January 28, 2022 —– Chart #128

Hello Music Friends,

Today I will send you a beautiful song that you may not recognize. In fact this is not something from the 60’s or 70’s. Not even from the 80’s. This one was written in 1997 and the original songwriter was not the first to get any airtime with it. “Make You Feel My Love” is a song written by Bob Dylan for his 1997 album Time Out of Mind. It was first released commercially by Billy Joel, under the title “To Make You Feel My Love”, before Dylan’s version appeared later that same year. It has since been covered by numerous performers and has proved to be a commercial success for singers such as Clare Dunn, Adele, Teddy Swims, Garth Brooks, Shane Filan, Bryan Ferry, Kelly Clarkson, Ane Brun and Nick Knowles. It is one of the few songs to have achieved the status of becoming a “standard” in the 21st century, having been covered by more than 450 different performers. Dylan eventually released the song himself as a single.

Some of you may not have heard this one before, but I think it’s a wonderful song and worth knowing about. Bob Dylan’s recording is well . . . Bob.   Pretty raw might be a nice way of describing it. However, Garth Brooks and Adele each released a version that went high in the charts and both renditions really demonstrate what a beautiful song Dylan created. Try playing this on the guitar or keyboard.  If you play and sing this one, you will love it.

Let’s start with Bob Dylan: 

So now you have the general idea, try out Garth Brooks Live at the Academy of Country Music in 1999:  https://youtu.be/-FlSP0wsF5U

Okay, now check out Adele. I am not Adelle’s biggest fan, but this is really good:  https://youtu.be/QVeubNxaBsg

There are lots more covers, but try this one from Straight No Chaser, a men’s acapella group from Indiana:   https://youtu.be/6OEQXGk0k0w

Rock on my friends,

Stan