Recently some of us at R&T had a lively discussion about song covers and poaching (here and here). Coincidentally, on January 24 the cover of all cover CDs was released: Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International. Comprised of four discs with a total of 73 songs, the CD is … hmm … it’s hard to criticize a music project covering one of the best songwriters ever that also benefits a wonderful charity like Amnesty International. However, as a diehard Dylan fan, I’m disappointed in many of the tracks. Maybe it’s because Dylan, with his unique voice and incredible phrasing, is really difficult to cover. Still, over the years people like Peter, Paul and Mary (“Blowin’ in the Wind”), The Byrds (Mr. Tambourine Man”), and Jimi Hendrix (“All Along the Watchtower”) managed to do it quite well.

The artists on this CD are remarkably diverse representing different styles of music (rock, blues, reggae, punk, rap, country), various nationalities (US, Great Britain, Iran, Somalia, Mexico), the old and young (Pete Seeger, Miley Cyrus) and even one dead person (Johnny Cash). Perhaps that’s the problem. It’s an incredibly eclectic bunch—Joan Baez, Pete Townsend, Sting, Ximena Sariñana, Ziggy Marley, Sugarland, My Chemical Romance, Cage the Elephant, Kesha, and the Dave Matthews Band (just to name a few). Several of the covers are flat, unrecognizable, or just plain odd. Not a good kind of odd but the kind of odd where you can’t resist pushing the “skip” button.

Nonetheless, there are some gems here. Standouts for me include My Morning Jacket’s “You’re a Big Girl Now,” Miley Cyrus’s “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go,” (yes, I’m serious, it’s really good), Adele’s “Make You Feel My Love,” Jeff Beck’s guitar playing on Seal’s cover of “Like a Rolling Stone,” and Sinéad O’Connor’s “Property of Jesus.”

Speaking of “Property of Jesus,” it and Eric Burdon’s version of “Gotta Serve Somebody” are the only two songs on the CD from Dylan’s “Christian Period.” For any of you who are fans of that stage of his music, there’s a wonderful DVD from 2005, with an accompanying CD, called Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan. Featuring some of the country’s best Gospel singers covering Dylan’s Christian-themed songs, these people can sing Dylan. Their passion, dedication to the genre, and incredible voices make the music and its message come alive.

Mary McDonough