If you’re going to record a cover version then make it your own or don’t bother. Some songs have been covered so many times that there is no point in doing it again. Like Leonard Cohen’s song Hallelujah. It was shot dead when it become a song to sing on X-Factor.
Knocking On Heavens door is a song often covered both on record and by pub cover bands. Out of all the great Bob Dylan songs to choose from I don’t know why one of his weaker songs is so popular to play. Maybe the reason is that as it’s not such a great song they think they can give it a go. Try to improve it. I’ve heard the Guns N’ Roses and the Eric Clapton versions. They didn’t succeed.
Blue Cheer’s debut 1968 album Vincebus Eruptum only has six songs on it and three of them are covers. Summertime Blues and Rock Me Baby make fine primal blues-rock interpretations of the songs. But for me the best one is when they take jazz pianist Mose Allison’s brilliant song about doing time on Parchment Farm prison and turn it into stoner-rock blueprint.
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