Yes. Check out some of Bill Frisell's arrangements of Bob Dylan's tunes, like "Just Like a Woman" or "Masters of War". Also, I've heard Chet Atkins' style of arranging for songs like "Don't Think Twice". But to your point, "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" probably shouldn't be made into an instrumental.
I'd absolutely listen to Rainy Day Women as an instrumental. Sometimes you want that sloppy feel. Reminds me of walking down Bourbon Street. Not that the street brass bands there aren't tight. I can't remember
Yes, I would indeed buy an album of only instrumental versions of BD’s songs. The great guitarist Bill Frisell has a nice version of “Just Like a Woman,” and if you search on Spotify (sorry) you can find playlists of jazz/instrumental covers of the BD songbook. It’s not so surprising: good musicians can do all sorts of interesting things with seemingly little source material.
In any case, I think the question is not only one of taste or relative merit. It’s also whether one is willing to go along with the artists on their own terms. For the iconic artists you list, there’s an added challenge of their fan base. My standard example is that I am lukewarm on Queen but I like them less for their fans’ insistence that they are anything more than third-rate (albeit high third-rate).
Interesting question. I wonder how many rock acts would make it over that bar. But I think so. I actually quite like a lot of Dylan’s bands. I was listening to some of the mid-seventies Rolling Thunder Revue, and that band was hot.
In many cases yes, but also, most of the musical depth you get from Dylan comes from HIS voice, HIS harmonica, and HIS charisma. If you make them instrumental, you are fundamentally changing those songs and their appeal.
That’s too many takes to engage with lol. Can you pick one?
OK. Let's pick the first: would you buy a Bob Dylan album with only instrumental versions of his songs?
Yes. Check out some of Bill Frisell's arrangements of Bob Dylan's tunes, like "Just Like a Woman" or "Masters of War". Also, I've heard Chet Atkins' style of arranging for songs like "Don't Think Twice". But to your point, "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" probably shouldn't be made into an instrumental.
I'd absolutely listen to Rainy Day Women as an instrumental. Sometimes you want that sloppy feel. Reminds me of walking down Bourbon Street. Not that the street brass bands there aren't tight. I can't remember
Yes, I would indeed buy an album of only instrumental versions of BD’s songs. The great guitarist Bill Frisell has a nice version of “Just Like a Woman,” and if you search on Spotify (sorry) you can find playlists of jazz/instrumental covers of the BD songbook. It’s not so surprising: good musicians can do all sorts of interesting things with seemingly little source material.
In any case, I think the question is not only one of taste or relative merit. It’s also whether one is willing to go along with the artists on their own terms. For the iconic artists you list, there’s an added challenge of their fan base. My standard example is that I am lukewarm on Queen but I like them less for their fans’ insistence that they are anything more than third-rate (albeit high third-rate).
Well put. By the way, I'm not the greatest fan of Queen's music either.
OK THIS is where you lose me! LMBOOO I agree with all the others above though!
I love a lot of Queen's songs but I prefer other bands.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNxGsBVmYcA
Interesting question. I wonder how many rock acts would make it over that bar. But I think so. I actually quite like a lot of Dylan’s bands. I was listening to some of the mid-seventies Rolling Thunder Revue, and that band was hot.
Much like Leonard Cohen, Dylan's genius is as a lyricist, not a composer, so it's unfair to judge his music solely on melody.
I’m going to bury my own spicy take in this comment thread and claim that the music on Dylan records is varied and interesting and awesome
Especially in the last 30 years.
Ha!
Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon's works could make excellent instrumental albums.
In many cases yes, but also, most of the musical depth you get from Dylan comes from HIS voice, HIS harmonica, and HIS charisma. If you make them instrumental, you are fundamentally changing those songs and their appeal.
I just think his words are bigger than anything else he does. And musical ideas are not his main concern.