I grew up thinking Mr Tambourine Man was a Byrds song. When I heard Dylan’s original (I was about 15) I was underwhelmed, to say the least. Where were the chiming electric guitars? Why had those sun-kissed West Coast vocals been replaced by that cold East Coast nasal twang? And why was it 5 times longer and therefore more boring than the original version? Older and wiser, I can now concede to the greatness of Bob’s real original, but I still have a soft spot for Roger McGuinn’s pop arrangement.
Listen to this, an isolated vocal track from the Mr Tambourine Man sessions. Taken from a Byrds bootleg called Past Masters 65, it sounds fantastic. In fact, you might wet your pants over it. Don’t worry, I’ve just had to put my George by Asda Calvinalikes in the tub. That’s the second pair this hour. It’s this pop arrangement that’s formed the basis of the numerous cover versions that followed in it’s wake. But you knew that already.
Way back when there were record shops and people went in them to buy records and stuff with real money, Teenage Fanclub, Scotland’s only true National Treasure, did a version of MTM for the NME compilation album Ruby Trax. I might’ve posted this before, so sorry if I’m repeating myself. Gerry takes the lead, Norman follows up on backing vocals and the whole thing is a faithful interpretation of The Byrds ‘original’. Hear it here.
If you go down to the woods today…
South American newcomers Soho Riots have recently released a fuzzed-up lo-fi garage band approximation of MTM. It wouldn’t sound out of place on an old late 80s compilation tape somewhere between a Sarah Records act and an early My Bloody Valentine b-side. As an extra act of cheesiness/literal genius, they’ve even added a jangling tambourine throughout the entire track. Listen out too for the woman who canane sing. Hear it here.
Phasers set to stun. William Shat’nit etc etc
But I’ve. Kept. The Best till. Last. The most. Frightening. Ridiculous and. Heart stopping. Version of Mr Tambourine. Man. Is without. A. Doubt. William Shatner‘s. 1968 spoken. Word. Version on his. Transfomed. Man. Album. The words. Tortured artist do. Not. Do this version. Justice.
Thankfully, Shatner stopped short of giving Visions Of Johanna the same treatment.
*BONUS TRACK!
Dylan‘s (allegedly) first recorded version, featuring Ramblin’ Jack Elliot on occassional backing vocals. It was this version that was seemingly sent to The Byrds for them to record. Recorded in June 64 for the Another Side of Bob Dylan album it lay in the vaults until 2005 when it appeared on the Bootleg Series Volume 7. But you knew that already. You probably own it already too.
Plain Or Pan 