We're paying tribute this week to the life and work of Bob Dylan, who is celebrating 50 years of revolutionary recordings in 2012. His critically acclaimed 35th studio album, Tempest, came out Tuesday, Sept. 11, and he tours Canada extensively in October and November. We asked a variety of musicians about their all-time favourite Dylan songs and will post their responses every day for the rest of the week.
High-quality comedian Neil Hamburger is rooting through some of Canada’s things this week and, after our conversation about that and his forthcoming 7" single with Margaret Cho, I asked him if he had a favourite Bob Dylan song. It turns out he does, and Hamburger spoke fondly of a cover song from the infamous and rare 1973 LP, Dylan.
“I would like to recommend that folks take a listen to Mr. Dylan’s cover version of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love,’ which he recorded on an album called Dylan, which came out in the early '70s and I feel is one of his most overlooked records," Hamburger said. "And he did ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love,’ which we all know is an Elvis Presley song. But you haven’t heard it until you’ve heard it the way Bob does it.
“I don’t know if sweet’s the word I would use for it. It’s very interesting. It’s curious. It’s a curious rendition. I wouldn’t say that it’s the type of rendition that would rise to the top of the charts. And I would also mention that the fact that the album from which it comes has never been put into print on CD is also curious. But I believe that those who are in search of something different, a different sound from Mr. Bob Dylan, should give this song a chance. I have it on my personal playlist and have enjoyed it, the great majority of those times.”
Keep checking CBC Music's Bob Dylan page this week for more thoughts on the man and his songs.
Join the conversation. What's your favourite Bob Dylan song? Please tell us what it is and why.
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