Jimi Hendrix, a guitar virtuoso and icon of rock music, held a deep admiration for Bob Dylan, acknowledging the profound impact of Dylan’s songwriting. Despite not being close friends, Hendrix’s appreciation manifested in his powerful covers of at least five Dylan compositions, both in live performances and studio recordings. These included iconic tracks like “Like a Rolling Stone,” “All Along the Watchtower,” “Drifter’s Escape,” “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?”, and “Tears of Rage” (co-written by Dylan and Richard Manuel of The Band).
“Sometimes I do a Dylan song and it seems to fit me so right that I figure maybe I wrote it. Dylan didn’t always do it for me as a singer, not in the early days, but then I started listening to the lyrics. That sold me.” – Jimi Hendrix, Beat International 1969
Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan, a black and white photograph capturing a moment between the two legendary musicians, illustrating Hendrix's deep respect for Dylan's songwriting.
Bob Dylan himself reflected on his encounters with Hendrix and his unique musical journey, as noted in the liner notes of his Biograph box set:
“First time I saw him, he was playing with John Hammond. He was incredible then. I’d already been to England and beyond, and although he didn’t sing, I kinda had a feeling that he figured into things. The last time I saw him was a couple of months before he died. He was in that band with Buddy Miles. It was an eerie scene. He was slouched down in the back of a limousine. I was riding by on a bicycle. I remember saying something about that song “Wind Cried Mary,” it was a long way from playing behind John Hammond. That was my favorite song of his – that and “Dolly Dagger”… I don’t know, it was strange, both of us were a little lost for words, he’d gone through like a fireball without knowing it, I’d done the same thing like being shot out of a cannon…”– Bob Dylan (Biograph liner notes)
“Like a Rolling Stone”: Hendrix’s connection to Dylan goes back to the early days. As he mentioned to Rolling Stone Magazine, their paths crossed even before his rise to fame:
“I love Dylan. I only met him once, about three years ago, back at the Kettle of Fish on MacDougal Street. That was before I went to England. I think both of us were pretty drunk at the time, so he probably doesn’t remember it.” – Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stone Magazine
“Tears of Rage”: A particularly tender and soulful cover of “Tears of Rage,” originally by Bob Dylan and The Band, is featured in the 4-CD set “West Coast Seattle Boy.” This rendition showcases Hendrix’s ability to interpret Dylan’s songwriting with his own distinctive emotional depth.
“Drifter’s Escape”: Hendrix expressed immediate enthusiasm for “Drifter’s Escape,” stating, “Oh, yeah, I liked that. ‘Help me in my’ — what’s that? That was groovy. I want to do that one.” Recorded in 1970 at his Electric Lady Studios, Hendrix infused the song with a funky groove. This version was initially released on the 1974 compilation “Loose Ends” and later on the “South Saturn Delta” collection.
“Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?”: The Jimi Hendrix Experience also tackled “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?” for BBC Radio. This raw and energetic performance is available on the “BBC Sessions” album, offering a glimpse into their live interpretations.
“All Along the Watchtower”: Perhaps the most iconic of Hendrix’s Dylan covers is “All Along the Watchtower.” The Isle of Wight version is often cited as a definitive performance. Dylan himself acknowledged the impact of Hendrix’s interpretation:
“I liked Jimi Hendrix’s record of this and ever since he died I’ve been doing it that way… Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it’s a tribute to him in some kind of way.” – Bob Dylan
Such was the power of Hendrix’s rendition that British magazine Total Guitar rightly crowned it the greatest cover version of all time in 2000. Jimi Hendrix’s versions of these Bob Dylan songs are not mere covers; they are transformative reinterpretations that highlight Hendrix’s genius and his profound appreciation for Dylan’s lyrical and musical artistry.
