ongoing support.
I am perhaps reluctant to name any one cover as the ‘greatest ever’, but I would certainly have The Byrds ‘Mr Tambourine Man’ in a top 20 best ever list, along with Hendrix’s AATW. As you say, they were strongly representative of the time (genre defining) and iconic.
As for GnR’s version of KoHD, well I guess Dylan’s bank account didn’t mind the exposure. As they say, it is what it is.
Thanks again Col.
The Byrds association with Dylan covers is quite extensive (perhaps excessive). Without claiming 100% accuracy, I have them covering 14 different Dylan songs on 8 different studio albums.
From those covers, I believe only 3 were issued as singled that then also cracked the Australian top 100 charts.
I have no doubt that The Byrds will feature if future articles.
Greetings Rick and thanks for checking out the article and for the positive comment.
In answer to your question re Elvis & TIALT: it didn’t make it into this article because Elvis’ cover was a track on his 1966 ‘Spin Out’ album but never released as a single and never made it into the Australian top 100 chart – ie it didn’t qualify for this particular article. The same goes for Sam Cooke’s cover of BITW. It may (or may not) be a better version of BITW but this article is about those covers that cracked the Aussie 100.
As for saying that Elvis’ version of TIALT is ‘Bob’s fave cover of his songs’ – I’d be a little more circumspect. Bob is reported as having told Rolling Stone magazine (June 1969) that Elvis’ version of TIALT is the one recording that he treasures the most. There has been a lot of time and multiple thousands of Dylan covers since Bob made that statement – so does it still hold true? Equally, Bob was known to be less than truthful with journalists – so we need lots of grains of salt.
Only recently I came across an article (Far Out – Dale Maplethorpe 13 Feb 2025) that listed 14 cover songs that Dylan has reportedly publicly spoken positively about – Elvis’ TIALT is on that list. I am inclined to use that list to forge a future article on the subject – so watch this space.
As for Aussies approach to covering Dylan – I am still pondering the question. Perhaps we still have our own story to tell & covering iconic overseas songwriters is not embedded in our musicmakers DNA (I offer Paul Kelly as exhibit A).
BTW – only yesterday I discovered a cover of ‘Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You’ by none other than Tim Rogers – so the depth of Aussie-based Dylan covers is still being uncovered.
Hey Karl, how many times has Dylan himself entered the Australian Top 100 over the years? (excluding the Wilburys – Apologies if you have answered this before)
Hey ‘Swish’ – of the approx 100 singles released between 1962 ‘Mixed Up Confusion’ and 2020 ‘False Prophet’, only 20 have entered the Australian top 100. The only original songs to peak at #10 or higher have been: Like A Rolling Stone #7; Just Like A Woman #8; Knockin’ On Heavens Door #10; and Hurricane #7.
Superbly researched piece, as usual, Karl. One thing it made me reflect upon is what Dylan songs were played in the bands I was a member of in my youth. I came up with ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ and ‘All Along The Watchtower’. I also remember noodling away on my acoustic at home, on numbers such as ‘If Not For You’ and (yes, I’ve mentioned it before, my favourite Dylan song), ‘Tangled Up In Blue’. Interestingly, I read within the last day or two that ‘Blue’ was Bob’s favourite among his own compositions, too – though of course he may have had different responses to this issue at different times.
Thanks for your comment KD.
I wonder whether anyone would have been noodling All Along The Watchtower or If Not For You if it weren’t for the covers.
I think it would be fair to say that both Knockin On Heavens Door & Tangled Up In Blue stand on their own feet as originals. In the many places where I’ve lived, and where I pulled out the guitar and channeled Dylan, both of those songs were high on my playlist – in their pristine original wrapping.
I imagine like his many children, Bob would have lots of favourite songs from his anthology. TUIB is certainly on my top 20 favourite Dylan song list.
Great work again, Karl. I’d be interested to know how these songs charted in the US and the UK. I think ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ and ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ are the prototypes and helped cement Dylan as the anointed one. Some of the other covers are very much of their time & haven’t dated well, although ‘All Along The Watchtower’ is, of course, timeless.
It’s obviously a never-ending topic, and I’m sure you’ll cover these songs soon, but for what it’s worth, my favourites are Chrissie Hynde’s ‘Don’t Fall Apart On me Tonight’ and most of Joan Baez’s attempts, but especially ‘Forever Young’, ‘Lily, Rosemary and the Jack Hearts’ and ‘Love is Just a Four Letter Word’ (for which I wonder if she added the last verse).
Thanks, DB – appreciate you dropping by…….
Dylan’s manager (Albert Grossman) certainly knew the $$$ value of getting Dylan’s songs into the mainstream via ‘commercially acceptable’ (ie radio friendly) covers. This shrewd & successful tactic paid dividends all round, especially for Grossman’s own pockets (35% of royalties). Note: Bob was only getting 40% of royalties!.
As for getting around to the covers you’ve mentioned, I am sure they will see the light of day in one of my future articles. I guess the best advice I can give you is to stay tuned & be patient.
Great read and listen Karl.
Thanks for dropping by & tuning in Mark.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the International series as it rolls out over the months & years to come