10 Greatest Covers Of Bob Dylan Songs

With his vintage and prolificacy, Dylan has been blessed with more returns to form than most artists, and 1989’s Oh Mercy album is one of his best resurrections. Emerging from his Christianity period, he bounced back with some great, gloomy songs, entering a new, mature form.

One such song, “What Good Am I?”, was later taken on by an artist of similar age (though arguably less talent), Tom Jones, and transformed into perhaps the single finest moment of the Welsh crooner’s lengthy career. Jones turns Dylan’s weary croak into a torch song of lived-in experience, utilising his unmistakable voice but acting his age in content and delivery.

With Dylan’s characterful nasal whine, the song sounds like one of self pity. When Jones is at the helm, it’s devastating. This is a majestic performance, dripping with regret and sorrow. He keeps things relatively spare in the arrangement, and it’s for the best. This one would sound fantastic acapella. It’s a proper, characterful performance, but not the least bit showy. No warbles, no wasted notes, just an amazing connection between singer and song.