Music Monday: All along the watchtower by Jimmy Hendrix

Artists have done covers forever. Rarely does the cover become the main version. One such case is “All Along the Watchtower” by Bob Dylan. Yet Jimi Hendrix’s version has become the default. With even Bob Dylan saying Jimi did it better and covering his version. What’s amazing is just 6 months after Bob Dylan’s release did Jimi do this cover. Being influenced by Jimi’s version which means a cover of a cover. He liked what the cover sounded like, understanding he found something nobody else noticed. After Hendrix died, he kept doing his version of it as a tribute to Jimi. Since then, he has done versions closer to Hendrix’s version over his original recording.

So the question is why do I know this 1968 song? The answer is my family and musical journey leading me to my musical tastes today. These days I have much harder taste in rock and metal music. But knowing the history behind how we got here is fascinating. Artists that inspired others leading us to today. Even after all this time, “All Along the Watchtower” stands as a timeless cover and masterpiece. Sounds rather basic these days but that sound. Can’t put your finger on it but you can feel the talent, how it’s different. I’m not a massive Bob Dylan fan, but he is one of the greatest songwriters. Which is why to so many people the song has so many different meanings. Lyrics even today have a weight and relevance that connects to you. When I first heard this song it was during a society crisis. Reading the lyrics, it’s clear something happened to Dylan. I’m not sure what. Power and depth of the song from the lyrics. Jimi was a fanboy of Bob’s work. Reading his own lyrics you can see. Both are similar but yet Bob at times could reach beyond. One was a master of the guitar and the other was of lyrics.