Cover Wars: Buckets Of Rain
In the pantheon of gut wrenching, emotionally charged break up albums none may top the sheer heartbreak found throughout Bob Dylan’s 1975 release Blood On The Tracks. The album has been mined for its share of covers over the years, but it’s the first time we are actually featuring a track from what is arguably one of Dylan’s best LPs.
While there may be a few more obvious choices, we’re going with the moody album’s melancholy closing track, Buckets Of Rain. The tune, which according to Wikipedia has astonishingly only been played live once by Dylan, is as tender as it is devastating with lines such as, “Like your smile, and your fingertips. Like the way that you move your lips, I like the cool way you look at me. Everything about you is bringing me misery.”
The Constestants:
Before hitting it big on his own, M. Ward was a member of Beth Orton’s touring band. The duo’s version finds Orton and Ward trading off on the verses, which was released as the B-side for the digital single of Heart Of Soul, a track that Ward co-wrote with Orton for her 2006 album Comfort Of Strangers
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READ ON for more covers of Buckets Of Rain from the likes of Neko Case, David Gray, Vic Chesnutt and more…
Redheaded chanteuse Neko Case not surprisingly goes the country route with her cover. This version, which come from her 2007 release Live From Austin, TX, features Case’s sublime vocals supported by some great slide-guitar work and simple percussion from her backing band.
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Chris Wood is best known for his work as the bass player for avant-jazz-groovers Medeski, Martin & Wood, but in his spare time he plays with his brother Oliver in the aptly named roots-rock band The Wood Brothers, whose bluesy version of the song can be found on their 2008 album Loaded
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David Gray’s version comes from his 2007 digital-only, live covers compilation A Thousand Miles Behind, which is actually a line from Dylan’s One To Many Mornings, that’s available exclusively through Gray’s official website.
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Wow, who knew we’d mention Bette Midler twice not only in the same month, but in the same column! Midler’s take, featured on her third studio album, Songs For The New Depression
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The late, great Vic Chesnutt slowed the song down to beautiful crawl for his version, which appears on the covers heavy soundtrack for the television show Crossing Jordan
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Finally, Mary Lee’s Corvette ambitiously covered Blood On The Tracks in its entirety live back in 2001 at New York’s Arlene’s Grocery as part of their Classic Albums Nights. The results were released on CD
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Jeffrey Greenblatt
Jeff joined the Hidden Track team full-time in 2008 and helps guide the site in his role as Managing Editor and Social Media Coordinator. Each week Jeff pens Pullin' 'Tubes, Tour Dates and Bloggy Goodness in addition to features, video posts and more. Jeff is a graduate of The George Washington University ('98), with a B.A. in Journalism, and has worked in the media and technology industry for the likes of Scripps Networks Interactive, MTV, VH1, A&E and Joost.
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I know you can never catch all the cover versions of songs, but I was really floored by Fistful of Mercy’s version of this tune when I saw them this spring. Check it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEUTN4oNMeM
Thanks for pointing that out Mad Hatter – didn’t even know those guys covered it, definitely dug it though!
Mary Lee’s Corvette!! Wow…that version is a stunner! Good find.
Hidden Track needs to listen to Phil and Phriends from 2/12/2006 at the Beacon… Trey Anastasio + Joan Osborne guests.
Always loved Bette Midler’s duet with Mr. Dylan. It holds a special place in my heart.
My favorite – Dave van Ronk – unfortunately not on your list
@jamrock – was considering including that version, but don’t think P&F covered Buckets Of Rain other than that show
Great Covers Wars this week! Had no clue about the Bette Midler and Bob duet. It’s great stuff!