Dylan covers Sinatra, too much or too late?

/ December 12, 2014
Bob and Frank, legends both. (Getty Images)

Bob and Frank, legends both. (Getty Images)

When Brian Williams told me on “NBC Nightly News” earlier this week that Bob Dylan had recorded an album of Frank Sinatra songs I sat up and listened harder.

Ten songs. Title of ““Shadows in the Night.” Coming out in February.

Williams, such a music lover himself that he has a pretty cool online series on the NBC site titled BriTunes, noted that Dylan’s voice ain’t what it used to be. Which brings into question just how good this album is going to be.

Well, sure, Bob’s voice hasn’t sounded great in a while. Some folks would even truncate “in a while” from that previous sentence. I, too, wonder just what “Shadows in the Night” will sound like come Feb. 3.

But Dylan is Dylan, the guy known for doing things his own way, turning even his own music inside-out, leaving people with questions he doesn’t want to hear, no less answer.

So isn’t the thought of one American music legend covering the songs of another, even this late in his career, intriguing? And when I clicked onto the already-enticing album description at amazon.com that I linked to with the album title above and read Dylan’s quotes about the process, I found …

“Regarding the repertoire on this album, Bob Dylan commented,’It was a real privilege to make this album. I’ve wanted to do something like this for a long time but was never brave enough to approach 30-piece complicated arrangements and refine them down for a 5-piece band. That’s the key to all these performances. We knew these songs extremely well. It was all done live. Maybe one or two takes. No overdubbing. No vocal booths. No headphones. No separate tracking, and, for the most part, mixed as it was recorded. I don’t see myself as covering these songs in any way. They’ve been covered enough. Buried, as a matter a fact. What me and my band are basically doing is uncovering them. Lifting them out of the grave and bringing them into the light of day.’ ”

Dylan-esque, that statement is, open-ended, sort of enigmatic, meant to leave you scratching your head and wanting to …

(From usatoday.com)

(From usatoday.com)

Listen to the album.

The track listings:

1. I’m A Fool To Want You
2. The Night We Called It A Day
3. Stay With Me
4. Autumn Leaves
5. Why Try to Change Me Now
6. Some Enchanted Evening
7. Full Moon And Empty Arms
8. Where Are You?
9. What’ll I Do
10. That Lucky Old Sun

Below is the link to hear the song “Full Moon and Empty Arms” from the upcoming album on YouTube.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ2PHtS2bKg&app=m&persist_app=1

Here’s the link for the Getty Images mash-up photo collage of Bob Dylan and Frank Sinatra.

Are you interested in the Dylan-covers-Sinatra album? Which artists do you appreciate more, Frank Sinatra or Bob Dylan, and what’s your favorite Sinatra and Dylan song? Who would you rather cover Sinatra with a new album’s worth of songs than Dylan? Who would you rather Dylan cover with a new album’s worth of songs than Sinatra?

Related posts

76 thoughts on “Dylan covers Sinatra, too much or too late?”

  1. Hey Mark – had no idea that Dylan was singing Sinatra 🙂 I couldn’t get the link to work on my laptop, but found it by doing a search on YouTube. I have to admit, need to listen to it a few more times, as my first initial reaction didn’t make me want to go by it. Having said that, I am a huge fan of old Dylan, especially the early stuff like Nashville Skyline and Desire. My husband and I saw him in the early 1980s – gotta be honest – couldn’t understand half of what he was saying & he changed the song arrangements, so we kept wondering WTH we were listening to 🙂 Still, gotta love Bob, though!

    Like

    Reply

  3. As a musician I understand his motivation for this. Once you get to a point in life, you begin to think of what music you always wanted to do but did not do because it would not have made money and would not have been what the people wanted.

    Eric Clapton made the All Blues album and did the All Blues tour because he wanted to. He had played the songs from Derek and the Dominoes and Cream (great stuff!!) for years because the people wanted it. He finally did a project just because it was meaningful to him.

    I am sure Bob Dylan is aware that he is losing his abilities. He only has a little time left to do what he wants to do and what will be meaningful to him.

    I am aware that my guitar playing and singing is on a time table with an hourglass counting it down. I have been thinking about what project would be meaningful to me. I do not have the stamina to play 4 hour gigs in the bars from 9pm to 1am anymore. It really is sad in a way. I miss it but i did enjoy it when i was young.

    Like

    Reply

    • Bob Dylan deserved to record this album because it was what he desired at this point of his distinguished career. Of that, there is not argument, ever. Thanks for dropping in to comment, and good luck drawing every last drop of joy out of your days of playing now, too.

      Like

      Reply

  4. crazy Q you are asking. Two Greats, for sure. I just listen to music–have no idea who should be singing what type. As long as it resonates with the listener.

    Like

    Reply

  5. Dylan has never been my thing, but I have tremendous respect for him. I think he has earned the right to sing whatever he wants. Anytime an artist wants to expose a new generation of fans to Sinatra, I say, bring it on.

    Like

    Reply

  7. Two things: One – it’s funny you say that Bob’s the one that likes to do things his way, because that’s Frankie’s whole mantra! (I did it MY way…)
    Two – Nothing to do with your post, but as it happens, I actually met Frank Sinatra Junior in 1998 at a bar in Syracuse! 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  8. i find it intriguing and admire both sinatra and dylan, each in their own very different way. i enjoy when one artist covers another, and sometimes there is a pleasant surprise to be found in the doing. love the britunes heads-up. )

    Like

    Reply

  9. I would truncate that sentence as well. I understand it’s a generational thing, although I like the song “To Make You Feel My Love” if Dylan is not singing it. I like Sinatra’s “Very Good Year” and his version of “Send In The Clowns.” I couldn’t launch that link either for fear of a virus. So Liz and The Chairman share a bday?

    Like

    Reply

  13. This is the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard of. First, Dylan is one of the most respected SONGWRITERS of the past 100 years. Sinatra was a great singer, but never wrote a song his whole life. So to call ANY of these “Frank Sinatra’s songs” seems kind of criminal to me, and why Bob Dylan would not pay the songwriters the homage rather than the guy who sang them is beyond me. It’d be like someone doing a Peter, Paul and Mary covers album and doing Blowing in the Wind. See Also: The Byrds, Mr. Tambourine Man, Manfred Mann, Quinn the Eskimo, Just Like a Woman.
    I agree with Kate that Frank’s phrasing and timing were amazing. But he was the instrument, not the creator.

    Like

    Reply

    • Agreed that Frank took the work of Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Sammy Kahn, Jimmy Van Heusen, et al and used his instrument to make the albums, Helena. But over time, they became, to our society, Frank Sinatra songs. Much more power to the voices who also have the intelligence and acumen to write the lyrics and the music. Many don’t. The songwriters deserve their due, certainly. And then so do the singers. And Sinatra was one hell of a singer. Thanks for adding one hell of a lot to our string here today, darling.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  14. I am going to withhold judgment on this for now. Dylan is special in his own way – and yes, he is a poet.

    Sinatra was more than just a beautiful voice; he was the master of lyrical interpretation.

    Maybe the Dylan interpretation will stand on its own. We’ll see. You know what a Sinatra fan, but I don’t like to disrespect Dylan for his mastery in other areas of song. As we say, we’ll see! 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  15. I saw this the same broadcast! He actually sounded good. What I want to know is just because you get older, does your “ear for music” change? I always said just because you are older doesn’t mean that you lose the love of your old music sounds. Imagine: living in assisted living with the Eagles playing on your CD… not music from the 1920’s. Maybe the slower, soulful sounds appeal more to Dylan now that he is older…?

    Like

    Reply

  16. It does sound intriguing, doesn’t it Mark. I mean I perked my ears up too hearing this from you. I really wanted to hear the youtube you indicated but it’s just not cooperating for me this morning!
    Diana xo

    Like

    Reply

  17. I think this would be a good idea, but like your title, wondering since Bob Dylan’s raspy tone is going downhill, just a bit. Please, no offense to Bob Dylan, but aging does take aware some of the clarity of voices. I loved Frank Sinatra’s voice, but so far, Michael Buble is my favorite Frank Sinatra-‘imitator,’ Mark! He is vey smooth and charming, like Frank, good ole blue eyes was. smiles!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. The Master of Phrasing covers the ultimate Master of Phrasing. Should be interesting, I too found Dylan’s interpretation haunting. I’m anxious to hear my favorite standard, “What’ll I Do”.

    Like

    Reply

  20. Honestly, my first impression, without having yet listened, the beauty of Dylan was never really his voice, but his words and his inflection, so I would rather hear him doing originals. However, if he added something that gives the covers a little of his own flare, it could be intriguing.

    Like

    Reply

  22. Strange, I couldn’t get the link to work on my PC, but it did on my iPad and iPhone. Anyway, I listened and found it rather painful. I love Dylan for hissongs, but Dylan does Sinatra? Well, if the YouTube clip is any indication of the rest of the album, I think I’ll pass. Sorry.

    Like

    Reply

  25. I love Frank Sinatra so much but I must confess I was confused when I read this because I totally thought Bob Dylan was dead. I’m also just waking up so my brain is fuzzy….but it is Friday!! Woohoo!

    Like

    Reply

  26. omg what next.. Garth Brooks doing opera??? one of those wannabes – ariane grande or iggy azalea or those tone deaf hip hop people doing Doris day???? It is bad enuf we are being coerced into buying tony bennett and lady gaggg gaga at xmas. Really. yikes!!!! i am hiding my enya and Andre bocelli, and bing crosby

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  27. I got it to work clicking launch application and realplayer opened up.

    I’m excited about this. I’m interested in everything Dylan does. A true poet and one of a kind.

    Like

    Reply

    • I discovered BriTunes a while ago and was happy because Brian Williams has access to a lot of cool people around 30 Rock that I don’t up here in Syracuse. One more Brian Williams note. My dear wife Karen pointed out to me that it was his daughter that played Peter Pan on NBC’s live show last week. I had no idea, Barbara. The song only worked on my mobile YouTube click … uh-oh. See comment above about trying Real Player instead.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.