Dylan Cover Songs: International Style #8 – Gospel Artists Do Dylan
In this 8th article in the Dylan Cover Songs – International Style series, we look at how gospel-based bands, groups, choirs and individual singers have responded to Dylan’s Christian-centred songs as well as a few secular songs that resonate deeply with gospel artists.
Dylan’s career was dominated by Christian-based albums between 1979 – 1981, with Slow Train Coming, Saved and Shot Of Love.
This article showcases eleven songs ~ three each from Slow Train Coming and Saved, two from Shot Of Love, plus three secular standards. Hopefully, you will find these interpretations of Dylan songs uplifting ~ regardless of religious leanings.
‘I Believe In You’
Dylan released this song on his 1979 Slow Train Coming album (Side 1, track 3).
The chosen cover is by The Five Blind Boys Of Alabama from their 1992 Deep River album:
Trivia: The Blind Boys of Alabama were founded in 1939, initially as part of the school chorus at the Alabama Institute For The Negro Deaf And Blind. While membership of the group has changed dramatically over time, the majority of members have been vision-impaired.
Significant accolades include:
- Five Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Gospel Album (between 2002 -2009);
- Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall Of Fame (2003); and
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2009);
In 2004, the Blind Boys joined forces with Ben Harper and released ‘Well, Well, Well’ – a song co-written by Dylan and Danny O’Keefe – on their There Will Be A Light album.
‘Gotta Serve Somebody’
Dylan released this song on his 1979 Slow Train Coming album (Side 1, track 4).
The chosen cover is by Shirley Caesar from her 1980 Rejoice album:
Trivia: Shirley’s cover version of this song was the first to be released – within one year of the original. In a career that has lasted seven decades, Shirley has been known as ‘The First Lady of Gospel Music’ and has been recognised with:
- Eleven Grammy Awards for Best Soul Gospel Performance or Album (between 1972-2001);
- A star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame (2016)
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2017); and
- Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall Of Fame (2025).
‘When You Gonna Wake Up’
Dylan released this song on his 1979 Slow Train Coming album (Side 2, track 3).
The chosen cover is by Lee Williams & The Spiritual QCs from their 2013 Soulful Healing album:
Trivia: This is the one and only ever cover of this song!
More trivia: Lee Williams & The Spiritual QCs (Qualified Christians) are an American gospel quartet, who were active between 1968 – 2018 and released ten studio and eight live albums. The relevant ‘Wikipedia’ page suggests that Lee is referred to as the GOAT of gospel music and that the quartet were the #1 Gospel group in the world for twenty-one years straight ~ although I am yet to validate those claims.
‘Saved’
Dylan released this song, co-written with Tim Drummond (bass player), on his 1980 Saved album (Side 1, track 2).
The chosen cover is by Third Day from their Grammy Award nominated and Gospel Music Award winning 2000 Offerings – A Worship Album album.
Trivia: Third Day were a Christian rock band formed in Georgia, USA in 1991. The band released thirteen studio albums between 1996 – 2007.
Accolades:
- In total, four Grammy Awards for Best Rock Gospel Album (2003 & 2005); Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album (2007) and Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album (2010);
- Twenty-four Gospel Music Awards between 1998 – 2015 for various categories including: Rock Album Of The Year; Rock Song Of The Year; Group/Artist Of The Year; Special Event Album; Long Form Music Video Of The Year; Christmas Album Of The Year; and
- Twenty-eight #1 Christian chart radio hits.
Observation: The promotion photo of the band on their ‘Wikipedia’ page was taken from a performance at Hillsong Church, Sydney.
‘Pressing On’
Dylan released this song on his 1980 Saved album (side 2, track 1).
The chosen cover is a collaboration between Regina McCrary & Chicago Mass Choir from the 2003 Gotta Serve Somebody – The Gospel Songs Of Bob Dylan tribute album.
Trivia: The Chicago Mass Choir was a gospel choir founded by James C. Chambers in Chicago in 1991. The group released fifteen albums between 1991 – 2020, with eleven of those albums charting in the Gospel Album top 40.
Different Trivia: Regina McCrary (aka Regina Havis) is a gospel vocalist who provided backing vocals to all three of Dylan’s 1979- 1981 ‘Christian-based’ albums as well as supporting Dylan on his contemporaneous ‘Christian-based/evangelical’ North America concert tours.
‘Saving Grace’
Dylan released this song on his 1980 Saved album (Side 2, track 3).
The chosen cover is by the Melbourne Mass Gospel Choir (MMGC) from their 2012 The Gospel Songs Of Bob Dylan performance.
Trivia: The MMGC, based at the Church Of All Nations, Carlton, is run and directed by Philip Heuzenroeder. The choir rehearses during school terms on Tuesdays from 7.30pm. Anyone is welcome to join the choir.
Under Phil’s leadership and arrangements, in 2011 the choir took on the challenge of Dylan’s gospel-based songbook via a series of performances, known as the Gospel Songs Of Bob Dylan. The MMGC sold out three events in Melbourne to over 1,500 people and went on to perform a two hour show on the main stage at Port Fairy Folk Festival. Each performance featured some of Melbourne’s top musicians and soloists including Susanna Espie, Tracey Miller, Jeff Lang, Ross Hannaford, James Black, Peter Luscombe and Steve Hadley.
‘Property Of Jesus’
Dylan released this song on his 1981 Shot Of Love album (Side 1, track 3).
The chosen cover is a YouTube version I stumbled across by Canadian singer/songwriter Ron Sexsmith:
Trivia: Ron has released twenty albums between 1985 – 2025. In 2005, he received a Juno Award for best Canadian songwriter. Although Ron has covered a multitude of Dylan songs as ‘unplugged-style’ YouTube clips, he has not found it necessary to do any album-based studio versions.
‘Every Grain Of Sand’
Dylan released this song on his Shot Of Love album (Side 2, track 5).
The chosen cover is by Lizz Wright from her 2017 Grace album.
Trivia: Lizz is an American jazz and gospel singer. She has released eight albums between 2003 – 2024.
Trivial trivia: On the 2007 Endless Highway: The Music Of The Band, Lizz duets with Jacob Dylan (Bob’s son) on The Band’s ‘Whispering Pines’.
‘Forever Young’
Dylan released this song (twice) on his 1974 Planet Waves album (Side 1, track 6: slow paced and Side 2, track 1: fast paced).
The chosen cover is by the Soweto Gospel Choir from their Grammy Award winning 2007 African Spirit album.
Trivia: Formed in South Africa in 2002, the 30-member ensemble blends African gospel, Negro spirituals, reggae and American popular culture. The choir tours internationally and has released seven albums between 2005 – 2024.
Three of the choir’s albums – Blessed, African Spirit and Freedom – have won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional World Music Album.
‘I Shall Be Released’
Dylan released this song on his 1971 Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Vol.II album. An alternate, earlier version of the song was belatedly released on his 1991 The Bootleg Series Vol.1-3 boxset.
The chosen cover is by The Brothers And Sisters Of Los Angeles from their 1969 Dylan’s Gospel album:
Trivia: The ‘Brothers & Sisters’ were session musicians based in Los Angeles and brought together by Lou Adler in 1969 for the specific purpose of recording an album of gospel music-style covers of Bob Dylan songs. The ensuing album was a commercial flop and Lou abandoned developing the idea any further. In retrospect, Lou was about 10 years ahead of the times, as Dylan himself released his first ‘gospel based’ album in 1979.
More Lou trivia: Lou is best remembered for forming Ode Records in the late 1960’s, where he signed Carole King. Carole’s second album for Ode Records, produced by Lou, was Tapestry ~ an album that sold 25 million copies worldwide and earned Grammy Awards for Record Of The Year (for ‘It’s Too Late’) and Album of The Year.
‘Knockin’ On Heavens Door’
Dylan released this song on his 1973 Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid soundtrack album (Side 2, track 2).
The chosen cover is by Larry Norman from his 2004 Sessions album:
Trivia: Larry is recognized as a pioneer of US-based Christian rock music. He released a staggering forty-seven studio and thirty-one live albums in a Christian-music career that began in 1966 and ended with his death in 2008.
Larry is best remembered for his 1972 album Only Visiting This Planet. This album ranked #2 in CCM Magazine’s 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. The album was also the first Christian rock album to be inducted into the Library Of Congress National Recording Registry.
Concluding comment:
Sometime, well into the future, each of Dylan’s three ‘Christian-based’ albums will have a dedicated article, where each track on each album will be showcased ‘cover song’ style. This article is but a taste of what is to come ~ and I hope that hearing these interpretations has given a deeper appreciation of this short but unique period of Dylan’s career.
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'.
Great post, KD. What a beautiful selection of songs. One of my favorite Dylan periods. Right up there with 1965-66 and 1974-75. The songs are just breathtaking (even to this agnostic’s ears). Also love ‘City of Gold’ by the Dixie Hummingbirds from the Masked and Anonymous soundtrack (originally performed live by Dylan & later included on the Bootleg Series).
Another cracking post Karl! I must admit Bob lost me when he found God turning me off his music at the time. But, you can’t keep good music down and there are classics amongst this genre. Cheers.
Unbelievable as usual Karl. Highly educational as all these versions are delivered with heart and soul. We went to a gospel church in Harlem and I had to be restrained from flik flaking down the aisle Belushi-style!. There’s something all encompassing about the voices in particular, as youve chosen here. Many thanks
Fine, thoroughly researched work, as usual, Karl – a little briefer than usual. As you yourself indicate, the article is a kind of sampler of ‘what is to come’ in some future Bob pieces – and it will function superbly in that context, I believe.